Page 71 of Unraveled

“Oh, goodie. I’m a fan already.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Kellan

Although Layla was willing to let last night go with my apology, I was still beating myself up for it in the shower the next morning. Hot water sluiced over my skin while I did some serious introspection. She’d been absolutely correct in saying I’d fired my shot at Brandon with one goal in mind. To make him feel like shit. And I’d used Layla’s illness to do it. The only way to describe my reaction at finding my cousin talking to Layla was that I’d lost my head.

Expecting Layla to be asleep, I came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist. But she surprised me. Not only was she awake, but she was sitting on the edge of the bed in nothing but a red lacy tank top. When her lips curved up in a smile, instant lust hit me.

“You owe me a blow job,” she said matter-of-factly.

I chuckled. “I’m a little unclear how this came about, but I’m a man who always pays my debts.”

Rising to her knees, she crooked her finger to motion me closer. “From two weeks ago when you came out of the shower. There was mention of a rain check, and I’m cashing in.”

“Are you now?” I was within reach, which she took advantage of by hooking her fingers in the terry cloth and pulling me in front of her. Whoosh, she ridded me of the towel altogether.

“Damn, that feels good,” I hissed as soon as she gripped my quickly hardening length.

I could see the sexual confidence bloom in her eyes at my reaction. Before I knew what she was up to, she was down on her knees on the carpet. She teased me slowly, lavishing attention down my cock before mouthing the head. Jesus, this woman was incredible.

My urge to thrust in her mouth was strong, but I placed my hand gently on top of her head. She wasn’t having such caution, though, gripping my ass and taking me to the back of her throat while moving faster with her hand.

Then her tongue was on my balls. Holy fuck. A blow job from Layla was heaven on earth. But after a few minutes with her deep-throating me, as much as I wished I could last, there was no way that was happening. It felt too good.

“I’m going to come, baby. Oh, yeah—”

Suddenly, I pulled away from her, coming all over my hand and the floor instead of in her delicious mouth.

“What the hell?” Her look was priceless, as if I’d robbed her.

She had no idea how panicked I’d been. I helped her to her feet. “I’m sorry, but I remembered you telling me you might develop an aversion to whatever you taste on the Sunday before chemo, and I freaked out.”

Her laughter bubbled up as she cupped my face. “Didn’t want to take a chance I’d be off the taste for good, huh?”

I dropped a kiss to her lips. “Not a chance in hell.”

We were both smiling. Perhaps it was possible to have a sense of humor around cancer and chemo.

We were quiet during the truck ride back to Seattle. I glanced over to see her knitting something rectangular and gray. Patty had introduced her to someone who’d taught her the new skill a couple weeks ago.

“Whatcha making?”

“A scarf. A really uneven, somewhat ugly scarf. Just pretend to be surprised and touched when I give it to you for Christmas.”

“If you made it, I’ll wear it every day.”

“You’re sweet. Anyhow, I’m hoping to get better, so I can make little hats for the babies in the hospital. But Anita said I had to start with square and rectangle until I get more experience.”

I loved seeing her with something to occupy her time. It was even better it was for a positive cause. Something like that could take her mind off of cancer. Unlike me bringing it up last night. She seemed to have moved on, but I still felt terrible.

So, I was surprised when she broke the ice on the subject. “I’m curious what happened when you found Brandon and your ex together. What did he say at the time?”

My jaw ticked. Though I didn’t want to talk about it, I recognized it was the least I could do to make up for last night. “What could he say?”

“I’m asking if he apologized or maybe if he went on to date your ex-girlfriend. Was it a one-time thing, or did they rub it in your face and become a couple?”

My hand scrubbed over my face. “Why do you want to talk about the past?”