Chapter 8

Storm

Rain suddenly begins pouring outside the barn. Kana eagerly ushers his horses into the stable. The roar of thunder shakes the stable and Lillian jumps.

"I don't think it's safe for you to travel home right now. You might as well stay here." Kana peeks out into the storm outside and the rain is cascading down, flooding the ground with large puddles. He grabs Lillians hand and tugs her to follow him to his house. They reach the doorway and both of them are soaked down to the bone.

"I have some towels and spare clothes you can wear." He leaves her in the doorway and she stands there shivering in her wet clothes. The rain pounds against the rooftop. Kana returns with a brown towel and a nicely folded shirt and shorts. "They're the smallest sizes I have." He hands them to her and she holds them close. They smell good.

"You can change in my room," Kana suggests. Quickly undressing, Lillian puts on the dry clothes, which of course are a bit too big for her. She tries her best to keep the shorts on despite how loose they were on her tiny frame. She tosses her wet clothes into a nearby sink and walks back out into the front room.

Glistening tan skin awaits her as she rounds the corner. Kana's back is facing her and his hair is down and sticking to his wet skin. She watches his muscles flex and twitch while he pats a towel over his body. Mesmerized by his build, Lillian can't help but feel her face flush with heat.

Kana senses her presence and quickly turns around. His chest is bare, aside from a few tattoos across his pectoral muscles. How could I forget someone with a body like that?

"What?" he says while wrapping the damp towel around his neck.

Snapping back her attention, Lillian speaks up. "I put my clothes in your sink. I didn't want to get your floor wet."

"That's fine. I'll take care of it later," Kana walks past her into his bedroom. He finds a t-shirt and puts it on. A bit of disappointment shows on Lillian's face but Kana is oblivious. "Looks like the storm will last through the night," Kana says.

Lillian nods as she stands next to the window, staring out into the storm. Although it was terribly dark outside, she continued scanning the area around them. Streets were flooded and branches and fence posts cluttered the ground. "Are these storms usually this scary?"

"I forget this is your first storm considering you've lived here a year. They're pretty nasty." Just as Kana finishes his answer, the lights begin to flicker before turning off completely. Kana curses under his breath. "I should have some candles around here." He opens a few cupboards before pulling out a couple large candles. He lights a candle and places it in the middle of the table. He walks beside Lillian and opens a large closet, holding sleeping mats and covers. "Isn't that your bed?" Lillian asks with curiosity.

"I have an extra for you." He pulls out two mats and places them side by side on the floor. Lillian sits down and pulls the cover over her for warmth. Kana stretches out beside her, propping his elbow on the pillow and resting his head against his hand.

Lillian reaches towards him and her fingers run through his hair. She continues running her hand through his dark hair, surprised by how soft it is compared to how rough it looked. "What are you doing?" Kana asks quietly.

"Your hair is so soft." She says almost in a whisper.

Kana's a bit pleased with how dark it is, being as she can't see his blushing cheeks. A flash lights up the room and Lillian quickly withdraws her hand and covers herself with the blanket.

"You're not spooked are you?" Kana teases.

"Shush," Lillian says beneath the blanket.

Thunder rumbles outside and she pokes her head out to find Kana's eyes. For a moment they stare at each other. Lillian wanted to be closer to him. She wanted to breathe him in. She's unsure of why she suddenly feels this way or why he had this effect on her.

"We should try to get some sleep." Kana blows out the candle and rests his head against the pillow, his back facing Lillian. Discouraged, Lillian attempts to close her eyes but of course the storm keeps her awake.

Warmth presses against Kana's back. He turns around, finding his face pressed against Lillian's. Her dark eyes look calm and she scoots closer to him for comfort. Instinctively, Kana pulls Lillian's small body against his. She nestles her head into his chest, his warm breath against her neck. Protectively, Kana's arms wrap around her body, his hand resting behind her head. He takes in her scent. Her hands slide under his shirt, exploring every rugged edge she could find. Her right palm rests in the middle of his chest, feeling his heart beating frantically against his ribcage.

She reaches for his hand and presses it against her chest, showing him her heart was beating just as fast. Kana quickly removes his hand. "What are you afraid of," she whispers into his neck.

She feels his chest rumble as he speaks. "I'm not used to being so close to you. Not like this."

"I want to be close to you. It feels right to me."

Without thinking, Kana pushes Lillian against the bedding. He gazes into her dark eyes, almost as though they're asking for something. Letting his urges take hold, he presses his lips against hers. His hands grip her shoulders as his body rests atop hers. Her hand plays with his hair, her fingers dancing through each strand with ease.

It takes all his willpower to pull away from her. Her hair is sprayed around her head and her tiny frame feels so fragile beneath him. "Don't stop," she murmurs. Kana shakes his head. "If I keep going, I won't be able to stop myself."

She places her hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her. Her eyes are begging for him to continue and he feels his body shaking the more he resists. He caves into his wants and his lips meet with hers. Her hands explore his body.

He pauses between kisses, removing a piece of clothing. His eyes take in her features, from the small perk of her nipples down to her hipbone. Unable to resist, his lips press against every inch of her body. She lets out soft moans with each touch of his lips.

Her breathing grows heavier and her fingers curl against the blanket. Kana presses his lips to hers once more, his hands massaging the inner parts of her thigh. Her head tilts back as his lips brush the side of her neck. Her hand wraps around his shoulder, her hand entangled in a web of his hair.

Flashes of Kana and Lillian scatter through her mind. Her memories continued flowing through her brain with each touch from Kana's hands. She stared up into his dark eyes. "I love you," she whispers. He leans closer to her. She pulls him close, her lips brushing his. "I love you, Kana."

"Lillian," Kana says with a smile.

"I remember everything," she interrupts. "I remember watching the stars with you and the lunar eclipse last fall. I remember you throwing snowballs at me in winter and sharing hot cocoa."

Unable to speak, Kana's lips replace words with actions as he pulls his body close to hers. His body and hers collide in a mess beneath the covers, each one showing how much they love each other through an embrace, neither one saying a word.