Unraveling (32 page)

“Katy,” Jared said, calmly
, like he was talking me down from a ledge, “I would love for you to move into tomorrow but clearly, you’re not ready for that. Remember, you’re in control of this, kitten. Okay? No pressure.”

I nodded. “No pressure,” I repeated.

He grinned and nodded at my wrist. “As soon as you’re healed, do you want to start working out with me again?”

“Oh –um- yeah, that would be awesome,” I replied.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You could sound more enthusiastic about it.”

“That’d be great!” I tried to put more oomph into it.

“That’s more like it,” Jared winked.

We finished our meal, wi
th no more talk about our pasts or moving in.

I helped him wash the plates and clean the kitchen.

I suddenly found myself backed into the corner of the kitchen cabinets. Jared’s arms caged me in, one on each side.

“I guess I better take you home,” he said huskily.

“Ye-yeah,” I stuttered.

“I really don’t want to,” his nose swiped across the contours of my cheek. “I want to kiss you until nothing else exists except you and me.”

“Oh, really?” I smiled, my eyes fluttering closed as I prepared myself for the delicate touch of his warm lips.

“Yes… really,” his breath gusted against me.

A few seconds passed and neither of us moved. “Jared? Why aren’t you kissing me?”

He chuckled. “You didn’t give me permission.”

I opened my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling lightly on his short hair. “
You
always have permission to kiss me.”

He
growled before crushing his lips to mine.

His fingers flexed against my hips
and I suddenly found myself lifted on top of the counter. He spread my legs and stepped between them. He kept his hands on my knees and I was thankful that he didn’t venture up my thighs. I loved Jared but I didn’t want his hands going any higher. I could only take so much, before I went running and I really didn’t want that to happen.

Jared pulled away. “I should take you home now,” he said breathlessly.

I cupped his cheeks. “You’re probably right.”

He nodded and backed up. I jumped down from the counter and straightened my clothes.

“We needed tonight,” I told him, gathering my purse.

He grinned, sticking his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, we did.”

I pulled my coat on and Jared grabbed his keys. I waited by the door but he didn’t move.

“What is it?” I asked.

He looked to his side, his jaw clenched, and a muscle ticking. “I really don’t want you to go, not yet.”

“I-”

He held up a hand. “We can watch a movie,” Jared pointed at the TV. “And then I can take you home. I just need a little longer, just you and me.”

“That’s fine,” I said,
removing my coat and dropping my purse. I took a seat on the small couch.

Jared sat beside me and wiped his palms on his jeans. “I feel like an awkward teen, again,” he chuckled, glancing at me. “I don’t mean to guilt you. I’ll take you home, if that’s what you want.”

I smiled. It was nice to see Jared getting all twisted up; normally it was me.

“Jared, you know me well enough by now, to know that if I wanted to leave, I would.”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “You would.” He chuckled, “I’m sure you’d run right out the door, leaving a Katy shaped impression behind.”

I traced my finger around the crook of his thumb and index finger.
“I said I wouldn’t run anymore and I meant it. Sometimes, I might get the urge, but I’m not going to run from you, not any longer.”

He let out a relieved sigh. “I know… but I still worry.”

“We’re human, Jared, we worry. Now, about that movie?”

“Oh, right,” he stood up and started rummaging through the cabinet the TV sat on. “Is the
Fast and the Furious
good with you?” He held up a DVD case.

“I don’t care,” I shrugged.

He bent and put the DVD in the player and grabbed a different remote.

He sat down and stretched his arm across the back of the couch. I kicked off my shoes and curled up beside him. I felt his lips press against the top of my head and I sighed in contentment.

The movie started and I felt my eyes grow heavy.

I felt a blanket drape across my shoulders and Jared murmured in my ear, “Love you,
kitten.”

I tried to say something back but it came out sounding like some kind of alien sleep talk.

He chuckled, his chest rumbling against my ear, and that was the last thing I remembered.

~***~

Sunlight streamed across my skin, warming me and blinding me in the process.

I cracked my eyes open and startled.

There were very warm, very muscular, arms wrapped around me. Jared had me cuddled against his chest like I was a teddy bear and his face was buried in my neck. His breath gusted against me, making my skin tickle.

I knew
my breath had to smell terrible and I should extract myself from his arms before he woke up, but I just couldn’t do it.

This moment, it was too perfect to ruin with insecurities.

Instead, I cuddled up closer to him and drew the blanket over both of us.

I closed my eyes, but I didn’t go back to sleep.

I wanted to enjoy this moment. I wanted to memorize the feel of Jared’s arms around me, and the fact that I loved it. After going so long without touching anyone this way, it felt amazing. It was a sense that everyone took for granted. Touch, was everything.

Jared’s arms squeezed
gently around me, “You awake?” he asked quietly, yawning.

“Yeah,” I whispered, not wanting to pop the peaceful bubble we had created.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” he cradled me to his chest. “I meant to take you home.”

“Jared,” I said.

“Yeah?”

“I’m right where I want to be,” I kissed his stubble covered cheek.

“Good,” he smiled.

28

Jared carried his suitcase down the steps and looked between Karlie and me.

“Don’t burn the house down,” he pointed at his little sister.

She rolled her eyes. “You te
ll me that every time you leave; look around Jare, the house is still standing.”

He chuckled. “Give me a hug, squirt.”

Karlie wrapped her arms around her big brother. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too,” he held on tight.

I loved how much Jared cared about his sister.

“Win your fight for me,” Karlie pulled away.

“I always win,” Jared chuckled.

Karlie laughed. “Not always, Jare.”

Jared shook his head. “Let’s put it this way, I haven’t lost a fight since I met my good luck charm.” He grabbed my hand, pulling me against his chest.

“Oh, so now
, I’m good luck charm?” I raised a brow.

“Yep,” he grinned, “you’re the best charm out there and I’ll wear you proudly.”

“Ew,” Karlie gagged. “I’m out of here. I can’t watch my brother put the moves on, that’s just gross.”

I heard her feet pound up the steps.

Jared licked his lips. “I’m really going to miss you.”

“You’re only gone for two days,” I reminded him.

He grinned. “The thought of you, here in my house, sleeping in my bed and not getting to wake up to your pretty blue eyes, is going to drive me mad.”

I blushed at his words, a shiver skating up my spine.

“I love when I make you blush,” Jared skimmed his thumb over my heated cheek. “I love how your body reacts to me, how you hum when I touch you,” his fingers glided down my neck, and
of course
my treacherous body sang at his touch. My body had a mind of its own when it came to Jared. He made me feel things, do things and apparently
hum
things. Apparently, I just have no control.

“I’m going to miss you, too,” I finally
, said and then gasped as his mouth pressed against my neck and then his tongue flicked out. The moan that came out of my mouth was embarrassing.

Oh, dear God, save me.

Jared chuckled and then lightly bit the spot he’d just licked.

“I love you, kittycat.
I’ll call you when I get there,” he kissed my lips and quickly let me go, grabbing up his suitcase.

My legs were like Jell-O, so I leaned against the stair railing for support. Hopefully, my knees would stop shaking once he was gone.

“I’ll keep my phone on me,” I told him. He opened the door and was almost gone when I cried, “Jared!”

“Yeah?” he opened the door all the way.

“Be careful… please? Don’t get hurt,” I pleaded, even though I knew he had no real control over whether or not he got hurt.

“I won’t,” he smiled, closing the door again.

“And I love you, too!”

“Bye Katy,” he chuckled, and then closed the door all the way.

I stood in front of the window and watched him leave. He looked back and I waved, hoping he would see me.

I watched un
til I couldn’t see his car any more and then went upstairs, knocking hesitantly on Karlie’s bedroom door.

“It’s unlocked,” she said.

I opened the door and leaned against the jamb.

“I should have asked if you already had plans, but I made an appointment for
you to get a pedicure and manicure.”

The scream that came out of her mouth was high pitched enough to shatter glass.

I waited for the ringing in my ears to stop and then said, “I take it that you’re excited?”

“Yes!” She squealed, tossing the book she was reading on her flower bedspread. “Please, marry my brother so we can do girl stuff
, all the time.”

I laughed. “Let’s keep it at just dating for a little while longer. I can only handle so much change.”

“When are we supposed to go?” Karlie asked.

“The appointment is an hour from now,” I looked at my watch.

“Good, that gives me time to change,” she began rummaging through her dresser drawer.

“I’ll be downstairs. Take your time. We can stop and get some frozen yogurt on our way,” I told her, backing out of her room.

“Sweet,” she said, clutching a new outfit to her chest.

Looking for something to do, I cleaned the kitchen counters and put away the clean dishes.

“I’m ready!” Karlie yelled and I heard her feet thump down the steps.

She had changed into a pair of leggings and a loose, cape-like, sweater that was long enough to be a dress. Her bright red-orange hair hung down her back.

I finished putting the dishes away and grabbed my car keys.

I had made up mind that I was going to get a new car, one
I
wanted, but it turned out mine wasn’t in as bad condition as Jared believed, so I opted to have it fixed. It meant fewer questions my mother would ask, because if she saw that I bought a new car, I’d get a ton. Getting it fixed was one less mother-induced headache I would have to deal with.

I pulled into the strip mall parking lot and grabbed my
wallet. The frozen yogurt place and the nail salon were in the same section, so we’d just walk.

I ordered vanilla
with sprinkles and Karlie got lemonade flavor.

We took a seat at the barstools that looked out the large glass windows that faced the parking lot.

“This is really good,” Karlie sighed.

I swirled the vanilla frozen yogurt around my tongue and swallowed. “Yeah, it is.” I dug in for another bite.

“Thank you for doing all of this, Katy. I know you don’t have to,” Karlie licked her spoon.

“I wanted to,” I shrugged, staring at the rainbow sprinkles. I was never very good when people thanked me for something. I was doing this because I wanted to, not for approval or praise.

“You’re a good person, Katy. I’m glad my brother found you. It’s about time he found a kindred soul.”

“I’m the lucky one,” I told her and it was true.

A smile lit her brown eyes. “I’m glad you feel that way about him, he deserves to have someone love him the way you do. I hope-” she looked distantly out the window. “I hope I can find someone that loves me the way you and my brother love each other. I want that all consuming, one in a lifetime, kind of love. I just don’t know if it’s in the stars for me.”

“Of course it is,” I said, tilting my head to study her. “Why don’t you think so?”

She shrugged, swirling her yogurt with her spoon. “I’ve been hung up on someone who won’t ever love me back, for so long that I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it.”

“Holden,” I stated and she nodded.