Kiro

            I knocked on the door, trying hard not to be pissed that this piece of shit apartment complex with no fucking security was Emmy’s home. This wasn’t where I’d been picturing her. And I pictured her a fucking lot.

            Waiting with my hands tucked in the pockets of my jeans, I was trying to remain calm. But fuck it all, I had been waiting to see her face for months. Every time I heard her voice my entire body went on high alert. I couldn’t rein in its attraction to Emmy.

            I heard a chain sliding out of the lock as the door swung open, revealing her in a pair of tiny little shorts and a camisole. Her hair was tangled and her gorgeous eyes were wide.

            “Kiro,” she said, unable to hide the grin that lit up her face. It was midnight. I had changed my flight from London to come here instead of Los Angeles. I didn’t fucking miss my house. I only missed one thing while on tour, and it was this face. Fuck me.

            “I wake you up, angel?” I asked, stepping into her apartment with my hands still firmly stuck in the pockets of my jeans. I didn’t trust them around Emily. They wanted to touch her.

            It was then I realized she had just crawled out of bed. Her hands went to her hair as she ran her fingers through the strands, trying to tame them. But I liked it just the way it was.

“I… you’re here. At my apartment.” She sounded flustered. Then her nose scrunched up and she frowned. “Oh wait. I’m asleep. This is a dream.” Her face fell.

            Fuck it! I took my hands out of my pockets and wrapped her in my arms. She inhaled deeply as I held her to my chest. “I’m real and you’re very awake,” I told her, unable to keep the thickness out of my throat. She got to me. She was fucking with my head. Seriously fucking with it.

            “You feel real.” Her arms came around my waist.

            I closed my eyes and soaked her in. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, I stood there with her in my arms as long as she would let me. Hell, I would’ve stood there all damn night if she wanted me to.

            “I thought you’d be ready to go home. Aren’t you homesick?” she asked, tilting her head back to look up at me.

            “I was only missing one thing, angel. And it wasn’t in fucking L.A.” I winked as I cupped her face and felt her soft skin under my thumbs as I brushed her cheekbones.

            She frowned a moment. “Do you mean me?”

            I hauled her against me and lifted her inches off the floor as I took the few strides to the sofa and sank down with her in my lap. She didn’t pull away, and God, that felt good. “So fucking sweet,” I murmured as I stared down into her face. I hadn’t made this shit up. She was better than I remembered. Fuck, she was so much better. That voice had gotten me through the tour.

Kiro's Emily is a fantastic short story about Harlow's parents Kiro and Emily. Parts of the story had been referenced in Take A Chance and One More Chance, but this is the whole story. How they met, what changed for Kiro, and how Emily reacted to the celebrity lifestyle Kiro enjoyed. 

This short sets the stage for the parts of Kiro that are revealed during Harlow's books. This is the beginning of an epic love story that changes a hard-living rock star into a devoted and fiercely protective husband. 

In a lot of ways, Emily reminded me of Harlow, understandable as they are mother/daughter. Emily is quiet, reserved, and when she is dragged on a road trip with her cousin to be a groupie for Slacker Demon, she is completely out of place in the seedy backstage parties. 

Kiro's life completely changes when he meets Emily backstage. The change from womanizing rocker to a man chasing his angel was sudden and surprising (both for him and his bandmates). 

This was a fun story -- not only as a glimpse of Kiro and Emily's relationship for devoted readers of the series, but it is also a great way for those new to the series to have an introduction to the older generation of characters.