Page 178 of Something So Strong

“You’re late.” I grab his bag and hang it on one of the many hooks by the door.

“No shit,” he responds blankly, shrugging off his formal coat and hanging it next to his bag. “Why the hell did I take this job?”

“Because it’s five blocks away and you’re helping kids.” I remind him as I hold out the black oversized Vetements bomber I bought him for his birthday.

“She can wait.” He pushes the jacket aside and kisses me firmly on the lips. “And they aren’t kids. They’re monsters,” he doubles down, brushing his shoulder against mine as he walks past.

“Where are you going?”

“To take a piss. Jesus! Is it a crime to wanna use my own toilet?”

“Just hurry that fine ass along, would ya?” I cave in for the millionth time to the shape his suit trousers take as they hug his backside.

“And I’m changing into jeans if you want me to wear that jacket.”

“Mine or yours?” I call up the stairs to him.

“Is there a difference?”

No, there’s not. Our walk-in closet is a free-for-all. A, whoever gets to it first, of whatever has arrived fresh from the dry cleaners.

Hearing our ensuite open, I check my hair again in front of the hall mirror. It’s still fine, but I re-tuck the shorter pieces behind my ear and tap over the low bun at the back to ensure it’s still intact. It’s not as messy as Kai likes it, but having grown as long as it has, it’s much harder to make it look like I haven’t tried.

My eyes wander to Kai’s school issued work bag. They’re bespoke, Taylor Yeats satchels and pompous as fuck. And it entertains me no end how much he hates having to use it. Especially with the school’s emblem embroidered onto the side of the brown leather.

He does love the job though, but won’t admit it was me who bribed him to apply for it. Playing counselor to the offspring of dignitaries and moguls, who really are more beast than human, was too much for the guy he replaced. But the little shits didn’t bet on the likes of Kai Tremblay and his, I give so many fewer fucks than you think I do, approach.

He is helping, though; I swear. He just doesn’t give in to them as easily as everyone else in their life does.

“God, you’re antsy.” Kai shakes his head as he hops down the stairs. “Where are we meeting her?”

I hold out his jacket again. “The Wash.”

“You know me too well,” he grins, spinning around and holding his hands back for me to pull the jacket up his arms, then smooth out the fabric and drink in how it hangs on his broad shoulders. “Quit perving,” he smirks back at me and my heart flips just like it had the first night I met him when he stared me down with intentions I was yet to comprehend.

“Can’t. Sorry.” I take down my Burberry scarf, but he holds up his hand.

“It doesn’t go with the jacket.”

“Just put the bastard on, Kai.”

“Is someone feeling insecure?”

“Not at all,” I clap back a little too quickly. “But you need to keep warm.”

Poking the tip of his tongue into the corner of his mouth, he flashes a cheeky half-smirk and wraps his arms beneath my coat to pick me up. “I’ve got you to keep me warm.”

“It’s February in London.” I deadpan, but he nudges my chin with his nose and presses light kisses against my sweet spot. Right in the crook of my neck. Right where he knows I’ll always melt. “We’re already late,” my voice almost moans out, and my hand moves to his neck reflexively.

“Better get going then.” Kai drops me to the floor—cutting any further advance, spins me towards the door, and leans his chin forward on my shoulder which I know by now is just an excuse to grind his dick against my ass. “Cause if we don’t, I’m gonna take you right here.”

My dick twitches in my jeans like it always does when his breath hits my ear, and I take a deep, shaky breath in.

Perhaps we should just stay in. Perhaps this whole hairbrained scheme will backfire and I’ll be the one left looking like a twat because it was me who contacted her back and set a time to meet.

“Come on, Babe.” Kai’s voice dances around the entryway like a rope tying me to our perfect little home. “It’s rude to keep people waiting.”

Exhaling, I nod.

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