Celina (Connelly Cousins #1) (19 page)

Lina rested her head on the arm of the sofa, while Michael patted her gently with the towel. When she was dry, he traced some of the lines along the back of her shoulder blade with his finger. Kyle clenched his jaw, remembering how he had done the same. How he wanted to do so again,
after
breaking every one of Michael’s fingers for touching her like that.

“Tell me about your tattoo.”

“You know I don’t want to talk about that.”

“I know, but tell me anyway.”

Lina sighed heavily. “I wanted to be sexy.” Kyle almost choked. She had to be the sexiest woman he’d ever seen, with or without the tat.

“Why would you think a tattoo would make you sexy?”

“Bikers like tattoos, Michael,
everybody
knows that.”

“Yes, I’m sorry. Were you trying to impress anyone in particular?”

Lina’s eyes drifted closed. “Yes, but it’s a secret. You’d kill Kyle if I told you it was him.” Michael’s lips curved up in an affirming smirk, his gaze flicking to where Kyle sat.

“You’re right, I probably would. You’d better not tell me who it was, then. Why did you pick those colors?”

“Tiny said the green would match my eyes.”

“And the blue?”

Lina sighed heavily. “I told Tiny I wanted blue to match Kyle’s eyes, because they’re so beautiful.” Kyle couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She’d done that for him?

Michael rubbed Lina’s back slowly. “Has Kyle seen your tattoo?”

“Yes. But it doesn’t matter.”

“Why doesn’t it matter, Lina? Didn’t he like it?”

“I don’t want to talk about Kyle, Michael.”

“Why not?” Lina flipped over again and shifted, curling up next to Michael. She laid her head on his chest, pointedly ignoring him, but he persisted, putting his finger under her chin to keep her from burrowing further into him. “Why don’t you want to talk about Kyle, Lina?”

From where he was sitting Kyle could see the tears welling up in her eyes.
Don’t do this
,
Michael,
he pleaded silently.
Don’t do this.

“He doesn’t want me. He said he doesn’t want me because I never... because I was a virgin.” A deeper flush crept over the natural blush of her hot-tub warmed skin. “... And that I’m not worth it. He told me he wanted me to be with Jamie instead. But I don’t want Jamie.” Lina tried to roll off of Michael’s lap, but he pulled her back easily with one large hand.

“Oh, no you don’t,” he said. Kyle suddenly understood why the Rover was blocking in the cycle. He began to feel a grudging respect for the man, grateful that Michael was around to take care of her, when he hadn’t been. What kind of trouble would Lina have gotten herself into if this guy hadn’t been looking out for her?

“Who is Jamie?”

“Jamie is Kyle’s brother. He’s really, really nice. He asked me to marry him, but I said no. I can’t.”

Holy fucking shit.
Jamie asked her to marry him? When did that happen? And why the fuck hadn’t Jamie said anything earlier when he’d shown up on his doorstep?

“Why can’t you marry Jamie?” Michael pressed. Kyle leaned forward to hear her answer.

“Because I’m in love with someone else.”

“Who are you in love with, Lina?”

“I love you, Michael.” Kyle’s heart twisted painfully.

“Yes, I know you love me, little one. And I love you too. Who else?”

Lina was having trouble keeping her eyes open. “I love Johnny.”
Johnny?

“Yes, Johnny loves you very much, too.”

“And Kyle. I
really
love Kyle. Even though he doesn’t love me. I thought we were
croies
, but he wouldn’t have said those awful things if we were, would he, Michael?”

Michael’s eyes flicked his way over Lina’s head. “Maybe he was just scared.”

“No,” Lina breathed. “Not Kyle. It’s just me.” Her lip started to wobble.

“Ssshhh, don’t cry, Lina.” Michael stroked the hair away from her face.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to. It’s crazy, I know, but I love him.”

“Maybe you should be telling him that, hmm?”

“I could never tell Kyle I love him, Michael.” She sniffed.

“Why not?”

“He’d hate me for it. And I couldn’t bear to see the pity in his eyes. Not when he doesn’t want me.” Lina closed her eyes, causing tears to spill over onto her cheeks. Michael shot Kyle a death look, then brushed away the crystal droplets.

“Don’t cry, Lina. It’s okay.”

“Michael?” she sniffed.

“Yes?”

“You are the best big brother ever.”

Kyle nearly fell off of his seat.
Big brother? Holy shit.
No wonder those flashing green eyes looked so goddamned familiar.

“Thanks, little one.”

“But don’t tell Johnny I said so, ‘k? It’ll hurt his feelings.”

“It’ll be our secret. Now, how about we get you to bed?”

“Okay.” She leaned back against Michael and closed her eyes.

Michael got up with Lina in his arms and walked over to where Kyle sat dumbfounded in the corner.

“Heard enough?” Kyle nodded.

“Do you love her?”

“More than anything, man.”

“Then fix this.” Michael placed Lina in his arms. Soft and warm, she felt like heaven against him.

“Mmmmm,” she murmured, more asleep than awake. Lina nuzzled into Kyle’s neck and sighed. “You smell like Kyle.”

“It is Kyle,” said Michael. “He’s come for you, Lina. He’s going to take you to your room now, okay?”

“Okay, Michael. ‘Night.”

Michael glared at him. “Do the right thing or I
will
kill you.”

K
yle pulled the covers down and placed Lina gently on the bed. She looked so beautiful lying there, her features relaxed in an alcohol-induced slumber. She was here, she was safe, and the ache in his chest had all but gone away. What the hell did he do now?

Removing his leather jacket, he draped it over the chair in the corner and stared at her. So beautiful. An angel with the heart of a biker. Kyle still didn’t think he deserved her, but for some reason he couldn’t begin to fathom, she had chosen him. He’d done what he thought was right, but there was no way he could turn away a third time. She had her chance to walk away, but she hadn’t. And now there was no way he was ever letting her go.

With a few quick tugs, Kyle relieved her of her still-damp bathing suit, gazing upon her luscious golden skin, skin he wanted desperately to caress and taste and pleasure. And he would. Later. Repeatedly. But for now, he was going to man-up and take care of his woman.

Next, Kyle removed his shirt, put her in that, then took off his boots and crawled into bed with her. He held her close against him, breathing in the scent of her hair, feeling her warmth seep into him. He hadn’t realized how cold he’d felt inside before Lina.

Lina turned into him, wrapping one leg over his hip and putting her lips to his neck. Thank God he’d kept his jeans on. The woman had his number; just that slight contact and he was fired up and ready to go. Blood rushed southward in eager preparation, but enough remained in his head to keep him from his baser urges. He made do with pulling her closer and stroking her back.

“I love you, Kyle,” she murmured sleepily. “Make love to me.”

Damn if that wasn’t exactly what his body was screaming for him to do, but he wouldn’t. She was drunk and half-asleep, and he was going to make sure her first time was special.

“Not now, Lina. Not like this.”

“But this is
my
dream, Kyle. You can’t reject me in my dreams, too.”
Ouch.

“This isn’t a dream. I’m really here. And you’re drunk.”

“Then it’s perfect, isn’t it? You could have sex with me and I won’t remember, so you’ll be off the hook. No guilt.”

That thought had him ready to put his fist right through the wall. If – no,
when
- he took her innocence, he was going to brand himself onto her very soul so she would never, ever forget that it was him that had done so. He would be her first. Her last. Her only.

“I could never have sex with you, Lina.”

“This dream sucks.” The corners of Kyle’s mouth twitched.

“Sex is just a physical release,” he said softly, brushing his lips across her forehead. “That’s not enough. I want to make love to you for hours on end, every day for the rest of your life. And I want our first time to be perfect.”

Lina opened her eyes, seeming to realize for the first time that she wasn’t dreaming. Gone was the slumberous look, though her eyes remained a bit unfocused. “But you said - ”

Kyle cupped her face with his hand, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “I know what I said, Lina, and I’m an idiot. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I am never letting you go again. I’m in love with you. I’m so fucking in love with you I can’t see straight. And the second you’re sober, I am going to
show
you just how in love with you I am.”

Her gaze moved from his eyes to his lips and back up again, as if trying to gauge the truth from them. “Promise?”

“With all my heart, Lina. With all my heart.”

* * *

L
ina awoke, certain that she had dreamed everything. But the heavy arm wrapped snugly around her waist, and the feel of a hot, hard male body pressed against her quickly dispelled that notion.

Kyle.

What was he doing here? She closed her eyes tight and struggled to remember something, anything that would explain this. She vaguely remembered Michael pulling her out of the hot tub, scolding her for drinking, talking about tattoos, and then... Michael’s voice echoed in her head:
He’s come for you, Lina. He’s going to take you to your room now.

It was followed closely by Kyle’s and the promise he had made.

Anticipation surged through her; her mouth felt dry and her resting heart rate flew into overdrive. She turned over to see his eyes already open, impossibly blue, looking at her intently. His hair was slightly damp, and he smelled fresh and clean and very Kyle-like.

“It wasn’t a dream,” she whispered. “You’re really here.”

* * *

K
yle tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, but it was a lost battle. Her hair was a wild, untamed mass, framing those big, gorgeous eyes. What he wouldn’t give to wake up to this every morning. “How do you feel?”

“Stone cold sober,” she deadpanned.

Kyle’s lips twitched. She remembered.

“No hangover?”

“None whatsoever.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Kyle used his body to move her onto her back, leaning in to kiss her, but her hand came up and blocked him. “Morning breath,” she mumbled.

He chuckled. As if he gave a shit about that. He tugged her hand away and kissed her, long and deep until she surrendered. One hand lifted the hem of the shirt she wore.
His
shirt.

“Have you been up long?” she moaned, when Kyle moved his lips to the skin beneath her jaw.

“Oh, I’ve been
up
for hours, sweetheart.” To illustrate, he guided her hand to the rock hard proof beneath the denim. His fingertips brushed lightly against her skin as he gently tugged the soft cotton up and over her head. Lina trembled in anticipation; her breathing grew increasingly heavy.

“You’re trembling, Lina, and I haven’t even done anything yet.” His lips hovered just above her skin; she shivered in response, her nipples pebbling into hardened tips he longed to taste. Kyle ran one finger from the base of her neck, down between her breasts, and over her belly, hooking his finger in the tiny gold hoop she wore there.

“Mmmm. Did I ever mention how incredibly sexy this is?” he asked, following the same path with his mouth. He tongued the ring for a minute or two while his right hand nudged between her thighs and then groaned.

“Ah, fuck, Lina. You are so wet for me.” He rubbed her sex gently, teasing her by inserting only the tip of one finger and circling with tiny, but effective swirls. Licking his lips, he kissed over her hips and continued southward, inhaling the scent of her like an exquisite perfume.

“No, Kyle,” she protested, tangling her fingers in his hair and tugging. She was already breathless. “Not that. I want you inside me. Before... before you change your mind again.”

He growled, the doubt in her voice piercing through him like a finely honed blade. He wasn’t going to stop. Not now, not ever. “Just a taste, baby. I need just a little taste. I swear, soon I’ll be buried so deep inside you you’ll feel me in your soul. But you are just ... so ... delicious.”

Kyle continued teasing her with his fingers as he lowered his head and gave her a long, thorough lick. She was his. His to taste. His to savor.

Lina arched into a near-perfect backbend when he flicked his tongue across her swollen nub and then sucked it between his teeth. He was forced to remove his finger and use both hands in an attempt to lock her hips in place.

“Kyle, please!” she begged, squirming against his iron hold.

Kyle reluctantly pulled away and began slowly sliding his body up hers. He stopped briefly to tongue her navel ring again, then to suckle one breast while rolling the hardened tip of the other between his fingers. Lina clawed at his shoulders, trying unsuccessfully to pull him farther up her body.

“Easy, baby. I want this to be perfect.”

“It will be perfect, because it’s with you. I want it to be NOW.” Kyle laughed against her breast, and nipped at her with his teeth. “You’ve waited this long. Can’t you wait just a little longer?”

“NO! Please, Kyle, please. I’ll do anything you want if you give me this now, please.”

Her desperation was humbling. “Anything?”

“Yes, God, anything.
Please
.”

Kyle jumped off the bed only long enough to remove his jeans and briefs, then eased himself back over Lina. His thick, pulsing shaft pressed into her belly. She wriggled underneath him, running her hands over his ass.

“I love the way you grab my ass,” he hissed, devouring her mouth with a bruising kiss. She squeezed him tighter, scraping him lightly with her nails, and he let out another slow hiss. Rocking his hips, he coated his shaft with her silky wetness, then lifted up just enough to grab it and position himself at her opening. His swollen head jerked as if it was trying to get in all by itself.