|
A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes Chapter 20 Kevin wasn�t willing to wait any longer. �AJ. Howie. Give me a lift.� Kevin removed his shirt, wrapped it around his hand and punched out one of the windows on the bus. Kristy and Allen both jumped as they heard the sound of breaking glass. �KEVIN!� Kristy yelled before Allen slapped her face and then clamped a hand over her mouth. Kristy bit his hand and sobbed out �Kevin!� Something inside Kevin froze at the sound of Kristy�s terror-filled voice. With a strength and a speed he didn�t know he possessed, he lifted himself through the bus window, ignoring the shards of glass cutting into his skin. He crossed the small space from the window to his bunk in a couple of powerful strides and in one fluid motion, pulled back the curtain, grabbed Allen and drug him off Kristy. Kevin stood Allen up and slammed his fist into his face with a rage he�d never felt before. Allen staggered from the blow and Kevin reached out with his other hand to keep him upright and punched him over and over. AJ had gotten a boost from Howie to crawl through the window after Kevin, and had removed the wrench and opened the door for the others. Now they were in the bunk area and watched Kevin, thinking he might kill the guy. �Kevin,� AJ finally said, stepping forward, �Let the police take care of him. You take care of Kristy.� Kevin pushed Allen�s limp bleeding body away from him with a look of disgust and let the others take him outside. He turned back to his bunk, still shaking with rage and fear. What he saw before him shook him to his core. Kristy lay curled in a ball, clutching one of Kevin�s pillows to her chest; her shoulders quivering with her muffled sobs. Kevin crawled into his bunk, laid beside her, and gently placed one hand on her back. He whispered, �Kristy?� Without a moment�s hesitation, Kristy discarded his pillow and turned into his arms, clutching him to her. Kevin breathed a sigh of relief, wrapped his arms around her trembling frame and wished he could absorb her fear and pain. He gently rubbed her back and arms, a million thoughts and questions racing through his head. But any questions he may have had about the intensity of his feelings for her had vanished. His heart had felt like it was being ripped out of his chest when he�d realized Kristy was in danger. He knew without a doubt that he loved her. After a long while, Kristy�s sobs quieted and her shaking stilled. Kevin drew back and looked down at those amazing hazel eyes, now tear-filled and reflecting her fear, pain, gratitude and love. Kristy raised a hand to wipe away the tears on Kevin�s face, which surprised Kevin since he hadn�t realized he�d been crying along with her. She gave him a shaky smile and whispered �Thank you� as she leaned forward and softly kissed him. Kevin cupped her face in his hands, examining her expression. �Did he hurt you?� He pulled back and gasped as he saw the blood on Kristy�s torn dress and skin. Kristy�s brow furrowed as her hand went to her chest and wiped away the blood. She then placed her hand on Kevin�s chest. �It�s not me Kev, it�s you...� she ran her hands over his chest, arms and back. �You�re cut... all over. Oh Kevin!� she whispered, her eyes growing wide with concern. Kevin stilled her hands and smiled as he brought them to his lips and kissed them. �Don�t worry about me...� he said and pulled her back into his arms. �Are YOU ok?� Kristy nodded into his neck. Unsatisfied, Kevin pulled back to look into her eyes, knowing she couldn�t hide her emotions from him. Kristy gave him a weak smile and tried to joke, �Shaken, but not stirred.� She saw that he wasn�t amused, and felt the power of his intense stare. �Really Kevin, I�ll be fine...� she said, trying to maintain her composure. �Nothing really happened... you came just... he was about to...� her voice cracked as she realized how close she�d been to being raped. �Oh God, Kevin, I was so scared.� Kevin held her close and felt tears well up in his own eyes once again. �So was I, Princess. So was I.� A soft rapping on the frame to his bunk made Kevin turn slightly. �Kev, the police are here and need to talk to both you and Kris. Is she up to it?� Brian asked, his voice heavy with concern for both his cousin and Kristy. Kevin looked down at Kristy who nodded. �You�ll be with me, right?� Kevin slid out of the bunk and helped Kristy out. He noticed she was a little weak on her feet, but she was trying hard to be strong. He whispered as he took her hand is his, �You don�t have to go through this alone... I�m gonna be right there beside you. I�m always going to be beside you.� He bent his head down and kissed her lips softly. Kristy kissed him back, savoring his strength and promise to stay with her... always.Kristy cuddled with Kevin on the couch in his hotel room after the concert that night. Allen had been arrested, but Kevin and the other guys had still kept one of their security team off the floor to stay with Kristy backstage during the show. Kevin knew she was trying to be brave and he loved that about her� her strength, determination and independence. But he also loved that she didn't hesitate to turn to him when she really needed him. Kristy rested her head on Kevin�s shoulder and gently traced the fresh wounds on his bare chest with her fingertips. �Do they hurt?� she asked, her voice filled with concern. Kevin shook his head as Kristy raised her head to look into his incredible green eyes. �I didn�t even feel it� all I knew was I had to get to you.� Kristy wrapped her arms around him tighter and buried her face in the crook of his neck. Once again Kevin�s chest tightened at the thought of Kristy being in danger and knew without a doubt that he loved this amazing woman more than anything in the world. Now he just had to tell her. They sat there for several long minutes, simply holding each other closely. Kevin pulled back a bit and looked deeply into Kristy�s beautiful hazel eyes. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but somehow couldn�t find the words. Kristy leaned forward and kissed him. While every kiss they had ever shared was wonderful, this one was even more incredible. Kevin let his hands caress Kristy's back, knowing his touch gave her comfort. Kristy pulled back a bit and looked at Kevin. "I know I've said this before, but thank you," she said, feeling herself get lost in his beautiful eyes. Kevin cupped the side of her face with his hand and kissed her softly. Kristy leaned into him, prolonging the kiss, her hands traveling up his muscular chest and over his broad shoulders. Kevin slid one hand into her hair and tilted her head slightly to the side, deepening their kiss. They broke apart, both breathless and a little stunned by the desire they always elicited from each other. Kevin cleared his throat, "Maybe we should get you back to your room?" Kristy looked at Kevin, confusion and hurt evident in her eyes. "I thought that... well, that tonight might be... that we'd..." Kristy stumbled over the words, unshed tears glistening in her vivid hazel eyes. Kevin wrapped her in his arms. "Oh, my angel," he comforted. He pulled back so he could look her in the eye. "Don't you know how much I love you?" Kristy's eyes widened and he paused to let the words sink in . "Of course I want to be with you..." he continued and kissed her forehead, "But there's no hurry. We have the rest of our lives to be together." Kristy let the tears she'd been trying to hold back fall freely. She smiled through her tears. "Words can't even begin to describe how much you mean to me. Don't you want me to show you how much I love you?" She whispered the last part, imploring him with her eyes. Kevin's heart and mind battled against his body. He took a shaky breath, "I do... trust me," he sighed. "But you don't have to prove anything to me. I know we love each other. I don't want you to feel rushed into anything as a reaction to what happened this afternoon. I just don't want you to have any reservations... any regrets." Kristy gave Kevin a grateful smile and he pulled her close. "You don't mind waiting a bit more?" she whispered. Kevin ran a hand over her silky hair, feeling her relax against his chest. "Aren't you the one that's been telling me the best things in life are worth waiting for?" Kristy giggled in spite of the seriousness of their discussion. She then sighed. "I just don't want what happened today to ruin what we have. I don't want to become paralyzed because of it." Kevin looked down at the love of his life, knowing how difficult all this was for her. "Kristy, NOTHING can ruin this. What we have doesn't just happen every day..." Kevin felt his heart pounding in his chest. "We're going to get through this together." He tipped her chin up. "Together. And when the time is right, then we'll make love," he said the words with love and reverence, Kristy's pulse quickening at the thought. "But only when you're ready. OK?" Kristy smiled and kissed Kevin with all the love and gratitude she felt for him. "I do love you," she whispered, their faces close, foreheads touching. "Kev, I know you got me my own room, but..." she trailed off. "You don't want to be alone tonight," he finished her sentence. Kristy shook her head, "Not tonight." Kevin kissed Kristy's forehead, took her hand, and led her to his bed. Pulling back the covers they crawled in and he held her closely. 'We ARE going to get through this,' he thought. 'We're strong and have our faith and love to rely on. We're gonna be fine.' Kristy was still somewhat unnerved by what had happened, but she knew she wasn't going to let it control her life. She had God and her family and friends to turn to for additional strength and support. And she had Kevin and his love... and together they could get through anything.Next: Chapter 21 |