Cullayne POV

I was not expecting the surge of emotions that were radiating from Kemar like an inferno. I have been so used to suppressing my reader's ability for so long that with my guard now down everything came up on me like a flood. I shut my eyes and willed myself to take in all that was rushing out at me.

I was unable to sleep and wanted to sit with him and enjoy the comfort that his presence always gives to me so I decided to join him out in the living room where he opted to stay since I was now occupying his room.

I stood still where my feet had faltered as I looked at him sitting there with a feeling that had nothing to do with the events of earlier. This deep-rooted turmoil was far from the events of today. I could sense the unrest that was raging in him from a suppressed emotion that to my surprise went far beyond Bounty.

For the first time in a long time, I wanted to read someone without thinking of the stress that came with it. I cared deeply for Kemar and to see him like this made my heart ache. I took a step forward and watched his every move.

The sight of him feeling dejected by the weight of the feeling that he carried around in him made me move from where I stood and hurriedly walked over to him. I wanted to wrap him in my arms the way he did on all those occasions for me when I needed comfort and support.

My heart moved further as he sensed my presence and he looked up at me. In that brief moment, our eyes met in the semi-darkness of the living room and I trembled under the onslaught of how deep his feelings raged.

Kemar was in love!

I shivered as a barrage of feelings overcame me at the revelation and more so as I sensed that he was deeply moved by the fear of losing that person. The automatic movement of his hand going to his throat to rub at the bandage there momentarily brought my attention to that matter.

I latched onto that bit of frustration to sway myself from thinking of Kemar being in love. I was overcome with emotions that I should by no means be feeling.

I was also jealous beyond what would be duly justifiable in terms of our relationship.

I was grateful when I heard him speak because it was on the tip of my tongue to ask if he was in love with the nurse woman I saw him with. I felt a deep sense of loss at the thought of him being with her.

My response was versed and his too became the same. To rid us of the awkwardness that was quickly building I focused on a major distraction the bandage on his neck. I realized he on more than one occasion rubbed his fingers against it.

A few minutes ago I wished I could take his worries and fears away but now as I told him not to hide those feelings from me I wish I could rub them out of him like an eraser. I wanted him all to myself and it was going to take my all to accept him with someone else.

How could I share him with someone else?

I was asking myself this same question as I stood in his bathroom my feelings rubbing me raw and leaving my emotions chafed as I searched for bandaids and trying desperately to coach myself into being the supportive and happy friend he had always been to me.

"Found them," I said a few minutes later as I returned to the room to see him seated by a small table that held a beautifully bloomed Dancing Lady orchid. For a brief moment, I wondered if it was a gift from his lady friend.

Come on Cullayne you gotta get a hold on yourself!

I was singing this like a mantra when I came to stand by him with a bottle of Extol antiseptic liquid, a ball of cotton and a wide bandaid.

Make small talk... say something, I silently urge myself as my fingers made their way to work with clear and precise efficiency to clean his cut and replace the bandaid despite my incoherent mind that was fighting to decipher the reason behind my being so against Kemar loving another woman.

"There you go," I said moving away but Kemar's hands came to rest on my hips to stop me from moving away.

I took in a deep breath at his touch that for some reason sent forth an awareness that went far beyond the platonic one that governs all my life with him.

"Thank you for being here," he smiled softly.

As I stood there looking into his liquid dark brown eyes the feeling inside me intensified.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else in a time like this Kem," I replied trying to ignore the feelings that caused my heart to flutter and my body to dance with awareness.

I felt him tug me closer then wrap his arms around my lower body and rest his head against my belly. Immediately it was filled with an avalanche of cascading butterflies tumbling over each other that caused me to have to suppress the burst of desire to nestle closer to him.

"Promise you'll stay for good this time," he mumbled his warm breath seeping through his shirt to tickle my heated flesh.

Could I make such a promise when I now know that my feelings are far from sisterly and stem beyond a schoolgirl's crush? Moreover, could I stand aside and watch him love another woman?

I opened my mouth to offer a feeble reassurance but nothing came out other than a sigh of pure need as he rubbed his face gently against the spot where it was nestled.

"Mi cyaah bear fi yuh lef mi again."

This was more than a declaration it was a confession and it caused me to lean into him breaking my ramrod stance to wrap my arm around his head.

"I never left you Kemar," I told him. "You have  always been a part of me no matter what."

I wanted to say more but I bit my lip to hold it in there was no use jeopardizing the best thing I ever had.

"It neva feel that way," he said pulling away and letting me go. "But yuh know what yuh a big ooman now soon to be sumaddi wife mi shouldn't even did seh dat."

As I stood there feeling naked without the warmth of his embrace I realised that Taylon was far from my mind. If Kemar had not brought him up I would not have given him much thought.

"I left White House because I was a coward Kemar not because I was happily in love. Taylon was just an escape route," I informed feeling relieved I was letting him know the truth.

"Huh?" he said raising a brow inquiringly.

Not wanting to come clean with him starting at me I turned around and sat between his legs and leaned into the warmth of his naked chest.

This might be the last time I ever have him like this again knowing he loves someone else.

"Yuh know mi neva like how my peers reacted to me being a reader right and how it caused me to be miserable as well as defensive and spiteful?"

"Yes," he replied nodding.

"Well mi tell misef seh the first chance mi get mi a lef Jamaica but mi know mummy wouldn't just make mi lef suh seeing she want mi fi continue to build pan the legacy she and great grandma build here."

He nodded as I paused. I took a breath and let it out slowly before I continued.

"Suh when Taylon came here and became fascinated with me being able to do what my mother could I overlooked that it was my gift he was intrigued with and wanted. I just happened to come with the package.

I quelled my gift and like a shadow, I went around working and giving a minimal amount of time to reading unless it benefitted Taylon to cut
a long story short Taylon knew I was just around for him to use so he did just that and ended up between the legs of my best friend.... "