The Prince is Having a Ball

Part 16

Part 16

SANG:

The rest of the boys have left Kota's, especially after I practically held the door open for them to leave--politely. Kota's been in a funk, which could easily be explained by his being punched in the head earlier by a krav maga wizard, but I can't get his earlier words out of my head: "You scare me."

When we're finally alone--after about thirty squeezes from my boys--Kota and I do an awkward exchange of look, look away, look back. Finally, I take him by the hand and lead him upstairs to his bedroom.

He shuts and locks the door behind us out of habit, regardless that we're alone in the house. There's a quick scratch and whine at the door, then a thump and a huff. Max the ever faithful will stand guard.

"So..." I roll my shoulders back and face him. "I scare you?"

Kota's eyes widen. Obviously he expected me to remain quiet about it and ignore his earlier statement entirely. Kota, more-so than the others, seems to think that I'm made of glitter and flower petals and could just POOF, float apart at any second.

"You're different."

Now it's my turn for my eyes to widen. "What?"

Kota reaches up as if he's going to adjust his glasses but then realizes he's still got the contacts in. Instead he crosses his arms over his chest. His eyes close and then he just blurts out, "You've changed. And that terrifies me. What if you get hurt? What if something happens and you leave?"

I nod, acknowledging what he says. I don't say anything though, instead choose to go to his bathroom. Before the boys left, Gabriel insisted on getting the "mess" out of my hair and he brought my hair back from my attempts at fake dreads, so I can easily pull my hair from my face with one of the clips that are displayed almost proudly on Kota's vanity.

After I use a makeup remover wipe on my eyes I wash my face. Kota watches me from the doorway, his fingers tapping against the doorframe keeping time to the beats he counts constantly.

I slide past him back to his room, still silent. I strip, not as a seduction, purely function. I pull open the drawer I know keeps Kota's soft cotton shirts and pull one on over my head. Finally, I turn back the comforter to his bed and slip inside the sheets, inhaling Kota's spice scent that lingers here.

"Hit the lights, would you?" I say softly.

Kota's mouth gapes for a second, then he gets it together, turning off the overhead light, casting us in light from the windows--moon and streetlight. There's rustling as he tugs off the tight pants Gabe dressed him in earlier, then removes his shirt as well.

He stands there in his briefs, watching me from the end of the bed.

"Coming?" I ask.

Kota runs his fingers through his hair, eyes wide. "You're not gonna say anything? I just freaked out on you."

I sigh. "Come here, Kota."

His eyes narrow at me but he approaches, turning back the comforter and sliding into the bed beside me. I lie on my side and he mirrors me so we're facing.

"You're probably gonna want to take those contacts out before we sleep." My hand trails down his temple to his jaw.

"Sang!" He's exasperated.

I can't help but smile. "We've had this same conversation a hundred times. I'm just letting you work through this on your own."

It's his turn to sigh. "I'm sorry. I just have this constant anxiety that churns around in my brain. I'm working on it." Kota's eyes look dark green in the dim light. "I grew up in a constant state of fear, expecting the worse." A deep breath. "I'm trying."

"I know. Remember, I expect the worse too? We're trying together."

Kota scooches closer to me so we're sharing my pillow. His breath warms my cheek and he gives me a small smile. "You have changed, you know."

I smile back. "For the better."

His grin grows. "Yeah, definitely. Jeez--that girl Max jumped on so long ago... She's still there. But you're stronger. More confident." Kota leans in and his lips brush my cheek ever so gently. "You're happy."

I blink fast, fighting the sudden tears. "Dakota Lee, that may be the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me."

His lips move from my cheek to my mouth, and they're soft and gentle as I kiss him back.

I shift so he leans back and keep moving until he's on his back and I straddle him, still keeping up our soft kisses.

"Let me be sweet to you now," I whisper against his mouth then kiss a trail down his neck, moving lower over his chest and down his stomach, lower.

Kota props his head up on the pillow and watches me, our green eyes locked. "You don't have to be so sweet..." His voice drops off and his cheeks flush.

I giggle and tug on his briefs. No, I don't have to be sweet. I've been a seductress this entire night--why stop now?  

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Okay! This story is COMPLETE! Woo hoo! Thanks for sticking with me until the end, my pretties! (Yes, I did say that in a Wicked Witch voice, can't help it)

--Which boy had the best night?

--Who had the worst? Ha!

--Any favorite scene? I really enjoyed writing the scene with Sang, Silas, North, and Victor at the table--then the dance sandwich afterward... ;)

--Confession: I STILL haven't read First Kiss. I have a problem. I know! It just sits there in my Kindle Cloud taunting me...