The bungalow settled into silence, Jess tucked away on the couch, and for the first time since everything blew up tonight, Kai and I were finally alone.
The bedroom door clicked shut behind us, and the sound went straight through me. No more audience. No more distractions. Just him and me.
Telling Jess the whole story had made me realize how insane—how awful—it had all been. For a while there, I hadn’t been sure he’d ever want to see me again. And now, standing here with Kai, the relief tangled with a rawer edge: desire.
He’d sung my praises to Jess, called me amazing, called me the prize. But part of me still couldn’t help wondering if those words had been more for her benefit than mine. The unease pressed in hard as I turned toward him, my heart thumping in my chest.
“Even though it ended up working out for the best,” I said softly, “I’m really sorry about talking to Faith. We had a pact, and I broke it.”
The words hung there, heavier than I wanted them to. My chest cinched as I studied his face—his shoulders drawn tight, jaw flexing—and I braced for him to retreat.
Kai’s shoulders rose and fell on a slow breath. “Yeah,” he said finally. “But you were right.” His mouth pulled tight, regret shadowing his eyes. “I’m the one who’s sorry—for losing my shit over it. I should’ve trusted you.”
Relief poured through me so fast my knees went weak. “So… no more secrets?”
He stepped closer, closing the distance until I had to tip my chin up to hold his gaze. “Deal.”
And then his mouth was on mine—hot and urgent, like he couldn’t get close enough, like the only way to erase the distance between us was to devour it. His hands framed my face, his thumbs sweeping my cheeks as his tongue slid against mine, deep and claiming.
The kiss wasn’t gentle. It was fierce, messy, the kind that stole every ounce of air and gave it back as fire. My whole body trembled, the fight and the fear dissolving under the sheer need of it.
When he finally broke away, breath ragged, his forehead dropped against mine, his voice a hoarse whisper. “I meant what I told Jess. You really are amazing. I don’t deserve you.”
“Yes, you do,” I whispered, my heart climbing into my throat. “You are the most incredible man I’ve ever known, Kai.”
A flicker of a smile tugged at his mouth. “Yeah? What’s so incredible about me?”
“You put your heart into everything you do,” I told him, my chest tightening with each word. “You’re fiercely loyal. You’re kind. And…” Heat rushed up my neck. “…you’re the best kisser.”
That earned me a slow grin. “You know where I want to kiss you right now?”
I laughed, breathless. “Nuh uh. Not yet.”
His brows lifted in mock challenge. “Not yet?”
“Mm-mm.” I skimmed my fingers down his chest, tracing the hard lines through his shirt, then lower, over the flat plane of his stomach. The heat of him pressed against my palm through his khaki pants, thick and straining. My breath caught at the feel of him, at how much he wanted me.
Kai groaned, low and rough, when I squeezed lightly. “Jas…”
I looked up at him as I tugged at his zipper, wanting him to see the choice in my eyes. The metal teeth parted with a soft rasp, and then he was in my hand—hot, heavy, pulsing against my skin.
I kissed the trail down his stomach, my lips brushing over him before I took him into my mouth. The salt and heat of him filled me, his thighs tensing on either side of me, one hand braced on the dresser, the other sliding deep into my hair.
“Jesus Christ,” he ground out, his voice already ragged. “You’re the best I’ve ever had at this. The absolute best.”
The praise spurred me on, my scalp tingling under the drag of his fingers, my tongue stroking deeper, slower, savoring the shudder that rolled through him.
Before I could sink further, his grip in my hair tightened. Not harsh—just firm enough to make me pause. A shiver went through me. God, I liked that.
His breath hitched when he saw the heat in my eyes. “Enough,” he rasped. His chest heaved, his jaw tight like he was barely holding on.
I eased back slowly, lips glistening, my chest rising and falling. “Already?” I teased, though my pulse was still racing.
His laugh was wrecked, but his gaze steady. “If I let you keep going, I’m finished. And I’m not finished with you.”
He pulled me up, kissing me hard, pouring all that need into it. His hands roamed over me, down my back, up my sides, savoring every inch before slipping the straps of my dress from my shoulders. The fabric slid down, pooling at my feet, and his eyes devoured me.
“Slow,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I want to take my time with you.”
