She walked Betsy out to her car, and once the other woman was gone, Ella headed back into the house and locked the door. She took a hot shower, changed into one of the soft, comfy tank-top-and-short sets she slept in, then climbed into bed after turning off all the lights. The house was quiet, and since she was wide-awake, her mind insisted on replaying everything that had happened with Kyle tonight.
She'd never intended for anything to happen between them, but the chemistry and attraction between them was impossible to resist. And God, that show of dominance of his that she'd glimpsed had excited and thrilled her, and because she'd still been annoyed with him after his cool attitude toward her that afternoon, it had been so easy to engage him, to let all that sexual tension turn all that frustration into something hot and steamy and physical.
Except it hadn't stayed all about the physical pleasure and release. Not for her. No, her stupid emotions had wheedled their way into where they didn't belong.
She'd walked away after his orgasm not to prove the point that she could, but because she'd felt too much in that moment. She'd been overwhelmed by the intensity of their encounter and addicted to how amazing it felt to give him that ultimate pleasure. She'd walked away because she was terrified that she was falling in love with Kyle again, and that was a dangerous thing for her heart to do.
A soft tap, tap, tap at her window startled her out of her thoughts and also made her traitorous heart flutter, because she knew what that tap, tap, tap meant. And who was making the noise, despite the fact that the curtains were drawn and she couldn't see outside. It took her back to when she and Kyle were dating in high school, and he'd sneak into her bedroom at night exactly like this, and with the house being a one-story, getting in and out had been ridiculously easy for him to do.
Tap, tap, tap. She wanted to ignore him, but the sound was a little louder this time, definitely more impatient, and after the way she'd walked away from him without a word or explanation back at the Roadhouse, she knew he wasn't going to give up anytime soon.
Tossing off the covers, she padded over to the window and pushed aside the curtain. Sure enough, Kyle was standing on the other side of the glass, and he'd already removed the screen from the frame. Yeah, just like old times.
"I already gave you a blow job. What else do you want?" she asked in an annoyed whisper.
He glared at her, his hands on his hips. "Open the goddamn window," he hissed, and it was the fear that he'd wake up her father-even though his bedroom was on the opposite side of the house-that had her obeying his command. She wasn't about to take any chances.
As quietly as possible, she unlatched the wooden frame, and while Kyle pushed it up and climbed through the opening, she went to her bedroom door and jammed a rubber wedge beneath it to make sure no one could open it from the hallway, just as a precaution. The house had been built in the early 1920s, and the doors didn't have locks. Growing up, her parents had preferred it that way. And as an adult, she'd never had a reason to install one. Until now.
She turned around to face Kyle, who looked much too imposing in her bedroom. She'd kept the lights off, but she could see him easily enough, and his tense body language spoke for itself.
"Care to explain what happened back at the Roadhouse?" he asked in a low voice that vibrated with annoyance.
She crossed her arms over her chest and shifted on her bare feet. "No, not really." How did she put into words how confused and conflicted she felt? She couldn't explain it to herself, let alone him.
"Try," he insisted, his gaze narrowed as he took a step closer.
She took a step back. "I can't." Her throat felt as raw as her emotions.
Something in his expression changed, softened, and this time when he moved closer, she didn't retreat. He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then tenderly skimmed his thumb along her jawline, adding to the chaos of feelings swirling inside her.
His eyes were caring as they met hers. "Okay," he said quietly, as if he understood what she couldn't explain, and then he reached out and gently pulled her into his arms and against his chest.
Ella didn't even resist. She flowed against him, closing her eyes and resting her cheek right were his heart beat strong and sure. He felt so good. So solid and warm, and everything about this moment made her wish that he could be hers. That nothing stood in the way of them being happy and this could be her life.
His hold around her tightened and he sighed into her hair. "I know that what's happening between us is unexpected. If someone would have told me ten days ago that I'd be standing in your bedroom with you in my arms, I would have called them insane. But here you are. Here we are, and I'm not ready to let you go just yet."