Kay's muscles were on fire. As she searched her rucksack for her pajamas, she kept cursing inside her head. Yes, training had been a great idea. But why did it have to be so intense. Not even a good night's sleep could make the pain go away. She'd be a total mess in the morning.

She finally pulled out her pajama top and decided it was enough for now. The wet clothes had to go. Still on her feet, she pulled off her hoodie and thermal shirt and replaced them with the dry shirt, then lay the soaked ones on a intricate coffee table.

For a second, she hesitated. Maybe the moisture would ruin the furniture. Who knew how old that table actually was? But it wasn't like she had many places to hang laundry and she needed her clothes dry for the next day.

With a shrug, she focused her attention back on her rucksack and the dire need for dry pants. Then she could go search for the room Jessie had picked for them, because she wasn't entirely sure where it was. Jessie had mumbled some halfassed directions as if she really wanted Kay to get lost along the way.

As she bent double and sank her hand inside her rucksack, she wondered why she wasn't just picking it up and going to her room. Who'd ever come up with the sudden rule that all luggage must not be moved? Because she'd missed the logic in that. It felt really weird to take her pants off with two doors leading out of the place, none of them locked. Sure, anyone coming in would knock, but it was still weird.

As if to confirm her fears, someone grabbed her hips. Her body jerked in surprise and a short scream escaped her even if she knew there was nothing to worry about. There was only one person who would do that. So she turned and punched Kyle in the chest.

"You scared the crap out of me, you moron." She punched him again, just to get her point across.

"How'd you know it was me?" he asked with a grin, completely and annoyingly unaffected by her hits.

"You and Jimmy are the only ones who would think this is funny. And the only ones who move like freaking ninjas." She wanted to poke him again, rage about the grueling workout, but the fact that she had punched a battered metal cage with its door hanging open stopped her.

She traced the letters Unchanged with her fingers. It had been years since she'd last seen Kyle's band t-shirt. She'd gotten used to him wearing very basic stuff. Normal jeans, black or dark blue, t-shirts and hoodies, but that was about it. Now his jeans were a lighter shade, looser on him, and he wore a denim shirt over his t-shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked a lot more like he used to when they were back in Texas, falling in love.

"It feels like a million years ago," she whispered.

"Yeah," he whispered back. "Like another life completely."

"You don't sing anymore." She'd noticed that a while back and it made her sad. When she'd met Kyle, he would sing along to anything playing around him, however silly and in whatever language. Not anymore.

"I haven't much, not since I moved to Chicago." He took her hands and lowered them. "I mean I wrote some new stuff for a while, but it just never felt right."

"I sometimes wonder what it would've been like if we'd gone to Dallas with Joey and Kelly." That had been their initial plan before they were torn apart by unreasonable parents and a jealous ex-boyfriend. The thought of normality felt odd, like a long forgotten daydream from childhood.

Kyle huffed. "Don't get ahead of yourself, sweetheart. You're already imagining a world without Snitch Gravel in it. Imagine being there and getting attacked all the time, having no idea what's going on, putting Joey and Kelly in danger. I already almost got them killed once."

Kay bit her lip. Yes, how could she forget they'd plunged into a ravine because someone had cut off their brakes. "Yeah, not knowing what's going on, not being prepared, would've sucked." But in a world without someone constantly trying to off Kyle, they would've been extremely happy. Not that they weren't now, but it could all be so much easier.

Kyle let out a laugh that he tried to stifle unsuccessfully.

"What?"

"Sorry." He forced a straight face. "I was just trying to picture Joey executing ultimate fighting techniques to have my back. Couldn't."

"Um, yeah..." Kay bit back her own smirk. As much as she loved their best friends from high school, she couldn't imagine Kelly breaking a sweat either. "Good thing we have Jessie and Jimmy. And Tom and Angie," she added to be fair. "And..." Yeah, that was about it.

"Sam is getting better," Kyle said with a grin.

She nodded because it was true, but she wouldn't actually count on Sam to have her back. Poor guy thought way too much. "Still miss Joey and Kelly, though. And the band."

"Yeah, me too." He let out a deep sigh, then suddenly grinned again. "Enough melancholy for one night. What were you doing?"

"Getting ready for sleep. Because of a certain someone, I'm freaking exhausted." She walked to one of the many couches and dropped on it, fiddling with the laces of her boots.

"No, you're not."

She squinted at him as she pulled on her laces. "Yes, I am. I need to complete my pajama ensamble, so, dear sir, you should make your exit."

He raised a skeptical eyebrow at her. "Nope. You need me here."

The simple words ignited a spark inside her, but she tried to tone it down because she was too tired for teasing. "What for?" Her voice still came out playfull.

"Untying your shoelaces for one thing."

Kay turned to her feet and noticed she'd managed to tie them in a tight knot. Heat rose to her cheeks as she tried to untie them. Her nails were too long and soft because of all the snow and it hurt like hell to try harder.

"Here." Kyle crouched in front of her, combat knife already in hand.

"Don't cut my laces!" She tried to pull her foot away, but he held on to her ankle. "These are the only boots I have."

"Relax, I know what I'm doing." He loosened the knot with the tip of the knife then undid it with embarrassing ease. And just to make sure she wouldn't make a fool of herself again, he undid her other boot, too.

"Thanks," she mumbled. She knew she should tell him to go away and let her change, but the way he looked at her, his hands on her knees, made it a little hard to breathe. "What?"

"I'm waiting. Maybe you'll need help with something else." The challenge in his voice, in his eyes drove all the weariness out of her, made her body humm with life.

"Like what?"

He pushed her legs apart, and squeezed between them, his hands digging in the belt of her jeans. "I don't know. Your pants?"

She fought the shudder of her traitorous body, but she was enjoying this way too much. "I think I'm very capable of taking off my own pants."

His grip on them only tightened as if he wanted to pull them down without undoing any buttons. "I don't know. You seemed pretty confident about your boots." He leaned in closer to her, so close that she could feel the heat radiating off his body and it sent her head spinning. "Just making sure."

No, she could fight this. She could turn it on him and make him want her so bad that... Who the hell cared? She sank her hands in his hair and pulled him towards her, dying to kiss him, but he stopped her before she could taste his mouth.

"I'm not done teasing you," he whispered in her ear.

It sent shivers down her spine."Screw you," she breathed.

"That's what I'm expecting from you."

Kay blinked, wondering why he expected her to swear at him. But as she watched the confident smirk on his face, the pieces finally fell into place. He meant it literally.

Hell yes, she wanted that, too. Now. Two years ago! But if that was the game they were going to pay, she'd show him real teasing. Because she knew his weakness.

So she shoved him away from her, to the floor and slid off the couch and into his lap, pressing her body against his. It felt so good, better than she remembered. Kyle groaned as she moved a little, securing the perfect position, but he didn't tell her to stop, to get off him. Instead, his hands darted under her top, his fingers trailing on her back.

She closed her eyes enjoying the feeling, the memories it brought her and the fire raging inside her. She adjusted her position, applying even more pressure. Her body trembled as pleasure coursed up her spine.

His fingers dug into her back. "I'm warning you, stop teasing." He kissed her neck, trailed her jawline and hovered above her lips.

"Oh, I'm shaking all over." She literally was, but that was beside the point. "What could you possibly do..."

His hands moved from her back to much better places. And it felt amazing. She let out a moan and leaned against him, her fingers fumbling with his shirt, pushing it over his shoulders, because she was done playing. This wasn't funny, it was torture. Beautiful, smoldering, heart attack inducing torture.

He removed his hands to shrug the shirt off and she hated it, wanted him back, but as long as they were there, might as well get rid of the t-shirt too. So she pulled it out of his jeans and over his head, Uncaged be damned. Holy hell, she could never get enough of him shirtless.

Kyle wrapped his arms around her, pulled her against him and kissed her deeply. It was raw and wild and promised so much more. She wanted much more. She took his hands out of her hair and directed them back under her top. Fortunately, he got the message and touched her exactly where she wanted.

Kay moaned and wrapped her legs around him, pressing harder, deeper into him. Heat pooled into her stomach and she ached with the need for skin on skin contact. If only... She froze.

"What's up?" he whispered in her ear which didn't help tone down her desire at all.

"The teasing is no longer funny." She pushed against his shoulders, wanting to stand off him, but he held her in place, using her own moves against her, drawing another moan out of her. This felt too good to be legal.

"I'm not teasing," he said against her neck and continued his trail of kisses up to her ear.

Kay grabbed his face and brought it up so she could look him in the eyes. "Don't do this to me, Kyle. Don't get me all hot and bothered and then just... "

"Just what?"

The intensity of his gaze almost derailed her train of thought. "Get all noble and responsible and..."

"I am responsible. Noble not so much. I took care of everything."

"Everything as in..." she gestured randomly, but he seemed to understand.

"Everything."

And at that moment, when she finally let go of all her restraints, she felt more free than ever. "God, I love you," she said, and she'd never meant it more.

The tenderness in his eyes almost melted her. "And I love you. My one and only, my always and forever."

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, putting everything into it, all the love, all the longing, the passion, the need. This was it, it was finally happening and she couldn't be happier. She leaned on her back, pulling him over her, digging her nails into his back.

"Whoa, wait a minute." He pulled away, hovering on top of her. "What are you doing?"

"Didn't you just say...? Look, Kyle, I'm fed up with this. Are we doing it or not?"

"Not on the floor, we're not," he said with a laugh.

"What is it with you and geography?"

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up, securing her around him. "Didn't I say I took care of everything?"

She had no idea what he meant, but she was happy to be back in his arms, in reach to kiss him. She hardly even processed when he walked to the door she knew led to an unused bedroom. The dim light of flickering flames drew her attention and she took in everything: the candles, the flowers, the rose petals on the bed.

He'd planned everything. It explained the training, her suddenly having the privilege of avoiding Tina in exchange for Jessie, the luggage being there... He'd fooled everyone just so he could arrange this for her.And her heart swelled, because no matter the passion between them, they'd always been more.

"How did you...?" She didn't care, not really. All that mattered was that he had.

"Finding all those roses was a bitch," he breathed in her ear and plopped her on the bed.

"No, get back here! I want back in your lap."

He climbed on top of her, trapping her between his arms. "You'll get your chance. But I have a better idea." Once he lifted her top and started trailing kisses on her stomach, she had to agree with him. This was much better.

He came higher and higher, pulling her top off as he went and all she could focus on was the heat of his body, the amazing feel of his skin brushing against her. She could finally trail her fingers freely, taking in every inch of him, because he was hers and she was his.

So when she lay naked in front of him, she'd felt more comfortable than ever, because he'd always made it clear that she was perfect to him.

Just like he was to her, inside and out, the only one made for her. And it was obvious with every touch, every kiss, every whisper, the way their bodies fit together.

Like the final two missing pieces of the most beautiful puzzle in the world.

❄❄❄

Not surprising at all that this update would come so fast. After all, I recycled like 80% of this but removed everything descriptive about it because this is PG and fade to black.

Can I get a FINALLY? because freaking finally! Yes, it happened. Now it's time to return to the adventure. Actually know, I want to screw Jerry over first because it will be too hilarious. Anyway, not in this chapter.

Hope you enjoyed and didn't find it too racey. It's meant to be tame 😉

Next part will focus on one of your favorite characters.

Now leave me a comment and hit the star.