“The connection I felt to you when we were sixteen … it’s even stronger now. I’ve always felt like you were the only woman in the world for me.”
Kylee was completely speechless. That was exactly how she’d felt and all she’d hoped for him to feel. But why had he never called or texted? She’d been too low in self-confidence to make the first move. Now she was confused, but his words also touched her deeply.
She should pull back and ask him why he hadn’t called, ask him if he was a heartbreaking womanizer or if he could be true to her. She should demand to know the truth. No flirtations, no lines.
But for all her languages and linguistic skills, all she could do was stare at him.
Chandler’s thumb traced her lips again, making her tremble. He gently slid his hands into her hair and caressed her scalp as he pulled her even closer. His breath warmed her lips and his strong body overshadowed her. She’d never felt a sensation so thrilling.
And then his lips met hers.
Fireworks seemed to explode within her, and she knew that thrilling wasn’t strong enough. The kiss was a mind-blowing connection that marked her his and him hers. It was unreal. She’d only felt a connection like this when she’d kissed him for the first time at sixteen.
She instinctively wrapped her arms around him and tried to pull him closer. Chandler slid his hands down her back and molded their bodies together. She was full of heat and light and love. Chandler Delta was the man for her, and her lips and her body and her soul all agreed.
Much, much later, he pulled back from the kiss and tenderly kissed her cheek, her forehead, her hairline. “We’d better get some rest,” he said softly.
Kylee wanted him to profess his love, but he had said earlier she was the only woman in the world for him. That was huge. If she could truly believe that, it could have the power to change her world.
“Okay,” she managed.
He swept her off her feet and against his strong chest. Kylee cried out in surprise, wrapping her arms around his neck for stability. “Put me down. I’m too heavy,” she protested.
Chandler’s cheek crinkled in a grin. “Heavy?” He scoffed. “Kylee, you are not heavy.” He carried her out of the room and easily ascended the first flight of steps to the foyer. The foyer light and outdoor lights were still on, but it was obvious Papa had gone to bed. Kylee wanted Chandler to convince her she wasn’t heavy, that he really did think she was “perfect.” It seemed like a cruel joke that he would say those things if he didn’t mean them. Mimi would laugh, that was for sure.
Crazily enough, Kylee hadn’t heard Mimi’s mocking voice in her head since Chandler had interrupted it and said the beautiful words,You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. Beauty that starts inside and radiates out. You shine with pure, innocent, irresistible beauty.
She loved those words and wanted to write them down, engrave them on a bracelet, repeat them every day. Suddenly she couldn’t care less what Mimi thought. She was in Chandler’s arms and not even her evil grandmother could touch her here.
Chandler carried her up the grand staircase to the second story without missing a step or even getting short of breath.
He stole a quick kiss, then lowered her to her feet. She pressed into him and she could feel his heart racing and his breath speeding up.
“Sorry, carrying me got you all out of breath,” she said, looking up into his handsome face.
“What?” He laughed. “Please don’t insult my toughness like that. I’m only out of breath from you pressing close to me and me wanting to kiss you even longer than I did downstairs.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
“Very.” He lifted her off the ground and pressed her against the wall so their faces were close. His strong body and hands pinned her in place. “Kylee, can I kiss you longer than I did downstairs?”
Kylee could hardly believe this incredible man was so taken with her. He easily held her as if she weighed nothing. She’d seen the scale three mornings ago, before her life imploded. One-five-two. At five feet, that was considered overweight and very close to obese. Yes, she had generous curves and carried most of that weight in her chest and rear. Her waistline and even her legs were close to a normal-sized person, but how could Chandler be so attracted to her, hold her as if she weighed nothing? It blew her mind, and she loved him even more for it.
“You are some kind of superstar,” she murmured against his mouth.
He grinned. “Please say that translates to, ‘kiss me longer than you did downstairs.’”
Kylee laughed. She couldn’t help it. She was caught up in the fairytale of her and Chandler Delta. She thought she loved him.
She listened, but no snarky voice came.
Chandler really was like a knight in shining armor. He’d killed the evil witch in her head.
“Yes,” she said happily. “Please kiss me longer than you did downstairs, el campeón.”
He chuckled. Then he kissed her, and she forgot to care about any insecurities. She even pushed aside the worries of confronting Mimi and King Frederick and possibly being killed in less than forty-eight hours. Chandler was all she could see, taste, smell, and feel. Chandler was all that mattered.
ChapterTwelve