Begin Again (Again #1)(85)

Not broken, just bent.

With one finger I traced the lines softly. Kaden winced but didn’t move otherwise.

“What is that?” I whispered, raising my eyes to look into his. Kaden seemed almost insecure.

“Your words,” he replied just as softly. His eyes were dark and full. “The words that made me believe in myself again. The words that drove me mad because I couldn’t believe someone could see me the way you do.” He swallowed hard.

My mind went back to that day at the waterfall. To our conversation and all the hidden signals he’d sent me. To everything we’d confided in each other.

You’re not broken, Kaden. Maybe just a little bent.

“You put … those are my words … on your skin,” I blurted out, staring again at the looping letters. The skin under the tattoo was still slightly red and puffy.

“Everything about you gets under my skin, Allie.” Kaden got down from the couch and stood facing me. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, and my gaze flew from his eyes to the tattoo, then back to his lips. “I’m really trying to take it slow, Bubbles. But if you keep looking at me like that … no guarantees.”

I couldn’t stop looking. I didn’t want to. Right now I had only one need—to show Kaden how much I’d missed him.

“Please, Kaden,” I said, my voice heavy.

A sound came from somewhere deep inside him and he pulled me close. His lips were pressed hard against mine, his arms wrapped around me. It almost hurt—but I didn’t stop it. He sighed as my lips opened for him, and my tongue slipped into his mouth. My legs sank but Kaden caught me, and we sank together onto the couch. I clung to him, put everything into my kiss: the moments of pain, of overwhelming loneliness, the joy he’d brought to my life, and all the longing of the past few days and nights. Everything.

Kaden moaned into my neck. My hands explored his body, and it felt like the first time. My heart beat wildly. Our kiss grew softer but no less urgent. Kaden lay me gently on my back, brushing my cheeks, my forehead, my neck with his tender lips.

“I love you.”

I froze beneath him.

“What did you just say?” I whispered.

“I love you,” he murmured. “I love you so much that it almost hurts.”

I ran my fingers through his hair and along his jawline. But as I began to tug at his shirt, he grabbed my hand and held it over my head.

He gazed into my eyes for a long time. A crooked grin appeared on his face. He almost seemed a bit shy. “Wow, Bubbles. It’s the first time I’ve managed to stun you into silence.”

It was like he was trying to lighten the charged atmosphere. After getting my breathing back under control, I quipped, “I didn’t know it hurt to love me.”

His mouth twitched. “If you only knew.”

“What do you mean, it hurts?” I asked, intending to make him smile. But to my surprise Kaden started to search for the right words.

“It’s like my whole body is on fire … but in a good way. Everything contracts in me and at the same time it explodes, if I see you or smell you or … I’m really bad at describing this kind of thing.” Now he wore a dangerous grin. He lowered his head and sucked my lower lip between his teeth. “I’m better at this.”

He kissed me again. His weight bore down on me, but I wanted him even closer. I tugged at his shirt.

In a flash he broke free and sat up, lifting me so I was now straddling his lap. The tips of our noses touched, and Kaden’s eyes sparkled up close.

“I’ve got so much planned,” he said.

I tilted my head. “More presents?”

“Of course, Bubbles.”

“Good. I’ve gotten used to having dessert served to me at noon.” I wiggled my eyebrows the way Scott always did.

“I’ve got something very special planned for tomorrow,” Kaden continued, leaning back. He put his hands on my hips and pulled me even closer.

“And that’s why you want to leave now,” I concluded.

“No,” he answered, surprised. “Unless you’re kicking me out.”

I shook my head.

“Good. So, since I planned something big for tomorrow, I’d like to …” He tugged my shirt down in a gentle movement so that it covered my belly again.

“You want to take it slow.”

Kaden gave a quick nod. And then made a face. “No. I wouldn’t say that’s what I ‘want’ to do, Bubbles. But I want to earn it.” His voice sounded husky and his half-smile looked kind of sad.

“I know you’re sorry, Kaden,” I said, touching his cheek. “And I forgive you. Forgave you already, in fact.”

He nestled his face in my hand. “Then just wait till tomorrow.”

“Brownies again?” I asked.

Kaden shook his head. “Better. Much better.”





Chapter 36


When my alarm went off the next morning I rushed to open the front door. What could the big surprise be? But there was nothing waiting for me. Disappointed, I closed it again.

Classes dragged along that morning. It started to snow at noon, and two people who’d planned to look at my extra room canceled because they didn’t want to drive in this weather.