Disclaimer: Don’t own em…but I can dream.

Rating: R

1.

I don’t know what I was thinking when I decided to take this job. I climbed out of my car, slamming the door hard behind me. Mark had called a few days ago, needing someone to help take care of his brother while he went out of town. I had known Mark for a few years, and used to be best friends with his wife, before their messy divorce sent her back to California. She didn’t understand why I remained friends with her ex, so she refused to speak to me now.

Mark and I had gotten along from the first time we’d met. We never ran out of things to talk about, and I felt like he was my big brother most of the time. When he and Sara had split up, my loyalties were divided, but Sara had made so many accusations against me that I had thrown up my hands in defeat. She would believe what she wanted, and I couldn’t change that.

I had been sitting home, brooding over my latest dating disaster, a guy who had wanted nothing more than a screw every few nights then to be left alone. Business was slow, so I wasn’t working as much as usual. I was a teacher of sorts, at the local hospital, giving lectures on CPR, diet, whatever the doctors, nurses, and interested public felt like learning about. Right now, in the middle of April, between the cold of hypothermia and the heat of sunstroke, I didn’t have a whole lot on my plate. Once the swimming pools reopened in May, I’d be giving daily CPR classes, followed by teaching lifeguards how to do their jobs.

So I was bored when Mark called me. He sounded out of sorts, which was very unusual for him. He’s the most laid back person I know, not letting much bother him. The tone of his voice immediately caught my attention though.

“I have a favor to ask you,” he said, skipping the small talk for once. That alerted me to the fact that the favor was going to be huge and not particularly pleasant.

“Let’s hear it,” I said with a sigh, lying back on the couch and twirling the phone cord in my fingers.

Mark paused for a minute, gathering his thoughts. “I’m leaving in two days,” he started, and I laughed.

“Yeah, I know, you keep reminding me to come water your plants. I already said I would. Hell, I’ll even carry in your mail for you,” I said, rolling my eyes. Mark had been home for a few months, rehabbing some injuries from his job as a wrestler. The time had finally come for him to go back on tour, and I could tell he was thrilled. He hated sitting at home.

Mark gave a distracted chuckle. “I know you said you would, and I appreciate it. But there’s something else I need to ask you,” he was quiet for a second, and I waited as patiently as I could. Finally, he sighed. “My brother showed up yesterday. I haven’t seen him in a while. But I can’t not go on this tour. And I don’t know if he’d be able to handle it. I was wondering…” he trailed off. I knew passingly of his brother. Supposedly burned in a childhood fire, extremely introverted, and not a particularly sociable person. Mark didn’t speak of him often, and his brother had not tried to contact him in years. Whenever Mark spoke of Kane, there was such a sadness in him, it almost hurt me when he talked about him.

A now Kane had finally decided to pay Mark a visit, just when Mark was about to get his life back on track. “You were wondering,” I prompted cautiously. I had a feeling I knew what was coming.

“Well, I know you’re not busy right now, and you’re just sitting around the house collecting dust,” Mark said, rushing through his words. I almost laughed at the nerves I could hear in his voice. “I thought maybe, possibly, you’d come stay here with Kane, til the first leg of this tour is over in two weeks.”

“How old is your little brother and why does he need a babysitter?” I asked, a smile on my face. Mark wasn’t about to be joked out of whatever mood he was in though.

“He’s old enough, 33. And he doesn’t necessarily need a sitter. Look, he’s just had a rough time, a lot has happened to him and he’s not equipped to handle it,” Mark said.

“And I am?” I asked, already knowing I wouldn’t say no. I love a challenge, and in my current mood I would have bungee jumped from the top of the Empire State Building to liven up my life a little.

“You are. I want to stay myself, but if I miss these dates,” Mark heaved another sigh. “Well, let’s just say I’d be a permanent fixture around here. Look, he’s big and quiet, you won’t even notice him here half the time. I just don’t like the thought of leaving him alone, and you’re the only one I trust to help me out.” I could have fallen off the couch. He was a sweetie when he wanted to be, damn him.

“You know I’ll do it, ‘Taker,” I said, affectionately calling him by his wrestling name. “How can I say no? What exactly am I supposed to do with him though?”

Mark’s relief was evident in his voice. “Talk to him. Be here for him if he needs you. His Dad…” Mark trailed off again, and I knew this time I wouldn’t be able to prompt a finisher out of him. He and Kane shared a mother, but had different fathers, and from what I had gleaned from things Mark had said, Kane’s father was a real asshole. Mental domination seemed to be his sole thrill in life.

“OK, sounds simple enough. When do I report for duty?” I let him off the hook on the explanation, both of us knowing that he’d eventually tell me everything. See, I can be patient when I put my mind to it.

Mark gave me my instructions, then we both said goodbye and hung up. I lay staring at the ceiling for a while, glad I could help Mark out when he needed it, but also wondering if he had made it sound just a bit too easy. I’d dealt with emotionally crippled people before, as well as the physically and mentally handicapped. It wasn’t like I couldn’t deal with any hurdles his brother might throw at my feet. I sighed and got up, heading toward the shower. I’d meet his brother soon enough, no sense in worrying myself over what might or might not be wrong with him.

2.

I knocked on the door, then opened it, not bothering to wait for Mark to answer. Usually I didn’t even bother knocking, but thought I’d act at least halfway formal for my new ‘job’. There was no one in the huge living room, both of the leather couches were empty and the TV was off. As usual I stopped to admire the room, loving what he’d built. When he and Sara had first moved here, none of the houses for sale had been good enough for him, so Mark had custom built this one. It was huge, two stories tall, every room almost big enough to put my apartment into. Of course, Mark being the size he is, he had to have everything made in his own scale. He looked comfortable in a room that dwarfed all normal people.

I finally wandered through the hallway and toward the kitchen, where I thought I heard the sound of voices. I carried my overnight bag over my shoulder, dangling it from my fingers as I walked through the entrance and into the kitchen. Mark stopped in midsentence and smiled brightly at me. “Wondered if you were ever gonna show,” he said, laughing at the face I pulled. He stepped forward and had to stoop down a little to give me a hug. Mark was close to seven feet tall, built like a tank. Being hugged by him had the same effect as being surrounded by a solid wall of massive man. Which I joked with him about constantly.

“You know me, always five minutes late,” I said, laughing up at him. “Of course, that doesn’t really matter, since the party never starts til I get there.”

“Of course,” Mark said wryly, then winked at me. “I was just getting the last of my stuff together. My flight leaves in a few hours.” He cleared his throat a little, then nodded his head toward the kitchen table. “I suppose it would be nice if I introduced you.” I hadn’t even seen the man sitting at the table, I was too busy trying to get a laugh out of Mark. I turned my head to look, not knowing what I expected.

Mark’s brother sat in one of the chairs, his head lowered so that his hair hung over most of his face. Hard as it is to judge someone that’s sitting down, I could tell he had to be at least as tall as his brother, and just as muscular if not more. He had on a T-shirt that hugged his chest, and he was idly moving his hands against each other, unknowing making the muscles of his arms bunch and contract. I couldn’t tell if he was even looking at me, the hair covered his eyes completely.

“Kane, this is my friend Jaydn. She’s going to be staying here with you until I get back in two weeks,” Mark said. I smiled at Kane, not sure if he was even seeing it or not. Some things are just automatic. I had about given up on any kind of response from him when he gave a barely perceptible nod of his head. I looked questioningly at Mark, who shrugged and mouthed the word ‘later’ in my direction.

I moved to sit across the table from Kane, lowering my bag to the floor. Kane had moved slightly, so the right side of his face was turned away from me. His hair still hung over his face, so I couldn’t tell a thing about him, other than he had a great head of hair. Mark went around the butcher’s block in the middle of the kitchen and resumed sorting out his papers, signing the last of his prerequisite release forms. He chatted idly, and I bantered back, but Kane made no effort to join in. It was impossible to tell if he was even listening to our inane conversation. This puzzled me, because as I walked through the house earlier, I could have sworn I’d heard two voices. Apparently Mark’s little brother was extremely shy around new people.

Finally finished, Mark gathered up his papers and stuffed them into an envelope. “Kane, I’m gonna give Jaydn the riot act. We’ll be back in a few minutes.” Again a slow nod. I stood and followed Mark into his office, where his bags were waiting to be loaded into the car outside. He put his paperwork into one of them, then sank into his desk chair and gave me a lopsided smile.

“Not a big talker, huh?” I asked, leaning back against the wall and crossing my arms over my chest. Mark picked up a pin and rolled it in his fingers, seemingly lost in thought.

“He’s just not used to being around people he doesn’t know,” Mark finally said, dropping the pen onto the desk. “It takes a while for him to warm up. He has some problems with trusting people.” Mark’s eyes finally met mine, and he smiled. “Of course, I know that you being you, he’ll be talking your ear off about an hour after I’m gone.” I snorted and rolled my eyes.

“From his reaction, I’d say that he’s already decided that he doesn’t like me at all,” I stated. Mark mulled that over, then shook his head.

“I don’t think so. Give him a chance to get to know you. He’s a tough nut to crack, but I have faith in you,” Mark smiled again, then stood up. “I don’t want to go into detail about him right now, but there are lots of things that have happened to him, terrible things. It’s better to just let him do things his way, don’t try to force him out of his shell. He’ll come around.”

“You hope,” I said, finishing his unsaid statement. Mark nodded slowly and moved to pick up his bags. I sighed and hefted the smallest one, moving out of the way so he could go out first. We loaded the car up, and I followed him back inside into the kitchen, where Kane had abandoned his chair at the table and was now standing looking out of the window over the sink.

He turned slowly when Mark and I walked in, his hair still covering his face. Mark smiled at him. “I’m gonna go. Jaydn will take good care of you, if you need anything at all, just ask her. And I’ll have my cell with me, so call if you need anything.” Mark stepped forward a little, and Kane immediately stepped back. Sighing, Mark flashed a grin at his brother, then turned to me. I followed him out of the house, wondering why Kane didn’t want his brother to touch him. Mark stopped by the car, looking off across the yard.

“Not a big one for goodbyes,” I stated, moving to stand next to him. Mark chuckled and looked at me, then gave me another hug.

“I know. He’s been through some shit. A little time with some normal people, and he’ll be OK,” Mark said, although it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than he was trying to placate me.

“Are you calling me normal?” I asked him, poking him in the side. Mark laughed, his mood changing abruptly. I had that effect on people.

“Never. That would be an insult to normal people everywhere,” he deadpanned, then slid into the driver’s seat as I laughed at him. I kissed his cheek through the window, then watched as he pulled out, waving before turning onto the main road and disappearing from view.

3.

I stood outside for a few minutes, looking toward the road, lost in thought. Now that I was here, I really had no idea what exactly Mark expected from me. I was turning to head back into the house when the skin on the back of my neck started tingling. I looked over my shoulder and glimpsed some movement in the window of the living room. I smiled a little. So maybe Kane had noticed that there was a new person in the house. Miracles happened all the time.

I climbed the porch steps and went inside, not surprised that the living room was empty. I shook my head and went back to the kitchen, and found it unoccupied too. Was he playing hide and seek or what? I heard a creak from overhead, and glanced up at the ceiling. Sighing, I picked up my bag from the floor and made my way to the staircase. I climbed to the second floor and headed down the hall to the guestroom that I had always used when Mark asked me to house sit.

I opened the door and stepped inside, surprising Kane, who was sitting on the bed. He stood quickly and turned his back to me before I could say anything. I caught a brief glimpse of his cheek before he ducked his head, his hair once again falling forward to cover him up.

“Sorry, I didn’t know which room was yours,” I said, trying for a bright tone. “I usually stay in here.” No response from the big guy. I backed up. “I’ll just use the other room.” Still nothing. This was going to be a thrilling two weeks, I could tell already. I closed the door behind me and went across the hallway to the second guestroom. It didn’t matter to me where I slept, really, but I had gotten used to the other room over time.

This one wasn’t bad, though. It had a window seat covered in pillows, a large bed, and a dresser and closet. I was planning on going back to my apartment every couple of days to get clothes and make sure the place was still standing. I wouldn’t need all the hanger space in the closet. I tossed my bag onto the bed, then flopped down next to it, looking up at the ceiling. I suddenly felt very tired. Sighing, I got up and opened the bag, taking out the few things I’d brought and stowing them in the dresser. I put my bag in the closet and turned to leave the bedroom and head downstairs. Might as well put Mark’s giant screen TV to good use while I was here. He had a great collection of movies, so I could at least occupy myself for a little while.

I had just settled in on the couch when I heard the stairs creak. I didn’t have to turn to see Kane enter the living room. His image was reflected on the screen of the television. He stood uncertainly in the doorway for a few minutes, his head tilted to the side. He finally moved into the room, and sank onto the couch across from me. I resisted the urge to stare at him; instead I focused on the movie flashing onscreen. I kept stealing little glances from the corner of my eye though. Kane’s hair again covered his face, and I wondered if he had some kind of fetish about it.

I didn’t try to draw him out, and he didn’t offer to speak, so we both watched the movie in silence, which is totally not like me. Usually it takes the threat of a gag to shut me up during a movie; I always try to liven it up by commenting on all the action. This time I couldn’t even tell you what the movie was about, I was too focused on not looking at or talking to the big silent man sitting across from me. When the film ended, I stood up and focused my eyes on him.

“Hungry?” I asked, not expecting an answer. I wasn’t disappointed. I controlled the urge to roll my eyes. I personally was starving, I usually skip breakfast, and today had been no different. “I’m going to go make some lunch,” I offered, then walked out of the room. Mark had said Kane was a tough nut to crack and he wasn’t lying. I flipped on the radio that sat on the counter in the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge. Finally deciding to just make a sandwich, I pulled out everything I needed and grabbed a plate. I sang along with the radio as I piled lettuce and tomato on my sandwich. I spun around to put the mayo back in the fridge and collided with Kane. I hadn’t heard him come in, and he scared the hell out of me, sneaking up on me like that. I jumped a little and the jar slipped out of my hands. Kane reached out and caught it, moving so fast I barely saw the motion. I looked up at him as he held the jar out to me.

I slowly reached out and took the jar, noticing how careful he was that my fingers didn’t touch his. My eyes went back to his head, where, although the hair was still hanging in his face, I was at a height where I could look up through the dark curls. He was looking at me, that much I could tell, but I couldn’t tell much else. Why did he insist on hiding his face?

He slowly backed away from me, then went around to the other side of the butcher’s block. He slowly built himself a sandwich while I watched. All of his movements were slow and methodical, almost calculated. I put the jar down on the counter and moved to sit at a stool at the butcher’s block to eat my sandwich. As we both chewed, I decided I’d do what I normally do when it’s too quiet. That’s talk.

“So,” I began, like sitting across a table from a huge silent man was an everyday thing. “We’re going to be spending two weeks in each other’s back pockets. Maybe you want to tell me about yourself?” I paused, then went on. “OK, you’re shy. I’ll start. I’m Jaydn, single, Aquarius. Medical background, currently not formally working, but that’ll change once Memorial Day gets here. I’m an only child of divorced parents; my father is chasing women younger than me in Florida while my mom is in California discovering the joys and agonies of plastic surgery. I’ve lived here all my life.” I stopped to catch my breath. “That’s me in a nutshell. Oh, I like music, so the radio will probably always be blaring. Let me know if that bugs you. I read a lot, I write a lot, I go walking a lot. I love to swim,” still no sign of a response from him, which I wasn’t expecting. I chatted on, holding a one sided conversation with myself, until we finished eating.

I swept up the dirty dishes and made quick work of cleaning up. He moved to help, and I didn’t stop him as he put away the sandwich makings and slowly wiped down the butcher’s block. That alone impressed me. A man actually cleaning up after himself. The shock was almost too damn much for me.

Once everything was straightened up, I flashed him a smile, and announced that I was going to find something to read. He didn’t respond so I went into Mark’s office and looked over his books that lined the walls. I finally settled on a horror novel that I hadn’t read yet, and went to the living room to curl up on the couch and read. I was aware of Kane moving through the house, going upstairs for a while, then coming back down. I was engrossed in the book, really getting into the blood and gore when something cold touched my arm.

I looked up as Kane held out a can of Pepsi to me. Smiling at him, I took it and popped it open, taking a few long swallows before going back to the story. Kane settled on the other couch, taking a drink from his own can before setting it on the table and leaning forward. My concentration was blown. I could feel his eyes on me as he watched me reading. I didn’t know if he was just trying to figure me out or if he was plotting ways to kill me at this point. He’d shown some consideration in getting me a drink, I’ll give that to him, but having his hidden eyes watching me was starting to wear on my nerves. With a sigh I closed the book and set it aside.

4.

“Mark has a pool,” I said, looking directly at him. He didn’t change his position. “I’m going to take a swim. You’re more than welcome to join me.” I stood up and headed upstairs to change, leaving him to think it over. Once in my room, I pulled my bathing suit out then tossed it back into the drawer. I usually wear a one piece when I swim, just a habit I had gotten into. I had a bikini with me, which I didn’t wear in the pool, it was for laying out in the sun and baking. If Mark’s brother wanted to watch me, I was more than willing to put on a little show for him. I pulled the bikini on, then looked into the mirror hanging on the back of the door, making sure I was covered in all the right places. It was made of shiny black material, and there was just enough fabric to hide what needed to be hidden. Smirking a little, I grabbed a large towel from the hall closet and made my way downstairs, stopping to grab Mark’s portable CD player from a table in the hallway.

I went out into the warm sunshine, glad that I lived in Texas where it generally stayed warm enough to swim for most of the year. I put in a few CDs from Mark’s collection, and sat on the edge of the pool for a minute, letting my feet dangle into the water. Finally I slipped into the water, flinching a little at its coldness before ducking under the surface. I came up and pushed my hair off my face, loving the feel of the hot sun on my wet skin. I slowly swam the length of the pool, then rolled onto my back to float and look up at the faultless blue sky. I reached the pool wall, and stood up in the water. The CD changed, playing some country music. Normally I don’t like country, but I didn’t feel like climbing out to change the disc. I leaned my head back against the side of the pool, gripping the edge with my hands and letting my legs float in front of me. My eyes slid shut as I let the combination of the water, sun and music soothe my nerves. I opened my eyes and saw Kane standing at the far end of the pool.

I had trouble pulling my eyes away from his chest. He’d changed into swim trunks, and stood at the edge of the pool, watching me relax in the water. His chest was broad and muscular, moving as he took deep breaths and let them out. My eyes roamed over his body, taking in the powerful legs, the strong arms, the broad shoulders. I got the impression that he wanted me to look at him, to approve of his physique. Or maybe just seeing a well-cut man was making me hormonal. He took a deep breath and then dove into the water. He surfaced with his back to me, then paddled to the edge of the pool. He swam from side to side, his long arms making easy work of the length of the pool. Seeing him swim so effortlessly made me feel lazy for my one lap I had put in, so I sighed and pushed off the wall, swimming toward the far end with slow methodical strokes.

I touched the wall and turned, making it to the other end before stopping to tread water in the shallow end. There was a splash behind me, and I spun around in time to see him surface a few feet away. Kane flicked his wet hair back, and I got my first good glimpse of his face. He was handsome, with a strong face that matched the rest of his body. A well-kept stubble shaded his jaw-line, making him look very rugged. He looked back at me, meeting my eyes for the first time. His were a beautiful hazel, reflecting back the blue of the water in the pool. On his right cheek were faint scars, most of them lost in his beard. He seemed to sense where I was looking and turned his head a little, so the scars were not in my line of sight. I focused again on his eyes, noticing the wary way they watched me for a reaction of any kind. I gave him a little smile, and moved closer to him. The urge to reach out and touch him was huge, but I restrained myself. I’d seen the way he’d reacted when Mark had moved to hug him earlier.

He watched me as I stopped, studying his features. Even wet, his hair held onto its waves. It was almost longer than mine, a dark brown shade that had red undertones. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he would want to cover up such a handsome face. The scars didn’t detract from him at all, instead they added a touch of roughness that I found totally intriguing.

Abruptly he turned and swam back to the far end of the pool leaving me to stare after him. I don’t know what he expected from me, but from the way he’d taken off he must not have liked my reaction. Sighing, I climbed out of the pool, heading toward one of the lounge chairs where I could let the sun dry me and hopefully up my tan a notch. I stretched out on my back closing my eyes and letting the sun do it’s job. Mark’s brother was definitely strange, and I had absolutely no clue as to what would work to get him to trust me. I guess I’d always taken for granted the fact that people just generally liked me. I bring out the talkative side of people usually.

Kane was still in the water, not swimming, just leaning against the pool wall. I could feel him looking at me, studying me. On one hand it was kind of annoying, on the other it was flattering. If I knew what was going on in his head, I’d have a better idea of what I should be feeling. I rolled onto my stomach and rested my head on my arms. The combination of the swim and the sun was making me feel sleepy. I closed my eyes for a minute.

The next thing I knew, a hand was shaking my arm. I sat up slowly, feeling slow. Kane was kneeling beside my chair, his wet hair hanging in his face. I smiled at him. “Thanks. I should know better than to crash outside,” I told him, standing up. His head followed my movements, I could feel his eyes moving over my bikini, taking in all of the skin it exposed. I let him look his fill, then grabbed my towel and headed back into the house. I was confused to say the least. I was just supposed to be looking out for him like Mark had asked me to. But every time I felt Kane’s eyes on me I felt like throwing myself at him. I sensed him following me, and grinned. Either he was attracted to me, or he was just trying to figure me out. Things were bound to get interesting.

5.

I took a quick shower, washing away the chlorine smell the pool had left on my skin. I got dressed in an old T-shirt and shorts, and went downstairs. Kane was already dressed, his dark hair drying naturally around his face, sitting on the couch looking at the TV. I walked through to the kitchen, and dug through the fridge. Mark was well stocked. I set out some steaks, thinking I could fire up the grill and have a little cook out. As I walked toward the door to the living room, the phone rang. I grabbed it from its place on the wall.

“Hey,” Mark greeted me warmly. In the background I could hear muffled conversations. “I just got to the arena. I wanted to make sure you’re doing OK.”

I laughed a little. “We are fine, worry wart. Go concentrate on beating the hell out of somebody.”

Mark laughed, relief in his voice that things were going OK. “All right, let me talk to my bro, make sure you’re not harassing him, then I’ll get outta here.”

I carried the cordless to the living room and handed it to Kane. He listened to Mark for a few seconds, and I left the room, realizing he wasn’t going to speak with me near him. From the kitchen I could hear his murmurs indistinctly. So he could talk. Maybe I was just doing something wrong. I glanced at the clock. It was almost 5, time to fire up the grill. I got it started and waited for it to get good and hot before throwing the steaks on. As they cooked, I went back inside and threw together a salad.

A few minutes after six, the steaks were done, and I went through the house looking for Kane. He’d moved to Mark’s office and was looking out the window into the side yard. I cleared my throat and he slowly turned his head to look at me. “Um,” for a second I couldn’t remember what I had come in there for. For once his hair wasn’t hanging in his face. He looked at me with direct, clear eyes. He still kept the right half turned away. I smiled a little. “Dinner’s ready, if you’re hungry,” I managed to get out. He nodded once slowly, and I turned to leave then froze in my tracks.

“Thank you,” my head turned so fast I thought I was going to get whiplash. His expression hadn’t changed, so I was going to discount it as imagination. Surely I had not just heard a deep voice thanking me. I gave him an uncertain smile and left the room.

I fixed both of our plates and watched as he walked into the room and sat at the table. I took the seat across from him and watched him eat, wondering if he was going to say anything else. He kept glancing at me between bites, and I could have sworn I saw amusement in those gorgeous eyes of his. The tables were turned. I couldn’t stop staring at him, and he avoided looking at me. It was actually kind of funny.

After we were done, Kane cleaned up again, and I wandered outside to sit in the porch swing, looking out over the pool. It was starting to get dark, and a cool breeze blew across the yard, rippling the water in the pool. It was definitely going to rain later. There was a smell the air got right before a big storm. I breathed it in, smiling a little. I loved storms.

I sat outside for a while, lost in thought. By the time I got up, I could see lightening flashing in the distance. I stifled a yawn. I wasn’t used to lazing around all day; if I had been working, I’d be wired right now. I went through the living room, pausing in the doorway to study Kane as he sat on one of the couches, flipping the pages of a book.

“I’m going to bed,” I told him when he looked up at me. I flashed him a smile, then headed upstairs, not waiting for him to attempt to say goodnight. I didn’t want to press my luck.

I slid into a nightshirt and climbed into bed, tucking a sheet around me. I closed my eyes and relaxed, letting myself drift into sleep.

6.

I woke up to the sound of thunder cracking outside. Living in Texas, you learned to get used to pop up thunderstorms. It was just another fact of life. I was snuggling down under the blankets, having not quite come all the way out off sleeping when I heard another noise. I listened closely but it wasn’t repeated. Sighing, I rolled onto my side, away from the window and the lightening flickering outside. My eyes shot open and my heart slammed against my chest. “Kane?” I asked the barely visible figure standing just inside the doorway. He didn’t move, only stood there looking at me as another crash of thunder made the house shake. He started a little at the sound, then grew still again. The thought that this huge man was afraid of the storm crossed my mind, and I couldn’t quite push it away.

I moved to the far side of the bed, then pulled the sheet back. “You can climb in here with me if you want to,” I kept my voice low and soothing. He cocked his head to the side, considering his options I guess. Slowly he moved toward the bed, hesitating before sinking down onto the mattress. I smiled at him even though I knew it was too dark for him to see it. Now that he was closer, I could see he was wearing a pair of boxers and nothing else. Did the man not realize how hot he was? I must have been nuts inviting him to lay down with me.

Kane slowly lay down, his head resting on the pillow next to mine. He kept his body stiff, not relaxing at all. I frowned at him, wondering why it was that he got so tense every time I got within 3 feet of him. Without thinking I reached out and touched his arm, feeling him jump at the contact. He tried to pull away, but I held on. “I’m not gonna bite you, so relax,” I said, resisting the urge to stroke his arm. That might be just a bit much for him. I could feel his muscles bunching under my hand, then the knots smoothing out as he finally willed himself to let go of his tension. “Try to get some sleep. I’m right here if you need me,” I murmured, my eyes already getting heavy again. I kept my hand on his arm as I slipped into sleep.

I woke up near dawn, aware of heat at my back and a weight over my waist. I was more than a little surprised. In his sleep, Kane had pulled me against his chest, wrapping his arm around me. I smiled at the thought that if I really wanted to break down his walls; I’d have to do it when he’s sleeping. I resettled myself, not wanting to get up yet. I snuggled closer to his warmth, and felt his arm tighten around me, holding me still. With a sigh, I drifted back to sleep.

I finally roused myself a little after 9, and the first thing I noticed was that Kane was gone. I smiled as I got up and threw on a robe. He might have slipped out when I slept, but I knew he had held me in the night. I wondered if he realized it, then shook my head. Most likely he’d woken up with me in his arms and freaked, bolting. I had to bite back a chuckle at the image. I went downstairs, yawning and stretching my arms over my head. In true Texas storm fashion, the clouds from last night were gone, replaced this morning with a bright clear sky and warm sun.

I stopped in the doorway to the kitchen. The table was laid out with breakfast already, and the smell of coffee was making my stomach rumble. I sat down on one of the chairs and glanced around. Kane was nowhere in sight. I smiled down at the plate in front of me. Looked like he was going to hide out. I debated on whether or not to start eating when the door opened and he stepped inside.

Kane paused in the doorway, looking at me for a long moment before coming to sit across from me at the table. I smiled at him, and he ducked his head. I couldn’t figure him out, what the hell was he so ashamed of? It wasn’t like anything had happened last night. At that thought, an image of his bare chest flashed through my mind. I glanced over and looked at the front of his black shirt. Not a T-shirt today, a button down shirt with short sleeves. Not as body hugging as yesterday. I sighed and dug into the eggs, wondering where all these thoughts were coming from.

Kane ate slowly, glancing up at me from time to time, as if gauging my reaction to his cooking. It was actually very good. I ate all my food and swiped another piece of bacon from the plate on the table. I wondered why, if he could cook and clean, take care of himself, Mark thought he needed a sitter. Other than his not talking, he seemed perfectly capable to me. In a great number of ways.

I felt myself flushing as my thoughts turned to him physically yet again. I stood up and carried my plate to the sink, setting my back to him. I scrubbed at the plate, letting water run over it before I put it in the dishwasher. ‘Stop it, stop it, stop it,’ I was saying inside my head, trying to will away thoughts of how Kane would look completely naked. I didn’t hear him come up behind me, and jumped when he took the plate out of my hand. I watched him bend to put it in the dishwasher, biting my lip as I tried not to stare too hard at his backside. I moved around the butcher’s block to the table and started stacking the other dishes.

Kane came up behind me again. “I’ll take care of it,” the low voice, very close to my ear, sent shivers down my back. I looked at him for a second, knowing this time I wasn’t just imagining it. He had actually spoken to me. I moved out of his way as he cleared the table, then sank into the chair closest to me. ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ I asked in my mind. Having X-rated thoughts about my friend’s brother after that friend asked me to watch out for him. Some friend I was turning out to be.

Even as I was thinking it, my eyes followed him around the room. I watched him move, tracking the way his arms flexed when he scrubbed the dishes. I shook my head, trying to look at anything but him. I finally forced my eyes down to the table, and remembered him holding onto me last night. Not helpful. At the time, it had seemed sweet, but now I almost wished I’d taken advantage of his willingness to get close. I sighed and stood up, slamming out the back door.

7.

I flopped onto the swing, and sat staring out over the pool. I was mad at myself; I wasn’t used to being overwhelmed by lust. And that was what it was. I needed to calm myself down. Mark’s brother was not what I was looking for; I actually had no clue what I was looking for. But Kane had problems of his own apparently, and having me drooling over him wouldn’t help him at all.

I sighed and stood up. This was not getting me anywhere. I only had to stay here for two weeks, surely I could control myself for such a short amount of time. I smirked to myself. I knew what it was that was so attractive to me. It was the fact that the man was a complete mystery. I was just intrigued with the fact that I knew nothing about him, not what he was thinking; not what he was feeling. I love a challenge.

I went back into the house, where the kitchen was cleaned up and the dishwasher was humming in the corner. Kane had pulled another disappearing act. I climbed up the stairs and shut myself into my room, then changed clothes. I was going to go to my apartment later on today to get some things to work on. I couldn’t spend the next two weeks doing nothing. Or staring at Mark’s brother.

I ran down the stairs, wondering if I should just go on to my apartment and take care of my stuff when I heard noises from the hallway. I walked back toward Mark’s office then shook my head. It was coming from the other side of the hall. Mark had a home gym across from his office. I peeked in the door and watched Kane as he lifted some free weights. He’d changed into a pair of shorts, and had his hair tied back from his face. I watched him; he looked intense, concentrating on lifting the weights. I finally managed to pull my eyes from him, then stood in the hallway leaning against the wall. I took a few deep breaths, then stepped into the room. Kane stopped what he was doing and stood still, keeping the right side of his face turned away from me.

“Um, I need to go to my apartment for a while, to get some things,” I managed to say. My voice sounded strange, and I had to use all of my will power not to stare at his broad chest. “You can come with me, if you want. It should only take about an hour or so.”

He looked at me for a second, then shook his head. “I’ll stay,” he said. I stared at his lips for a second then shook myself. Why was I finding everything about this man so damn sensual? Without another word, I turned and almost ran out of the house. It had only been one day, I still had 13 to go, and if I was going to get hormonal every time I went into the same room as Kane, I was in some big trouble.

I managed to turn a one-hour trip to my house into a three-hour chore. I wasn’t avoiding going back to Mark’s house. I had promised to stay there. I just wanted some time away from the guy I was starting to become seriously infatuated with.

I packed enough clothes to take me through the next two weeks without really thinking about it. I grabbed my laptop so I could keep up with my email. I didn’t like using Mark’s computer; we didn’t get along.

I pulled back into Mark’s driveway after 1 and took a few deep breaths before climbing out of the car. I hauled my things into the house, stopping for a second when I heard Kane talking in the kitchen. I listened to the sound of his voice for a minute, then made myself continue on to my room. I spent the next twenty minutes stowing my things away.

I must have been on drugs when I packed. I have a huge collection of lingerie. I can’t resist buying a new piece of sleepwear every time I go to the store. A year ago a friend of mine was getting married, so I went and bought her a gorgeous white stretch lace gown and matching silk robe. I’d fallen in love with it and kept it for myself and gave her a blender instead. I had to laugh every time I looked at it. I’d never worn it; it was too nice to just lounge around in. But for some strange reason, I’d brought it with me. I almost cracked up laughing. The damn thing still had the tags on it.

Sighing I hung it up in the closet. What had I expected myself to do, parade around the house in it? Actually I was kind of curious as to what Kane’s reaction would be. Probably his usual silent stare. Not really worth the effort.

I put on my bikini and went back downstairs meaning to grab the book I’d been reading so I could take it outside and soak up some sun. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going as I rounded the corner at the bottom of the stores and slammed right into Kane. He reached out and steadied me and I could have sworn I saw the corners of his mouth twitch. He kept his hands on my bare shoulders for a few seconds then dropped them to his sides.

“Phone for you.” Once again, I watched those lips move. He had gotten dressed while I was gone, but his hair was still tied back away from his face. I smiled at him.

“Let me guess. Mark’s checking in?” Kane just nodded, then walked past me into the living room. I watched until he disappeared around the corner then went into the kitchen. I picked up the phone. “Hey.”

“Jaydn! How’s things?” Mark sounded so happy I was immediately on my guard.

“Everything’s OK,” I said cautiously. “What’s up?”

“Nothing. I have a few minutes before I have to leave for Virginia. Just thought I’d see how you two were getting along.”

“Nobody’s dead yet,” I said wryly. I idly wondered what Mark and Kane had talked about.

“That’s good. Well, I gotta get out of here. I’ll call sometime tomorrow,” Mark said with a laugh before hanging up. I stared at the phone in my hand for a minute before hanging it up. Mark was just thrilled at being back in the ring. That would explain his mood. I was just being overly suspicious.

8.

I spent all afternoon by the pool, lying in a lounge chair reading my book. So much for getting any work done. Being at Mark’s was making me lazy. I had to admit I was mildly disappointed that Kane hadn’t come out to swim. ‘No admiring his legs today,’ I thought with a little laugh. I got up and stretched then went to the pool and dove in. I swam a little, letting the water cool my overheated skin. I almost got sunburned, losing track of time while I read. I do that sometimes. At least I hadn’t fallen asleep. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I had skipped lunch. It was after five, probably close to six.

I climbed out of the water and toweled off, then wrapped the towel around my waist and headed inside the house. I climbed the steps and went into my room, grabbing some clothes, then took a quick shower. I was going down the hallway when I glanced at the door to Kane’s room. It was open, and I saw him lying on the bed, curled up on his side. I stopped and stared at him. He was asleep, so I didn’t have to worry about being caught admiring him.

I slowly moved into the room, trying not to make any noise. Kane had stripped down to his boxers again, and it was easy to tell why. His room was sweltering from the sun shining directly through the windows. I studied his chest for a while, admiring the movement as he breathed in slowly and exhaled. I would have never believed that just watching someone breathe would be a turn on. I dragged my eyes away from his chest, looking at his stomach for a few minutes, the letting my gaze take in his long legs.

I pulled my eyes away. Why was I torturing myself like this? I looked down at his face, stepping a little closer to the bed. His hair was still tied back, and he was on his left side. I leaned down a little, getting my first close look at the scars he seemed to think were so ugly. They were faded, barely visible, most of them covered by his beard. I thought they added to his looks, kind of punctuating his full lips, his beautiful eyes. I reached out a hand and lightly traced the longest of the scars with my fingertip, not even aware I was doing it.

Kane’s hand came up and grabbed mine, stilling the slow movement of my fingers. His eyes slowly opened and I stared into them, wondering if he was going to get mad that I’d dared to touch him. He surprised me. He gently pressed my palm against his cheek, holding it there with his own. I sank down onto the edge of the bed, watching as he shut his eyes again. I bit my lip and stroked my thumb over his cheek. He let go of my hand, lightly trailing his fingers over the back. I shivered at the touch, then moved my hand slowly down his face, feeling his soft beard under my palm.

I let my hand slide down his neck, stopping to feel his pulse beating against my fingers. Kane’s eyes opened when I hesitated, looking into mine. He moved his fingers up my arm, then tugged me forward, pulling me down to him. I brushed my lips across his, then flicked my tongue over his. His lips parted, then his tongue slipped into my mouth. I moaned as we kissed deeply, his hand coming up to cup my face. I pulled back, breaking the kiss. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. But apparently my senses were going to kick in on me.

Kane watched me as I started to get up, then sat up and grabbed my hand. I avoided looking at him, staring over his shoulder instead. He put his fingers under my chin and turned my face so I had to look at him. “Don’t leave,” he whispered, sending another one of those shivers down my back. I drew in a shaky breath. I didn’t want to leave, which was exactly why I should. I’d only met him yesterday for God’s sake, and he’d spoken a grand total of maybe 15 words to me, but I wanted him. It was crazy.

He slowly moved closer to me, bringing both of his hands up to cup my face, lightly stroking my cheeks with his fingers before sliding his hands into my hair and pulling me forward. His lips brushed against mine again, barely touching them, and I felt myself leaning toward him. He traced my lower lip with the tip of his tongue, then lightly nipped it, making me gasp a little. He slid his tongue into my mouth, pulling my face closer to his to deepen the kiss.

I slowly brought my hands up to rest against his chest, feeling his smooth skin under my palms. I moved my hands, taking in the hard muscles under his soft skin. He pulled his mouth away from mine, then tilted my head back so he could plant soft kisses on my jaw, moving down to my neck. He grazed his teeth over my skin, and I sighed in response, sliding my hands up to his shoulders. He leaned away from me, steadying me with one arm around my back. His other hand slid from my hair, down my neck, caressing the skin in the hollow of my throat. He looked at my face, watching my reaction as his fingers toyed with the top button of my shirt before pulling it open. I bit my lip, waiting for him to go on.

Kane ran his finger down my skin, then played with the next button. He finally opened it, taking time to stroke the skin he’d exposed. He was moving too damn slow for me, I wished he would just rip my damn shirt off and get it over with. He seemed to sense my thoughts, a slight smirk drifted across his face and he moved even slower to the next button. I was ready to scream in frustration by the time he finally got to the last button.

I started to shrug the material off my shoulders, but he held it closed with his hand. He guided me to my knees, moving with me until we were both kneeling on the bed facing each other. His fingers moved between the edges of the front of my shirt, then up to my shoulders. He paused a moment, then slowly eased the material over my shoulders, letting his fingers dance across my skin. He let the shirt slip off my arms, then pulled it away from me and tossed it to the floor. His eyes took in the smooth skin of my stomach, moving up to admire my black lace bra. He raised his hand and traced a finger along the edge of it, sending warm currents through me. He hooked his fingers in the front of it and pulled me forward, pressing his lips to mine again.

I kissed him back, using my tongue against his, trying to urge him to move faster. Kane broke the kiss, and I moaned out loud making him smile for the first time. He ran his hand over the material of my bra, making me arch toward him as his warm fingers brushed against my nipples. Kane slipped his arms around me, then gently traced my spine, moving up to touch the clasp of my bra. I waited, my eyes closed, pressing myself against his chest. I kissed his neck and shoulder, lightly biting on his collarbone, trying again to get him moving faster. He was too busy torturing me to notice. The more I urged him faster, the slower he went.

Kane’s fingers finally moved, unhooking the bra. I almost sighed in relief. He let his hand trail over my back again, then slid both hands up over my shoulders and hooked his thumbs into the straps. He moved his hands with agonizing slowness, bringing the straps down over my arms. He leaned back and pulled the material away from me, sending it to the floor where my shirt had landed. He put his hands on my waist, his fingers lightly stroking my skin, and looked at my naked upper body hungrily. He slid his hands up my ribcage, then moved his thumbs over the sides of my breasts. I held totally still, breathing fast, as he moved his hands to cup my breasts. My eyes closed as his warm fingers touched me, gently squeezing and molding my breasts in his hands. Kane leaned forward and kissed the tops of my breasts, then slid his lips down and brushed them over one nipple.

I sucked in a breath as his mouth moved to the other breast and teased me again. I brought my hands up and loosened the band that held his hair, then ran my hands through it, loving how silky it felt against my fingers. Kane’s mouth was alternating between my breasts, his lips barely touching the skin. He flicked his tongue over on of my nipples, then sucked slowly on it, letting his tongue trace lazy circles around the peak. I tangled my hands into his hair and moaned his name. He repeated the action on my other nipple, flicking his tongue over it, sending heat flashing through my body.

His mouth continued working over my breasts as his fingers inched their way down my stomach. Kane slowly lowered the waistband of my shorts, stopping to caress my lower stomach. He pulled away from my breasts, then maneuvered me to my feet next to the bed. He slid to the end of the bed and sat down, pulling me between his legs. Kane nuzzled my stomach, then ran his tongue around my belly button. His fingers hooked my shorts again, this time catching the material of my panties with them. He eased them down over my hips and slid them off my legs.

I stood naked in front of him as his eyes looked over my body. Kane put his hands on my thighs, running them up my legs and over my hips. He looked up into my eyes with a smile playing on his lips. I traced the outline of his lips with my finger, shivering a little as his hands continued roaming over my body. His hands went around my sides, and gently messaged my lower back, then slid down to cup my rear. He pulled me closer, kissing the skin between my breasts before sliding his lips over one of the nipples again. My legs were threatening to give out on me; I had to lean on his shoulders to hold myself up as he sucked on me.

Kane finally pulled me onto his lap so I was straddling his thighs. His lips caught mine again, his tongue going into my mouth to touch mine. His hands were on my hips, pressing me down so I could feel his erection against me through the thin material of his shorts. I was whimpering low in my throat, wanting him to just throw me down on the bed and get it over with. He pulled his lips from mine, watching my face as his hand slid between our bodies to lightly tickle my stomach before moving lower. I dug my nails into his shoulders as he stroked me, his fingers barely brushing against the sensitive spot then moving away, making my hips buck against him. He repeated the light stroke, his eyes never leaving my face.

9.

I was going crazy, his fingers moved lightly over me, making me moan softly in his ear. I couldn’t take anymore; I put my hands on his shoulders and pushed him backward so he was lying under me on the bed. I ran my hands over his chest then leaned down and flicked my tongue over his smooth skin, tasting him. I ran my tongue over one of his flat nipples, smiling when he made a low sound in his throat. I caught it gently in my teeth, then let it go to kiss my way across his chest. I slid lower, dipping my tongue into his navel, then nibbling the skin around it. I moved my hands over his sides, then pulled down on his boxer shorts. He shifted his hips to help me as I slid back, pulling them off his legs.

Kane pushed himself back onto the bed, and I kneeled next to him, running my hand up one of his legs. I felt the muscles in his thigh tighten as my fingers tickled him. I paused for a second, looking down at him then glanced up into his eyes. He had his hands behind his head and was watching me intently. I kept my eyes locked with his as I moved my hand farther up his thigh. My fingers grazed him and I smiled as his eyes narrowed and he sucked in a breath. I traced his length with my fingertips, loving the feel of him. He twitched against my hand and my fingers closed around him then gently started stroking him.

Kane’s hips jerked and I straddled his legs again and held him still with my hand. I kept moving my other hand on him, barely cupping him against my palm, not applying too much friction. It was my turn to tease him a little. I bent down and ran my tongue over his stomach again, then moved lower. I glanced up at him before moving my stroking hand and replacing it with my mouth. His hips came up off the bed again as I lightly sucked and I pressed my hands against his hips to hold him still. I could feel him trying to press up into my mouth, but I held him back and released him. I ran my tongue down his length, then went back to the head, nibbling the soft skin lightly as I went. I pulled him back into my mouth, sucking harder, having to press down harder on his hips to keep him still.

Kane reached down and grabbed my arms and pulled me up his body, crushing me against his chest as his lips came up to meet mine. I could feel him grinding his hips against mine, rubbing himself against my lower stomach. His hands went down my back, over my rear then to my thighs. He pulled up, until I was sitting directly over him. I broke our kiss and reached between our bodies to guide him into me. I closed my eyes at the contact, then slowly slid down him, taking him inside me. When he was fully entered, he grabbed my hips and held me still, then started making slow circular motions with his hips. I rested my weight on my hands on either side of his head and put my head back, pushing against his body to get the most of the contact.

I leaned down, pressing my lips against his again and felt him move faster against me. I groaned in approval, straining to break his hold on my hips so I could meet his thrusts. He guided me over him, raising and lowering my hips slightly in short strokes, stopping to grind against me. I was gasping for breath, every time his hips moved a jolt went through my body. I had never felt anything like this before. He slowed down again, barely moving inside me. I leaned down to kiss him again, trailing my lips across his cheek, nibbling his earlobe.

Kane’s movements stopped, he held me pressed tight against him, letting me feel him inside me. I gripped his shoulders, my lips against his ear, “Kane…please,” I managed to whisper out. I could feel and hear him chuckle, then sighed in relief as his grip on my hips loosened, giving me room to move. I pushed myself up so I could look into his face as I started moving him faster inside me, rolling my hips against his, urging him deeper. His hands slid up to cup my breasts, his fingers stroking the nipples until I thought I was going to scream at the pleasure he was sending through me.

I felt white hot heat flash through my body, and pressed hard against his hips, letting my climax take me. I dug my nails into his arms, crying out as the feelings swept through me, feeling the tension in my lower stomach spreading through my body, then releasing me, leaving me shaking. I collapsed against his chest, trying to slow my panting down.

Kane slid his hands up my back to my hair. He slowly lifted my face to his and kissed me gently. I pulled away and smiled at him, then gave a little yelp as he moved suddenly, turning me over so he was on top of me.

He smiled down at me, then lowered his head to kiss me on the neck, nibbling the skin. He was still inside me; I could feel him throbbing against me. Kane moved his hips, and I moaned wrapping my legs around his waist. He shifted his weight to his hands, then pushed himself back so he was almost kneeling. He gripped my hips again, not to still my movements but to guide them as he eased himself deeper inside me. I stretched my arms over my head and gripped the pillow behind me as I felt the same heat build again. Kane was moving faster, driving himself harder inside me.

Without realizing I was doing it, I moaned out, “Yes, yes…” over and over as he moved, picking up more speed until we were practically slamming into each other. I opened my eyes to watch him, taking in the flex of his muscles, watching as light sweat formed over his body. I could feel him getting ready to finish; his features were tensing up, his movements becoming more erratic. I worked my hips against him, grinding against him, wanting him to explode the way I had.

Kane moaned loudly once then collapsed against me, pulling me against his body in a tight bear hug as he climaxed inside me. The feel of him jerking inside me was too much, I felt myself peaking again, tightening around him as another orgasm, shorter but still powerful, passed through my body and left me breathless.

The tension finally eased from his body, and Kane relaxed against me, still cradling me in his arms. He rolled to his side, pulling me with him, not withdrawing from me. I rested my head against his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist. I snuggled closer to him, listening to his heartbeat as it slowed down. He slowly withdrew from me, then cuddled me closer to his chest.

I flicked my tongue over his nipple, making him jump. I could taste salt against my lips and smiled. “You need a shower, and I need food,” I said, surprised at how husky my voice sounded. Kane chuckled again, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. He started moving away from me, and I held on groaning. “Where are you going?”

He looked at me, a smile teasing the corners of his lips. “Shower,” he tipped me a wink, then pulled away. I watched him leave the room, shaking my head. I slowly stood up, laughing at how shaky my legs were. I heard the shower come on in the bathroom and smiled, then went across the hall and pulled a robe out of the closet. I slipped into it and headed downstairs to fix dinner for both of us.

10.

I heard the shower cut off a few minutes later, and listened as Kane made his way downstairs. I had dug through the fridge and found some leftover chicken; it was warmed up and ready. I put together a salad, then popped some ready-made breadsticks in the over. Should have been biscuits, but I was starving so I wasn’t about to complain.

I put a couple of plates on the table, then turned and watched Kane as he came into the room. He hadn’t bothered getting dressed; he wore a towel around his hips, leaving the rest of his body bare. I had to swallow hard before I could drag my eyes from him. He smiled a little then came across the room to stand in front of me. I looked up at him, then returned his smile, not knowing why I suddenly felt so shy with him.

Kane reached up and touched my cheek, stroking his fingers over my skin. “Ready to eat?” he traced his thumb over my lips. I lightly kissed it and smiled brightly.

“I’m always ready,” I said, then laughed at the look on his face. I pulled him over to the table and sat next to him. We ate slowly, stealing little glances at each other between bites. I’d never seen a man look so good in a towel.

We finished eating then cleaned away the mess. I didn’t know what to do with myself next. Kane stood in the doorway looking across the kitchen and out the window, and I had my back to him, looking out the back door into the yard. I yawned, covering my mouth with my hand. It was still kind of early, but of course I’d gotten quite a workout earlier in the evening. I smiled a little and turned around, running nose first into Kane’s bare chest.

I rubbed my nose and smiled up at him. “I’m going to have to put a bell on your neck or something. You keep sneaking up on me.”

He smiled back, then ran the tip of his finger lightly over my nose. He bent his head and kissed the tip of my nose, making me smile again. Kane took my hand in his and led me through the hallway into the living room. We stopped beside the couch, and he motioned for me to sit. I did, sinking onto the soft leather, then watching as he went to the VCR and picked out a tape. He came back over and sat beside me, putting his arm around my shoulders.

I grinned then stood up. Kane looked at me in surprise. “Move your legs,” I told him, grabbing his calf and moving his leg onto the couch. He was smiling as he stretched out over the couch, his back leaning against the armrest. I eased between his legs until my back was against his chest, then relaxed against him. Kane put his arms around me and rested his chin against my head as the movie came on. I ran my fingers lightly over his forearm, then brought his hand to my lips and kissed it.

We watched the movie in silence for a while, cuddling on the couch. I almost fell asleep leaning against him. The closing credits rolled across the screen and I realized that I didn’t even know what it was that we’d been watching. Kane clicked off the TV, and we sat in the dark living room for a few minutes, not moving.

I finally shifted a little and cleared my throat. “You don’t talk enough,” I grumbled, smiling when he chuckled and pulled me back against his chest. He tilted his head til his lips were brushing my ear.

“I do when it’s important,” his voice whispered across my ear, sending a shiver down my back. I closed my eyes as his tongue flicked over my earlobe. His hands moved down my arms and to my stomach where he untied the belt on my robe. He ran his fingers to my neck, then back down, easing the robe open.

I’m notorious for these abrupt endings…heh