Tingle All the Way

Chapter Nine



Barry woke to a warm body pressed against his back. Kayla had a leg thrown over his, her warm palm resting on his chest. He covered her hand with his and smiled. She had been amazing last night. More than either he or Stan could have imagined.

Stan had been beside himself, knowing that had been his first and last time having her. He realized what Barry had already known. A woman like Kayla was special. The envy in his friend’s eyes had been obvious, but before he left he had wished Barry a long and happy life with Kayla.

“Hmmm…” she moaned, stretching. “I ache all over.”

Barry rolled on to his back. “Is that a bad thing or a good thing?”

Through long, heavy lashes she looked up at him. “Definitely good.”

“You up for a little Christmas cheer?” He raised his hips, drawing her attention to the tented sheet draped over his groin.

“Ohmygod. Aren’t you ever sated?” she chuckled.

Barry pulled her atop him. “I’ll never get enough of you.” He smoothed his palm over the curve of her ass. “But in all reality we don’t have much time. Mom and Dad are expecting us at noon.”

Kayla glanced over at the nightstand where his alarm clock beamed ten forty-five. “Crap.” She pushed against his chest, rising. “I don’t have anything to wear. Why didn’t you wake me up?”

He ran his palms down her arms. “No problem, Counselor. I’ll call Mom and negotiate a later time.” They always opened gifts before eating, so being a little late wouldn’t pose a problem.

“Don’t you know anything about a turkey?” She gave him a duh look when he didn’t respond. “I’m assuming we’re having turkey. But the longer the meat sits, the dryer it gets. If we’re late we’ll ruin their dinner. I will not be the cause of a dehydrated turkey.”

Barry laughed, not moving fast enough to avoid the playful swat that landed on his shoulder. “Owww. That’s considered domestic abuse.”

Bouncing out of bed, she threw “sue me”, over a shoulder. When she bent to retrieve her dress from where it lay on the floor, his cock jerked at the delicious sight she made.

“Baby, come back to bed.” He tossed back the covers, exposing the firm erection arching across his belly. “I’m hurting here. I need a hand or a mouth, maybe a p-ssy.” When her dress slid from her fingers, Barry knew he had her right where he wanted her—horny.

Long legs closed the distance between them as she nearly flew to the bed and into his open arms. Their mouths touched in a smoldering kiss. Without breaking the caress, he rolled her over so that she lay beneath him. Reaching for a condom on the nightstand, he quickly donned the latex. Kneeing her thighs wide, he slipped between them and didn’t hesitate to part her moist folds.

A bevy of emotions attacked him. “Damn, I need you.” There was no doubt in his mind that he was falling in love with this woman.

“I need you too.”

Something haunting in her voice sent a shiver through him.

“Make love to me, Barry.”

Beginning a slow pace, he drew out every stroke so she knew just how much she meant to him. Each time he drove forward he went so deep that he struck the back of her cervix. Over and over he marked her, and then he nibbled and sucked on her neck, marking her there too.

When her mouth parted on a gasp, her smoky gaze dropped to where their bodies came together. Her inner muscles tightened, holding him like a fist, then tugged on him gently. The quiet orgasm washing over her appeared as blissful as the moment.

Releasing a soft utterance of pleasure, she gazed up at him. The tenderness reflecting back at him stole his breath, pushing him over the edge. The tightening in his groin burst with the thrust of his hips, and then something snapped. Warm jets of come pumped inside her.

Oh God. The condom broke.

He looked at her. She looked at him.

Both shared the shocked realization of what had happened. As if there was nothing left to say, she wormed her way from beneath him and climbed off the bed.

“Kayla?”

“Please don’t say anything.” She retraced her steps back to her dress and picked it up. “I need a shower.”

* * * * *

After taking a shower in the guest bathroom while Barry used the one in his master bedroom, Kayla slipped on the large bathrobe he had given her to wear. His woodsy scent hung in the terry cloth and she snuggled into its comfort as she stared at herself in the foggy mirror.

With the choices available today for women in these situations, the fear of an unwanted pregnancy wasn’t what put her in a somber mood. No. It had been the image that had popped into her head when she realized what they had done. A vision of a dark-haired toddler had come to mind, his small hand held in a much larger, stronger one.


Barry would make a great father, but that wasn’t what had her stomach tied in knots. No. Her emotion rose from somewhere more personal. What kind of a mother would she make? At one time she had seen herself married with a family, but she had never found the time or the right man. Besides she didn’t have any idea how to be a good parent, since hers deserted her.

Her hand drifted to her flat belly. Had she and Barry conceived a child? Was it possible that she could become a mother in nine months?

“Something on your mind?” Hector sat perched upon a box of tissues.

Kayla sniffed back emotions threatening to moisten her eyes. “As if you don’t know.”

“You have lived many years in a safe, controlled environment. Your unease comes from the unknown. The new things you are beginning to feel.”

“No shit, Sherlock. Tell me something I don’t know.” She closed her eyes briefly, chastising herself for her rudeness. “I’m sorry.”

Hector’s intense gaze penetrated through her skin, making her feel even more self-conscious. He got to his feet and moved closer, his tiny head cocked to one side.

“You love him.” It wasn’t a question.

Her mouth gaped in disbelief. “I can’t be in love with him. It’s been what? Forty-eight hours since we even admitted an attraction to each other.”

“A heart knows, Kayla, even before the mind believes.”

“Hector, this isn’t helping.” Love complicated things.

“Then I shall go.” In a poof of dark-green faery dust he disappeared.

“No!” Kayla didn’t want to be alone. The thought drew her up short. “I don’t want to be alone anymore.” She had been alone for so long.

A subtle rap against the door jerked her around.

“Kayla?”

Wiping her eyes and checking her face, she opened the door. Barry had changed into a red polo sweater and black slacks. She inhaled his aftershave as he extended a stack of clothing.

“I have some clean things you can wear to your house. You’re still going with me to my parents’, aren’t you?”

An odd awkwardness hung between them as she accepted the clothes, hugging them to her chest. “If you’d like me to.”

“There isn’t anything I want more.” The truth burned warmly in his eyes, but it didn’t hide the unease buried beneath.

“Then I better get dressed.” As he backed away, she closed the door and hurried to don the clothes.

When Kayla was ready she went to the kitchen to find Barry holding her heels and clothes from last night. He shifted them to one arm as he dug in his pants for his car keys, and then opened the door for her.



Barry hated the distance wedged between them. “I’m sorry about earlier.” He glanced at her before maneuvering the car into traffic.

“Barry, I’m a big girl. These things happen. Besides, whatever happens I can handle it.”

As the first street light turned red, he slowed to a stop and turned to her. “Not alone.” Reaching across the console, he gripped her hand in his and squeezed. “We’re in this together.”

She smiled, but the small, taut gesture revealed her weariness.

When they pulled before her house, she didn’t wait for him to open her door. She scrambled out and headed for her apartment. He caught up with her as she entered.

Disappearing into her bedroom, she threw over her shoulder, “I won’t be long.”

The house was quiet as he paced the area, noting for the first time the only picture in the room was that of an elderly, gray-haired woman. He picked up the small frame. She sat on a rocker, knitting on the porch.

“That’s how I remember my Aunt Milly.” Sadness filled Kayla’s voice when she entered the room wearing a plain black dress with her pearls. “She raised me after my parents abandoned me at the age of three.” She must have suspected the question in his mind, because she continued, “My mother and father evidently thought they were too young to raise a child. After dropping me off with Milly, they soon divorced.”

“Where are they now?”

The air in the room thickened. Her expression had gone stone cold. “I don’t know.”

“You’ve never tried to find them?”

“Why?” She shot him a look of dissent. The Ice Queen had returned with a vengeance. “I think their actions speak louder than words. My aunt was good to me, but we had nothing. I went to college and law school on scholarships and grants.”

“Where is she now?”

“Milly passed two years ago.”

“You don’t have any other family?” Damn. He wished he hadn’t asked the question.

She swallowed hard. “No.”

Barry reached for her and she stepped back.

“I don’t need your pity.”

“It’s not pity that I offer. Come here, baby.”

Kayla hesitated for only a minute, and then she walked into his open arms. As he held her, she released a tight breath before smoothing her palms up his back.

“I’m in awe of you,” he admitted with pride.

“Why?”

“Because look at who you are. What you’ve become on your own mettle. You’re an amazing woman.”

Pulling from his embrace, she moved toward the door, but not before he could see the rosy color that dotted her cheeks as she spoke.

“We better get going.”



Kayla was relieved that Barry switched on the radio to mask the silence that stretched between them in the car. While Christmas carols played quietly, she tried to sort through the barrage of emotions that had left her feeling vulnerable. Why had she told him about her abandonment and Milly? She had never shared that secret with anyone.

Maybe it’s the holidays, she attempted to justify her actions. Holidays were always difficult on individuals who had no family to share the gaiety and warmth of the season with.

“And maybe it’s because you love him and you felt it necessary to share your most guarded secret with him,” a small, familiar voice whispered into her ear.

Just knowing that Hector was close lent her comfort. But could he be right?

Her logical side insisted it was impossible. Love? While another side of her felt there was some truth in the faery’s assumption. The thought of losing what they shared together left her heart aching.

Maybe it was because she was lonely?

“And maybe it’s because you love him. Admit it,” Hector murmured softly.

“Shhh.” She needed to think.

“Did you say something?” Barry asked as he stopped the car before his parents’ house.

“No.”

“I’ll get your door.” He opened his and moved around the car.

When she got out he pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly.

“They’re here!” They drifted apart to see Cecilia moving quickly down the sidewalk.

“How late are we?” Kayla muttered.

Glancing at his watch, Barry used the same hand to gather hers in. “Thirty minutes.” There was no time to say more. His mother pulled him into a big bear hug, kissing his cheek before she did the same thing to Kayla.

“Merry Christmas!” His mother was a ball of energy. “I’m so glad to see you again.”

“Mom.” He released a breath. “It’s been less than twenty-four hours.”

“I know. I know. But it’s still good to see the both of you.” She threaded an arm through each of theirs and literally dragged them along the path into the house.


Conway and Stan met them at the entrance to the living room.

The minute Kayla’s gaze touched Stan’s something intimate moved between them. But he only kissed her lightly on the cheek, wishing her a Merry Christmas before he extended Barry his hand.

After the greetings were over, Cecilia ushered them into the living room where lights twinkled on the tall Christmas tree. The sight was something to behold. Stockings lined the fireplace that glowed with orange and red flames popping and crackling in the blazing fire. Her breath caught when she saw a sock with her name on it hanging between Stan’s and Barry’s.

They each took a seat, Barry next to her on the couch.

“We do stockings first.” Cecilia sat in a comfy armchair across from Stan, while Conway gathered them from the mantle and handed them out.

Both Stan and Barry laughed out loud as they pulled a lump of coal from theirs.

“I guess that means the two of you have been naughty this year.” Cecilia’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

They both looked at Kayla and she felt warmth fan out over her face. Then they turned back to their stockings and found several gift cards and other items, while Kayla peeked into her stocking knowing she probably deserved a piece of coal too. Instead she found several gift cards to a number of stores she frequented and a small box containing a golden ankle chain.

“I can’t possibly accept this. It’s too much, I didn’t—”

“Wait ’til you see what we got you,” Barry said.