Untangle Me (Love at Last #1) Read online

  “The pleasure is truly mine, Sophia,” he said with a wink. A total flirt and I finally knew where Kayden learned his charm.

  “I’m going to get us a drink. What do you want?”

  “Whatever you’re having is fine,” I said.

  His dad sat down and motioned for me to sit. Kayden and his mother walked to the bar and left me behind. The group around me began to chatter about Kayden and how well he looked. They kept saying how happy he appeared.

  I watched from a distance as he spoke to his mother. It had been months since they had seen one another. The joy emanated from her body as she touched his arm and spoke to him. The bartender placed our drinks on the bar, and they both stood there and finished their conversation before returning to the table. He sat down and pulled my chair close to him.

  The conversation flowed easily. He knew them well and cared for these people. I listened to the discussions and heard the concern in their voices when asking him about his life. The group cared for him like he was a member of their family.

  After a couple hours, we left and followed his parents to their home. Nervousness filled me at the thought of being alone with them. Would this become an interrogation? My stress was unnecessary. They were kind, warm, and welcoming. We sat outside on the lanai and talked. I mainly listened. Finally, I excused myself from the table, wishing everyone a goodnight and kissed Kayden on the lips. He stayed outside with his parents for a few minutes before joining me in the bedroom.

  “Hey, baby,” he said, entering the bedroom as I was undressing.

  “Hi, love. Happy to see your mom?” I asked.

  “I’ve missed her a lot, yes. It was great to see her under happy circumstances for once,” he said. “She really likes you and thinks you’re good for me.”

  “I’m glad,” I replied as I watched him walking around the bed, beginning to undress.

  I observed him closely. He wanted our skin to touch when we slept, and I loved it. He crawled into bed, and I adjusted myself so I could nestle into his arms. He held me as he watched television, and I drifted off to sleep.

  I woke early the next morning and made my way out of the bedroom in search of coffee. I didn’t have the energy to fix my hair or put on makeup. I needed the caffeine to function. An empty cup sat on the counter, and a freshly brewed pot called my name. I poured myself a cup of coffee and opened the sliding door to the lanai.

  I froze. Goddamn it.

  “Good morning, Sophia,” Joe said.

  Shit. Maybe I should have at least brushed my hair. “Good morning. May I sit with you?” I asked.

  “You don’t have to ask. Sit down here. It’s nice to have you both here,” he said as he turned back toward the television.

  We sipped our coffee and talked about sports. He was surprised by my knowledge of sports and love of football.

  “I have to get ready for work. I’ll see you guys later today, though,” he said as he stood up and grabbed his empty cup.

  “You will,” I said, slurping the last drop at the bottom.

  He chuckled, “There’s more in the kitchen. Help yourself, kid.”

  “Thank you,” I replied, needing the extra infusion.

  I walked behind him, quietly closing the door. I filled my cup as strong arms wrapped around my waist.

  “Morning, beautiful,” Kayden purred in my ear.

  “Morning,” I said, stroking his hands.

  “What do you want to do today?” Kayden asked me.

  “Anything is fine with me.” I turned around, kissed his lips, and inhaled deeply.

  “Um, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet. That’s kind of gross.”

  “I didn’t smell your breath, silly. I always feel the need to smell you. I can’t fucking explain it. It’s the damnedest thing.” I shrugged my shoulder.

  I sounded so creepy, but I loved his smell and couldn’t get enough of it.

  “You’re a bigger freak than I thought,” he laughed and smacked my ass as I walked out the door.

  “How about we go to the store and then come back and cook some food?” he asked me with a smirk.

  Kayden and I often went back and forth about who could cook the best. He cooked for me in New Orleans, but I had a few items in my arsenal that could not be beat. My meatballs were fantastic—he claimed his were better. This was the day we would finally put the matter to rest.

  “Okay, I’m going to make my meatballs. Then you tell me if yours are better,” I stated with a laugh. I knew I had this one in the bag.

  “When you’re done with your coffee, we’ll go to the store and settle the matter,” he said as he kissed me on the lips.

  We walked the aisles, and I threw my ingredients into the cart. I wanted not only to impress him, but his parents too. He decided to make soup for everyone.

  “You have strange ingredients for your meatballs,” Kayden said as he stared down.

  “You’ll see,” I said coyly.

  We checked out and headed back to his parents. I was ready to work my magic. We had the house to ourselves. We both began chopping our vegetables, garlic, and onion. I mixed all of my ingredients for my meatballs. A quick sauce simmered to cook them in, the aroma filling the air. I took my time forming each ball perfectly and placing them in the sauce.

  The moment of truth had arrived. I selected a meatball and put it on a plate for Kayden to taste. I watched as he cut into it and smelled it before placing it in his mouth. He chewed slowly and kept his eyes locked on mine.

  “They’re great, but mine are still better,” he said as he licked his lips. He wasn’t going to answer truthfully. He couldn’t be the judge of this competition.

  His mother walked in the door and greeted us with a smile.

  “What are you two up to?” she asked as she sat on a barstool at the counter.

  “We decided to cook. Sophia made meatballs, which she claims are the best, and I made soup. Would you like some?” he asked.

  “Sure, I’d love to try both,” she replied.

  She sipped the soup and complimented him on how good it tasted. She was right. It was delicious. She cut the meatball and placed a piece in her mouth. She chewed, and Kayden and I glanced at each other and then at her. We waited for her response.

  “These may be better than my meatballs,” she said as she popped another sliver in her mouth.

  I beamed with pride, turning to him with a grin.

  “When do I get to taste yours, Kayden?” I asked.

  “I’ll never make mine for you. No way in hell,” he said to me with a small pout.

  “Aw, come on. You have to make them for me,” I pleaded.

  “No, Sophia. You win. Yours are great. Mine are bland in comparison,” he said, wrapping his arms around me.

  We were unsure of what to do while visiting his parents. He lived in this town for years with his ex-girlfriend, Lisa. The ex who had him arrested and the reason he was on probation. I didn’t want to run into her during our visit.

  That evening we returned to his parents’ social club to spend time with them since we would be leaving the next morning, and he would be flying back to New Orleans. A band was playing music from decades ago, and the people moved around the dance floor with grace.

  An older woman approached the table. She reached out and ran her fingers across his head. “Hey, Kayden, want to dance with this old woman?”

  Kayden smiled and laughed, “Thanks, Edy, but I don’t think my girlfriend would like that much.”

  “I would…” Something hard hit my leg under the table.

  “That’s all right, hot stuff. Maybe next time,” she said, looking me over before turning around and leaving.

  “Why’d you hit me?” I asked.

  “I don’t want to dance with her.”

  “I would’ve loved to see it. You would’ve made her night,” I said.

  “If I’m going to dance with anyone, it will be you.”

  “Not tonight and to this music. Someday, maybe,” I said.
<
br />   “Why? I want to dance and grind on you.”

  I began to fidget. “I’ve never been a good dancer.”

  “I’ll teach you,” he said.

  Fuck. I hated dancing. I was the awkward person unsure of how to move my arms and legs. They always seemed to go in opposite directions.

  We shared a pitcher of beer, and my eyes grew heavy. We said our good-byes and headed back to the house to go to sleep.

  The next morning, his mother took us to breakfast. Afterward, a woman I didn’t know stopped us outside and said, “Honey, you don’t know how lucky you are. When my husband was alive, he looked at me exactly how he looks at you. He adores you.”

  Her words struck me in a profound way. I never analyzed how Kayden looked at me. His friends and family said he looked happier than he had in a long time. I guess I brought joy into his life, but he’d done the same for me. A breath of fresh hair, the fun I’d missed, Kayden represented everything I’d searched for in my life but hadn’t found until now.

  There were so many variables, so many things that could go wrong in this long-distance relationship. I worried he would meet another woman who lived close by and wouldn’t want me anymore. If that happened, though, the whore would have to see my name running down his leg and be reminded of me if he strayed.

  It was a long drive back to the airport. We planned to see each other in a few weeks, when he returned to Florida. He said it would be best if I dropped him at Departures instead of walking him in. Tears formed in my eyes at the thought of saying good-bye. I would probably turn into a crying mess if I went inside and dragged the good-bye out any longer.

  The moment had arrived—he turned to me and kissed me with one hand on my cheek and the other on the back of my neck. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks and onto his fingers.

  “Don’t cry,” he whispered on my lips.

  “I’m trying not to. I can’t help it. I’m going to miss you terribly,” I said through my tears.

  “I love you,” he said as he placed his forehead against mine.

  We sat there for a minute, neither of us wanting to move.

  “I love you, too,” I whispered against his lips.

  He pulled away and reached for the door handle. I couldn’t let that be last time I touched him or smelled him. I jumped out of the car, walking to the trunk. He grabbed his bags, placing them on the ground lightly, and turned to me. I instantly hugged him—clutched him like a lifeline. Maybe I should hold him hostage. He would have to be the one to walk away. I couldn’t do it. He kissed me again with promises of a future, and I returned it with longing. A kiss could convey so many words without a sound.

  I hated saying good-bye. Even more, I hated not knowing how long it would be before I’d see him again. Driving home, I felt lonely.

  Kayden: I miss you already.

  The tears were still streaming down my cheeks as I realized I would arrive home to an empty bedroom, and even sadder, an empty bed.

  He boarded the plane before I pulled into the driveway. I went inside and tried to make myself busy until he called me. That evening ended just like the others had when we were apart. It made my room a little less lonely to see his face and hear his voice.

  19

  Sophia

  Time Apart

  That night, I drifted off to sleep while Skyping with him, even though I tried to stay awake as long as possible. When I woke the next morning, I could see his face on the screen. I watched him for a couple minutes before his alarm blared and he stretched, rolling onto his back.

  “Good morning, Kayden,” I said. I wanted to wake up in his arms. I wanted to touch him.

  He flinched, forgetting I was there. “Morning, baby. Sleep well?” he replied, stretching enough to cause the covers to slide down his body.

  “I did.”

  “It’s nice to wake up to your voice instead of just my alarm,” Kayden said to me as he rubbed his eyes to clear his vision.

  “I wish I could wake you with a kiss. I’d give anything to rub your chest and stroke your arms,” I said to him with a goofy smile on my face.

  “I wish you’d wake me stroking something else, baby doll,” he said with a chuckle.

  He moved his legs, and the blankets no longer covered him at all, giving me a full view of his erection.

  “Dreaming of me again, Kayden?” I asked, staring at him with wide eyes. I would never tire of his body.

  “Always. I’d make love to you if you were here. I’d have you crawl on top of me, moving your body slowly. I’d want to feel every inch moving inside of you,” he said as he reached down and began to touch himself.

  “I want that—my body misses yours,” I said to him.

  “I’d suck on those beautiful nipples while you moved at a torturous pace on top of me. I’d make you beg me to move faster and harder. I love when you beg, Sophia,” Kayden said with a sly grin.

  “I love your form of torture,” I replied with an innocent laugh.

  “Okay, enough of that. I have to get ready for work. You’re such a distraction but a fucking sexy one,” he said as he sat up and covered his cock, shielding it from my view.

  “You’re such a tease. Go get ready and text me in a bit. I’m going to lie back down and finish what you started in my dreams,” I said, blowing him a kiss.

  “I will, baby doll. Catch you in a bit. I’m going to go lather up and think of your fingers moving across my body,” he said with a laugh, and then the screen went black.

  I drifted back to sleep with thoughts of Kayden’s beautiful body moving under mine.

  I wanted to fill all of his senses while we were apart. I mailed him letters and small packages filled with tiny items to remind him of me. I wanted him to have something to look forward to each day. A couple contained cards or letters, perfume-scented tissue, his favorite candies, and things that made him smile. I never told him that I was sending them, and the waiting made me crazy.

  Me: Are you home from work yet?

  Kayden: Hold on… I’m busy smelling my Kleenex.

  I smiled to myself. He was happy, and I was able to surprise him.

  Me: What? Oh, you got one of the envelopes I sent you.

  Kayden: Yes. I’m smiling ear to ear! You’re the best!

  He always seemed like such a tough ass, but I knew I could make him a pile of mush.

  Me: Was it a puffy envelope or a regular one?

  Kayden: I have more than one coming?

  Me: Yes, a couple of envelopes are on the way… I spaced them out.

  Kayden: Seriously? The card says it’s about the little things. Couldn’t be more true. I opened the mailbox and had to look around because all I could smell was you.

  I wanted there to be a constant reminder of me. I wanted my smell to be near, reminding him of my skin.

  Me: I love that.

  Kayden: Yes, whoosh… It hit me as soon as I opened the mailbox. I’m almost speechless. No one’s ever been so thoughtful.

  Me: No one’s ever sent you a card?

  Kayden: Birthday cards, but not one just to make me smile… It’s all a double-edged sword.

  He’d never had anyone treat him with as much thought and love as he always gave to them. I wanted to be different. I loved him. Everything about the relationship was a double-edged sword. I loved Kayden and wanted to be with him always, but the distance and our jobs wouldn’t allow it.

  Me: I know, love. I just wanted to make you smile.

  Kayden: You did, incredibly large.

  Me: It’s a good day for you to get it. I know you had a shitty day at work.

  Kayden: I love you so much.

  My body grew warm and tingly. I could never get sick of seeing or hearing those words from Kayden.

  Me: I love you, too. I want to make you smile every day. You work hard, and we are so far away. There will be more, mostly silly stuff. Now, stop smelling me. Get your shit done, so I can see you on Skype… I’ve waited all day.

  Kayden: I’m going
to put the Kleenex in my pillowcase. I want to smell you as I drift off to sleep.

  I made sure to send as many packages and cards as possible. I wanted him to know that I was always thinking of him. I wanted him to know that he was loved and thought about…even if I couldn’t be with him. he was always with me in my heart.

  20

  Kayden

  Sophia brought so much joy into my life in such a short amount of time. I didn’t want to do anything to lose her. I always seemed to find a way to fuck things up. There was still so much I needed to share with her, things she didn’t know about my past. They were important details that made me into the person I was today. I had to find the right time to share everything with her, but would there ever be a perfect time?

  She sent cards and packages a couple times a week. They gave me something to look forward to after a grueling workday. I filled my pillowcase with the Kleenex she sent me. I wanted to wrap myself in all things Sophia.

  There were things I’d already shared with her that I regret. I never would have told her about the women I’ve fucked, the manner in which I handled those relationships, mostly my callousness when it came to love after having my heart broken so many times. I’d never thought we would meet, let alone fall in love with each other. She didn’t seem to hold any of it against me. I was thankful she was so forgiving

  She made me want to be a better man. I wanted her to be proud of me. I would be the man she deserved and always wanted. She was the most unique woman I have ever known. She had a knack for always making me laugh. Even on hard days, she found ways to make me laugh.

  Me: Hey, beautiful. Can you send me a picture of the two of us?

  Sophia: Sure, give me a second to find one on my phone.

  Me: Thanks, baby doll. I want something to remind me of our time together. I have plenty of pictures of just you, but I want some of us.

  She sent one from our first evening together, sitting on the steps of a building on Bourbon Street. We both wore goofy grins and had drinks in our hands. A smile crept across my lips remembering that evening.