That Day - Karen Deen (large ebook reader .TXT) 📗

I know by the way she’s breathing she is right back in a place where her family is surrounding her, and she is reliving the storytelling.

“He had handcrafted the most fabulous baby cradle for me. One that I could sleep in at night next to their bed, because he didn’t want me too far away from them. He was this big gruff-looking man about your height, yet had the biggest, softest heart on the inside. My mom apparently cried for hours just looking at it.”

“That sounds amazing. I bet you treasure that cradle.”

“I did, yeah. Just a memory now.” Her voice gets softer. Shit, I need to change the subject.

“What about school? Were you one of those nerdy kids who would sit up in the front row and answer all the questions?” This snaps her out of her thoughts.

“Just because I answered all the questions doesn’t mean I was a nerd. I just liked school.”

“No one likes school, it’s an urban myth. It’s just a place we go to make friends, have fun, and play until it’s time to go home. Well, it was in my world,” I say, hearing her groan.

“By the sounds of all the stories I heard tonight, I don’t doubt it. But there were some of us who went to school, made friends, had fun, and learned things. Oh my goodness, I know, it’s shocking, isn’t it.” She rolls back onto her stomach so she can see me. “You know we learned words and numbers and even some really cool science. Go figure.”

“Oh, we are full of sass now, aren’t we. I’ll have you know I learned all those cool things too, I just didn’t enjoy it like some people.” The music changes songs again, and it gives me an idea.

“Up.” I push her off me to the side so I can stand, pulling her up with me. “Maybe they taught you all that cool stuff, but did they teach you the important things?” She looks at me like I’m losing my mind.

Moving us a few feet away from the day bed, I lean down and turn the music volume up a little on my phone, holding my hands out to her. “Dance with me?”

I watch her eyes light up as she steps into my arms. She’s a perfect fit, her head now on my chest above my heart. We sway to Shawn Mendes’s Wonder. The words resonate in me.

“I’ve never done this,” she says.

I stop and look down at her. “What, dancing?” I’m shocked and sad for her.

Her body pushes me to keep swaying. “No, dancing in the moonlight like this.” My heart swells with the thought of being able to give her this memory.

“Then we’ll have to do it more often,” I whisper in her ear. “And maybe late one night, we can try it naked.”

Her body shivers in my arms. Oh yes, she likes that idea, but then the reality of Scott watching turns that thought sour instantly. One day, baby, one day we will be free to do things like that. I promise you.

“Kurt.” Her voice has that little edge to it.

“Yes.”

“Take me to bed.”

“Like you have to ask twice.” My hands slide down her back under her ass and lift her up into my arms. Instantly, her legs wrap around me. “I’m starting to think this is your favorite place to be,” I tease, grinding myself into her, and her little gasp tells me it is. Having her in my arms and clinging to my body is so perfect.

“You might be right.” Her head nuzzles into my neck and starts to kiss me there.

Thank god for smart houses! I pick up my phone, shutting off the music and lights as I walk through the sliding doors, locking them behind me. Because once we make it to my room, there is no coming back downstairs again tonight.

I drop her onto my bed, stripping off my shirt and shorts in front of her, not wasting a minute.

“Now to find out the truth,” I tease, eyeing up her shorts. “Underwear or no underwear.” I crawl onto the bed over top of her, both of us smiling at the games we play. “Either way, by the time I’m finished, the answer will be no underwear.”

“Right answer.” She grins, with fire in her eyes.

I love how confident she is sexually, never afraid to ask for what she wants.

And I’ll give it to her every single time.

ASHA

“Where do you think you’re going?” Kurt holds me tight around the waist.

“I can’t stay,” I groan, reluctantly trying to loosen his grip.

“Why, what’s wrong?” His concerned voice is pulling at me.

“I can’t leave Coco all night alone. She needs to be let outside, otherwise I’ll come home to a mess.”

Kurt sits up behind me. “Shit, I didn’t even think of her. I’m sorry. You should have brought her with you.” He sits up on the bed, already dressing. He couldn’t be any more perfect if he tried.

“What are you doing?” I pull the sheet up to cover my chest, feeling a little self-conscious.

“Driving you home so we can stay at your place.” He turns the light on in his walk-in closet to find shoes.

“Don’t be silly, Kurt. It’s fine. I’ll just get dressed and go home to her. We can catch up tomorrow.” Sliding out of the sheet, I stand, trying to find my underwear.

“Asha, if you think I am letting you go home alone, in the dark at midnight, you have totally missed my crazy protective personality. You have two choices. Either get your sweet ass back in my bed and wait for me while I go to get Coco and bring her back here. Or you let me come home with you and we spoon in your bed and sleep until the sun rises—when there is a high possibility you will get woken up with a smile on your face. So, which is it?” His stance tells me he means business.

“Wow, bossy much? You do know I survived