Chapter 16: Power Rangers (Layla) - Once I Find You

My stomach sinks when I hear his voice. We were so wrapped up in uh…well, each other, that we didn’t even hear the door opening. In a panic, I try to sit up but Kane holds me down, still covering me with his large body.

“Don’t you know how to knock? Get out.”

I hear the door shut again, and Kane looks back down at me.

“He didn’t see anything, I promise. Are you alright?”

“Y-yeah of course. It’s fine.” Welp, I’ve lost my coolness again.

I feel relieved either way that Mason didn’t see me naked. I guess maybe it isn’t a big deal, but I’m barely used to anyone seeing me like this. I already had to work up a strong nerve to do it for Kane. Especially after sex…because I suddenly feel more vulnerable and admittedly less sexy after losing the high from my orgasm.

He moves back enough to give me room to move again, his eyes flickering back down to my pussy as I quickly close my legs and sit up. My cheeks heat as he looks back at my face.

“Don’t act coy now, you just came all over my tongue.”

Jesus, I don’t know how the hell to react when he says crude things like that to me. This man gives me no reprieve at all! “I’m just hot,” I quickly say, fanning myself to cover up the lie.

“Ain’t that the truth,” he says with a bit of a sigh, adjusting his jeans. He finds my leggings that he tore off me and hands them back to me. “Do you need a minute?”

“What? No, I’m really fine.” I slide off the counter, and fumble with my rolled-up pants and panties as I try to slip them back on.

Once they’re on, he rolls his eyes to himself as he calls out to Mason from where we stand in the kitchen. “You can come in now, asshole.” The door immediately opens, and he walks in with a bright smirk.

Holy shit, was he standing at the door? I think I’m going to drop dead.

Kane must have known anyway, but he sees my red face and turns to Mason, holding his finger out to point at him. “You gonna apologize?”

“I live here now too, you know. You should’ve put a sock on the door or something, old man.” Kane isn’t amused by his rebuttal though, and Mason sighs, turning to me after Kane stares him down. “I am sorry, ‘cause I’d never do that on purpose. But if you’re gonna be coming over now, we gotta set down some ground rules so you don’t get me in trouble with the boss-man.”

I giggle at the nickname and Mason smiles at me, the tension instantly broken. Kane’s gaze moves between us before he clears his throat. “You won’t be setting ground rules for anything. This is my house, and I’ll figure it out. You’re not supposed to be here long either, Mason.”

“I thought you’d be less grumpy after that, but damn. Is it because you—” Mason points at Kane’s pants, and Kane grabs his hand and pulls him into a mock headlock.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” Kane growls.

Huh? Am I missing something? What was Mason pointing at?

Mason laughs hysterically, and Kane releases him harshly. Kane turns to me, gesturing to his beard. “I’m going to clean up.”

I nod, and he walks off his bedroom, leaving me alone in the kitchen with Mason. “So, Layla, how old are you?”

“Oh um, I’m twenty. But my birthday is this Saturday.” God, is he about to interrogate me? I don’t do well under pressure.

“The big twenty-first, huh? You gonna go out then?”

“Well…my best friend wants me to go out to a club with her, but I don’t know. We’re at least going to go shopping and out to eat.”

He nods, smiling to himself as if he’s thinking something. “Clubs are mighty overrated. Plus, I doubt Kane would like to hear about you goin’ somewhere like that.”

“Somewhere like what?”

When his voice cuts through the room, Mason and I both turn. “Your girl said she’s going to the club this weekend.”

“She’s not ‘my’ girl. And stop trying to get a rise out of me.”

Mason puts his hand up in mock defeat, and laughs. “Fine, fine. Why don’t you make us some of your famous steaks now for dinner? I’m sure Layla doesn’t know yet what a great cook you are.”

“Really? You cook?” I ask.

“Not really hard, you just put the damn meat on the stove and then take it off. It’s not impressive,” Kane grumbles, walking past us to grab a skillet.

“He’s being modest, he likes cooking. He used to throw down when our battalion got to have barbecues. Don’t let him fool you,” Mason says, patting Kane on the back.

“Oh! You were in the army together then?” I guess I’ve been so distracted since I got here, I didn’t even try to figure out who Mason actually is to Kane. But it makes sense; Mason is also well-built, and he seems to respect Kane like some sort of authority figure.

“Yep. I enlisted right out of high school, and he was my sergeant when I joined. Eventually he transferred to the Rangers, and once they let me, I transferred to be in his unit.”

“Rangers? Like…Power Rangers?”

Mason bursts out laughing, and Kane turns his head over his shoulder to interject. “No, the Army Rangers. It’s an elite light infantry unit, not some fucking pretend superhero.”

“Yeah, you know, the ones who do all the cool shit—I mean stuff. Special operation raids, counterterrorism, enemy reconnaissance, the whole package,” Mason finishes.

Wow. I guess I didn’t even imagine that Kane ever did something that important in the army. I mean…I guess I don’t really know anything about the differences between military branches anyway. It explains why he is the way he is though, and it suits him perfectly. Now I’m just imagining him in a uniform, bossing people around…

“What you smiling like that for?” His deep voice tears me out of my fun daydream and I shake my head.

“Nothing! I just think it’s really awesome. You’ve done a lot.”

“Yeah, I guess,” he says, pulling the first steak off the heat. “You two go sit down already, you’re talking my ear off while I concentrate.”

The sudden dinner was delicious, but I know Kane was staring daggers into Mason because of how much we talked. He’s a super nice and outgoing guy, and he’s easy to talk to. I’m surprised Kane would be so close to someone like that because he seems like he prefers the quiet, and Mason is very…opposite of quiet.

I feel like I finally got to learn more about him tonight, though. I wish I could ask a million more questions, but I’m trying not to act too crazy since he only just agreed today to let me come around and text him whenever.

Okay…he didn’t say I could text him whenever. But he gave me his number, and he can tell I like to talk a lot, right? So he must expect it.

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“It’s late, I’m gonna drive you back to your place,” he says, standing up and grabbing my empty plate for me.

“Oh, you don’t have t⁠—”

“I didn’t ask, did I?”

I slowly shake my head, and Mason whistles. “Well, I’m gonna go take a shower finally. It was nice to meet you, Layla, I’m sure I’ll see you again real soon.”

“You, too!” I smile. I stand up and grab my purse but when I try to turn, Kane appears behind me and holds me still with my back pressed against him.

“You two are getting awfully cozy.”

Oh.

My.

God.

Is he jealous? Like actually jealous? Like he likes me, and he’s upset because he thinks I could like someone else?

Breathe, Layla.

“O-oh? I don’t think so. I’m just being nice.”

“Didn’t your daddy ever teach you not to be too nice to men you don’t know?”

“Um, well, he wasn’t around so…” Nice reply. Now he’s going to think you’re deranged because you have daddy issues.

Wait. Am I deranged because I have daddy issues?

“Then I’m going to tell you. Don’t be nice to men you don’t know. And if you’re going to a club this weekend, you better remember that. Got it?”

Yes daddy.

“You’ve got to stop doing that to me,” he growls in my ear.

Oh crap! Did I say that out loud?

“Come on.” He steps back and slaps my ass as if to tell me to get going, causing a small yelp from me.

And I’d be damned if I didn’t secretly have the biggest smile on my face.

* * *

“I don’t know, I thought about it, and I guess it wouldn’t be too bad,” I say loudly, hoping Crystal can hear me on speaker as I’m far from my phone trying to clean up my living room.

“Yay! This is so exciting! Okay, in that case, maybe I’ll meet you at your place since you’re already near downtown? Then we can just get ready together. Oh! Your gift is totally late too, so I doubt it’ll come in time for this weekend.”

“You don’t have to get me anything anyway, you know I don’t need much.” I shake my head to myself as I walk back over to grab my phone.

“Yeah, but you know I love gifts. Oh, before I forget, I kind of forgot to tell you…but I’m kind of seeing someone. Well, it’s not like it’s serious, but I met her online and…”

“Her?” I ask.

“Yeah, well, I know I usually date guys but I’m kind of tired of them. Especially after what happened with Ricky. I’ve always wanted to be brave enough to explore my bisexuality but…she kind of appeared on my social media and it just snowballed from there, you know? And she’s great! She’s kind of shy in person, but she’s seriously filling my cup right now.”

“Wow Crys, I’m proud of you! Soooo…you’re gonna bring her, right?”

“Is that okay? It’s your birthday, so I wasn’t sure?”

“What? Of course it’s okay!”

“Okay! I’ll just have her meet us there though, beforehand it is you and me time only, I promise. And…what about your serial killer?”

I laugh, finally plopping myself down on my bed. “Kane would never be caught dead in a place like that. He doesn’t really scream ‘party guy.’”

“Because he’s old?”

“No! Because he’s serious. Jeez, come on! He isn’t that old. He’s…seasoned.”

She snorts. “Seasoned? Well, I won’t pretend he doesn’t look good for his age, but girl, come on. He’s almost twice your age.”

“I thought love was love?” I reply, my voice a higher pitch as I remind her.

“Ugh, okay. Fuck. Fine. I’m not judging you, okay? I’m just mostly worried that you’re going to get your heart broken by this grown man who doesn’t take you seriously.”

“He might not take me seriously yet, but I just know it’s gonna work out, Crys. I really like him. I’ve just…I don’t know. I can feel that this is who I’m supposed to be with. And he might need some more convincing, but I am so close to getting him to feel the same thing.”

“Okay, okay. I trust you. Ugh, I have to go, my mom is calling me, and I’ve been ignoring her all week already. We’ll talk more later, bye!”

She hangs up fast, and I sigh and toss my phone to the side. I know she’s just looking out for me, but it kind of hurts to think she doesn’t trust me. Once she gets to meet him, I’m sure she’ll feel less worried.

I know that no matter what, I’m going to see this through. I feel even better about it after today, because now I know he likes me, even just a little bit.

Maybe I should try the jealous thing again?