My Beautiful (The Beautiful Series) Page 17

  As my eyes focused, I came in direct contact with Kyle’s. His were heated and dark with desire. His jaw was tense as he gritted his teeth, and I realized he had held off his own orgasm.

  “Lean back,” he commanded in a raw, husky voice.

  It was a sound that shot lust straight to my groin. I would simply never have enough of him.

  A muscle in his jaw jumped as I arched back and placed my palms flat on the bed to support my weight. My breasts felt heavy and full. Kyle sealed his lips around my tender nipple, sucking and pulling it farther into his warm and inviting mouth. Dropping my head back, I closed my eyes and surrendered a loud, erotic moan.

  While I was still lost in the feel of his lips on me, my hips began a rhythmic beat. I moved up and down, rubbing him against my sensitive tissues. Each movement increased the friction, and I felt myself climbing higher and higher. Ecstasy was a sweet, beautiful thing.

  With one hand on my waist and the other holding my shoulder, his grip tightened as he thrust into me. My body quivered, and I feared my next orgasm, knowing it was going to be extremely intense.

  When I felt him swell within me, I knew he was close to coming. I clenched around him on his next thrust, and I cried out as my orgasm rocketed through me, pulsating and pushing me over that steep edge. My vision blurred as my entire body shuddered. I was completely overwhelmed with sensations.

  Shortly after, Kyle pulled me forward and wrapped my shaky arms around his neck. I felt as though we had just bared our souls in the most intimate way. It was not the first time, but each and every time intensified more from the last. I wondered if I would survive him.

  There was no defined line between where I ended and he began. We were intricately bound and woven together. It reminded me of crocheting. Once the two pieces of yarn were twined together, they were never the same if pulled apart.

  Kyle kissed my cheek tenderly and embraced me tightly against the length of his body. The gesture was sweet and loving and all Kyle.

  “I feel the same, beautiful,” he breathed heavily.

  I smiled into the darkness. Sometimes I felt like he could secretly read my thoughts.

  He shifted back enough to gently take my hand in his, and he placed it directly over his heart. It was beating as wildly and frantically as mine. “No one will ever love you more than I do. You have my heart, Lily. Nothing will ever change that.”

  My heart constricted, pulling him in a little deeper with each passing day, all his tender words, and every loving gesture. I prayed I never had to let him go. Whenever I thought I could not possibly love him any more than I already do, he proved me wrong.

  “You have mine, too,” I breathed against him before drifting off to sleep.

  I was beginning to rethink this whole sleeping naked thing.

  My body awoke feeling stiff and too cool for my personal taste. My legs were covered in goose bumps.

  Refusing to accept that it was morning already, I closed my eyes tightly against the blinding bright light. When I turned to snuggle into my personal heater that I had grown very fondly of, I found his side of the bed empty. I blinked several times, trying to pull my mind out of its sleepy state.

  Kyle was pacing in front of the bathroom door, talking quietly on his cell phone. His posture was hard, mirroring his authoritative tone. Tension poured off of him in thick waves.

  My gut clenched with dread. What could possibly be wrong now?

  I stood and walked over to him. His back was still facing me. It was then I noticed a piece of paper balled up in his fist. I wanted to reach for it, but as my eyes locked on the paper, my hand refused to move. I swallowed hard as my pulse hammered in my chest. I would never forget when I first saw the same type of paper. It was forever burned into my memory.

  Kyle turned abruptly. His eyes widened as he took me in, and then his gaze softened sympathetically. His hand firmly gripped the paper, and his knuckles almost turned white.

  “I’ll call you back later.” Kyle closed the phone.

  Unsteadily, I reached my palm out for the letter.

  Kyle sighed. “Lily.” His voice was hard as he glanced at the letter once more.

  I wasn’t sure if he’d said my name in question or warning.

  I looked at him square in the eyes and nodded in understanding. I did not want to deal with this right now either. However, I could not blindly ignore it. I needed to know what was going on, and the letter was the answer.

  He unwillingly handed the note to me.

  The note was boldly printed, just like the others.

  Lily,

  Do you like to play hide-and-seek? Because I can find you, no matter where you run. You’re only delaying the inevitable, and my patience is wearing thin. I will find you. No one can save you, not even Kyle.

  —Aaron

  My fingers trembled at seeing Kyle’s name printed on the paper. He was here, and he knew about Kyle! The thought of Aaron writing Kyle’s name rattled me to the depths of my bones. Aaron was not only leaving notes, but he was also watching me closely, close enough to know my boyfriend’s name. My pulse pounded, echoing into my ears.

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Opening my eyes again, I stared at the note within my grasp. Only then did I realize I was holding two sheets of paper.

  Kyle,

  She’s mine.

  —Aaron

  I gasped, feeling a shiver run down my spine. Raising my head, I came eye-to-eye with Kyle’s cold stare. His expression was hard and dangerous. His chest rose and fell from his labored breathing.

  The word mine repeated through my mind over and over. More than once, Kyle had told me I was his. I prayed, hoping that it was only a coincidence and not a specific reference.

  “No one will touch you. I’ll fucking kill him first,” Kyle said, his eyes darkening.

  If I didn’t love him, the look on his face would have frozen me in terror. As I searched his eyes, I feared the truth of his words. Kyle was not a man to back down or shy away from danger. It made me wonder about the depths of his military life.

  Kyle was strong, and I had no doubt that if I were threatened, he would put himself in harm’s way. I would do the same for him, knowing I couldn’t bear the pain from losing anyone else I loved.

  Feeling the need to be closer, I stepped into him. I shut my eyes, wanting to block out everything but him and me, as I put my cheek on his solid chest. He was warm and comforting, and he soothed my tension. His arms caged me in protectively, and I couldn’t help but feel relieved to have him by my side.

  Not sure how much time had passed, I pulled back, feeling steady and ready to face another problem head-on. “Who was that on the phone?” I asked.

  “Officer Useless,” Kyle grunted, exhaling in frustration.

  “Officer West from Sanibel?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  I was not positive, but I did not think an officer from Sanibel Island would be able to help us when we were easily two hours away.

  The first time I had received a letter back home, Officer West had been very nice. He had taken a statement and said he’d try his best to dig deeper.

  Kyle and I both knew that would take time, and Kyle wasn’t the type to stand by, even with the officer’s warning. To me, bad guys usually succeeded in finding their prey before detectives could find them. At least, that was how it always happened in the movies.

  “Will he take this note for evidence, too?” I asked.

  “No. He can’t because we are out of his jurisdiction. We would have to take it to the local police to file a report.” Kyle let out a deep breath. “They’re useless. Their manpower to protect you from this crazy-ass stalker wouldn’t be enough to make a difference. I need to find him before…” His jaw tightened. “He finds you.”

  Frustration appeared on the planes of his face.

  Kyle wanted to find Aaron. He wanted to put an end to the letters and keep me safe. But he did not want to leave me.

  My heart tightened w
ith a profound love for him as fear lingered in the dark part of my mind. The unknown outcome haunted me. I did not want Kyle to pursue the man behind the letters. Worse yet, I feared Aaron would be coming our way… quickly. At some point, the cat-and-mouse game always came to an end.

  Kyle was the first to break the heavy silence. I could see the shift in his thinking.

  With his emotions in check, he switched into his rough and tough alpha voice. “Jim and Caroline are already at the hospital. I’m going to drop you off there, and you’ll stay until I come and get you.”

  My eyes widened with surprise. “What? Where are you—” Realization dawned on me. “You cannot go after him yourself!” I shook my head as it filled with denial. “There has to be a different way.”

  Kyle ignored my outburst. “I mean it, Lily. Do not leave until I return. Stay on the ICU floor with Luke’s parents, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “You can’t leave me there,” I admonished. “Not to mention the fact that you’ll be putting yourself at risk. We don’t even know who he is, what he’s after, or where he is.”

  “The hospital is the only place where I can keep you safe. He’ll never get to you there with so many people around.” He let out a troubled sigh. “I can’t keep sitting here, doing nothing, while someone out there is after you. I need to find answers. ‘A tall, lean man’ isn’t going to make the cut for a description. I need to protect you.”

  My mind instantly narrowed in. “A tall, lean man?” My stomach coiled as the words left my throat.

  Kyle knew Aaron’s physical description, and that could only mean he had been withholding information from me.

  “You knew had an idea of what this man looks like…and you didn’t tell me?” I accused, trying to step out of his hold.

  His firm hands tightened on my biceps, holding me in place.

  “I was waiting for the right time,” he corrected.

  “The fucking timing is irrelevant!” I snapped.

  “I just got the call from Officer West yesterday when we were at the hospital while Jim and Caroline went home. I was on my way to the cafeteria to get us food, and when I came back, you were checking on Luke. I didn’t think I should tell you when you were leaning over another man’s bedside.”

  His statement had a double meaning that revved my blood. The fact that he thought that way hurt me.

  “Screw you!”

  I tried to pull back again, and his only response was to hold me tighter, which only further pissed me off.

  I glared darkly at him, feeling the urge to mentally bitch-slap him. “You know it’s not like that.”

  Kyle exhaled deeply. “I know, but it still gets to me. Friend or not, I can see your feelings for him.”

  “Friendly feelings,” I corrected. “Friends care when other friends get hurt and almost die. If that were you, my heart would be shattering. I would never leave your bedside, and every second, I’d pray for you to come back to me,” I confessed, feeling vulnerable.

  Kyle’s eyes shifted, softening with love and tenderness. Warmth flooded my chest as the fight left me. His right hand came to the bottom of my chin, grasping it and tilting it up. My admission was in the forefront of my mind. It was the honest truth, and it didn’t even begin to explain the intensity of my feelings for him.

  “I love your mouth and what comes out of it,” he said, his tone sincere.

  When he kissed me ever so softly, I couldn’t help the moan that escaped my lips. It was a slow, deep kiss. His talented tongue moved along mine, overwhelming my senses. His male scent intoxicated my senses. Then, it ended, all too quickly for my liking.

  Brownish-green eyes flashed back at me. His expression was devastatingly intense and filled with promise. “I’d do the same for you, beautiful. Forever, remember?”

  I nodded. My mind was still reeling from that kiss. I wished we could be hermits and make love all day instead. I placed my hand on his chest, wanting more, but I knew we had things to do.

  “So, back to the hospital arrangements. I’ll go under your ridiculous conditions.” I raised my eyebrow and gave him my most serious face. “But only because I planned to be there anyway.”

  “Okay.” Kyle let out a low chuckle.

  “And you’ll be back to get me?”

  “Of course.” He kissed me again, quickly this time. “Let’s get cleaned up. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back and finish that kiss.”

  I smiled. I loved that his mind worked the same as mine. “I like the way you think.”

  ***

  As always, the hospital was cold. We’d barely made it through the front door before I was pulling my gray cardigan out of my purse.

  Caroline was seated in a chair with a book in her lap. Deep purple circles surrounded her normally bright eyes. Glancing into Luke’s room, I saw Jim sitting in the chair next to his son. I couldn’t see Jim’s face, but his body was hunched forward with worry.

  Kyle stopped me when we were just out of earshot from Caroline, and he pulled me in close. “Remember to stay near the waiting room, nurses, and Luke’s parents. Don’t go anywhere and call me immediately if you sense anything.” His apprehension was apparent in his voice.

  I kissed him gently on the mouth and then smiled reassuringly. “I’ll be fine.”

  I watched Kyle walk down the hallway back toward the elevator before making my way over to Caroline. When I took a seat next to her, she smiled softly at me.

  “Any change?” I reached for a soda that I had thankfully grabbed from the mini fridge in the hotel. Caffeine was calling my name.

  Caroline’s eyes brightened slightly. “The breathing tube was removed late last night, and Luke’s vitals have improved. We are still waiting for him to wake up though.”

  I took that as very good news. Luke will fight his way to wake up. “Luke is very strong, Caroline.”

  I smiled, remembering how persistent Luke could be when he was determined. In college, Luke had never settled for a B. He had fought off sleep and studied to be the best. He wanted to help people and cure them. Nothing would stand in his way. Knowing school was a touchy subject with his family, I steered clear of that topic.

  “He’s a fighter at heart. When he does wake up, he’ll be begging us to sneak him out of this hospital to get some real food.”

  Caroline laughed and patted my leg affectionately. The love for her son crossed every inch of her face.

  “I could see him doing that.” She paused and searched my face. “How are you doing, Lily? I hope my bringing you here hasn’t caused you too much stress. You look so tired.”

  “I’m okay, Caroline. It’s Luke who I’m worried about. His love for the water combined with the daredevil in him has always frightened me. Still, I never thought something like this would happen.”

  She let out an exasperated breath. “Me, too. From the time he was a young boy, I always feared that daredevil part of him.” She hesitated, emotions displaying across her face.

  I took a sip of my beloved caffeine, trying to give her a moment to rein in her feelings.

  “You know, from the moment I met you, I always thought that my son would marry you.”

  I choked on my soda and turned to meet her gaze, my eyes wide. “Excuse me?” I croaked.

  “Come on, Lily. He’s been in love with you for three years. Surely, you’ve seen it.”

  I did not want to lie to her. I also did not know how to explain the circumstances. “Actually, I didn’t find out until recently.”

  Now, her eyes widened in surprise. “Wow. He never told you?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “A part of me wishes he had, so I could have told him that I didn’t feel that way. The other part is glad he never said anything because I would have been afraid of losing our friendship from not reciprocating those feelings.”

  “But you love him,” she stated, not questioned.

  “Yes,” I admitted. “It’s not the same way he loves me though.”

 
“I see.” She pondered thoughtfully. “And he knows this?”

  “I told him as soon as I found out his feelings. To be truthful, he isn’t in love with me either. He loves me the same way I love him. We were there for each other at the lowest points in our lives, as all friends should be, and he’s confused that line of love. He thinks he’s going to lose me, but he’s not. I’ll always be there for him…as any friend would be for another.”

  Caroline patted her hand over mine sympathetically. “He’ll come to that realization in time. And I’m happy to know that he has a friendship as strong as yours. We should all have those in life.”

  “Thank you…and I hope he does, too,” I murmured the end as a prayer.

  “So, this Kyle…do you love him?” she asked carefully, trying not to overstep her boundary.

  I nodded and smiled. “Yes.”

  “And you love him in that way?”

  My smile widened. “Yes.”

  “That’s a lot of yeses,” she teased lightly.

  Yes, it was. Happily, my mind wandered to Kyle and our love for each other. Now, the only thing missing was my dear friend.

  As Jim exited Luke’s room, I excused myself with Caroline and left to visit Luke. Jim gave me a hopeful smile and a gentle pat on the back, almost as a thank-you-for-being-here gesture.

  Luke’s face looked much better today. His color had returned to his cheeks even though his bruises and scrapes were still evident. The breathing tube had in fact been removed along with a few other wires. Only his IV and heart monitor remained. His hands were placed neatly at his sides above the covers.

  Near Luke’s bedside, I sat in the same chair his father had occupied. Wishing my dear friend would just wake up, I listened to the monitor beep for every beat of his heart.

  He was too kind and caring to be on the receiving end of such horrible circumstances. The thought that he was fighting for his life while life continued around us seemed so unfair.

  Once again, a beloved friend’s fate was out of my control, just like my family’s had been. All I could do was pray.

  ***

  There was not much one could do in a hospital, except wait and wait. It was the worst feeling in the world.