“I’ll wait for her to leave,” Lauren murmurs, embarrassed.
“I’d rather you didn’t. She’ll be nicer to me if she meets you,” I say honestly and tug her to my chest. “Finish showering and come to join us.” I dip and press a kiss to her mouth. Her lips are flat against mine. Gripping her jaw, I lift her face to mine. “Don’t,” I warn, “don’t give power to those kinds of thoughts. You're here because I want you here. I asked you to stay because what I’m feeling doesn’t just go away in one night. Nor will it disappear after a weekend.”
Her mouth opens, but I drop a kiss to her lips, silencing her. Our eyes speared together. “I’m a one-woman kind of man. So, for the short amount of time you’ve extended to me, I’m yours, and you're mine.”
She searches my eyes, her chest rising in quick sharp bursts.
“Okay?” I say softly.
“Okay.”
I pull her towel away and slap her ass. “Don’t be too long,”
“She seemed upset,” Lauren ventures, stepping back under the spray.
“She’ll be sweet as pie when you appear,” I mutter, drying off and pulling on some fresh shorts and a plain tee before heading down to the kitchen, where Kat has the decency to look regretful. “I get you’re angry,” I bite, glaring at her. “But don’teverlet yourself in here again unless it’s an emergency,” I tell her as I take a seat at the island.
“I didn’t think you’d have company.” She presses her lips together, trying not to laugh.
“Even if I didn’t, you have no right to storm in here. You came into my room, Kat. What the fuck! Do you have no respect?” I demand quietly.
“You can hardly talk. You’re taking everything from us.”
“I’m taking what was always mine. I already told you that you can stay at the house.”
“I asked them about your dad.” Her lips downturn.
“Let me guess—I’m a liar.” With no sign of coffee, I leave my seat and make some, knowing Lauren will more than likely want a cup, too.
“They said you’re trying to turn me against them.” She looks up from where she is pulling some tissue apart. Her eyes are red-rimmed, and her face drawn.
“I can show you the death certificate, the bank transfers, the messages, and anything else you need to understand the depth of what your father is capable of.”
“If I believe you, then it was all a lie, you know,” she whispers painfully.
I circle the island and pull her into a hug. “It’s easier to be angry at me than to accept the truth about him.”
She nods and sniffles. “If he knew I was here—if either of them did—” her voice catches, and I grit my teeth.
“Have they threatened you?” I ask. It’s one thing that has bothered me—what will they do to her when they find out she has a mind of her own? She gives a small shake of her head, but I know what she is thinking: if her father is capable of the things I have told her, what else is he capable of doing?
“Hello?” Lauren appears. She tucks her hair behind her ear and cups her waist, looking as young and vulnerable as Kat. She’s got one of my tees on and her feet are as bare as her face. Kat wipes her face and beams past me.
“Hi, I’m Kat.”
“Lauren. I can give you a few more minutes?” she says, seeing how emotional my sister is.
“No, it’s okay.” I walk over and join her, and she pulls an uncertain face. “It’s fine,” I whisper, leaning to kiss her. She’s tucked my tee into the back of a pair of my shorts.
“I have no clothes with me,” she admits.
“I know.” I grin, “Coffee?”
“Please.” With a bright smile, she moves past me and tentatively takes the seat next to the one I was occupying. I wait for her to flick those pretty eyes my way, and when she does, I smirk, knowing I’m the cause of discomfort from her waist down. She gives my sister a sympathetic smile and rests her elbows on the granite surface.
“Milk, one sugar,” she tells me.
“So, how do you know each other?” my sister asks. Lauren looks at me, and I lean against the counter as the machine whirs and grinds the beans.