Emily: Hello Kitten (The ‘Hello’ series)

29. Chapter 29

twenty-nine

T his is more than I even thought it would be. I kept my feelings in check for so long, but now hearing him say it… telling me I own him… it breaks something inside me, and it can never be put together.

“I don’t know how,” I say as nerves rake through my spine.

His brows knit as he draws me closer. “What do you mean?”

My throat closes as I try to swallow. “I don’t know how to be… this,” I say, my hand waving between us.

His lips curl as amusement glints in his gaze.

“Be yourself, Kitten. That’s who I fell for and that’s the person I’ll never leave.”

“Even if I mess up again?”

He cocks his head. “You can never scare me away.”

My nerves fade and a snort escapes. “Don’t be so sure about that,” I joke.

He smiles, grazing his thumb over my lips. “There she is,” he says and leads me inside.

I follow quietly behind him as I’m waiting for my mind to go spiraling again, to lure me back from this happy place, telling me how wrong I am for being here.

But it doesn’t come. That little voice stays quiet.

The made up ‘fireplace’ flickers on the T.V. this time, and he takes a seat on the couch, pulling me with him.

“Tell me something about you, Adrian.”

He hums and drapes his arm over me. “You know about my tattoos, about what books I like to read. What more do you want to know?”

“Everything,” I say with a soft laugh.

His fingers tease over my arm as the fire from the screen reflects in his green gaze. “I don’t have the same bond you have with your family. Mine has always been supportive, told me to chase my dreams, grab what I want to have in my life, and never let go if I find something that makes me happy.”

He takes a sharp breath, his gaze dropping to my hand resting on his thighs. “And I got everything, Emily.”

My chest tightens, and I take a deep breath.

“It wasn’t without struggle, but would the reward be as sweet without it?” His eyes find mine, and something stirs deep in my stomach.

“Do you have any siblings?” I ask, trying to ignore the intensity of his stare.

He chuckles. “I have an older brother, Alex. He’s a piece of work, always says what’s on his mind. Especially when it’s a sore subject.” Another laugh falls. “He doesn’t mean to be harsh. It’s just who he is.”

“What does he do for a living?”

He shakes his head. “Something your parents would be very happy with.”

“Oh, God,” I say, laughter bubbling. “He’s a lawyer?”

“Sure is.”

I listen closely to every word that drops from his lips, every story about his life and the bonds he has with his family.

This side of him, this part he’s finally showing me, draws me closer. So close that I’m scared I won’t be able to rip myself free. But then I feel it, that soft stammer of my heart, that soft flutter in my stomach.

I don’t want to be free of him. I want more of him.

“Emily?”

“Yes?” I ask, peeking up at him.

“Don’t scare me like that again, please.” His voice breaks, and I gaze up at him. His green eyes stare down at me, soft and broken.

I hate that I hurt him. I never meant to do that. “I won’t. I promise,” I whisper as his fingers graze up to my hair, gently running through.

He sighs in relief and reaches for one of the books on the coffee table and pets his lap. I smile, scooting down, and rest my head on his lap.

I swallow, watching his face, his lips as he starts to read to me, effortlessly bringing life to the story as I drown in the sound of his voice and the soft strokes of his fingers.

Page after page as this warmth spreads inside me.

I rub his knee, and he glances down at me. “Are you hungry, baby?”

“Yes,” I answer softly.

He nods and closes the book.

“Don’t stop reading. I like it,” I whisper.

He smiles and sets the book down but continues telling the story, his low voice perfect, easy. I smile, melting into his velvety words. At the same time, he starts typing on his phone.

After a bit, I lift my head and look at what he’s doing. Ordering burgers for us. I snuggle closer, brushing my fingers over his chest, then down his hip to where the scorpion is half hidden by his boxers.

Adrian turns and kisses me, like we’ve done it a hundred times. I open my mouth to ask if he thinks we’ll be together when my birthday comes next semester, but that question feels too hard, too intense considering we just agreed that we’re doing more than sex.

“Is this a date, Adrian?” I mumble.

“Yes. So was last weekend,” he answers as if it’s obvious. “We’re dating, Emily. I won’t get in trouble and neither will you. Isn’t it obvious since Beth didn’t pick up on it when I was texting her?”

“People still can’t see us, though,” I murmur. “We’re still a secret.”

“For now,” he says ominously.

My forehead creases and he picks up the book. “You told me you wanted to work in publishing, but is that all?” he asks, and I swallow.

He shared so much, so now it’s my turn.

“My parents never supported my love for books,” I start, mustering the courage to come clean. “I would love to work in publishing, but I want to try something else too.”

“Like?” he asks, urging me on as I stare at the fake flames.

“Writing. I would love to write, share my mind with others, my imagination.” I sigh, relieved to have said it. Not even Beth knows this.

“I think you’ll be great at it,” he says so easily.

“You do?”

He shrugs. “Every paper, every assignment, you have me hooked from the first sentence. You have this way with words, this flow to your story. I can’t wait to read what you write next.”

My ribs tighten and my eyes prickle with tears. “You’re not just saying that?”

“I’ll never lie to you, Emily. Never.”

I gulp and slowly nod.

“Do you know which genre you want to write in?”

A smile creeps on my lips as I peek at him. “Can’t you guess?”

He laughs, his eyes glinting. “Now I truly can’t wait to read it,” he teases.

“I have enough inspiration because of you,” I taunt.

He shakes his head and the doorbell rings. I sit up, curl my legs under me as Adrian heads to the front door to open it.

The scents of burgers and fries wafts my way, and my stomach grumbles in return. I peel myself from the couch to head to the kitchen, and Adrian stops me with a quick shake of his head.

“Dinner by the fireplace ,” he says, and I hurry back with a smile spread on my face.

I can’t even remember the last time I felt like this, so… happy. Is that the right word for it? To feel this at peace and all relaxed.

Adrian sets everything up on the coffee table and I edge closer.

“That hungry?” he taunts.

“Starving,” I joke and dig in as he sits beside me.

Every question I throw at him, he answers. I get to know more about him than I ever thought, and there is nothing he says that turns me off or pushes me away.

He never once brought up last night and still, I want more of him.

I take the last bite of my burger and a grin pulls on my face.

“Done?” he asks, and I nod as my eyes rake over his form.

“You too?”

He lifts a brow as if he can see what I want to do next. “Maybe,” he says with a shrug.

I move closer, my leg gliding over his as I straddle him and stare down at him, rolling my hips slightly and then brushing my lips over his.

He takes over quickly, rolls me onto my back, and bites my bottom lip. “Don’t tempt me, Kitten.”

“You told me to be myself, remember?” I moan. “So here I am. I’m crazy about you, and I hate it and like it, and then you say all that and—”

“Last night,” he tries to argue.

I stretch to kiss him again and again. “Make me forget it, please. ”