Page 92 of Spotlight Hearts

I wake up slowly, warm and heavy with sleep, Kai curled tightly against my chest. His head is tucked under my chin, one leg thrown over mine, arm draped across my stomach like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go. His breathing is deep and even, warm puffs against my collarbone.

For a second, everything feels perfect.

Then fear creeps in, quiet and insidious. What if he runs again? What if last night was just another moment of heat, and when the daylight hits, he remembers all the reasons he built those walls in the first place?

I tighten my arm around him without thinking, pulling him closer. His hair tickles my nose. He smells like sex and hotel shampoo and Kai.

The fear twists sharper.

Then Kai stirs.

He makes a soft, sleepy sound and nuzzles into my neck, pressing a lazy, open-mouthed kiss right there against my skin. Morning breath and all. It’s gross and perfect and so him that the fear scatters like dried leaves in the wind.

I huff a quiet laugh, voice still rough from sleep.

“You’re lucky I love you,” I murmur, the words slipping out before I can catch them. “Because you really need to brush your teeth, princess.”

Kai freezes against me.

Shit.

I feel the exact moment he registers what I said. His body goes still, breath catching.

I start to pull back, panic rising. “Wait—I didn’t mean—fuck, that came out wrong. I mean, I do, but I wasn’t trying to drop it like that⁠—”

Kai presses a finger to my lips, shushing me gently. His eyes are soft, still heavy with sleep, but clear.

“Don’t take it back,” he whispers.

My heart stutters.

He shifts so he’s looking at me properly, our faces inches apart on the pillow. His finger slides from my lips to trace my jaw.

“I’m falling in love with you, too,” he says. A small, flirty smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Even with the morning breath. And that nickname that might be an insult.”

I let out a shaky laugh, relief flooding through me so fast it makes me dizzy. I roll us so I’m half on top of him, pinning him to the mattress with my weight.

“Yeah?” I ask, grinning down at him. “You like being my princess boyfriend?”

Kai rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “Shut up.”

“Make me,” I challenge, lowering my head until our noses brush.

He does.

He pulls me down into a slow, deep kiss that tastes like sleep and morning breath and the two of us. It’s messy and imperfect and somehow the best kiss we’ve ever had.

When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead against his, still grinning like an idiot.

“I might need you to pinch me, so I know that this is real and you’re really my boyfriend,” I say, testing the word again. It feels good. Right.

Kai’s fingers thread through my hair, tugging lightly. “I am your boyfriend,” he echoes, voice warm. “Now go brush your teeth before I change my mind about falling in love with you.”

I laugh and kiss him again anyway.

“Not a chance. You’re not allowed to stop, princess.” I prop myself up and then shift so I can pull him up too. “And I’m pretty sure it’s your breath that stinks.”

He huffs a laugh, letting me pull him to his feet. He looks amazing in the morning light, hair messy, eyes soft, skin still flushed from sleep and last night. If we don’t make it into the bathroom to brush our teeth soon, I don’t think I’m going to care about morning breath at all.