Next of Kin (Next #1)

by Hannah Bonam-Young

I wake up slowly, my other senses taking in my surroundings before my eyes open. The smell of Warren and the feel of his sheets—different from mine upstairs, coarser—a welcome reminder that I slept next to him last night. My eyes blink steadily as the room around me adjusts into focus, but Warren isn’t there.

I give myself a quick once-over in the floor-length mirror that leans next to Warren’s door. I look well rested for once. I also look like Warren’s girlfriend. In his clothes and in his room, his kisses leaving my lips swollen, his words leaving my cheeks flushed—even still.

“Good morning.” I wrap my arms around Warren’s waist as he stands in front of the stove. Pancakes, take two.

“You have got to take that shirt off.” He looks down at my body, leaned up close to him, and doesn’t let up his stare as I speak. “Never! Mine now!” I hold it at the hem, grinning as I go up on my toes to kiss him.

“No, seriously, it does horrible things to my brain,” he whispers against my lips, grinning ear to ear. “Horrible?” “Truly despicable thoughts.”

“So are you two official now?” he asks, looking between Warren and me. I look at Warren as he looks at me, the same expression on both of our faces, longing to hear the other answer. I owe him one for sparing me from saying “I love you” first and for the lie-in.

“Anything that makes Warren this happy is fine by me. Just go easy on him.” “I will.” I put Willow down and sit across the table from Luke as Warren brings pancakes and toppings over. “Thank you,” we both sign to him. This is it, I think. Our new normal.

“Why on earth were we in my room last night? This bed is like a fucking cloud.” “The thought did occur to me.” I lie down next to him. “But your bed smelled like you…I couldn’t give that up.”

“So I’m the weirdo who pictures you in your bed to fall asleep, and you’re the weirdo who likes my scent more than comfort.” “Love makes fools of us all,” I say, sighing. “I’ve pictured you too.” I turn my head on the pillow beneath me as he looks straight up to the ceiling, smiling.

The shirt comes off over my head, and without slowing to feel embarrassed I unclasp my bra, allowing it to fall forward onto the bed between us. He licks his lips before pushing them together so tightly they almost disappear. He parts them to speak but seems to struggle to find words. “Fuck, wow.” He looks up to my eyes, his gleaming. He scrapes an open palm back and forth over his chin. “Damn.”

I nod and pull the shirt back down over my head, forgoing my bra. “How is it that your body turns me into some horny teenager? I haven’t been this excited just to see breasts in a very long time.” “Well, I consider them a particularly good pair,” I say.

“A dove is a symbol of peace.” He reaches toward me, holding my cheek in his palm. “That’s what you are to me…peace.”

“But, Warren?” “Yes?” “You’re so much more than that nickname. With or without me, you’re not that guy.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head.

“Well…Warren and I are together now…it’s very new…” Both women squeal, and Lane quietly applauds. “We had a tough time adjusting to living together at first, but he is just…we just get each other. He makes me laugh. He annoys me—in the best possible way. He dotes on Willow, and he makes me feel…” Sexy. Edible. “Confident.”

“What kind of aunties would we be if we didn’t? We both work from home—it doesn’t matter where we live,” she says, and I swallow, feeling the tears brim my eyes before I have even fully processed the sincere tone of Em’s voice and the encouraging look Lane sends from across the room. My people were with me the whole time. I just had to let them in.

“Hey! These are my old roommates, Emily and Lane. This is Warren and Luke.” As I finish speaking, Warren moves out of the hallway, kisses the top of my head as a greeting, and crosses the room to shake hands with them. Luke nods and signs from the hall.

“Worked out perfectly.” Warren looks toward me, smile subtle but real. Could it be a coincidence? Sure. But I think somehow the universe was on my team this time around—placing my people exactly where I need them. I move my hand on top of Warren’s, and our eyes catch for the first time since he got home. “Well…I won’t get in the way of your visit. Nice to meet you both.” Warren brings the top of my hand to his lips for a kiss, then lets it go as he stands.

He kisses me, and it’s a little too long and sexy to be appropriate for the company of others. I don’t pretend to object or attempt to stop him. I think he took Lane’s comment to heart ever so slightly. Lane waits until Warren has left the room to speak. “Damn, Chloe. That kiss got me pregnant.” I laugh, covering my grin with a hand. “No more babies, okay? We just got this one.” Em snuggles a calm Willow closer.

As he approaches, my cheeks redden, burning brightly at the thought of his hands on my body. He still has a little bit of grease on his face from work, which adds to the sex-infused daydream. Did I always have a thing for mechanics and drummers, or is it just since Warren?

When I’d asked what fancy-ish meant, he’d sent a photo of himself in a suit jacket. I instantly made it my screensaver. Sorry, Will. Warren day to day? Handsome. Warren half naked? Achingly gorgeous. Warren in a suit? Devastating.

Time appears to slow as he spins, adjusting the cuff of his shirt on one wrist like James fucking Bond. I laugh, because there’s no way this man, with his cut jaw, knowing eyes, and ever-present sexy smirk, is here to pick me up…in a damned suit. This cannot be real.

There’s also no possible explanation for why he’s looking at me the way he is. Wide-eyed and lips parted, arrogant facade slipping away as he rubs the back of his neck. He takes his time tracing the curves of my body from head to toe, as if he can’t believe every inch is real. My new favorite feeling rises again…the feeling of being edible.

“I know a chapel not too far from here.” He rubs his chin like he’s trying to remove a layer of skin. “I mean, I have other plans for the evening, but truthfully, we could call it.” I know he’s joking, but something about the way his eyes sparkle as he ...

“Chloe, you’re…” He leans on the doorframe, and I give him a slow full turn, showing off the back of the dress. “How am I supposed to drive? I meant what I...

As I turn back toward him, his hands flare in his trouser pockets, like he’s attempting to hide the evidence of the effect this dress is having...

“You look stunning, dove.” He leans toward me and kisses my cheek softly—an innocent gesture in contrast to the glances we’re sharing and the thoughts that are flowing between us. “You clean up pretty good yourself.” I unconsciously trace my tongue across my bottom ...

“Okay, so we may need to reassess…. How are we going to get through this date knowing that later—” “Do not finish that thought. I will Kool-Aid-Man style bust us through that wall to get to my bedroom.”

Warren steps back and leads me by the hand to the elevator, clearing his throat as we step on and pulling me into a hug. “I missed you today.” My voice is muffled by his chest. “I was just going to say that. One day apart; how lame are we?” he asks.

“Sunflower sweaters are sexy on you too….” He turns, eyes sincere. “You know, this is amazing.” He brushes the back of his hand over my jacket and the velvet on my waist. “But you’re sexy as hell when you’re sunshine and rainbows too. I’ll take whatever version of you I can get.” He said the perfect thing.

“The rest of the evening will be a surprise. No amount of flirting will get you answers, so don’t bother. I may be in love with you, and you may be dressed like every dirty dream I’ve ever had combined, but I will not cave,” Warren says sternly. I smirk, narrowing my eyes on him to watch him squirm. Challenge accepted.

“Okay…you win,” I say. I kiss his mouth as I move away, his lips holding on to mine like a magnet as I turn and fall back into my seat. He whines as he ends our kiss, as if he already regrets every decision he’s made that will prolong this evening.

“It doesn’t matter where we go. You’ll still be the most gorgeous woman in the room, and I’ll still be the guy trying to figure out how he’s with her.” He pauses, studying me, then tilts his head and smiles. “People are nervous on first dates. Aren’t you even a little nervous?” “I guess I’m not…” How the tables have turned.

There is a bottle of champagne on ice and two glasses awaiting us with a note. “We’re rooting for you kids. Love, Ram and Belle.” I read it out loud to Warren as he places his jacket on the back of his chair. Wow, he is beautiful. The light from the candle flickers and is reflected in his eyes. I catch my breath as the server comes over.

I smile, willing to agree if it relaxes him a little. “And would you just stop looking so incredible for five seconds so I can finish a thought without wanting to jump over this table? Damn, you’re beautiful, Chloe.” The sincerity in his tone makes me swallow without meaning to. I don’t let go of his hand as I read the menu.

Afterward, we share a slice of cheesecake that could’ve only been made by a deity of some kind. “You keep moaning like that and I’m going to have to fight this cheesecake.” Warren laughs, watching me tilt my head back with another bite.

“Thank you for dinner.” I kiss him on the back of his hand, still intertwined with mine. He twists our wrists and kisses across my knuckles, and as his hand comes into view, I realize I left a perfect lipstick stain on him. “Sorry.” I lick my thumb and reach to wipe it off. “Don’t you dare,” he says in that same low tone he used a few weeks prior.

“Willow is so lucky to have you. There’s no way to be perfect, but I bet if she’s anything like you, she’ll be kind enough to give you chances when you screw up. She’ll be happy.” He kisses the top of my head, and I let out a breathy sigh. I hope he’s right.

“And that second wish?” Right, honesty time. “I wished the same thing…but about you.” Warren doesn’t pause or hesitate. He pulls away from me so he can look into my eyes. “Me too. I wished that this would be my last first date,” he says, and I melt into him.

We hold eye contact as the lights twinkle from the city below and the lantern casts shadows across our faces. I break to look at his lips and kiss him, softly but full of wanting. Wanting more than each other’s bodies. Wanting love, wanting loyalty, wanting permanence. We pull apart as War...

Warren guides me by my elbows to the chair, and I sit. He disappears around the corner on the opposite side of the stage and returns with a guitar. “Please keep in mind that I was the drummer, not the guitarist, for a reason,” he says, eyes lit with excitement but smile apprehensive. I place both hands in front of my mouth, unable to form words. This is by far the most romantic thing that could ever possibly happen to me.

“Chloe’s Song,” it reads. Have mercy. Warren bites the inside of his cheek, his nostrils flaring as he takes a deep breath and then begins plucking the strings of the guitar in a slow, romantic tune. He is instantly as impressive as he is on the drums. At least from what I’ve heard on his CD. His fingers move quickly; there’s a small scratching as he slides between chords. After a visible swallow, he begins singing. His voice is smooth, even lower than his speaking voice. My eyes close for just a moment, desperate to memorize the sound.

Your colors are brighter than I’ve known. Rose-colored glasses are all you own, Limitless smile, but doubtful eyes. Who else has clouded your skies? I’m too selfish to hold back, The indecision that I lack, Your pain met mine, and I came undone. All these things I would become. Kissed me through the clinic doors, Loved you just a little more. I’m swimming, let the water take me. Show me all of you I’ve yet to see.

I will never be able to convey the way this moment has undoubtedly changed the trajectory of my life. Not to Lane and Emily, not to Willow, maybe not even to Warren. If there was any doubt before, I know for certain now that he has my whole heart. I won’t be bold enough to ask for it back.

“Warren, I don’t know what to say. I loved it.” I throw my arms around his neck, leaning on my knees in front of him. “It was perfect. This night was perfect. Thank you.” I kiss his cheek, and he guides me into his lap with hands on my hips.

“Not too cheesy?” Warren speaks into my hair. “Oh, so cheesy. Unbelievably cheesy. But I love it…I can’t believe you wrote me a song.” I sit across his lap, and ...

“I’ll write you a thousand crappy songs if you want.” He kisses my bottom lip swiftly. “Not crappy. Not even a little. I love you. Far too much. It is worrying, honestly.” He laughs as he ...

He pauses, focusing on the hair he holds between his fingers. “Last first date?” he asks, eyes heavy and sincere. I don’t hesitate for even a second. “Yes.” There is a bigger promise there, and I’m completely fine with it. “Let’s go home.” I r...

“Warren, what are—” He interrupts me by wrapping his arm around my hips, using a firm hand on my stomach to pull me closer against his body. His other hand comes over my shoulder, the back of his fingers trailing down my neck, collarbone, then down to the edge of my dress.

He brushes the velvet edge and uncurls his hand, sliding it into my bra, rough hands finding my bare breast. I press the back of my head into his chest as his hand plays with my nipple, hard and aching between his thumb and finger.

Warren slides his hand out and twists me around to face him. He kisses me so forcefully I forget where we are until the doors shut and the elevator starts moving again. “We missed our stop,” I say, inches from his mouth. He licks my top lip and brings me back for more. I giggle as shivers run up and down my body.