Page 18 of The Last Key
“It’s okay. Perfect.” His smooth voice sends a chill up my spine.
Realizing the tone of his voice, he steps back and hurries into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
I think I won that round.
A little while later, I’m cozy in bed when there’s movement next to me.
“Kend?”
“Hm?” I mumble, flashing my eyes open. Devon lifts my phone from my hand and sets it on the bedside table.
“You need to sleep.”
“I think I was.”
“I know. Seemed like you were trying to stay up.”
I was going to tease him more, but I’m exhausted. Two hours of sleep this morning did not make up for me not sleeping last night.
“I was waiting for you,” I whisper, sliding down farther as Devon pulls the covers up. “I like to cuddle, remember? That’s part of the point of this, right?”
He looks at me for a beat, then smiles. “Right. Come here.” He extends his arm, and I roll over so I’m nestled against him.
For this reason alone, sharing a bedroom was a good idea. I love snuggling with him. After everything that’s happened today, I’m still having fun teasing and flirting with him, but I’m also excited to see what happens tomorrow.
CHAPTER SIX
DEVON
Wednesday
I waketo the sound of quiet breathing, my arm draped over Kennedy’s waist and her short brown hair splayed across the pillow next to me. Her arm is resting on mine, and I feel more at home than ever. This is where I’m supposed to be. How I’m supposed to wake up each morning—arms wrapped around the woman I… love.
That’s not easy to admit. I feel like an idiot when I do. For spending years with her deep in my heart. At one point last year, I tried to convince myself it was my way of closing off. If I loved her, I didn’t have to care for anyone else. Like imagining myself with her was some protective response. So, I spent a few months committed to dating. I know my parents want me to find the right person, get married, and have kids. I want those things, too.
We host speed dating at the inn once a month, so I gave it a go. There was a woman I hit it off with. She was new to the area, and we went out on a few dates, but when it became clear she hadfeelings for me, I panicked. Not because I didn’t want that. God, I wanted that. It would’ve been so easy had I felt something for her, but I didn’t. In the back of my mind, Kennedy was still all I could think about.
I had a few more dates with other women, a couple of whom I also slept with, but I still couldn’t get Kennedy out of my head. I couldn’t stop imagining myself with her. That was when I had to accept it. It wasn’t a crush. Not me trying to avoid a serious relationship. It was Kennedy, my best friend, who, at some point, I’d fallen in love with.
I thought I was completely hopeless until yesterday. From dancing in the kitchen to that moment in the pantry, to last night. God, hearing her moan in the shower about did me in. When I knocked on the door, I mostly did it to make sure I wasn’t hearing things. When she awkwardly told me she was singing, I knew for sure.
Damn, I hope while she moaned like that, she thought of me—of all the things I’d do to her perfect body. Then I caught her bent over the dresser in a goddamn towel and I almost blew a load in my pants. I’ve never run as hot for her as I do right now. Then again, I’ve never let my feelings for her near the surface before, either. I’ve been so scared to lose her because of my feelings. I never believed she could have similar ones for me. I still don’t know for sure that she does. Maybe she wants to screw me and get it out of her system. Maybe she wants what I do. Maybe she just wants to take a chance and see. I have no idea, but I’m enjoying the fun we’re having, playfully pushing boundaries. Like when she walked out here in my T-shirt last night. I saw her take clothes into the bathroom, which means she decided to wear my shirt when she saw it hanging there. Sure, it’s comfortable, but I know that’s not why she did it.
Now she’s lying in my arms wearing a shirt with my last name on it. There’s nothing hotter. And my dick has gotten the message. My hard-on is now pressing into her ass, and I’d beworried, but worst case, I can just pretend I’m asleep if she notices.
After a yawn, I pull her closer and close my eyes again, imagining what it would be like to act on my desires. Maybe I’ll drift off and dream about it.
Then Kennedy groans and pushes her ass into my rock-hard dick.
My heart stops for a second. Is she awake or asleep? There’s no good way for me to find out without getting handsy—which I won’t ever do. We’re not in a relationship, and I have no idea if she’d be comfortable with me touching her, so beyond where my arm is wrapped around her, I’ll keep my hands to myself. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I relax and let this play out.
She groans again and rolls her perfect ass over my cock.
Don’t thrust your hips.
She whimpers, and I almost lose it.
Then she lets out a breathy “oh” and I actually think she might be awake.
