Rag Doll by Ava Catori

it off.
    “This is really happening?” Kendle couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
    “Yep, she already has the key.”
    Kendle sighed. She felt like a weight dropped off her shoulders. An elephant climbed off of her chest, and for the first time in ages, she could truly breathe. It was a step forward in the right direction.
    The conversation didn’t flow, but it didn’t need to between the girls. Being together in a regular environment, it felt like they’d won the lottery.
    As Cree stood to leave, she turned to Graham. “It’s really mine?”
    He nodded. “For a full year, yes.”
    “Thank you.” She didn’t know how she could repay him, though he told her it wasn’t necessary. Nobody had ever done something like that for her.
    “Would you like my driver to take you home?”
    She shook her head. “I need to collect some things first.”
    “He can take you.”
    “No, I’ll be okay. And thanks again.”
    Cree stood before Kendle. “He cares a lot about you. Trust that.” She hugged her sister, and headed out.
    Kendle turned to Graham. “Is that true?”
    “It’s true.”
    A soft smile spread across her lips.

Chapter 16
    She wasn’t sure what love felt like. She’d never been in love before. But what was washing through her, overwhelming her with warmth, it had to be close. The sacrifice he made for her sister, setting her up, paying for the year…he did it for her.
    Kendle looked to Graham with stars in her eyes. The sun could rise and set on him at that very moment. She hadn’t been this happy since…she couldn’t remember when. All she wanted was her sister off the streets. She wanted her to come inside, and somehow Graham made it happen. She’d be safer, warmer, cleaner, and maybe ready to make a change. Together they could do anything. They’d survived this long, gotten this far, and now with Graham’s help, they’d come even further.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, looking to the man of the hour. “I can’t even begin to tell you what this means to me.” She wanted to cry. Wanted to shed tears of happiness, but they were trapped inside. She’d been numb for so long, it was hard to let go of that control.
    Graham ran his thumb over Kendle’s lips. Did he dare scare her away by kissing her? The look in her eyes said it was worth trying. Silence crackled in the air between them. One single kiss. Graham lowered his head and tenderly brushed his lips against Kendle’s mouth. Parting her lips, she welcomed his attention.
    Her heart thundered loudly, beating fast and hard. Every sound echoed, every moment slowed. His warm mouth tasting her, needing her, asking for the same in return, and carrying her to an island of pleasure. For the first time in as long as Kendle could remember, she got lost in a kiss. One single kiss. She’d never wanted that kiss more.
    Graham’s firm grip on the back of her neck pulled her in closer. Pressing her body to his, he loosened his grip and raked his fingers through her hair. To make love to her…there would be time for that later. He couldn’t rush this, couldn’t push her, this was more than he thought she’d offer. One single kiss. It meant so much more than he ever imagined. He needed her kiss, her desire. He needed her acceptance.
    One single kiss. Her body tingled with electricity, a fire burning through her, a desire she never knew taking her over. This man that had pulled her sister in from outside, the man who wanted to love her, to help her, and to help her sister…he was beckoning her to come to him. She was all his.
    Her words were like sparks of fire, an ember burning, and on hearing them Graham was taken back. They were unexpected.
    “Make love to me,” she whispered.
    “Are you sure?” He pulled back and looked into Kendle’s eyes. The pain, the fear, it was gone. There was warmth, reassurance, and a hunger waiting to be satiated. She needed him, needed to feel him within her. For the first time in forever, she was ready to