Until her soft fingers reach up and cup my cheek.
"You have no idea what hearing you say all of that does to me, do you?"
"Fuck," I bit out harshly and reach up to pull her hand from my face, pressing it against my rapidly beating heart. "You make me feel alive, Willow Tate. I feel alive after years of nothing but loneliness. Knowing I'm just miles from dropping you off has that loneliness closing back in on me."
"You aren't the only one who feels alive after years of feeling like you were walking around dead." She takes a deep breath, one I feel as if it were my own. "I would be lying if I didn't admit I'm apprehensive about the things you can't tell me, but in order to trust you, well, I have to start somewhere."
God, she's stronger than she even realizes.
"I'm a selfish man, Willow. I want you with an intensity that's quickly becoming a living, breathing need."
I study her face before she shocks the shit out of me and leans over to press her lips to mine. Soft and brief, but if you asked me if I could stop a train with my pinky finger right now, I would probably run to the nearest tracks and prove I could.
She settles back in her seat and with a small smile, nods her head toward the road. "Take me home before Mama Kirby grounds me for breaking curfew."
Five minutes later, I'm punching in the code to the front gate and pulling the SUV down the driveway. I should be embarrassed that I lost my shit back there, but I feel better than I did before leaving the set that she isn't upset I couldn't tell her more about Mia.
I have no doubt that the feeling of dread I felt when she asked about her and the situation I find myself in is what sparked the growing ache the closer we got to the house. For the first time since I started out on this quest to conquer Willow, I was unsure if I would be able to win her over. Not being able to tell her the truth about Mia when I have been begging her to trust me ... well, if that isn't being a hypocrite, I don't know what is.
It's time I called Mia and figured out how we can fix this, and quick, because I'll be fucking damned if that's what tears Willow from my grasp.
I park in the middle of the circular drive so I'm next to the front door. I put the SUV in park and make myself move to climb from my seat. I keep my eyes on Willow as I walk around the hood, not wanting to look away from her before I have to. Not wanting to lose the feeling having her near does to me.
When I open her door, she grabs her bag and slides from the seat until she's standing before me. I don't back up, so when she straightens, our bodies are just a hair away from touching.
"You have no idea how hard it is not to take you right here, Willow," I groan in complaint. The warmth of her body is causing mine to come alive just knowing how close she is for me to take. I have to tighten my grip on the car door I'm holding open so I don't reach out and pull her body into mine. "I want you. So fucking badly."
She blushes and reaches out her hands to timidly run them up my chest before curling her hands around the back of my neck. I close my eyes and savor her touch. I can still feel the heated burn left behind from the path of her hands. She moves her feet forward the inch needed to press her body against mine. There's no way I can keep my hands off her now.
With my eyes still closed, I let go of the door and allow my hands to grab her hips and pull her roughly against my body, fusing us together. She lets out a small gasp before it turns into a low moan.
Her breathing speeds up and she whispers, "I think I have a pretty good idea just how hard it is, Kane."
My eyes snap open, and I look down into her eyes. With the soft glow of the lights within the house burning out into the darkness around us, I can make out the slight blush against her pale skin. But it's her eyes, always those expressive doe eyes, that tell me what I need to know.
She wants me just as furiously as I want her.
"Kiss me," she pleads.
"Fuck, yeah," I snarl and crash my lips to hers.
HOLY CRAP.
That kiss.
I didn't think it was possible for him to beat the kisses I've had from him so far, but each one seems to grow in intensity.
And that kiss was ... wow.
After reluctantly pulling ourselves apart, he gave me one more slow kiss before walking me to the door. I understood what he meant when he told me that he didn't want to let me go. I felt the same way as I watched him walk heavy footed away from the porch. Each step he took away from me felt as if some imaginary livewire was violently pulling me.
I haven't been able to pull myself from the closed front door since walking in and reluctantly shutting it behind me. The cool glass soothes my feverish skin as I rest my forehead against it.
"Shit, Willow. That was hot."
I spin around and gape at Kirby. She holds up a bottle of wine and two glasses, signaling for me to follow her with a nod. I drop my purse on one of the two chairs to the side of the entryway and follow behind her.
She takes a seat on the couch and I move to the large chair next to the side she settled in. Leaning back, I take a deep breath.
"So? That kiss?"
I look over at Kirby and burst out into a deep laugh, letting the heaviness of the evening and every other overwhelming feeling I've felt since this morning rush out of me as I let go of the tightly wound tension in my body.
Kirby smiles, and before you know it, we've already polished off the whole bottle and started on the next.
"Tell me again," she demands, her voice high with excitement.
"Which part?"
"The part about the charity dinner."
I sigh, remembering how powerful his words were. "He said he felt like he had finally found something he didn't even know he had been searching for. God, Kirby, how crazy is that?"
She lifts her head from where it had been resting against the couch and looks over at me. Stars dance in her eyes and her expression is just shy of dreamy. "That's so romantic, Wills! Holy shit! I mean, who would have thought ... all this time."
"I had no idea. I'm still shocked."
"Tell me what happened next again." She flips onto her belly, reaches out for her glass, and downs the rest of her wine in one gulp, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand when she finishes. "The part when he said you were a witch." Her brows crinkle together trying to remember my words.
"He said ... he said I had bewitched him. What does that even mean?" I pull myself from my crouched position and reach my hands behind me to unsnap my bra and pull it off without removing my shirt, sighing in relief when that torture device hit the ground--away from my breasts.
"That man has it bad, Wills. So bad. Did he really tell you to lean on him and let him be the power?"
I shake my head. "No, he told me to let him be the strength when I can't be ... or something like that."
She sighs.
"Am I crazy?"
"No. Well, yes. Crazy that you didn't molest him right there in the front drive, but I wouldn't say crazy in general."
My eyes widen.
"You thought about it," she smugly states.
She isn't wrong. I ignore her and take another sip of my wine. I can feel my buzz crossing over toward drunk at this point.
"He said it felt like he was coming out of his skin when he thought about dropping me off tonight. Kirb, I felt it too. I didn't want to leave him. I don't know what to do with the way he makes me feel. Isn't it too quick to be feeling something this ... powerful for someone I literally just met?" She sighs again, and I narrow my eyes at her. "You aren't helping," I snap.
"Willow," she starts, the serious tone making me lean forward in my chair so I can focus on her and not the spinning ceiling from moments before. "What you're explaining to me is something that some people never find in their lives. You have a connection to him way beyond the definition of time. It transcends that and has a power of its own. I can't tell you what to do, but if you want my advice, I would tell you to hold on to that and do everything you can never to let go. No matter how scary the enormity of
those feelings can be. If he said let him be strong for you, then let him, but Willow, do not let this go."
"And what about Mia?"
She flops back down and waves her hand in the air. "What about her? He said trust him, and as hard and daunting as that is, do it. I don't know him that well, but Willow, he wouldn't be working this hard if he just wanted a cheap thrill. A man like Kane Masters could have any woman in the world. He's not going anywhere. But more importantly, he's in the public eye. Do you really think he would start something with you if he was already in a relationship, or whatever the hell?"
"I don't know, Kirby. I'm completely new at this!"
"I know, honey," she says and turns her head to meet my eyes. "And it's so beautiful to watch him bring you to life."
I hold her gaze and let her words permeate my mind. Let them take hold of my doubts and squeeze them right out of my head.
She's right. He's bringing me to life.
"I need to let go of my fear once and for all, Kirb. It's time, and you know what? I think I'm ready. Ready for Kane."
I smile, big and toothy. She returns my smile, and with a nod, she sits up and refills our glasses.
I stumble up the stairs and squint my eyes in the darkness. Stupid dark. Stupid stairs. Stupid, weird house I don't know.
Kirby left to head toward the other end of the house a few giggles and thumps ago, leaving me behind to fumble my way toward my temporary bedroom.
Why is this stupid, weird house so big?
It takes me three doorways to finally find the large bedroom where my stuff had been placed. If I hadn't seen the size of Kirby's room earlier, I would feel guilty for taking the master. But now I wish I just had a cot in one of the closets. Then maybe I would be able to find the stupid bed in this big house.
Why is this place so big?
Who needs this much space?
I kick my shoes off and pull my shirt over my head. My nipples tighten when their warmth feels this cool air around me. My pants become a problem when I can't figure out how to get the button through the little hole. My struggles and wiggles make my phone--which I had tucked into my back pocket--drop loudly onto the hardwood floors.
"Stupid phone," I mumble, bending over and picking it up.
Giving up on my pants, I drop down on the mattress and sigh when the softness of the down comforter acts like a warm hug.
I love warm hugs.
I would love to give Kane a big warm hug.
Right now.
I bet my nipples would love that.
My phone scares the crap out of me when it lights up and vibrates in my hand. I let out a gasp followed quickly by a little scream and toss it away from me on the other side of the bed.
My phone lets out a soft hum and my eyes narrow at the evil little device. The third time it goes off, I reach out and squirm against the mattress until I'm able to get my hands on it. Bringing it close to my face, I squint at the offensive brightness that rapes my eyes. It takes me a second, but I finally make out the words on the screen.
Kane: I can still feel your lips.
Kane: I wish you were here.
Kirby: Got ask. Dod yous chk his shoe siz?
The first two steal my breath, but it's Kirby's message that makes me bark out a loud laugh. I'm drunk, but clearly, she's a lot drunker than I am.
Unlocking the phone, I bring up my messages and quickly type out a response to Kane before I chicken out. Kirby can wait. She's probably asleep now anyway since it took me a million years just to get to my room in this stupid big house.
Willow: I can feel your lips too, and I wish I could feel them again. Now.
I smile, feeling proud of myself for flirting back with him. Riding my high, I respond to Kirby. At least she will be able to understand me. Even drunk, I can still work this stupid phone to message her back.
Willow: I didn't look in his shoes, but I felt his big, huge dick when he kissed me good night. You were right. Shoe size means A LOT! ;) I wonder if his big, huge dick tastes as good as his lips?
My smile widens, and I lock my phone before crawling off the bed, almost falling to the floor, and attempting the button on my pants again. It only takes me four times to peel the denim from my legs and kick them off to some dark corner of my room. I should go find something to sleep in, but that would require way too much effort.
I pull my hair back from my face and secure it with the hair tie I had on my wrist. Pulling back the covers and climbing in, I let out a deep sigh when the bed's warm hug once again envelops me.
I had just closed my eyes when I feel my phone vibrate somewhere around my feet. Crap. I forgot about that thing.
Lifting myself away from the warm hug, I fumble around like a blind woman before finally closing my hands around the phone. Why did I want this thing again? I shrug and reach down the side of the bed to connect the charger before lying back down.
"Hello, warm hug bed," I mumble into the darkness.
I was almost asleep when I hear my phone hum again.
"Ugh."
I roll over, fumble with the phone, and almost drop it. When I pick it up, I have to try a ridiculous number of times to unlock it before I finally get the sucker to work. Bringing up my text screen, I click on Kirby's name.
But when I read her message, I feel nothing but confusion. What the heck is she going on about? Why would I want to kiss her?
Oh. My. God.
"No, no, no," I slur and close out of her screen before looking at the only other bold message.
The one from Kane.
The one responding to what I sent him thinking I was responding to Kirby.
I drop my head without opening his message, but it doesn't take long for curiosity to get the best of me. Worrying my lip between my teeth, I press my finger against his message and gasp when it opens.
Kane: Fuck, Willow. You can't say shit like that to me and not have my 'big, huge dick' begging you to take a taste. Goddamn.
Holy crap! How am I supposed to respond to that? Do I tell him it was a mistake? That I'm well beyond drunk?
No.
He liked it. He wasn't mad. Maybe a little shocked, but he liked it. I read back his response and throw caution to the wind. I respond quickly before I can let reason win over my drunken mind.
Willow: I bet you taste delicious. Can I taste you?
I add a little eggplant emoji and the big tongue one before clicking send. Good job, Willow! I bet he'll like that. I smile, letting the rush mix with the alcohol and wait for him to respond. This is fun.
I see the little bubbles that indicate he's typing and wait. The anticipation spiking my newfound courage even higher. I hold my thumbs hovering just above the keypad and get ready for his response so I can be ready to type back.
Kane: Fucking hell. You have no idea how hard I am right now. This is Willow, right?
Willow: Yup.
Kane: Goddamn.
Willow: You didn't tell me I could taste you. I really want to taste you.
Kane: Willow ...
Willow: Kane ...
Kane: I can't decide if it's a good thing I can't get to you or not.
I frown. What does that mean? I might not have a lot of recent practice at tasting a dick, but how hard could it be. It's probably like riding a bike. I should probably let him know that. Then he won't be wondering if I would be any good. He said he was hard, so he must have liked what I asked. Right?
Willow: If you were here, I could taste you. I bet you would like it. It's like riding a bike. I could ride a bike for a long, long time.
I smile and turn to my side, pulling the covers over my shoulder.
Kane: I'm two seconds from driving over there. What would I find, Willow?
I read his message back a few times. What would he find? Well, uh ... duh, me. Oh!
Willow: I'm in bed. Are you in bed? I want to see your bed.
Kane: You're in my bed.
Willow: Uh, no, I'm not. I think I would know if I was in your
bed.
Kane: Fuck, you're adorable.
Willow: You're really, really hot. Do you have your shoes on?
I wonder if he's wearing panties too. Just panties. No. Kane wouldn't wear panties. Boxers. No, boxer briefs. Wait. Maybe he doesn't wear anything at all. That would explain why I felt him so well when he dropped me off. It was almost like I could picture exactly what he looked like just by feeling his erection against my body.
Willow: Do you wear panties?
The dots start. Stop. And start again. He doesn't respond for a solid minute, making me wonder if he went to bed. It's not late, but maybe he's sleepy. I'm so sleepy.
Kane: No, baby, I don't wear panties. LOL. Do you?
Willow: Right now that's all I'm wearing.
Kane: Fuck.
Willow: That would be nice. I really want to taste you, but that would be nice too. I mean, I'm not sure I'm ready for THAT, but I really, really think it would be really nice.
Kane: Nice isn't the word I would use. You might not be ready for that, but Willow, I really, really want to sink my cock inside you.
Willow: Oh, boy.
Kane: Go to sleep, sweetness. I'm going to take care of the 'big, huge' issue I have pressing against my stomach now. Tomorrow, after we're done filming, you're mine, and this 'big, huge' cock will be waiting.
Holy ... wow. Well. Does he mean what I think he means? What do I say to that? Looking at my phone, I reread his message and figure I'll just play it safe.
Willow: I think I'm already yours.
I drop the phone on the nightstand and roll over. I don't hear a responding buzz from my phone, so I slip off to dreamland with a smile on my face and arousal burning through my veins. I spend the rest of the night in a restless sleep with dreams about bikes, shoes falling from the sky, and bizarrely enough, Kane in my panties.
WHY DID I DRINK SO much last night? To be fair, I'm not even sure we realized we had put away so much wine. We normally have Eddie there, so the bottle goes quicker--we drink less--but Kirby and I were clearly so lost in our chat that we didn't even question why the bottles were piling up.
I finished my hair, blowing it dry and running my straightener through my long locks, before walking into the bedroom and dropping my towel to get dressed. My head is pounding, but hopefully, with something light in my stomach, that will pass. I'm not sure I could get through a long day on set with this hangover. I haven't had one like this since college.