Characters: Actor Chris Evans, OFC Kayla Brooks

Warnings: None, Fluff

Chapter 10

Kayla heard the faint sound of bells chiming. There was a stirring next to her and she felt an arm wrap around her waist. Chris. She realized the chiming was her phone alarm, the sound muffled by her bathrobe on the floor. She carefully extracted herself from his grip and left the bed to silence the alarm.

She looked at Chris sleeping in her bed, fully clothed from the night before. She was touched that he had spent the night with her. The sun peeked through the blinds highlighting the strands of red in his hair and beard. She could picture his blue eyes under the dark eyelashes. He looked so peaceful so she left him to sleep while she went to shower before her morning classes.

Back in her room Kayla sat on edge of the bed and gently ran her hand up and down Chris’ arm. “Hey sleepyhead, wake up. I have to go to class.” He slowly opened his eyes and blinked, his eyelashes dancing like butterflies. He was briefly disoriented and looked around the room then focused on Kayla. Her damp hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore jeans and a blue and green Texas A & M Corpus Christi t-shirt with leather Reefs. Her green eyes were framed with black rimmed glasses, giving her a librarian look that he found remarkably sexy. He felt a stirring deep within.

Rolling over to the opposite side of the bed he playfully pulled a pillow over his head. “I’m too tired. You go to class, I’ll sleep. Wake me when you get home.”

“Oh no, that’s not the way this is going to work. You may be used to having your way with other women but not with me. Up. Now.” Kayla was very bossy in the morning, something Chris was not used to but strangely enjoyed.

“Alright, alright. But first a kiss?” He rolled over and pulled her down to him but she just made a face. “Mmmffff morning breath! There’s a new toothbrush in the middle drawer in the bathroom. I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready.” She placed a chaste kiss on his forehead and left the room.

A few minutes later he walked in the kitchen where she was throwing together a lunch bag filled with a water bottle, apple slices, carrots, a granola bar and a sandwich. She looked up at him, still half asleep and felt a tiny bit mean for throwing him out so early. “I’m sorry I can’t even offer you breakfast. Unless you count strawberry pop-tarts. I’ll be late if I don’t get out the door soon.” She stood on her tip toes and gave him a peck on the lips but he drew her in to him and she gave up and wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing their bodies close together.

His touch was soft but she felt the fullness of his plump bottom lip pressing against hers. He took his time pacing himself, memorizing the feeling. Then he edged his tongue forward seeking permission and Kayla allowed him in, meeting him, their lips opening further and crushing together while their tongues swirled. He pulled her tightly against him and she felt his growing erection against her stomach. To her surprise she was feeling just as aroused.

Kayla pulled back breathlessly. “I really want to stay but I can’t be late today.”

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Kayla slowly returned to her feisty, sarcastic self. Chris loved having her back. His Kayla. Although he was curious about Kyle he didn’t push her for details. He wanted to wait for her to open up to him.

Valentine’s Day came and passed without any celebration and it had nearly killed him. Chris was a romantic at heart and he would normally love to spend it with a woman, showering her with attention and affection. But Jess had insisted that he treat it like any other day so he didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Kayla was still in a fragile state and he didn’t want to put any pressure on her.

Now two weeks later they were having a quiet dinner together at his house. He wasn’t much of a cook so Kayla gave him a grocery list and was going to cook for him.

“You really don’t have to do this. I told you I could order dinner. You worked a 12 hour shift. You must be exhausted.” Chris appealed to her for the fourth or fifth time to no avail. She waved him off. “It’s no big deal. You already got all the ingredients. That’s the hard part.”

“Not for me.” Chris muttered under his breath.

“Come here you big baby.” Kayla grabbed his hand and pulled him next to her at the kitchen sink. “You’re from Boston you should know how to do this. You just grab the shrimp and pull off the head like this.” She demonstrated while he made a face. “Then you grab the body and pinch the tail right here and pull. Now grab the legs and pull them up with the rest of the shell over the body like this.” Chris kept making squeamish faces. Kayla laughed at him. “I suppose you’re gonna tell me you’re afraid of spiders too?”

A blush crept from his neck up to his cheeks. “As a matter of fact . . . yes, I . . . well, I sort of . . . I am . . . I really don’t like spiders. And those,” he pointed to the shrimp legs, “those look like spiders.” He made another face.

“Jesus, I can’t take you home to mom, not if you can’t handle shrimp legs.” She laughed and looked back down at the shrimp in the sink, humming to herself.

Chris stood back and watched as she took over his kitchen, looking as if she had lived there forever. He smiled at how comfortable she was and how quickly she settled into his life. If only they could stay in this private bubble forever. She had already made her feelings about being in the public eye clear. He sighed knowing he couldn’t keep their relationship a secret forever. And he didn’t intend to give her up any time soon.

Kayla washed her hands and moved to the cabinets, asking Chris where she could find a pan. When she got the shrimp cooking she stood at the counter and swayed to a silent tune, quietly singing to herself. Chris grinned and moved closer to hear.

“I’ve got a crush on you, sweetie pie. All the day and night time, hear me sigh.”

He snuck up behind her, placing his hands on her hips and bent down to kiss her neck. Kayla reached one hand up to ruffle through his hair and turned her head to the side allowing him more access to her soft skin. Her hips continued to sway and she softly sang.

“I never had the least notion that I could fall with so much emotion.”

He turned her so she was facing him, their faces just inches apart. She gazed into his eyes hypnotized. Her hands held onto his forearms. He bent down to taste her lips and she sighed into him. She eased her hands up his arms, feeling the solid muscle under her fingertips until she reached the nape of his neck. He began to explore the soft skin around her lips, leaving a trail of kisses down to her jaw line. A soft moan escaped her lips and her hips pushed forward into him.

He tried to move slowly but his body wanted so much more. His hands moved over her round ass, massaging the soft folds as he drew her as close as he could. Kayla’s fingers toyed with his hair while her mouth focused on the angle of his neck, kissing and nibbling just above the hem of his shirt. Her lips made their way up his neck, suckling along the way. When she reached his earlobe she gently sucked it between her lips and he let out a ragged breath.

Then the kitchen timer went off. “Oh that’s the rice. I have to take it off before it burns.” Kayla pulled herself from his arms and turned to the stove. Chris let out a frustrated breath and adjusted himself. He had a feeling it was going to be a long night.