Page 20 of Love's Instant Replay
“Let them.” Threading our fingers together, Kaeden’s desire-filled eyes peer into mine. “They already know you’re mine, so it’s whatever.”
My heart dances and leaps in my chest at that declaration because the confidence in Kaeden’s tone lets me know that whatever happens from here will be a turning point in what’s building between us. Allowing myself to enjoy this, I lean into Kaeden, pressing my lips to his, deciding to savor the comfort I’m experiencing. Kaeden releases my hands, wrapping his arms around my waist while deepening the kiss as his tongue slips into my mouth.
“Mm.” The moan escapes as my body temperature increases once our tongues begin an exploration of discovery.
The mint mixed with lime flavor from the beer Kaeden had been drinking gives me a heady feeling as I grip his shirt tight. My heart pumps wildly in my chest as my juices percolate in my lower region. Kaeden isn’t just great on the field. He’s also skilled in kissing and making me wonder what else he’s good at.
“We gotta stop, Kyelle, or the embarrassment you feared initially will be twofold,” Kaeden says after disconnecting our lips.
His eyes are glowing with want, need, and something I’m unable to decipher as I nod while taking a step back. It’s time to get out of this kitchen.
SendingKyelle back outside without me was necessary, or all my teammates would be privy to seeing my dick attempting to break free. It took me ten minutes, a pep talk, and a visual of two dogs stuck together to get my dick to go back to normal. Now I’m sitting at this table trying to pretend like Kyelle hasn’t been distant since leaving the kitchen.
“What the hell are you doing, bro? You just fucking reneged,” my teammate Junior shouts, instantly shifting my assessing eyes from Kyelle to the table where I’m supposed to be engaging in a game of spades.
“Why are you yelling? I didn’t renege.” My voice lacks confidence or confirmation as my focus has been solely on Kyelle engaging with some of the team’s WAGS in attendance.
Kyelle hasn’t looked in my direction once, and her fake laughing isn’t reaching her eyes. I’m unsure what’s wrong with Kyelle, but the urge to find out overcomes me.
“Aye, who wants to take my hand?” Looking around the perimeter, I wait for someone to volunteer.
“Oh, now you want somebody to take over for you. If your ass wasn’t serious about playing, you should have never sat down. Now you’re gonna cost us this hand,” Jr. rants with tight eyes and a frown.
“I got you, C man. I can see your interest is elsewhere,” my other teammate Braxton says, giving me the out I’m seeking.
Without another word, I stand and hand Braxton my cards before heading toward Kyelle with my mind racing.
“If another one of you sappy mothafuckas jump the broom before I do, I’m gonna—” someone says behind me, but I don’t turn to acknowledge who’s talking when Kyelle’s eyes connect with mine.
My chest tightens and releases the longer our eyes meet, and the urge to erase the worry in Kyelle’s eyes increases my steps.
“Excuse me, ladies. I’m gonna borrow Kyelle for a minute,” I say, cutting into the conversation happening around Kyelle.
“Bring her back. We’re bonding,” one of the girlfriends tells me, smiling.
Giving her the hand gesture for okay, I assist Kyelle out of her seat before leading her further away from the group. Oddly, my heart rate increases, and my temple vein pulses wildly with every step we take away from the attendees.
“Is something wrong?” Kyelle asks, and her brows hike while she peers intently into my eyes after we stop walking a short distance away from where everyone else is.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. Why have you been avoiding me, Ms. Ky?” Puckering my lips, I give her my bestpouty face, or the one I’ve stolen from Mica who uses it against me anytime she doesn’t get her way.
“I wasn’t trying to, but the snickers and whispers from your friends once I returned out here had me feeling like we needed some separation so they could cool down. I’ve never seen so many grown men gossiping and acting like schoolgirls, so it took me back.”
A low chuckle escapes my mouth at the eye roll Kyelle does after talking about my boys. I can only imagine how they looked because some of them are notorious gossipers.
“My bad. I didn’t plan on?—”
“I’m not sorry about kissing you. In fact, I can’t wait to do it again. But I didn’t expect men with women of their own to be giving me cheesy grins and making googly eyes once I walked back outside.”
“Ignore those neanderthals.”
“Trust me. Bonding with their women meant hearing some interesting stories about the culprits I can’t wait to use in retaliation one day.” The sinister grin Kyelle gives has me taking a casual step back while staring at her.
“Uh, is there something I need to be worried about, Ms. Ky?”
“Eventually. For now, let’s get back to the festivities. We’ve given your friends enough to talk about.”
With that, Kyelle steps away from me, leaving me to watch the sway of her hips as she returns to the group of women. When she sits down and leans in whispering, causing the women to laugh, I shake my head and head toward the cooler to grab another beer. As long as there isn’t any beef between Kyelle and me, I don’t care what she does as payback for my boys.
