Chapter 2: Second choice?
*creak*
Pushing the door open, a beautiful woman wearing a tank top and shorts entered the cozy bedroom.
Warm sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains, painting golden stripes across the bedsheets and the scattered clothes on the floor.
She stepped inside and a soft sigh left her lips as she looked the young man who was sleeping on the bed.
He lay sprawled on his stomach with one arm dangling off the edge of the bed.
The sheet had slipped low on his hips, revealing the smooth line of his back and the faint red marks her nails had left there hours earlier.
She walked over to the bed and ruffled his black hair with her fingers "Wake up, Kay."
He stirred and a soft mumble escaped his lips as he pressed his face deeper into the pillow. "Mhm... five more minutes..."
With a mischievous grin, Arwen’s hand lowered and she gave a firm slap on his ass "Wake up, Klein."
Klein jolted and blinked rapidly before rolling onto his side to face her "Arwen..."
He glanced at the black-haired woman looking down at him with soft blue eyes.
"You’re evil," he muttered, reaching out to hook an arm around her waist and pull her closer.
"Slapping a man while he’s defenseless."
"You weren’t complaining last night when I was the one getting slapped in my ass," she teased, letting herself be pulled onto the edge of the bed.
Ruffling his hair, she spoke "Come on. I made breakfast. Eggs, toast, and that ridiculously expensive coffee you like. If you don’t get up now, I’m eating it all myself."
Klein hummed, burying his face against her thigh, "Or... we could stay here a little longer."
His hand slid up the back of her thigh as his fingers slipped just beneath the hem of her shorts. "You look way too good in that outfit to waste on breakfast."
Arwen laughed softly and swatted his wandering hand away.
She pulled the sheet off him completely, "Now get that cute ass in the shower. I’ll keep the food warm."
---
Klein stood under the warm spray of the shower for a few minutes, letting the water chase away the last traces of sleep.
Ten minutes later, he stepped out, drying his hair roughly with a towel before pulling on a pair of loose dark gray sweatpants.
He walked down the hallway toward the kitchen, following the rich aroma.
Arwen stood at the stove, humming softly under her breath.
The morning light poured through the wide kitchen window, catching on her black hair and making it shine.
She had her back to him with one hip cocked as she flipped an omelette.
Two plates were already set on the small wooden table by the window and two mugs of coffee waited beside them.
Klein’s chest tightened with quiet affection.
"Smells incredible," he said, walking into the kitchen.
Arwen glanced over her shoulder and her eyes immediately dropped to his bare chest and the V-line disappearing into his sweatpants.
A slow, appreciative smile curved her lips.
Noticing her expression, Klien smiled dryly in his mind ’Hitting the gym was so worth it.’
From behind, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest and pressed a kiss to her neck.
Arwen leaned into him with a soft laugh, tilting her head to give him better access.
One of her hands came up to rest on his forearm while the other hand slid the finished omelette onto a plate.
At that moment, they heard the doorbell ring, and Arwen smiled "That must be Cynthia."
She wiped her hands on a dish towel and headed toward the front door "Wait a minute."
Klein stretched his arms and sat on the dinner table.
A few moments later the door opened and Klein could hear the laughter from the front door.
A beautiful dark-caramel-skinned woman entered the room with white hair and blue eyes wearing a loose T-shirt and pants.
She is 26, a year older than Arwen.
The moment her eyes landed on Klein, her gaze softened with affection "Klein."
Looking at her, Klein smiled gently.
The three of them grew up together in the same orphanage with Arwen and Cynthia being the older girls who looked out for him when he was just a scrawny, quiet kid.
So he is very fond of Cynthia and very close to her.
Entering in, Arwen spoke "Cyn, I will prepare breakfast for you too."
Cyntia shook her head and replied "No need, dear. Just coffee is enough."
As soon as Arwen turned toward the stove and began pulling out ingredients, Cynthia glanced at Klein and grabbed his wrist.
"Come here for a second. I need to show you something," she said sweetly, pulling him out of the kitchen.
Huh? Klein raised an eyebrow but let her pull him along.
She led him down the short hallway and into the small guest room near the living area and closed the door behind them.
The moment the door shut, Cynthia turned and pressed close to him, backing him up against the wall.
Her hands slid up his bare chest as she rose onto her tiptoes.
"I missed you, little Kay," she whispered.
Before he could respond, she leaned in and tried to kiss him, aiming straight for his lips.
But Klein gently turned his face to the side so her lips landed on his cheek instead.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and carefully pushed her back a few inches, creating space between them.
"Cynthia... no. We’ve talked about this."
She didn’t step away. Instead, she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and hugged him close, pressing her face into the crook of his neck.
"Why not?" she whispered and her voice was muffled against his skin.
"I love you, Klein. I’ve loved you for years. Not like Arwen... I know she has you now, but I loved you first. Even when you were just that shy little boy hiding behind us."
Klein exhaled softly and wrapped his arm around her back "Cyn... I love you too."
"You and Arwen are my family. You protected me when I had no one. But I’m in love with Arwen and... I can’t do this to us."
She took a deep breath and stared straight into his eyes "Can you say it straight to my face? That you don’t even love me at all... and that you are perfectly loyal to her?"
Klein froze and he opened his mouth, but no words came out.
The truth was far more complicated than a simple yes or no, as a part of him does love Cynthia.
The silence stretched.
Cynthia watched him carefully, and when he couldn’t meet her eyes, a small, bittersweet smile slowly formed on her lips.
"...That’s what I thought."
She stepped closer again and gently placed her hand on his chest, "I don’t mind, you know..."
"I don’t mind being your side chick... your secret affair... your fuck buddy... or even your second choice."
She pressed a gentle kiss to his neck "I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me, Klein. Even if we have to hide it from Arwen."
"I’ve loved you for so long that being nothing at all hurts more than being something... anything to you."
She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed his jaw softly.
"So don’t worry about being ’loyal’ or feeling guilty on my account. If you ever want me... I’m yours. No questions."
Klein’s gaze lowered with his hands resting on her hips.
He didn’t push her away harshly; he could never be cruel to Cynthia.
She let out a shaky laugh "Can’t blame a girl for trying, right?" she whispered, brushing her thumb across his cheek.
"I’ll keep waiting... even if it takes forever. One day you might look at me the same way."
Klein gently wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye with his thumb. "Cynthia... I never wanted to hurt you."
She nodded her head "I know."
Leaning in, she pressed one last kiss to his cheek, then stepped back, composing herself.
She took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair before forcing her usual smile.
"Let’s go back before she notices."
As she left, Klein started at the open door and let out a deep sigh.
He also loves her but since he is in a relationship with Arwen, he is not sure how to respond to Cynthia’s feelings when she comes at him like this.
He stayed there for nearly a minute, trying to compose himself, before finally pushing off the wall and heading back to the kitchen.
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