Chapter thirty-two
Kevin stood looking out of the window and heaved a deep sigh, hefting the weight of his bag in one hand as he looked across the land to where Lenny's house was. He really didn't want to leave, but he had to get back to work or lose his job. Right at that moment, that didn't sound like such a bad thing, he thought, frowning. The last few days with Lenny had been the best of his life, changing him, and he didn't want to be away from that. But underneath all of it, he was still running scared from the feelings she instilled in him; feelings he wasn't sure he was absolutely ready to face.
His lips curved in a slight smile as he heard noises coming from down the stairs, where Lenny was currently working on getting him a big breakfast so he wouldn't go hungry on his journey. He hadn't let her out of his sight since Mark had left, and he hadn't allowed her to go home, keeping her with him and dressing her in only a bathrobe for the entire last few days. He shook his head as he thought about some of the surfaces he had found it impossible to resist throwing her down on, and he had christened most of Mark's rooms now. Not that he'd ever tell him that, he thought.
With another sigh, he left the bedroom and carried his bag down the stairs so he could drop it by the front door, walking into the kitchen and leaning against the door frame as he watched her flit around. She had hidden it well, but he could tell she was upset that he was leaving. There was an almost undetectable tightness around her mouth, and her eyes looked darker. Only someone who really knew her well would be able to see it, and he did know her well, better than he had ever imagined he would.
She turned and saw him standing there, a smile tilting her lips when he grinned. "Breakfast is nearly ready, why don't you come and sit down?" she asked him, putting a pot of coffee out for him.
"I'd rather just do this," he murmured, levering away from the door frame and pulling her small body back against his, his arms wrapping tightly around her. "It's only a shame I had to let you finally get dressed."
Lenny smiled and closed her eyes, enjoying every second of being close to him, especially when she thought that it would all end soon. She hadn't been able to ask him if she would see him again, just in case he said he wasn't going to come back. She didn't think he would really say that, but she felt so insecure, and she wanted to see him again more than she had ever wanted anything in her life. "The eggs will burn," she murmured reluctantly, looking at the pan.
"Let them burn," he said deeply, turning her around and bending down to kiss her, putting everything he was feeling into the kiss. He felt her shiver against him and then her arms wound around his neck, pulling him closer and holding him as if he were the most wonderful thing in her life. He hoped he was, but he couldn't bring himself to ask her that yet.
He drew back finally and smoothed her hair away from her face, smiling at her. "Time to eat I guess," he murmured, releasing her slowly and watching her like a hawk as she put the food on the table and waited for him to sit down.
Unable to stand being away from her for even the time it would take to eat, he pulled her onto his lap and started feeding her small bites of food, his eyes fascinated as each morsel disappeared between her lips. "I could stay here forever," he said without even realising he was going to speak.
"I wish you would," she replied, her voice soft as she stared into his eyes.
"Me too, sweetiepie. But I have to go back to work," he said, putting one big hand under her chin and kissing the tip of her nose. He studied her for a second and then he grinned. "That doesn't mean that I won't be able to come back as soon as I have some time off."
Lenny smiled, her eyes shining. "You will?"
"Mmm-hmm. Although that won't be for about two months, I've got a pretty heavy schedule when I get back. But after that," he said, pulling her head onto his shoulder and hugging her, "I'll come back here, and I'll carry you off somewhere. That's a promise, sweetiepie."
She rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, thinking it was so unfair that now she had discovered she loved him, he had to go away. "I wish you didn't have to go."
Kevin frowned and tried to push down his own emotions over leaving. He didn't want to be away from her, and he tried to think of some way he could ask her to just go with him. But that was too much, too soon. She'd probably run screaming if he asked her something like that. Then there was the fact that backstage at the arenas wasn't necessarily the best place to take a beautiful young woman, although Mark had managed okay with having Amy around. He frowned again at his own thoughts and wondered how he had become so attached so quickly, when only a few short days ago he had thought he hated her. Well they said love and hate were different sides of the same coin, he guessed fate had flipped his coin for him. Now all he could think about was Lenny - her smell, her taste, the way she smiled, the way her hair felt as it flowed over his body....his eyes squeezed shut as his weak flesh leapt to life. He didn't have time for this, he thought, he had to get underway. On the other hand, he was driving himself, so there was no plane to catch or anything...a short delay would be acceptable. He nudged her face away from him and gave her a sexy grin before taking her lips in a deep, arousing kiss. So, he couldn't spend the time on her that he wanted...but he could make her feel just as good as always.
******
Half an hour later Lenny stood next to his truck as he threw his bag in, her legs still feeling slightly rubbery from the things he had just done to her. She smiled when he turned back to her, trying to mask the misery she was currently feeling.
Kevin looked down at her and saw how she was feeling as clearly as if she hadn't tried hiding it at all, and he reached out to pull her into his arms, his eyes closing in pain when he felt her start crying. "Don't cry, baby, it won't be forever," he murmured, pressing her face against his shirt as he bent his head over her. "You know I'm going to miss you just as much, don't you?"
"Really?" she asked shakily, still pressed against him, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist.
He smiled slightly. "Yeah, really. It's just...you know, guys don't cry, so I guess most people wouldn't be able to tell. But you can, can't you?" he asked her, making her look up at him.
She looked into his eyes and frowned in concentration. Yes, she could see it, he felt just as bad as she did. Strangely, that cheered her up a little, and he rolled his eyes. "You're not supposed to be happy about how bad I feel," he told her, managing another smile. It felt alien on his face considering how bad his emotions were. "Come up here and give me a kiss."
His big hands lifted her up on a level with him, and he waited patiently for her to put her arms around his neck and lean in to kiss him, letting her control the soft kiss for a few seconds before he took over and kissed her the way he really wanted to. He knew, at some level, that he was putting far too much emotion into the simple touch, but he couldn't help himself. When he finally drew back he tucked her head onto his shoulder and just stood holding her, his eyes closed and a frown drawing his eyebrows down fiercely.
The sound of footsteps made him open them again and he watched as Sam walked slowly up to them, his face sombre when he saw the state his sister was in. "You're off then?"
Kevin nodded, slowly putting Lenny down but not letting go of her, his hand absently stroking the back of her head. "Yeah, it's time I got going," he said reluctantly, his eyes dropping to Lenny's bent head. "Lenny? Sweetheart, I'll call you when I get settled, okay?"
She nodded and lifted miserable eyes to his face, her lips tight where she was trying to stop them from trembling. Kevin sighed and stroked his hand down her face, curling it under her chin and lifting her face for another brief kiss. "I'll call you whenever I can, as soon as I get a minute free, okay? And I'll come back the moment I get some time." He smiled softly. "I'm going to miss you so much, I don't know how I'm gonna be able to concentrate on work."
"I don't want you to go," she whispered, biting her bottom lip now where it gave a betraying wobble.
"I know, and this is hard for me too. Don't make it any harder, baby, please," he said softly, pulling her into another hug and looking over her head at her brother. "Take care of her for me, okay?"
Sam nodded. "You know I will. Take care of yourself."
Kevin nodded and frowned. "You'll call me if you need me, won't you? For anything?"
"Of course I will, don't worry. Everything will be fine."
"Okay," the bigger man said, taking a deep breath and putting Lenny away from him slightly, his eyes warm on her face. "No more tears okay? It's not forever, and remember...I'll be back," he said, doing an awful impersonation of Arnie. It had the desired result as a small smile tugged at her lips, lightening his mood a little. "Good girl. Give me another kiss and I'll get going."
She did as he asked and tried not to squeeze his neck too hard, but eventually she had to let go and she stood beside her brother, watching Kevin get in his truck. He looked at her as he started the engine and then winked before driving away from the house. Lenny stood and watched until his truck turned onto the main road, and then she couldn't see him anymore.
"Come on, Charlene, let's go home," Sam said, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"In a little while. I have to make sure Mark's house is spotless, and then I said I'd lock up," she replied, trying to smile and failing. "I'll be back soon."
Sam looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. Don't take too long, though."
"I won't." She turned and went into Mark's house, closing the door behind her and closing her eyes as she absorbed the silence. It was probably just what she needed right now, just to be alone with her misery. She didn't want to infect anyone else with her haywire emotions right now, and she wanted to cry it all out in peace. She hadn't realised how much it was going to hurt to watch Kevin drive away, and somewhere in the back of her mind she couldn't help feeling that he wouldn't ever come back.
Kevin was having similar emotions as he drove along the road, his eyes not seeing the traffic in front of him. He thought that this was the closest he had ever been to crying since he was a kid, and he felt as if he had just ripped part of his chest away. So this was how it felt, he thought, giving a faint chuckle. Whoever it was that said love hurt, they sure knew what they were talking about.
****Okay, short I know....and it was all sort of sad stuff....sorry about that, it's the PMS transferring itself to the page! If it gets any worse there'll probably be a murder coming up!!!!****
