Kai - Fresh out of guesses, my friend.
Leo - I almost kissed Ria
Kai - WHAT?!?!
Kai - Mate you’re progressing too quickly with the program. We’re supposed to be at lingering touches.
Kai - I’m coming over.
I’ve been a ball of energy since I bolted from Ria’s office.
I almost kissed her again.
Yes, we’re married, but we weren’t playing. It was just the two of us. But I’ve never felt a pull like that, having her in my arms, her scent engulfing me. It has never felt like that.
That real, that free.
She was vulnerable, seeking something that in that moment only I could give her, and if Grace hadn’t walked in, I would without a doubt finally know how she tastes. She wanted it too. In that moment, she had relaxed into me, releasing her tension onto me for me to bear for her, and I would have gladly taken it.
And what is completely messing with my head is the look in her eyes when we sprang apart. Deep ocean eyes swimming with lust and longing, the slight pink tinge to her cheeks, and the exaggerated rise and fall of her chest. I’ve seen that look many times, the look of want aimed at me, but never from Ria.
Was this a lapse in her judgment?
Pacing her living room, I wait for Kai to make his appearance. Ria messaged to say she was meeting with the girls after work for cocktails and final wedding planning, and thank God, because I need to talk this out with someone. And the person I would normally turn to for advice would be Hunter, and I don’t think that’s wise right now. I’m also thinking Kai wasn’t my best option either based on his text messages.
Rushing to the door when I see him climb out of an Uber, I fling it open, watching as he shakes his head when he walks up to me and pats me on the shoulder as he walks past. “I thought we planned on taking this slowly.” I silently shut the door behind him, following him through to the kitchen. “Tell Kai all about it,” he says smugly as he perches on the barstool. “You look like you’re two seconds away from a full-on meltdown or you’re going to run, and that can’t happen.”
“Why can’t I run?”
“You think Hunter would forgive you if you ran and left his sister to deal with this?” He quirks an eyebrow at me and Igroan, opening the fridge for a bottle of water. Passing one to Kai, I slump down next to him.
“I guess you’re right.”
“Oh God, that sounds good.” He moans and shivers next to me. “Say it again, baby.”
“Fuck you.” I shake my head at him, rolling my eyes.
“As gorgeous as you are, you aren’t my type. So, explain how you’ve deviated from my perfectly laid out plan and bulldozed straight into almost kissing your wife.”
“I have no idea. She was there and I was there and then...” Raking my fingers through my hair, I replay the image of Ria’s lips and how plump and fucking perfect they looked, my mind not focusing on anything else.
“Mate, you aren’t making any sense. And you’ve zoned out.” He snaps his fingers in front of my face, refocusing me. “Start from the beginning.”
“I went into her office to check on her after the news she got this morning—”
“What news?” he cuts me off.
“We found out that Ezra’s dad is Thomas’s rival and he’s bought into Peak, and the day Ezra disappeared on her was the day we think he set the wheels in motion for the takeover.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah, oh, shit. So I went to make sure she was okay, and she was playing it down but I could tell she was panicking. She has these tells. My body was on autopilot, and I couldn’t stand to see her so vulnerable, so I tried to comfort her. It’s something I’ve done countless times, but she curled into me. My stupid heart didn’t know what had happened and was beating out of my chest. Her lips were mere inches from mine. I could feel her breath on my skin and I was desperate for her, but then Grace walked in.”
“Grace nearly witnessed your first kiss.” His face crumples with disgust. “If anyone should see your first kiss, it should be me.”
“You seriously are a strange man.”
Shrugging, he grins and uncaps his water. “As the puppet master of this little scenario, I should see the results.”
