Because of You (23 page)

“What?”

“Nothing. Just admiring the view.”

“Thanks,” I say, embarrassed. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

He leans back in his chair. His face is unreadable. “What did Beth and Baby have to say?”

My face bushes red hot. I can’t help it. “N-Nothing.”

Kyle crosses his arms. “That you know their names and are blushing a beautiful shade of red tells me that isn’t true.”

I look away, spinning the fork in the syrup still on my plate. There’s no way in hell I’m telling him what those girls said. I’d sooner die a horrible death than repeat it.

He rests his chest against the table. I feel it give slightly under his weight. “Your silence speaks volumes, Maddie.”

I glance at him through my lashes. His ice blue eyes stake me through the heart. He licks his bottom lip, and runs a hand through his hair. He’s beautiful. Sexy. Twin One and Twin Two said he tied them to a bed. Then what? I can’t help but think of myself tied to a bed. My legs spread apart. Naked. Nothing but the scented air touching places I’ve never touched. Am I tied so I can’t move? It seems so dirty.

My face flushes hotter.

“Talk to me,” he whispers, playing with my hand.

I want to. I want to look him in the eyes and tell him everything. But not here. “Can we go somewhere? Want to practice our duet?” My “go-to” place.

He smiles. “It’s Saturday.”

“And?”

He shrugs. “Sure. Let’s go.”

We stand together. Take our trays and drop them off.

I glace at the table where Gina and I sat. She isn’t there, and neither is Collin. I pull out my phone to text her, and see she’s already texted me.

You and Kinky Kyle. Nice! =) I’m spending the day with Collin. Catch you later.

Be safe.

Don’t worry, VTG.

I shake my head.

“What?” Kyle asks, glancing over my shoulder.

“Gina. She’s started calling me,” I pause and pull him down so that I can whisper in his ear, “VTG.”

He gives me a confused look.

“It stands for Virgin Tattooed Girl. She finds it hilarious that I’ve got tattoos but haven’t…” I can’t finish.

Kyle chuckles, wraps his arms around my waist.

Twin One says, “Get a room.”

I feel Kyle’s body tense.

“Let’s get out of here,” I say and wink, hoping that’ll relax him. I think it works because he takes my hand and we walk out of the cafeteria together.

Maddie

e practice our duet for thirty minutes. I’m having a hard time concentrating. I thought as soon as we got in the music room, Kyle would demand I tell him what the girls said. He didn’t. Instead we go to work. The duet is sounding great. Kyle plays with such emotion. Sometimes I think my heart will break with the passion radiating from his notes.

Kyle looks at me. Smiles. “Had enough?”

I have, but I don’t want to leave this room. When we’re here, together, it’s like nothing else matters. There’s only the music and us. “I guess,” I finally say.

“Come here.” He says the words while quirking his finger at me.

It’s the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen. Walking is a challenge because my inner thighs are aching with desire.

He pats the spot next to him on the piano bench. I sit and do what comes naturally. Play a song I’ve been working on. It’s simple. The right hand plays broken chords while the left keeps the beat. As I’m playing, thoughts of me tied to a bed while Kyle does things to my body. They flash through my head. My face warms. When the last note is finished, Kyle puts a hand over mine.

“That’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.”

“It’s still a work in progress,” I respond, enjoying a contented glow at his compliments.

We sit like that a second, and then he asks, “What were you thinking about while you were playing? Why were you blushing?”

I take a deep breath. Time to spill. “I was thinking about you and me in a secret room. I’m tied to the bed, and you’re doing things.” As I speak, my face burns. I’m too embarrassed to look at him, but I’m so glad I finally said it. Got it out there.

“Why would you have thoughts like that?” Kyle whispers.

I look at him then. His features are filled with an odd sadness, his jaws are clenched.

“Beth and Baby. They said that’s what you did to them.”

Fury replaces the sadness. He wipes a hand over his face. “What else have you heard?”

I clear my throat. There’s no reason to backpedal. “I’ve heard you like your sex k-kinky.” I stumble over the last word, humiliated at saying it out loud.

His features harden further. “Anything else?”

I get the feeling he’s mad at me, but I’m not sure what I’ve done. “No,” I whisper.

“No mention of whips and handcuffs?”

Then I remember I texted him that when I thought I was texting Gina. “Oh, yes, that too.”

My stomach is twisting with worry. He’s upset. Angry. I’ve seen what furious Hadleys look like. The end result isn’t pleasant. I slide away, ready to stand, leave him alone. But he grabs me around the waist and pulls me back.

“I think we’re through.”

“We haven’t even started,” he says huskily.

He wraps a hand around my neck, strokes it softly with his thumb. The movement sends tingles through my body and I’m grateful there aren’t any windows in the practice room.

Shifting, Kyle throws one leg over the bench so he’s straddling it, then pulls me against him, leaning my head against his shoulder.

The movement takes my breath away. The idea that he wants me causes my body to shudder.

With both hands he pulls my hair off my shoulders. He takes the ponytail he’s made with my hair and wraps it around one hand, gently pulling my head back so it’s resting on his thigh.

I gasp, closing my eyes, allowing my body to feel every delicious sensation.

He kisses a necklace across my neck. Licks a trail from my ear to my shoulder. With both hands I trail up his thighs to his stomach, his chest, and into his hair.

I shift so that I’m straddling the bench. His eyes are hooded, lusty. Focused on my mouth. I put my legs over his and he lifts me so that my chest is against his. “Kiss me.”

I touch his face with my hands, suckle on his lower lip.

He moans. “I want your tongue in my mouth, Freckles.”

Glancing at his eyes, I smile and kiss him hard.

“Maddie,” he whispers against my mouth.

The sound of my name on his lips lights me on fire. I want more of his, to be close to him, in every way. His hands find their way under my shirt. He’s stroking my stomach, my back, and over the top of my bra. I can’t help but whimper in pleasure. It comes from a place inside I didn’t know existed. I clutch him tighter, hooking my angles together.

His tongue explores my mouth. There’s a tension building between my legs every time his tongue delves deeper. The feeling is electricity and pain, a delicious ache. It takes my breath away.

He presses me down so my back is against the bench and my head is half on, half off. My hair hanging over the edge. I watch him touch me, the way his hands move across my body. Fight for breath. Every cell, every vein, every minute piece of skin is blooming with desire. Kyle pushes up my shirt, and the tips of his fingers brush along my stomach. I realize he’s tracing my tattoos with his fingers. Taking his time. I let out another whimper. He leans down, and kisses my stomach, his lips and teeth explore down to the button on my jeans.

My body is tuned in. Awake. Alive.

A big smile cuts into my face. I sit up, desperate to have his mouth on mine again. It’s new. Kissing. Touching. I don’t know if he wants more. My body wants it all—but not yet. Kissing and touching is more than amazing.

He cracks a grin. “What are you thinking?” he asks tenderly.

I move my hands along his chest to his collarbones and down his arms. “I want to kiss you again.”

He answers by covering my mouth with his, urging my mouth open and kissing me so deeply, so passionately, I feel it in my toes. His kisses are desperate, fierce, and hungry. I match his urgency, kiss for kiss. My tongue twirls and dances with his. It feels like we’re one. I’ve pressed my body so tightly against his I can hear and feel his heart beating. He’s mine, and I never want to let him go.

Many, many minutes later, he slows his kisses. His breathing slackens. I match his pace. My lips are swollen and my face feels raw from the scruff on his face. He suckles my bottom lip, and I sigh. Content. Happy.

“That was… You are…” I trail off.

Kyle’s features are serious. Does he regret what happened?

“What’s wrong?”

He takes my hands, and turns them over, like he’s studying them or seeing them for the first time.

“I’m sorry,” I say, realizing he probably wants more. That he’s used to much, much more.

He grabs me and pulls me tightly against him. “Maddie, you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever known.” His voice is filled with tender astonishment.

I feel the same way about him, but I can’t find my voice. We stay wrapped in each other’s arms a long time. Until finally he pulls me off the bench and walks me home.

At the door he asks, “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I have a test to study for.”

“Can I cook you dinner at my place?”

My face lights up. “What time?”

“I’ll pick you up at six.”