Page 119 of Revenge

Kai remained where he was, his hand lifting to pluck the sunglasses from his face.

As those dark eyes, locked onto mine, his mouth curved into a soft smile, his eyes creasing.

Pulling his gaze away, he nodded towards the staff huddled at the front of the plane. Kai may look ruffled and less of his pristine self, but he still oozed authority, his presencesuckingall the air from the craft.

I resisted the sudden urge to fling myself at him.

Instead, I walked forward. As I got closer to him, the emotion in his expression was hard to read; relief, regret, hope and tenderness. They wrapped around me like a vice, pulling me towards him like a magnet to metal.

“Kai,” I whispered.

His smile widened as I spoke his name and he turned to the cabin crew, “Thank you, Captain Matthew’s, First Officer Shaw, Tom, Lisa. If you could leave us, please.”

They all glanced between us before moving past Kai and leaving the aircraft. This left us alone.

We both moved together. Kai’s steps were long and sure-footed, mine were shaky and flustered.

“Ava,” he husked, raising his arms, reaching out as Ithrewmyself into his arms, raining kisses on his face.

His strong arms enveloped me in his embrace, lifting me into the air as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

Our bodies mushed together, hard against soft, like we were one entity.

The level of joy I felt was off the chart.

Lifting my head, I panted, “What are you doing here?” Kai hugged me against his chest.

“You’re a bright girl, I would have thought that was obvious. I’m here to rectify the colossal mistake I made.”

“Mistake?”

“Yes. Letting you go.”

After squeezing me tightly, he let me slide to my feet, my hands dropping from his hair to his shoulders.

Kai then cupped my face in his hands.

“I’m sorry, Ava. I was afuckingfool. I couldn’t, Ican’tlet you go. I need you in my life. I lied; I didn’t mean what I said. Please forgive me.”

Before I could answer, he then took my mouth. His kiss was firm and demanding, his tongue stroking against my lips, begging for entry and I opened myself up to him; just like I had my heart the night before.

His hands were in my hair. All I could smell was hisintoxicatingmale scent. I rubbed myself against him. It felt like we had been apart a decade when it was only hours.

Kai drew back, looking down into my face, his hand cradling me. “Iloveyou, Ava. I think I always have. You are the only thing I haveeverloved.”

“I love you so much, Kai,” I cried, tears of joy, streaming down my face.

“Please don’t cry. I want to make you happy, but I have no idea, how to do that.”

My heart squeezed as I stared into his perfect face, “Justloveme, Kai.” That was all I needed.

Kai stroked my hair and pulled my face against his chest, whispering against the cuff of my ear, “I always have,” he told me, “And I always will.” His words resonated like a vow.

He took a deep breath as he held me tightly against him. I leaned into his strength and that raw masculinity enveloped me.

“Please forgive me. I promise I will do everything to make you happy. I love you so much. Cliched as fuck I know, but I can’t live without you. I’ve had an empty existence over the last two years, they have been the bleakest of my life. I will do whatever it takes; sell the casino, sever ties with the organisation even fuck off the Italians. Do you hear me; anything to make you happy.”

My hands were fisted in his shirt and I drew my head off his chest and stared up at him. Kai looked into my eyes with such tenderness and love. Genuine affection.

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