Chapter 51: A kiss to write about

I took the papers from him, unable to believe that he’d actually managed to get my novel notes.

“I… I don’t know what to say! I thought I’d lost everything!” and then I paused and tilted my head slightly as I thought a little more deeply about the stack of papers. “How’d you get them?”

His eyes widened and he nervously chuckled. “I saw you writing the night of the fire, just before you fell asleep. I couldn’t contain my curiosity, so I took a peek with the intention of returning it in the morning. Then, when the fire struck, I couldn’t bear to leave them there and I hid them in my clothing.”

I gulped, now a little self-conscious about him having read my work. It was always an embarrassing thing for me to let people read what I’d written, even more so when they did it without my prior knowledge. And so, I asked, rather meekly, “W-what did you think?”

“Well… I liked it…” he said, almost unconvincingly.

I sighed and grabbed a pillow before placing it over my face and screaming.

“You hated it!” I said peaking from the edge of the pillow, extremely and undeniably embarrassed.

He chuckled, grabbed the pillow and took my hands in his.

“No, you’re writing skills are perfect. It’s the romance aspect which lacks. And I believe it’s because you haven’t really experienced love, so it’s barely your fault at all.”

Then he moved in a little closer and leaned down, his gorgeous face near mine. I noticed a little bit of a stubble making an appearance and I couldn’t help but find it so attractive.

“But perhaps…” still he came even closer, “I could help with that.”

With those last words, he placed a hand under my chin and leaned in to kiss me. I hadn’t even noticed that I’d been holding my breath until his lips were placed gently on mine. The kiss felt like a deep, satisfying exhale. It felt as though each of my worries were melting away with every touch of his lips as they moved ever so softly against mine. And then, when he pulled away, I could feel this pleasant tightness in my chest, as though it were about to explode.

“That’s a kiss to write about,” he said softly. His heavily lidded eyes searched my face for a moment before he leaned in again, not near satisfied enough. However, this time, when his lips collided with mine, I could feel his tongue swipe against my lower lip. And so, I opened my mouth and let his tongue roam against mine. His grip on me grew tighter and my hands made their way to his neck. They inched ever so slowly to his hair where I softly gripped at the soft strands. He tasted so sweet and heavenly, and he smelled so damn good. There was an all too familiar feeling rising up within me and pooling between my thighs. That feeling that I felt that night in Lakspur.

Then he pulled away once more before saying, “And that is a kiss to fantasise about.”

And with that, he got off of the bed, collected a few items from the bed and disappeared to the bathroom. I made sure to clear myself out of that room immediately. My skin was on fire, and I had no idea what would happen if I were to find myself face to face with Nicholas and his hot, toned, delicious body. Just thinking about it gave me all sorts of forbidden fantasies. Ones I’d only read about in the most seductive books. And so, I found myself huddled up on one of the couches, taking my version of a cold shower- writing about what had happened. Nicholas was right… that kiss was something to fantasise about, and it made me fantasise about a whole lot of other things.

“What are you doing?” Kiyan asked as he sat on one of the couches in front of me. Immediately I shoved the papers behind me and cleared my throat.

“It’s none of your business. Don’t you have something better to do other than stalk your sister!” I said rather defensively.

He gazed at me suspiciously and then pointed to the papers. “Working on a new book or something?”

I shrugged and then folded the papers up carefully before clutching them closely to my chest. It was then that Melissa had decided to join the scene, immediately zeroing in on Kiyan.

“Oh, I don’t think you and I have properly met! I’m Melissa!” she said with a toothy grin. Her face was flushed and her hand shot out to offer a handshake.

“Kiyan,” he said curtly, staring at her hand, but never shaking it.

“Ariya, you never told me you had such a good-looking brother,” she said, swinging herself on the balls of her feet. For a moment or so I contemplated whether or not to tell Melissa that Theo and Kiyan were mates, though doing so would mean breaking my promise to keep their relationship a secret. But my concern was short-lived with the sudden appearance of Theo who spawned along with a deep and jealous scowl on his face.

“He doesn’t like you,” he said firmly, narrowing his eyes at Melissa.

Melissa’s eyebrows furrowed and she smacked him on the back of his head. He responded with a little growl.

“Who are you to decide who he does and doesn’t like!” Melissa spat.

I leaned back in my seat, completely invested in this little argument, even more so when Kiyan decided to join in.

“Exactly Theo! Who are you to decide who I do and don’t like!” He was clearly trying to egg him on.

Theo’s face contorted into a look of pure and utter rage, a look I myself wasn’t all too familiar with, but judging by Kiyan’s lack of reaction, I was sure he definitely was. But just as he was about to say something, he took a deep breath and began to walk away. And as the image of his retreating back faded, we heard him say, “Do whatever the fuck you want Kiyan!”

Judging by the heartbroken and almost forlorn look on Kiyan’s face, it was not the reaction he was looking for. I wanted to reach out to him and try to reassure him, but he grunted and left almost immediately.

“What’s up with those two?” Melissa asked.

I sighed and shook my head, “It’s complicated.”

Though I was sure that there was no word in existence to truly describe whatever was happening between them.