Undeniably His(80)

Kalin steps between Madison and his mom and reaches for my shoulder. “Don’t do that, Annabelle. The help will clean this all up tomorrow. I haven’t had a chance to bring my help back. The only help here over the past few weeks have been the landscapers.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“No, it isn’t. Get some rest. It’s been a big day.”

I place the dishes on the counter.

“Well, thank you everyone for keeping the surprise, and thank you Annabelle for keeping Kalin occupied while we planned it,” Madison says.

“It was a wonderful gesture. Thank you.” I hug Madison, and everyone says their goodbyes to her and thanks her for the hard work she put into the party.

“I’m just glad Kalin is okay. He’s worth celebrating,” she says. I watch Kalin and Madison hug.

Kalin kisses her on the forehead. “It was wonderful. Heart-stopping but wonderful.”

“You’re as good as new, Kalin, and we’re all going to make sure you stay that way,” she says.

As Madison leaves I realize the chances of her having anything to do with what happened are remote. I’m confused and tired, and say goodnight to Lauren and Peter and head to bed. Kalin grabs my hand from behind and pulls me to him. “We’re finally alone now.”

“Kalin, I’m sleeping in the other room tonight.”

“Stay with me tonight.”

“We still have to talk. Remember?”

“We’ll talk and then we’ll make love. I need to touch you, Annabelle. I’ve been thinking about you all day. It’s all I’ve wanted.”

Kalin tugs me into his room and shuts the door. He pulls me toward him and buries his face in my bosom with a heavy sigh. “Finally, just us,” he rumbles.

“I have to use the bathroom.”

Kalin leans back on the bed and smiles as he watches me.

“We still need to talk,” I remind him.

“I’ll be here.”

I freshen up in the bathroom, and do my best to look sexy. My body wars with my mind again, part of me wanting his touch that I was deprived of for too long, while my mind wants an explanation for his silence over his relationship with Madison. I open the bathroom door and amble toward him. His head is turned into the pillow, and his long legs are sprawled across the king-sized bed. I walk around the bed, and his eyes are closed. He is out cold. I move the pillow away from his face and kiss him on the cheek. Threading my fingers through his wavy brown hair, I smile.

This is his first night away from beeping monitors and wires attached to his body to measure oxygen, air flow, and heart rate. It’s amazing he had as much energy as he did this evening. Now that we’re alone, he’s sleeping like a baby. I smile at the irony, and glide my fingers through his hair. My body tingles with gratitude that Kalin has come out of this alive and healthy. I drink in the moment, and press my lips softly to his ear. “I do love you, Kalin Davis.” I plant a kiss on the sensitive skin directly below his ear, and press up from the bed.

Kalin is dead weight tonight. I ease out the door, savoring one last glimpse of his sweet expression through the crack of the door before I close the bedroom door and quietly wander across the hall to my room.





Chapter Twenty One


The back doors to the garden terrace are open, and the sweetness of the floral scents carried on the warm summer breeze mixes with the sound of songbirds to lift my spirits. It’s an appropriate feeling of renewal for the new beginnings Kalin and I are now enjoying. I turn to face the kitchen and the smell of fresh coffee slams into me, adding to the sensual delights of the morning.

Lauren and Peter are preparing breakfast, and Kalin is on the phone in the other room. When the conversation ends, Kalin walks toward me. He looks so young and carefree now, as if the world has been lifted from his shoulders.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” I chirp.

“Good morning, sexy. I slept for ten straight hours. Can you believe that?”

Kalin’s thick hair is combed back in silky waves, and his brown eyes glitter with warmth and renewal against his light skin. He’s wearing blue jeans and a light blue linen shirt, unbuttoned enough to show a sprinkling of chest hair. A shadow of stubble runs along the strong angles of his jaw, and a fresh scent teases me. I want to touch him.

My lips part as I watch him move toward me. “Even the gods that defy death need a good night’s sleep once in a while.” I tilt my head and smile up at him.

His mouth twists into a lustful grin. “I have just one regret.” The warm touch of his fingers over the sensitive skin of my neck causes my head to sway back with delight. “My body was just exhausted. But you have no idea, my dear Annabelle, how much I want you.”