Page 111 of Try Easy

Lou raised up onto her toes and threaded her fingers through Keoni’s wet hair.

Keoni backed Lou against the wall and kissed her hard enough to bruise her mouth. The stubble on his chin raked over her face. His fingers gripped her hips, and he lifted her off her feet, slamming her into the wall.

Lou wound her legs around Keoni’s hips and opened her mouth to his tongue. He groaned and shifted his mouth to her cheek, grazing her skin with his teeth.

“I can’t ask you to suffer for me,” he said in a hoarse voice, leaning his forehead against hers.

“I already am,” she said, looking into his eyes.

Lou was pinned between the wall and Keoni’s body, and his head was heavy on hers. She liked the solid feel of him on top of her, and the intensity of his hot gaze trapping hers.

“Keoni?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re crushing me,” she said.

“Oh.” His eyes crinkled in the corners and he laughed. “Sorry.”

Keoni lifted his head off Lou’s and scooped her higher into his arms. He carried her into the kitchen and set her down on the counter so that they were eye to eye. Standing between her legs, he planted his hands next to her hips and resumed looking her in the eye with the same intensity as a moment ago. The towel had fallen off his hips sometime in the last few minutes. Lou saw that he was blissfully naked and completely unconcerned with it.

“You deserve the best,” Keoni said. “I can’t give that to you.” He sighed heavily. “I don’t even know what I can give you.”

“You gave me your soul,” she said. “Are you taking it back?”

Keoni flinched, and Lou knew her plan had worked. She had counted on his pride not letting him take back something he had given her.

While he was vulnerable, she pressed her advantage, peppering his face with kisses. She kissed his chin, his jaw, and finally his mouth. She took her time on his mouth. She kissed him just like he kissed her—with slow, torturous patience until finally, Keoni kissed her back.

“Does that mean I can stay?” Lou asked when they parted.

Keoni gathered her closer, until they were lined up with their chests touching. “Do you really want to?” he asked.

Lou looked into his eyes, and she saw the desperation and raw need in them. Keoni would forgive himself eventually, and she would be there every step of the way to make sure he did.

She shrugged, clutching Keoni’s shoulders as he scooted her even closer. “I don’t have anything better to do,” she said.

THE END

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