Horribly Romantic
An Alleycat Crew Short
He heard her footsteps padding softly down the hall from the cockpit. Barefoot. She was always barefoot. She must have heard him groaning when he stretched and was coming back to check on him.
She leaned against the wall and peeked around the doorjamb, smiling.
He loved her smile.
“I thought I heard old man noises,” Calynn joked. “Did you have a nice nap?”
“Old man noises?” Kash replied dryly. “I’m not that old.”
“I like your old man noises,” she said, stepping fully into the doorway.
She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. His favorite jeans. But there was something in her smile. Something devious. She was looking to pick on him.
Two could play that game.
“Are you going to stay way over there,” Kash asked, keeping his tone dry, “or are you going to come here so I can hold you in my arms… and stare longingly at your left nostril?”
The battle Calynn was having with her smile nearly made him smile too. Her eyes sparkled with the grin she was desperately trying to suppress. She mostly regained her composure and slid one step closer, turning slightly to the side.
“My elbows and knee pits do miss your sweaty touch,” she said, still fighting the grin.
Kash had to fight not to laugh. She brought her A-game today. But would she go as far as he would?
“And I miss the sweet taste of your toe jam and belly button lint.”
“Eww! Gross!”
That broke her. Calynn burst into laughter, her smile splitting her face in two.
“Suddenly I don’t want you kissing my belly,” she continued, covering her midsection with her arms.
“What if I use old man noises to kiss your belly?” Kash offered.
“Maybe after I take a shower,” Calynn replied, tugging her shirt up a little. “I don’t really get belly button lint, do I? And…” She wrinkled her nose at him. “Toe jam?”
“Even if you did,” Kash smiled, “I’d never notice.”
Their gazes met and her gorgeous smile returned. She took another step closer. Just one. Her hips swayed as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, like she was still deciding whether to approach him.
“You could have a tree growing from your belly button and I’d be too lost in your beautiful brown eyes to see the leaves,” Kash continued, holding her gaze. “And there’s no sweeter taste in any galaxy than the taste of your lips.”
Still smiling, she took just one more step. Only one.
“The way you fit neatly under my chin when we hug. The gentle caress of your thumb when we hold hands…”
No more jokes. He needed her closer.
“The loose strands of hair that fall out of your ponytail to frame your face perfectly…”
She took another step.
“The way your smile touches your eyes and tugs at your ears…”
She took the last step and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Your intoxicating scent that I can no longer live without,” Kash continued, his fingers gently skimming her thigh. “I would burn entire oceans just for one more breath of you.”
“Burn water?” Calynn asked as she laid down beside him. “How exactly would you pull that off?”
Kash pulled her close and she laced her fingers through his.
“To get to you… I’d find a way.”
“Just break the laws of physics.”
“You’re worth it.”
“Even if I have toe jam?” Calynn giggled, snuggling into him.
“Wait,” Kash joked, pushing back just a little. “You have toes?”
Calynn playfully slapped his leg, pressed her lips together, and narrowed her eyes at him — then smiled and giggled. It made her eyes sparkle and tugged at her ears.
“I love your giggle.”
“I know,” Calynn smirked. “Almost as much as I love your old man noises.”
“How about my old man lips?” Kash bantered. “Because you still haven’t kissed them.”
Calynn rolled onto her side facing him and placed a slow, soft kiss on his lips.
“Do you think any other couples love each other like this?” she asked, rubbing the tip of her nose back and forth across his.
“If they’re lucky,” Kash smiled, and kissed her again. “Now bring me those knee pits.”
Author’s Note
Sometimes the worst flirting is still the best kind of love. Kash and Calynn remain undefeated at being disgusting and romantic at the same time.
