Touch (Denazen #1)(69)

He did as instructed, and I watched his lips curled into a deliriously happy smile. A small moan came from deep inside his throat as he chewed his fried cheese. The sound—as well as the smile—gave me goose bumps.

I reached for my glass of water at the same time Kale reached for his. Our fingers brushed. It was enough to make him forget the cheese stick.

He was on his feet, around the cart, and next to me on the bed before I had a chance to blink. Gesturing to the empty cart of food he said, “They’ve fed us and locked us in. Can I kiss you again?”

“They haven’t locked us in, Kale. We’re guests here, not prisoners.”

“They locked us in last time we were here. We were not guests.”

“Things were a little different last time. And they didn’t lock us in, they requested we stay in our room. They didn’t know if we could be trusted.” I slid down the bed and made my way to the door. “See?” I opened it and stepped into the hallway. Kale followed.

He looked up one end and then down the other. “Now they trust us?”

I shrugged. “We got them the information they wanted, so I guess so.”

“How far will they allow us to go?”

“How far? We can go wherever we want. I mean not into other people’s rooms, obviously, but we could leave if we wanted.”

Kale slid past me and went for the stairs. I made sure I had the room key, closed the door, and followed him. He didn’t stop till he hit the lobby. The desk clerk offered him a friendly smile, then turned back to her newspaper.

Kale watched her suspiciously, taking small, tentative steps backward. She ignored him.

“What are you doing?” I asked, trying not to laugh.

But Kale was serious. He put his hand on the door handle and the desk clerk glanced up from her paper to give him a truly confused look. Staring at her, Kale pushed open the door and stepped outside.

Nothing happened.

He stayed there, on the other side of the thick glass door, for a few minutes before coming back inside. The bell above chimed, and the desk clerk looked up again. “Did you guys…need something?”

Kale didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed back out the door, this time taking several steps away from the building.

I rolled my eyes. “Sorry. This is all a little new to him.” I opened the door and pulled a very stunned-looking Kale back inside. “Can we go to sleep now?”

The whole way back to our room—it took a few minutes because he still wouldn’t get into the elevator—Kale remained silent. We reached the room, and I pulled out the key. Kale leaned forward, arms wrapping around my waist. His cheek skimmed up my neck and across the side of my face as we walked inside. “Is this okay?” he whispered, voice a bit hoarse.

“Um,” I swallowed, fighting for control of my voice. “Sure.”

He drew away and pulled off his shirt, then without missing a beat, mine was gone as well. Large hands spun my body to face his and lips met my own as the fire started to build.

“I can see it in your eyes,” he breathed between kisses. “You still don’t believe this.”

“Hmm?” A mumble was about all I could manage. I wanted less talking and more kissing.

He pulled away and laced his fingers through mine, holding them out in front of me. “This.”

I sighed. It was a shame to ruin such a perfect toe-curling kiss, but he seemed determined. “It’s not that I don’t believe you. I’m being”—I tried to think of the right word— “cautious.”

He frowned. “Cautious?”

Obviously not the right word. “I know this is all really hard for you to understand but—”

“You keep assuming I don’t know anything at all. Because I’ve never seen a DBD, had a cheese stick, or had someone who makes me happy, you think I can’t figure out how I feel.”

“DVD.”

“What?”

“It’s a DVD, not a DBD. Digital Video Disc.”

He glared at me. “I’m not simple. I know Alex hurt you. I know about things in your life changing you. I know about being cautious.”

“You asked me if I was afraid of you.”

He pulled further away and I could see a hint of fear in his eyes. “Yes.”

“I said I was, sort of.”

“You did.”

“That’s what I mean by cautious. I’m afraid of you because I have to be careful.”

His expression twisted and he looked as though I’d hit him. “I would never hurt you. I can’t—”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m afraid of the way you make me feel. I’m the first person you’ve ever been able to touch. The way you feel about me isn’t going to last. Eventually you’re going to want something else. Someone else…”

“You’re the only person who can touch me, Dez.”

“For now. Remember, Ginger said you can learn to control it. Eventually, you’ll be able to live a normal life. You’ll be able to be just like everyone else. You’re going to want to date other people.”

“You’re not hearing me.” He pulled me closer. “You’re the only one who can touch me. Someday I might be able to touch other people without turning them into a dusty husk, but that won’t change the fact that you’ll still be the only one who can touch me.”