Instead, she kissed me.
Loren’s lips were soft, but her mouth demanded that I submit to her. I resisted for a second, long enough to appease my barriers, and then I succumbed to everything that was my kitten. Lifting her up, she wrapped her legs around my waist as we devoured one another. My hands gripped the globes of her ass, my cock straining against my pants to be free as I ground into her.
She pulled away, and I moaned out in distress, missing her lips on mine already. It was as good as I remembered, her perfect body against mine, her hot lips devouring my tortured soul, that decadent feeling of ecstasy.
When she didn’t place them back on mine, my eyes fluttered open to peer at her. Her hands gripped my face firmly, and I knew whatever she said, I would either hate or love. There was no in-between when it came to Loren.
“I’m not going to let you do that. I’m not going to let you push me away because you’re scared. I’ve been scared my whole life, and it got me nowhere. So, no. You’re not allowed to push me away, not after all the work you’ve done to earn my trust. Believe in yourself, Wells. I do.”
My eyes fluttered closed at her words, her thumbs smoothing under my eyes softly. It was intimate and gentle, and it completely melted me. Nodding, I placed my forehead on hers, my breathing labored as I attempted to reign in all the fucked up feelings I had. Eventually, I opened my eyes and pulled back to find her watching me.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m a screwup, Kitten. It’s my nature to push people away. I just don’t want to hurt you. You’re the best thing in my life, you and Monroe, and I so want to be worthy of you both.”
“Don’t you get it, Wells? You are. Your worth isn’t determined by the number of asshole things you say or whether or not you screw up. It’s based on who you are as a person. And underneath that battered armor you wear, there’s a loving, good person. Someone who fights for the light parts of themselves within, to win against the dark sections of your past. You don’t have to be defined by it any more than I do mine. Don’t give up on yourself. I’m not.”
“You know, you’re not bad at that whole therapy thing.”
She smirked, her lips tilting up slightly. “Oh, Surly, this wasn’t even close to the emotional ringer I’d put you through for therapy.”
I laughed, caught off guard by her taunt. “That has to be the nerdiest and healthiest threat someone has ever given me.”
Guffawing, I found myself glad she hadn’t run away when I’d been stupid enough to push her. “Fuck. I’m sorry, Kitten. I got scared.”
“It’s okay. It is scary. That’s why the buddy system is so important.”
“The buddy system, huh?”
“Yes. It’s a highly recommended technique.”
“I think I’m going to need more information on this system.”
“Good thing I’m an excellent teacher then,” she said, smiling.
“I have no doubt, Kitten.”
“Um, Wells?”
“Yes, Kitten?”
“You can put me down now.”
“Never.”
Kissing her again, I didn’t put her down for another ten minutes as I thoroughly devoured her mouth, making sure she knew I wasn’t backing down from my promise this time. Eventually, I placed her feet on the ground, and we went inside. Loren helped me feed the dogs as she gave them all some love.
“Are you going to tell me now?”
“Tell you what?”
“The real reason you came here.” I leaned back against the counter, my arms crossed as I waited for her to spill. Her cheeks heated, and I knew I’d been right.
“Fine. I did have something to ask you, but I could’ve done that over the phone. I wanted to see you, so the ask thing was really an excuse, not the other way around.”
Grabbing her hips, I pulled her into me. “I’m glad you did. What do you want to ask, Kitten?”
“At brunch, I was telling the girls how I defended myself against Brian, and well, they were curious if you’d be open to teaching them a few things as well.” Loren looked up at me, her dark eyes big and open as she asked, and I realized it wasn’t just her wanting me to do something for her friends. This ask was because she believed I could help these women, give them something back. It was at that moment I started to understand the difference Nicco had talked about. How a family could help you out of the goodness of their heart because they cared about you, not because they owed you or wanted something in return, or worse, were only using you.
Kitten believed in my ability and wanted my help because she trusted me. The realization, along with her words earlier, planted itself in me, and I found myself nodding before I even thought it all the way through. “Of course, Kitten.”