To prove his point, he reached down to stroke the outside of her thigh. She leaned into him, her breath quick and sharp in her lungs. One—or was it both?—of them was trembling, and his mouth crushed hers. He kept one hand on her lower back, and she arched against him. It lit her up inside, but still she wanted more, if he was ready. Would he be?
She splayed a hand on his chest and pushed him back a step. His eyes were unfocused and his hair was a wreck. And those jeans riding low on his hips made her blood race hot through her veins. God, what a beautiful mess he was. “You’re overdressed.”
He flushed. “So are you.”
His voice was hoarse, and he swayed on his feet like he was struggling to stay upright. She’d have to make the first move—he was too far gone to do anything but follow her lead. She reached for his hand and tugged him toward the bed. They made it three steps before he pulled her back into his arms, almost as if he couldn’t bear to let go, even for a second. Smiling against his mouth, she walked backward, pulling him along, until they finally made it.
She slid onto his bed, crooking her finger at him. Kyle bounded after her, his expression sweet and tense. She pulled him close, resting his head against her chest, and ran her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes and leaned into her hand, like he was starved and her touch was the only thing to sustain him. Maybe it was.
Were things a little awkward? Sure, but it was endearing, the way they learned at their own pace. She loved the gentle way his hands found places that made her world dissolve into sparks, and how he gasped her name when she found her own favorite places on his body. She loved this promise they made, here, now. Just the two of them, in their own little universe.
His heart raced under her hands when he glided over her, and she knew this had been the right choice. He could give her so much more than anyone else, even if it had taken him a while to see it.
And in the end, the look of wonder, of astonished release, on his face was the last puzzle piece falling into place.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Kyle
He wanted to keep his eyes open, but he was too knocked over to try too hard. Faith had curled up next to him with her head on his chest, her body warm and soft. He’d have to take her back to school for her car soon, but he couldn’t think about that, not yet.
“You okay?” she murmured, her breath tickling his skin.
Okay? He felt like a goddamned superhero. A really tired, satisfied superhero, but if he could move, he bet he’d fly.
“More than,” he rumbled, the words slow and sleepy. “You?”
“Oh, yeah.” She propped herself on one elbow. Her hair had fallen down her back, and a strand of it was draped over her shoulder. “I’m happy I was the one. And that you were mine.”
“I’m still a train wreck.” He stretched, eyes open just enough to notice how Faith’s gaze trailed down his body. “But I’m your train wreck, if you’ll have me.”
“I already had you.” She laughed. “But if you’re asking me to be yours for more than just today, then yes.”
He rolled over, facing away from her, and punched his pillow a few times before lying back down. “Now this day is perfect. I better turn off the lights so I don’t wake up and find out I’m dreaming.”
She gave his shoulder a little shake. “Hey, hibernating bear, much as I hate it, I need to go home. Remember, I have an Olympic archer living in my house, probably wondering where I am.”
He struggled to sit up, blinking. “But you’ll come back tomorrow?”
She took his face in her hands and kissed him. “Try to stop me.”
He sat in his car in the driveway after dropping Faith off. Going into the house seemed too much like an end, and he wanted this day to stretch out forever.
There were two texts on his phone when he finally pulled it out. The first was from Violet: Good job, Sawyer.
The second was from Tristan: That crazy Ledecky scored two runs and made a diving catch to save a double. Good call, man.
Kyle smiled in the dark. He’d known Ledecky had it in him. He owed that kid, big-time.
His phone rang, and he laughed. “Yes, Cade?”
“Whoa, you sound a lot less stressed out. What happened after you two left?”
Kyle climbed out of his car and stared up at the stars, unable to quell the crazy grin on his face. For the first time in a long while, he felt whole, and he owed that to Faith. “Everything, man. Everything.”
Epilogue
Faith
She mock-screamed as Curly was killed by Jud at the start of the nightmare ballet. The stage went dark except for the spotlight on her, and she danced in mourning as the sets were moved behind her and the dancers ran into place. One of them, a cowboy with broad shoulders, arms straining at his sleeves and a brooding, stern expression on his face, stalked toward her, heralded by two mocking cancan girls.
Dear God, Kyle looked good in costume, and she had a really hard time keeping her expression terrified and grief-stricken.