Page 43 of You are the Reason

I didn’t realise I had closed my eyes until my ass is placed onto the cold marble of the bathroom counter top. The his and her sinks span the length of the wall, the marble a luxe black in colour. I have to blink a few times to focus, when I do Tanner is kneeling between my legs, unbuckling my heels. Pairing them together, he sits them in the corner and reaches to unbutton my jeans. I lean back onto my forearms, and lift slightly, allowing him to tug them off.

“You can get back down on your knees if you like.” As the words leave my mouth I swear I see him blush. I never thought I would see the day where Tanner Hayes was blushing in the bedroom — well technically the bathroom.

“Arms up,” he says, ignoring me.

I narrow my eyes whilst raising my arms, maybe it’s the alcohol but the desire I can normally see in his bright baby blues is missing. He finishes undressing me and slips one of his grey tee’s over my head.

“Since when did my dark knight turn into a white knight?”

“A knight is still a knight, Pip. Regardless of the armour they wear. I will always be whatever you need me to be — tonight you need to sleep.” I open my mouth to speak but he places a finger over it.Did he just shush me — I think he just shushed me.“Don’t think for a second that I don’t want to bend you over this vanity and make you watch yourself come over and over again, whilst you milk every drop from me.” He runs his fingers along the black marble. “Fuck, it’s taking every fibre of my being not to do that right now. You’re more than that though Kinsley; I need you to know you mean so much more than that to me.”

I try to push off, to jump down onto my feet, but again he scoops me up into his arms and carries me over to the bed. I know I’m drunk, but I’m still capable of knowing what I want. Right now, what I want is an orgasm, if only I had my vibrator here, I’d just do the damn job myself.

Tanner

Kinsley rolls away from me with a huff and pulls the blankets up around her. She’s snooty, I get it and I would think it was cute if I wasn’t so caught up in the feelings I am having for her. I don’t think she realises how badly I want her at this very moment, but I also need her to know what she means to me. This is more than just sex. I don’t knowwhenit turned into more, but it did; it’s been more for a while. I undress down to my briefs and climb into bed. Reaching out I pull her close to me and inhale her shampoo and the sweet smell of the cocktails.

Holding her close, I whisper to her, “I remember meeting this girl a while back. She was shy, with dark brown hair and freckles dusted across her nose.Whenever I spoke, her cheeks would blush — I’d never had a favourite colour, until I met her.” I lace my fingers through hers, resting our hands on her stomach. “That first day, I caught her eye-fucking me from her car. She didn’t know I was watching, but from the second I saw her, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. From that moment my eyes were only for her.”

Kinsley’s breathing begins to even out and I realise she’s asleep. I’m not sure if she heard any of what I had said, but being this deep into my confession, I keep going.

“I convinced myself for six whole months that surprising her with coffee and orgasms was enough. That I could play the role of the mysterious landlord who —”Is it breaking and entering if I had a key? Because trying to find the words to explain the first six months of what we had and saying all of this out loud makes me feel a little creepy.I sigh, changing direction. “— The day I found you passed out in your apartment, a switch flicked within me. Knowing that your own mind and body betrayed you lit a fire inside me. I needed to protect you, not only physically but emotionally. I swore to myself I would protect you, even from yourself. I’m ready, Kins.”

Kinsley lets out a little snore and I almost laugh. I can’t wait to watch her cheeks flush when I tell her that in the morning.

“I was ready for you to freak out because I name dropped you as mygirlfriendin front of Em, but you didn’t.I promise you, a little bit of a messy mind will never scare me away. I love you, Kinsley Mae Fallon and I will spend forever proving that to you.”

I lay there with her wrapped in my arms until she mumbles something and rolls away. Instead of pulling her back into my arms like I normally do, I let her go.

Climbing out of bed, I throw on some sweats and make my way down into my office when I spot Emma at the kitchen counter typing away on her phone.

“Can’t sleep?” I ask, raising my left brow.

“Trying to find a booty call,” she says effortlessly. Before I can comment, she raises her eyes to mine and winks at me.

“I really don’t have the energy to kick someone’s ass tonight, little sister. Don’t play with me.”

“You do realise I’m not twelve years old anymore? Someday, I am going to find someone who won’t be intimidated by you.”

I lean back against the bench, pausing as I lift a glass of water to my lips. She’s right, she isn’ttwelve anymorebut it doesn’t change anything. Whoever she chooses to be with, will need to win me over first. Ignoring the daggers she’s giving me, I stay quiet, drink my water and set my glass down in the sink.

“Promise me one thing before you go tomorrow?”

“Anything,” she says.

“Please don’t be a stranger and come home again soon?”

Emma stands, a devilish twinkle in her eyes. “Who are you and what have you done with my brother?”

“Ha … Ha … Very funny. I mean it, at least think about it?”

She strolls over to me, the alcohol from earlier clearly not affecting her as much as it did Kinsley.

“I’ll be home for Christmas, but I’m only coming if you keepher.” Emma tilts her head towards the stairs leading to my bedroom on the second floor. If only Em knew the lengths I would go to, to keep Kinsley here.

“Between you and me, I don’t plan on ever letting her go.”

She watches me for a moment, then nods. I reach out, pulling her into a bear hug. “You better go get some sleep, Princess.”

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