Sound of Love

Chapter 44

Kyler's POV.

May 23, 2019 - 11pm

The beach house was quiet now, the bustling sounds of the day replaced with the soft, gentle lapping of the ocean against the shore. I could feel the weight of the day finally lifting as I walked toward the bathroom, ready to get ready for bed. Dinner had been a blast, but the tension between Stass and me had only grown more noticeable. I could still feel the heat of her touch on my arm, her playful glances, the way she seemed to enjoy teasing me—a little too much.

I ran a hand through my hair, glancing at the open doorway to the bathroom where I could see Stass already rummaging through her bag. She was getting ready for her nightly routine, completely oblivious to the effect she was having on me. But I knew that wouldn't last long.

STASS: After a few moments of silence, she broke it with a light chuckle. "Kyler, I've gotta say, I was impressed tonight." She said, her voice as smooth as silk. "You were pretty damn hot when you called out that waiter."

I froze, my heart racing. She wasn't talking about the waiter in the usual way—she was talking about me. I got up and leaned against the doorframe, pretending to be nonchalant, but the heat rising to my face and pants betrayed me.

KYLER: "You like that?" I asked, my voice a little rougher than I meant it to be.

STASS: She smirked, stepping toward me slowly. "Oh, I liked it a lot. The way you handled him...it was, what's the word? Admirable. And very hot." She added with a wink, her lips curling into that teasing smile I'd come to know all too well.

I could feel my pulse quicken. Her proximity, the way her eyes swept over me, the air between us thickening—I was doing my best to keep it together, but it wasn't easy.

KYLER: "I didn't do anything that special." I said, trying to downplay it. "Just didn't want him flirting with you girls. He was out of line."

STASS: She raised an eyebrow, taking a step even closer, and I swear, my breath hitched. "No, Kyler, it was special. You stood up for us, and that was really attractive." She emphasized the last part, and I could feel the heat in her words.

I wasn't sure if I was imagining it, but it felt like the space between us was getting smaller with each second. Her eyes kept flicking to my lips, and mine to hers. I swallowed, trying to keep my composure, but it was slowly slipping more and more.

She stepped even closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth of her body against mine. My chest tightened, and I instinctively took a small step back, but she followed me.

STASS: "Kyler." She purred, her voice now only a whisper. "You're making this harder for me. You don't even know what you're doing to me right now."

I was practically melting under her gaze. Her presence was intoxicating. Her smile, her laugh, the way she knew how to push my buttons—it was driving me insane. And I couldn't tell if I was imagining it, or if she was really this close, leaning in even more until I could feel her breath on my neck.

Then, just as I thought she might do something—anything—to close the gaps, she pulled back and walked back toward the bathroom.

KYLER: "You really know how to mess with me, don't you?" I muttered under my breath, but my voice was hoarse with desire.

STASS: She shot me a look over her shoulder as she disappeared into the bathroom, her voice still playful. "Maybe...but I'm not the one who's struggling to control himself right now, am I?"

I groaned, my hands running through my hair. This was ridiculous. I needed to get myself under control before I made a fool of myself. Stass was clearly enjoying herself, and I had no idea what to do with all this energy buzzing in my chest.