Deep Waters

Chapter Fifty-Two

I breathed comfortingly, feeling the warmth of someone against my back. The weight of a large arm strung over my waist, held me back against their chest. I missed this comfort. I missed someone holding me. Wanting nothing more than to stay in this relaxed state forever, I started dozing back off. Wait. Who was holding me right now? Jay? Nope. I wasn't going to let this happen.

Within a second, I flung myself out of the person's arms and out of the guest bed. I stood in the middle of the floor and crossed my arms over my chest, instantly shivering without the warmth of the person's touch. "Delilah, snap out of it," I muttered to myself. I was not about to be involved in some kind of physical attachment to Jay.

"Woah, woah, woah. What are you doing?" The man called out, sounding aggravated by the fact that I practically just flew out of his arms. At the sound of the all-too-familiar voice, I spun around to face the male that was now sitting up on the mattress.

His brown hair was messy, unkempt, and longer since the last time I'd seen him. His jawline and cheekbones were somehow more defined than ever, making it seem like he had lost a little bit of weight in the past few weeks. A fluff of mustache now grew above his upper lip and attached to the scruff along his jaw. It was a different look for him than I was used to. The blueness of his eyes was more saturated than I remembered. They held the mystery and unpredictability of the ocean, yet the peacefulness and calm of the storm as well. He was more attractive overall than I remembered. I couldn't spot a single thing that I didn't like about him, and trust me, I looked. How could I let myself forget the little perfections of this human being? I internally cursed myself for letting his sharp memory slip away.

"Kason?" My boyfriend was sitting under the blankets of the bed I had just been sleeping in. I was dreaming. I had to be. He was back in Ohio.

"Hi, Baby," he spoke deeply, making my eyes burn.

All I could do was stare as my heart fluttered at the sight of him and the sound of his morning voice. I couldn't fight back the tears that filled my eyes instantly. No. It was too good to ever be true. Nothing in my situation could go this right. My heart pounded rhythmically like a drum and I had to swallow the growing rock in my throat to keep myself from sobbing right then and there. "If you tell me I'm dreaming, and you aren't really here..." I started with a shake of my head, not knowing how I could take the fact that this was all in my imagination. I didn't want to be dreaming. Please, Lord, tell me this isn't just a hallucination.

The man popped out from under the blankets, wearing a pair of dark joggers and a matching T-shirt, and was standing in front of me in an instant. "I'm really here," Kason said. "I'm right here." I couldn't move as he reached out his hand and touched my face, trailing his thumb over my bottom lip and across my cheekbone. His fingertips were softer and gentler than I remembered. Butterflies swarmed my veins. His touch. It was real.

I flung my arms around his neck and held onto him for dear life. His strong arms wrapped themselves perfectly around my torso and he held my head as I cried into his shoulder. "Why? How?" I could only ask. "Isn't it too dangerous?" Daniel had told me to stay away and keep moving for a reason. He thought my separation from him and everyone else was for the best.

His chest rumbled beneath me as a chuckle escaped his lips. "I'll let Jayden explain everything in a little bit."

I pulled away, just enough to where I could see his face clearly. Taking in his appearance, an easy smile stretched my cheeks. Pure perfection. The peace in his smile. The comfort in his stare. "What's this thing that crawled up your upper lip and died?" I questioned playfully, cupping his cheek with one hand, and rubbing my thumb along it with my other.

"Facial hair?" he giggled. Yes, giggled. "You like?" I shook my head, mirroring his expression. "Yeah, me neither," he added.

This man made me happier than anyone else on this earth. I kissed him, long and hard, holding him against me. He was the oxygen I needed to live. The hydration for my skin. The serotonin for my health. Kason's grip on me tightened to the point it almost hurt and kissed me back with just as much force. I moaned in his mouth as his tongue danced with mine. He pulled away for a second, laughing. "Well, that's a way to boost a man's confidence." I just smiled and kissed him again. He sure knew how to ruin a moment. "Guess I don't have to worry about Pretty Boy who called me down here?"

I shook my head. "Not at all." Jay was a great guy, but he didn't compare to Kason in my eyes.

He smirked. "I didn't think so." And that's on having a healthy relationship.

"Shut up and kiss me." And he did.

I held his lips against mine by cupping his jaw as he kissed me senseless. His hands delicately lowered down my back until he reached my butt and lifted me. I jumped and wrapped my legs around his torso, clinging onto him as if my life were on the line. His lips attacked mine, stealing my breath leaving me having to gasp for air. My back hit the mattress before I even realized he was moving me across the room. His hands trailed up my sides until they found my palms, intertwining our fingers. The weight of him rested on me, but it wasn't uncomfortable at all. Though impossible, I wanted him closer.

Delicate kisses trailed from my lips, down my jawline, and drawing flowers along my neck. I couldn't help the moan escaping my lips as he found my sweet spot. His breath was hot against my sensitive skin and I felt him smile before he made his way back up to my lips. "I love you," he told me, breathless and resting his forehead against mine. "So much. More than you'll ever know."

Smiling, I tried to catch my breath, but it was hopeless while we were still in this position. "I love you." I kissed him again, fighting against the ache in my lungs from the lack of proper breathing. I untwined our hands and pressed my hands on his chest as I placed delicate kisses along every inch of his face, his jaw, and his neck. A deep moan escaped him as I nibbled on his ear.

"Oh, how I missed you." His lips found mine again once more. "You know I could do this all day," Kason said in between kisses. "But I have a strong feeling everyone else is already up and in the kitchen."

I breathed, only holding him closer. "Doesn't mean we have to join them."

His chuckle sent butterflies through my stomach. Oh, how I had missed that sound. "Delilah, Delilah, Delilah," he chided playfully, placing one last long kiss on my lips.

Way too early, he pulled away completely. His skin left mine and when I opened my eyes he was standing by the bed, reaching his hand out to me. I groaned. "Do we have to? I just got you back."

He laughed once more, nodding as if I were the cutest puppy he'd ever seen. "Yes. We are their guests. Let's be respectful instead of spending all day making out on this bed."

Rolling my eyes, I groaned, but complied and made my way out of the bed. "We didn't have to make out all day," I grumbled under my breath, only making him laugh more. But, against my idea, I grabbed his hand and led him out of the bedroom and toward the kitchen with both of us still in our straight-out-of-bed attire.

Shanice already had a full meal of breakfast food on the dining table. She, Andre, and Jay were all already dressed for the day and munching away on the variety of foods prepared. With kind smiles and short greetings, Kason and I joined them. My boyfriend introduced himself to Jay's parents and shook their hands, giving me the impression that he hadn't met them upon his arrival. Once we were both sitting side-by-side with our plates full in front of us, I asked my first question. "So, is anyone gonna tell me why and how he is here right now?" I asked generally, but my eyes fell on Jay, who I knew would answer.

"You needed his support," Jay said first. His green eyes were directly on me sincerely, and full of care. His curls seemed extra defined today and his stare held an emotion that was familiar but foggy to read. "You were breaking down and blaming yourself and was just straight up tired of the life you have to live," he continued, his eyes not leaving me once. "You needed Kason. I tried getting your brother here too, but Daniel said it was too dangerous for him and you to be together."

Nodding, I swallowed the building up emotion back down. It would have been fantastic to have my brother here too. He knew our situation better than anyone, but I understood Daniel's reasoning. I'd rather have him in Ohio if it meant he was farther away from Charles. "Thank you." Jayden slipped me a small genuine smile with a single nod and moved back to continue eating. "Really," I said, feeling like he didn't actually know how much his gesture meant to me. "I owe you more than I know how to give."

"You don't owe me anything, Delilah. If you're happy and I helped you get that way, then I'm happy."

I nodded at his words and felt Kason's reassuring hand rest on my thigh. 

***

I love this chapter.

Do you think Kason visiting was a bad idea? 

Any opinions or predictions?