“Before you panic and say it’s a date, it’s not. It’s more like two friends who appreciate the sky, watching a once-a-year phenomenon. What kind offriendwould I be if I let you miss it?”
“So, this isn’t a date?” I ask him, needing confirmation.
Stepping closer to me, I feel the heat of his body and shiver. His shoes touch the tips of mine and when Kash leans down, his eyes dipping to my lips, I involuntarily close the distance. Moving closer to him, I hear his soft murmur, “Of course not,FW. If this was a date, you’d know it.” To my disappointment, Kash kisses my forehead, then stands to his full height. “Now, into the hammock, Mila.”
Climbing into the hammock as carefully as possible, it takes me a minute to get situated. Once I do, and Kash crawls in next to me, it finally dawns on me he called me FW. Turning toward Kash, I remind myself to breathe when his soft gaze lands on mine. “You called me FW.”
“I did.”
“What’s that mean?”
Chapter Eleven
Kash
My dick is rock fucking hard, and all I want is to kiss her and run my hands across her body and slide into her, but I have to hold back. She smells so good, like vanilla and sugar.Fuck, I want to devour her. When I saw the best night of the meteor shower was going to be tonight, I knew I had to take a chance and bring her. She doesn’t open tomorrow, and I don’t have clients until later in the day, so I don’t feel bad about keeping her up late. Even though it’s cold as shit outside, and I hate the cold, if I have a chance to snuggle with my girl under the guise of star watching, I’m taking it.
Curling my body closer to her, I put my arm around her. I can’t have my Mila getting cold. “FW is just a nickname. Like, Sunshine or Sweetheart.”
She pins me with a disbelieving look. I’m not telling her that FW means future wife because there’s a high chance she’ll flip us both out of this hammock in her haste to flee.
“Look.” I point toward the sky. “You can see Ursa Major and Gemini tonight. The meteors are just a bonus.” I plan on wishing on every single one I see. One wish for her to love me back. Another for her to let me hold her and kiss her. Maybe even one for her to move in with me next week. Quietly lying back, I face the night sky. For the first time in a very long time, I feel peace.
We lie in silence side by side for a while. I take a quick peek at Mila and find her just watching the sky. I’m so curious as to what she’s thinking, but I don’t want to ruin the moment. I’m so in love with her already, I don’t know what to do with myself. There’s something about her that calls to me. That makes all the noise just go away. I don’t understand how I went from being anti-relationship toin love, but I’m not mad at it. The universe just had other plans for me. Sometimes the things we never see coming can be the best surprises. Mila is proof of that.
It’s uncharted territory for me. Being my usual, push-forward self wasn’t working with her, so now I’m trying soft Kash. The one who’s a complete liar and says he’s okay with just friendship. I need Mila to want me the way I want her. I need to consume her every waking thought during the day, and every sexy dream at night.
When she’s baking, I want her to wonder if I’ll like what she makes.Spoiler. I will.
I want her to try to figure out new flavor combinations and use me as her willing guinea pig. I’ll eat anything she gives me.
I want her to wonder if I’m going to fuck her from behind, my hands leaving marks on her curves, or if I’ll stare into her eyes as I take her. Fuck it, why not both?
I need her to wonder if she’s ever going to find anyone who will love her the way that I do. Not fucking likely. So, for now, I’ll be patient, even if it kills me.
“Kash?”
Her voice breaks me from my thoughts. Not trusting myself to look at her, I respond, “Sweetheart?”
“Why do you like the stars and stuff so much?”
Taking a deep breath, I decide to give her a piece of myself. She told me about her and Mara, so I feel like I owe her something. It’s a scary thought, opening up to someone, but when that someone is her, it’s not scary at all. I want her to know all sides of me.
“My dad loved the stars.”
“Really?”
“Yep. He would take me camping and tell me stories about how early travelers used the sky to guide them. He believed that anyone we ever lost would be there too. Watching over us, guiding us along the way.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then lays her head on my shoulder.Pulling her closer, I sigh but continue. “He died when I was eleven. Worst fucking day of my life.”
Her sharp inhale of breath kills me.Don’t feel sorry for me, pretty girl. “I’m so sorry, Kash.”
“Thanks, Sunshine. He was an amazing man.”
“Can I ask what happened? We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her, and I mean it. Having Mila in my arms gives me a calming strength I didn’t know I needed. “My dad was killed in a freak accident on a construction job site. It felt like any other day. I remember talking to my mom about when he’d be home because we were waiting on him for dinner, and then the police showed up and our whole world imploded.”
