“Breakfast,” she croaks out.

Reluctantly, I pull away, even though I want to keep going. I want my lips on every inch of her creamy skin. “Breakfast,” I whisper.

Kensington hops out of bed and dashes out of the room. I wait a few minutes to think about puppies and unicorns and shit.

When I finally get myself under control, I find her in the kitchen. She has music playing while she sways back and forth to the beat at the stove. I’ve heard the song, something about players and shaking it off. It plays a lot at the bar. I focus my lust filled gaze on her hips as they shimmy from side to side. I want her next to me.

In three long strides, my hands are on her hips and we are rocking to the beat. She looks over her shoulder at me and smiles, never stopping the sensual assault that her hips are playing on me. I reach around her and pull the pan she was preparing for omelets off the burner, turning the burner off. The heat between us is enough; we don’t need to burn down the apartment.

Kensington turns in my arms and places her hands around my neck, clasping her fingers together. I’m so much taller than her; I automatically drop my head, just to feel closer to her. She stands on her tiptoes and our lips meet. Our hips thrust in a steady rhythm, bringing me closer to my breaking point. I don’t stop. I can’t. The feel of her in my arms as she’s moving against me. Not stopping.

The song changes to a slower one. Kensi starts to pull away and I want no part of it. I lock my arms around her and pull her against my chest, where she belongs. It only takes a few beats before she’s softly singing the words. This song, it’s perfect. I glance over at her iPod— Cole Swindell - “I just want you.” I make a mental note to download this song.

As I listen to the lyrics, I feel it deep in my soul. I just want her. Any way I can get her, I want her. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life. I smile, thinking how Dad was right. I get it now. I understand how he dealt with all the bullshit for years, how he could give her all of him and let her do the things she did. It’s in this moment that I can admit Kensington James owns me and I’m good with it. Now I just have to work on her, slow and steady. I need to give her time to get where I am; then I can make her mine. In my heart, she already is. I just need for her to catch up.

The apartment door opens just as the song ends. I don’t pay attention to what comes on next; my attention is on her. I remember her words this morning. How she was afraid I would be upset that Nicole saw us together. With my recent revelation, I couldn’t care less. I’m all in. Kensi places her hands on my chest and tries to pull away with weak effort. I can tell she doesn’t want to, but she thinks it’s what I would want. She thinks it’s what she should be doing. I hold tight and slightly shake my head no. Leaning down so my lips are next to her ear, I whisper, “I just want you.” I then hug her tight. That’s how Nicole and Bright find us, in a tight embrace with my fucking heart on my sleeve.

“Hey, you two,” Nicole says brightly. I can’t help but chuckle as I turn to face them. Instead of letting go of Kensi, I pull her to stand in front of me and wrap my arms around her waist. I’m going to have a hard time not claiming her as mine.

“Hey, how was breakfast?” Bright grins at my question.

“Good, but not as good as yours,” he says.

My face hurts from the grin I’m sporting. “Kensi was making omelets; then we got distracted and, well… yeah.” What else could I say? That her sexy swaying ass turned me rock-hard and I had to have her next to me? That a single country song opened my eyes to years of not understanding my dad and that I… I just want her? Yeah, I doubt Kens would appreciate the honesty. Besides, she doesn’t know all the details yet.

“I see,” Nicole quips. “So what are the two of you getting into today?”

“Breakfast,” Kens says, tearing out of my arms and facing the stove.

“Not sure yet. We’ve haven’t really got that far,” I answer.

“I’m taking Nic to the house. Thought we could hang out there for a while,” Bright says.

“Yeah, I need to check in at the bar. Technically, it’s my night to be there,” I mumble this last part. I’m so wrapped up in her that I forgot about the bar.

“Why don’t the two of you come too? You need to go home to change and Kens can just hang out with us until you get back?”

I’m mentally high fiving my best friend right now. He’s a fucking genius. I turn to face the stove and place my hand on the small of Kensi’s back. I lean in so only she can hear me. “Babe, do you like that idea? Coming to my place and hanging out while I check in on things at Cooper’s? You could even come with me, if you want to.” I like the thought of that even better, but I’ll let her decide. I hope she doesn’t come up with a third option on her own, one that does not end with the two of us in the same place at the end of the night.

“Maxton.” Her soft voice pleads. “You don’t have to worry about me. Go do what you need to do.”

Crazy girl. “I want to spend time with you, Kens. Does this plan work for you? If not, we can figure something else out.”

She flips the omelet and turns to face me. “I can go with you, if that’s okay?” she hesitatingly replies.

YES! “That sounds good to me, beautiful.” I kiss her cheek and turn back to Bright.

“Kens is going to come to the bar with me. It’ll give her a chance to get familiar with the place before she starts her extern.” That’s not why, but I know the excuse will help her handle the situation a little better. She can avoid what’s obviously happening between us a little longer, well, at least to them. She can’t avoid me; I won’t let her.

“Sounds good, man.” Bright turns to Nicole. “Baby, go grab some clothes and we’ll head out.” She stands to kiss his cheek and walks out of the kitchen. His eyes finding me again, he motions his head to the living room.

“Kens, I’m going to go wait with Bright in the living room. I’ll be back in a few. You need me to do anything first?” I ask.

That earns me one of her soft smiles. “No, I’m good here. Breakfast should be ready in about five minutes.” She turns to focus on the skillet.

I find Bright in the living room sitting on the arm of the couch. “Look, man, I don’t want to get in your business, but please don’t be fucking with her,” he blurts out.

What. The. Fuck. I ball my hands into fists. “I am not fucking with her,” I grit through my teeth.

“I know you might not think you are, it’s fun right now, but, really, she’s—”

He doesn’t get to finish because my anger takes over. I grab him by the collar and pull him up from the couch. “It’s not just fucking fun, asshole. I’m fucking falling in love with her.” I freeze as soon as the words leave my lips.

Bright is grinning. I release him from my grip and slouch against the couch. “I know,” he informs me. “I can see it. I see the way you are with her, the way you look at her. I know. I just wasn’t sure you did.”

I don’t say anything as I let the words I just spoke settle inside me. I’m falling in love with her. “She’s different.” My voice is tight. I’m trying to fight back the emotion of my revelation.

“I’m right there with you, man.”

“Have you told her?” I ask him.

“No. I’m scared as hell that she’s not with me yet. I don’t know if I could handle her not saying it back. I’ve never said it, you know? When I do, I want to know that the other person feels the same. She’s getting there, I hope,” he laughs.

I understand. I know exactly how he feels. Hell, just today I was able to finally admit to myself that I want her, only her. I’ve known for a while, but have been too damn afraid to admit it, even just to myself. However, in the heat of the moment, my heart spoke for me and it speaks the truth.

Truth… five letters, one word.