Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

K ane was never going to be able to make love to Waverly. Ever. Olivia had insisted on driving them home after Harper's and had marched right into his house and sat down on the couch. Waverly looked over at Kane and then back at Olivia. She also didn't know what to do.

"The night is young. What do you want to talk about?" Olivia asked.

Kane gave up and took a seat. She wasn't going to leave. "What are you doing, Liv? It's been hours."

"The tunnel of love is closed. Expect long delays."

"In that case, can I ask you something?" Waverly asked, sounding a little nervous. "I will totally pay you. I don't want you to think I'm asking for free legal advice."

Olivia waved her off. "What's the question?"

"It's a contract and IP question." Waverly launched into her employment contract and her idea regarding nanoparticles. Waverly seemed nervous to ask, but once Olivia started asking questions, she and Waverly were lost to the science and the law.

Kane sat back and watched. His sister always lit up when talking about the law. It was her passion and she knew it inside and out. What he loved was seeing the same look on Waverly's face. The two of them bounced ideas off each other, listened, and learned from each other. By the end of the conversation, the room was vibrating with intelligence. Kane had been fascinated watching them.

"How do I get the contract for you to review?" Waverly asked.

Kane finally had some input. "Send Lark. Have her go water your flowers, get your mail, and tell her where your copy is. Don't take it. Just have her take pictures of it and text them."

"Perfect," Olivia said. "As I said, you came up with this idea on a cargo ship in international waters. There's no way your boss can claim you used lab resources. It's also outside the scope of your lab, so they couldn't claim trade secrets. But it's better not to say anything to Piper until we are positive about your contract. Let me do some research tonight. I just need to grab my laptop from the car."

"I'll get it," Kane offered, standing up and holding out his hands for his sister's keys.

"Aww, see what a good brother he is." Olivia tossed him the keys and Kane rolled his eyes at her. Was he trying to suck up to get her out of his house? Maybe. But he was also a gentleman.

Kane left the women talking and stepped outside. He didn't bother putting on his shoes or even turning on the lights since the car wasn't far. He unlocked the car, grabbed the laptop, locked the car, and headed back toward the house. Kane was thinking about how Waverly fit with his family and in his heart when movement in the shadows by the front door brought him to a stop.

Kane shifted the laptop to his left and prepared to battle whatever foe was waiting for him. He'd do anything to protect Waverly and Olivia. And right now, whoever was in the shadows was between him and the two most important women in his life.

Kane crept forward as the bushes barely moved. He could have passed it off as a southern breeze, but there was no breeze tonight. It was humid and still. A sure sign of an incoming storm.

Kane was thinking about making his move when his opponent decided to do it first and charged from the shadows. All of Kane's training kicked in, but it hadn't prepared him for this.

"Dear God!" Kane yelled.

An alligator darted out from the shadows, his mouth open, teeth shining in the moonlight.

Kane jumped back as the gator snapped at him. "No!" Kane yelled as Olivia and Waverly threw open the front door. "Get back!"

"Is that Bubba? I think it is. I can't tell in the dark," Olivia asked.

"Bubba?" Waverly seemed way too calm.

"He's the nice alligator. Mean Abe is the troublesome one," Olivia responded.

"You're telling me you're scared of this alligator?" Waverly asked, clearly amused. "You, the man who rescued me from armed guards, is scared of a sweet little old alligator?"

"Little?" Olivia said at the same time Kane said, "Sweet?"

"I'll call Gator." Olivia grabbed her phone.

"You're calling the alligator on the phone?" Waverly asked. "Y'all are strange. I'll just move him."

Before Kane could react, Waverly reached down and tapped Bubba's tail. Bubba spun around and Waverly quickly bent and shoved her hand under his lower jaw, snapping it shut. "What a handsome boy you are, but you're scaring Kane. I don't know how since you're such a sweet boy. But I need you to go home now."

"Waverly," Kane hissed as he watched the woman who was quickly gaining a place in his heart, continue to baby-talk Bubba. Her little hand was pushing Bubba's jaw up and away from the house.

"There you go," Waverly cooed to Bubba. "Off you go now." With one last shove of his snout, Bubba turned and sauntered away in the night.

Kane rushed forward and wrapped Waverly in a hug, pulling her back into the house. "What were you thinking?" Kane practically yelled. Fear and adrenaline were racing through his body. Not for himself, but for Waverly.

Waverly looked between Kane and his sister's shocked faces and laughed. "I forgot you're not from here. Everyone raised in this area knows how to get an alligator to move along."

"Well," Olivia said, letting out a slow breath. "Yeah, I think you've passed. Any woman who can do that is good for me. Let me know when you have the contract. Goodnight." Olivia took the laptop and shook her head. "She just pushed an alligator out of the way," she muttered, leaving the house.

Kane stared in disbelief as his sister closed the front door and left them alone. Finally. Waverly was all his. Kane locked the door and turned to her.

"For my sanity, please don't ever do that again."

Waverly tossed her head back and laughed.

"Have I told you how incredibly sexy you are?"

Waverly blushed. "You find me sexy for removing an alligator?"

Kane shook his head and he approached Waverly. "I found listening to you talk about your job sexy. And yeah, the fact that you can get an alligator to move is pretty sexy too. I've been wanting to do this all night."

Kane bent his head and finally kissed her. He couldn't deny it. The feelings he'd been having. They weren't only in the moment feelings. They were here to stay. He was falling in love with her and he hoped she felt the same.

"Waverly," Kane said, pulling back from the kiss. "I don't want to move too fast. I know you've been through a lot and it's a lot to process. But I want to be clear. I really like you and I want a relationship. But one word from you and I'll back off."

"Oh, Kane. One thing I don't have to process is how I feel about you." Waverly leaned forward and kissed him. She didn't just place her lips on his. She used her whole body to kiss him.

Kane wrapped his arms around her. The heat of the kiss was nuclear. He wanted more. He needed more, but he wanted to go at Waverly's pace, so he didn't push. He let her take the lead and anywhere she went, he'd follow.

Waverly stepped back and he thought this might be the end for tonight. With the feelings he had for her, it was more important that she was comfortable, not how long he'd wait to make her fully his.

"Thermodynamics have nothing on you. While I loved our time on the cargo ship, I want more. I need more."

Kane's heart stopped when Waverly pulled off her top and dropped it on the ground. She turned and walked into his bedroom. Kane was frozen for all of a second before a brilliant smile broke out on his face. He strode into his bedroom as he removed his shirt to find Waverly sitting on the bed waiting for him.

"I could get used to having you in my bed."

"I could get used to you finding me there."

Kane stepped up to her and she parted her legs so he could stand close to her. He leaned down and kissed her as he felt her hands on the button of his pants. Their kiss was a lesson in chemistry. This time they had protection. There was no reason to stop. He dropped to his knees in front of her and worshiped her. He didn't stop until she was pulling his hair and screaming his name.

Kane stood up and smiled down at Waverly sprawled on his bed as he slipped on the condom. "Wasn't there something about heat and thermodynamics?"

"That's the best dirty talk I've ever heard," Waverly smirked up at him.

Kane chuckled, but then Waverly opened up to him and laughing was the last thing on his mind. She chanted his name as he thrust into her and there'd never been a better song than the sounds Waverly made as their world shifted, changed, and exploded.

Waverly was never one to sleep in. Her mind wouldn't ever let her. By six in the morning, she was usually up and excited to start her day. She was one of those dreaded morning people. Lark was not and repeatedly told Waverly how annoying it was. Which made waking up at Kane's house a little nerve-wracking. Would he be as annoyed by her as Lark?

Waverly opened her eyes and a couple of things struck her. One, the sun was already up. Two, so was Kane.

"What time is it?" she grumbled into Kane's bare chest.

"Nine fifteen."

Waverly shot up from bed, her whole body telling her she had to get to work. "I shouldn't have slept so late."

"Why not?" Kane asked, running his hand over her hip.

Waverly paused and then laughed at herself. "I guess I have nothing to do. I've never had an empty schedule. I don't know what to do with myself."

"Don't worry. I know exactly what to do with you."

Well, Waverly found the key to sleeping in. Sex with Kane.