I nodded, unable to stop looking him over. He caught me of course and his cheeksturnedpinkand I didn't think I'd ever been so smitten. Jesus Christ. I'd made my best friend blush.
“What?” he demanded gruffly. “Just say it.”
I bit back a smile unsuccessfully.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
He gave me a look.
“If you're asking if my ass hurts, yes,” he said. “It stings like a fucking bitch. Happy?”
“No,” I said, but he groaned because I couldn't stop grinning.
“Did you like it though? You did, right?”
“Oh my god. Can we please stop talking about this?”
I laughed, tried to force myself to stop and managed to get my lips down to a normal smug smile.
“Oh god. I'm never going to live this down,” Kamran sighed.
He took a sip of his coffee, not looking at me.
“What are you thinking?” I asked after a moment.
He glanced at me, meeting my gaze and then letting it fall down my form before looking away and shaking his head.
“This has all been very...unexpected.”
I reached out, rubbing a hand over his back and he leaned into the touch, sighing softly.
“I guess it's a lot for you,” I agreed. “I forget I had so much more time to get used to wanting my best friend more than I want food or water.”
“You're so conceited,” Kamran informed me. “I didn't say I wanted you like that.”
“It was implied.”
Kamran snorted.
“I didn't know you could read minds like that...”
I stared for a moment.
“Did you just admit it?” I asked slowly, grin growing again.
“No,” he argued.
Before I knew it, I was on my feet, engulfing him in a big hug, laughing when he half-heartedly struggled against me.When he gave in and turned in my arms, hugging me tightly, all the laughter died.
I held on like he was a buoy and I was kicking under water. Sometimes over the years it had felt like drowning. But now I finally had him to hold onto.
“Kamran. Please tell Lissa.”
It was probably the best thing I could say to ruin the moment. I could feel Kamran tense all the way through his body.
“I've been trying,” he said. He pulled back enough to look at me. “You know that.”
I nodded but couldn't quite commit to the gesture and he saw that, his green eyes hardening.
