It’s two in the morning when we say good-bye and I close the door to my apartment, noticing Kenzie alone in her bed sleeping. I peel off the heels that are already making my toes cramp and ache, and the rest of my clothes, replacing them with my skiing candy piece pajamas and an old sweatshirt. Neither my muscles nor mind is tired. I want to sit at my easel and sketch to see if I can capture the look on King’s face from Monday before he kissed me.

A flashing light in my messenger bag distracts me, and I fish out my phone and take a seat on my bed as I swipe it on. Twenty texts and seven missed calls. My eyes widen, and I find seven messages and two calls are from King.

I roll onto my back, feeling the stretch of my cheeks as I open my missed messages.

King: I’m sorry I missed U. I didn’t realize that call would take so damn long.

King: I know UR at model practice, but call me when UR done.

King: What do U do at model practice? Will U show me?

King: I’m not being a perv.

King: Okay … maybe a little.

King: R U okay? It’s late.

King: Sorry to sound like a stalker, but where in the hell R U? R U OK?

I thumb through messages from Mercedes, Kash, one from Kenzie even, asking me if I’m okay, that end shortly after ten, around the time we got to the restaurant.

I hit reply to King and quickly type out an apology.

I’m surprised when my phone indicates a new message within less than a minute.

King: Do you always go off the grid when you work?

Me: Usually, sorry again.

King: Don’t apologize. Just something for me to be aware of.

King: Can you stay up for ten more minutes?

Me: Yes … why?

King: I’m coming over.

Me: It’s 2 AM!

King: Yup

Me: You’re supposed to leave for Seattle in 4 hours!

I impatiently wait for a response, hoping he’s fallen asleep, and even more so that he’s ignoring my protests because he’s driving. I quickly change back into my clothes on the off chance he’s really coming and sit at my easel, only illuminating the space with my small but bright lamp that’s clamped to the top. I’m too excited to draw, but I sift through several pages, looking for the ones that most closely resemble the passion I saw on King’s face before he kissed me.

A soft knock against my apartment door sets my heart into overdrive. It’s been fifteen minutes, just long enough for me to confirm that it’s him.

He’s smiling as the door swings open, bringing a gust of chilled air and the scent of rain and King into the apartment.

“You’re going to regret staying up so late in a few hours.” His eyes are easier to see with his hat missing. The fact his flannel shirt is buttoned confirms he’s been dressed all night. King’s lips part, and the look I was just seconds ago searching for in my work makes my entire body swim with a desire and excitement that builds as his hand hooks around my hip and pulls me closer to him.

“Not even a little.” His words are spoken with my eyes closed and chin tilted upward in anticipation, his bottom lip grazing mine with the slight movement, sending a chill through me. I wish I could capture this feeling with my drawing. The anticipation that makes me feel like I am going to separate into a million tiny pieces and float adrift because King breaks all rules about rational thoughts and convention.

My bottom lip is pulled between his as the hand behind my back pulls me farther forward. And just like that, I am a million floating pieces, wrapping around this kiss that is so unbearably perfect, it doesn’t seem possible. My lips press more firmly against his, my hands digging into the fabric of his T-shirt after bypassing his outer layer of flannel. My chest is firmly planted against King’s and I’m not even sure if it was me pulling or him tugging that brought us this close. All I do know is it isn’t close enough.

My fingers braid themselves into the short wavy curls at the back of his head in an attempt to draw him nearer. I swallow his groan and feel the doorjamb against my back as his body settles more firmly against mine, his hips aligning with mine, making me wish there weren’t two layers of denim between us.

His lips slow, the hunger receding. King plants a soft kiss to my upper and then lower lip, and pulls back.

“I’m going to be thinking about nothing but that kiss in a few hours.”

I want to plead with him to ignore my roommate and come in. Strip off his clothes and properly study every single detail and nuance that makes up King, and then verify that sex with him is like nothing else because there’s something about him that just fits every single part of me.

His nose skims mine and then he softly drops a kiss there as well. “I don’t want to annoy the hell out of you or think something has happened, so just shoot me a text tomorrow when you start working so I know to leave you alone. I won’t be home until late Sunday, but I’ll call.”

I nod, gripping his loose hand with mine while his other presses firmly into the skin above my hip. “I’d like to hear from you.” The words are nearly casual, but the plea behind my tone makes it sound like a supplication.

King smiles, and squeezes more firmly against my flesh, making the thoughts of asking him to come in to return.

“Don’t worry about Isabelle. Nothing will happen, I swear.”

I’m grateful for the dim lighting on the landing because I know without a doubt how red my cheeks are stained as I nod and try to act confident.

“Lo, look at me.”

My eyes take the long way to meet his, searching over our tangled fingers, his shirt, the night air, and then him.

“I need you to trust me. I travel a ton, and if you are going to be second-guessing my intentions, we aren’t going to see what this really is.”

“She likes you.”

“It doesn’t matter, Lo. Nothing matters but how I feel about you, and what you feel for me.” His eyes bore into mine. “The rest is inconsequential. She knows I don’t like her, and I’ve already told her I’m seeing you. She won’t press things.”

“It’s just weird.”

King nods, his lips pursing with understanding. “I shouldn’t have agreed without speaking to you first. I’ve just known her forever. I swear, nothing has ever happened between us, and it never will. I don’t have any feelings for Isabelle. I haven’t felt anything toward anyone else since September when you finally stopped ignoring my stare and shook your head with that tiny smile that told me I had a chance.”

“It’s only because I had been drinking. If I had been sober, I would have looked away so fast I would have had whiplash.”

“I specifically recall you saying you were going to struggle being able to see another person after that night.”

“I did. I do. I think I have four notebooks filled with you. I would have looked away because you’re … gorgeous.”

“Don’t hate me, but I’m going to have to remind you of this in the future. I want you to be prepared.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I,” King says, releasing my hand and gripping my other hip as he laughs. “Lo, you’re beyond beautiful, and the more I see you, the deeper that beauty grows because it’s not just your face, it’s you. We have something, and I am blissed out to see where it leads. Just trust me, okay?”

“Alright.”

His lips press against mine in a brief kiss that he breaks with a smile. “You really filled four notebooks with me? I must be hot.”