Page 64 of Ink & Stardust

“Yes, she absolutely does,” Charlotte answers for me.

“You’re sure?” I ask her before my eyes swing to Maisie.

“Yes, go,” Maisie reassures. “The two of us, who aren’t getting laid, are going to stay here and get drunk.”

Kai stands. “Be safe. And take an Uber home. You shouldn’t be out walking around by yourselves.”

“Yes, dad.” Maisie rolls her eyes. “I bet he’s a hell of a lot more fun with you,” she tells me.

I open my mouth to agree but snap it closed, figuring now is maybe not the best time to voice just howfunhe is when he’s with me... naked, of course.

“Ready?” He extends his hand to me and I take it, allowing him to pull me to my feet.

I throw Maisie another look, and despite her shit mood earlier, she smiles widely at me, almost as if to saygo get him, girl.

“I’ll see you back at the room later?” I confirm.

“Tomorrow,” Kai corrects, pulling me into his side. “Because she’s actually going to stay this time,” he murmurs so only I can hear.

I do have a habit of sneaking out after he falls asleep. Then again, he’s never given me any real indication that he wants me to stay, either. Well, until now, that is.

“See you tomorrow.” Charlotte waves her fingers at me, a smirk the size of Texas taking over her face.

I roll my eyes, allowing Kai to lead me away without another word.

“You could have textedme,” I tell him once outside.

“Maybe I wanted to surprise you.” His lips find the side of my head.

“Not tired of me yet, I see.”

“Oh, Converse.” He tsks, his dark eyes finding mine. “I’m only just getting started.”

I wake with a start to a strange sound, blinking up at the ceiling as I try to bring my eyes into focus, when I hear it again, an almost whimper.

I turn my head, finding Kai’s silhouette illuminated by the dim light that spills in from the hallway, just as the noise reaches my ears a second time. Wait, is that... I arch up on my elbow to get a better look at him but regret it immediately when he thrashes, nearly elbowing me right in the face. Thank God I’m able to move just in time to avoid the collision.

“Help me!” His voice tears through the silence. “Help me!” There’s so much emotion in his voice, raw and vulnerable, that I immediately move to wake him.

“Kai.” I’m barely able to nudge him when he thrashes again. “Kai,” I repeat more forcefully as I scramble upright in bed. “You’re having a nightmare.”

He continues to groan and thrash like he’s in...pain.

“Wake up.” I roll to my knees, bracing his shoulders. “Kai, wake up.” I jostle him. “Wake up,” I repeat, shaking him more violently.

His eyes dart open abruptly, finding mine in an instant.

“You’re okay,” I tell him, pushing his hair, damp with sweat, away from his forehead, not missing the way his chest rises and falls rapidly as he tries to find his breath. “You were having a bad dream.”

His hand closes around my wrist, his eyes searching my face wildly like he’s having trouble disconnecting from the nightmare. I recognize this because it’s happened to me more times than I care to admit. Waking to the sounds of my own screams but unable to trust if the nightmare is really over.

“You’re okay.” I rest my free hand on his chest, my stomach hollowing at the feeling of his heart beating so hard I can feel the vibration of his ribcage. “Kai.” I say his name almost like a question.

“I can’t...” He struggles to pull air into his lungs, releasing my wrist.

My God, is he...

“Look at me.” My hands find his face, sliding up to cup his cheeks, much like the way he did me that night, the night when he talked me off the ledge I was teetering on. “Just breathe.” I pull in air through my nose and then slowly blow it out through my mouth, repeating the motion a second time. “Breathe with me.”

---