Page 93 of The Devil's Chaos

We lay there for a long moment, our chests heaving as we struggled to catch our breath. Kai pressed a tender kiss to mysweat-dampened brow, his fingertips tracing idle patterns on my skin as he softened inside me.

“That was…” he trailed off.

“Incredible,” I finished for him, my lips curving into a satisfied smile. “Earth-shattering. Life-altering.”

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest and into mine. “All of the above.”

I propped myself up on one elbow. “I’m starving.”

He grinned at me with a twinkling mischief in his eyes. “Worked up an appetite, did you?”

I playfully swatted his chest. “As if you didn’t. I seem to recall you being quite…enthusiastic.”

Rolling out of bed, I grabbed his discarded shirt from the floor and slipped it on, inhaling the scent of him that clung to the fabric. “Come on, let’s raid the fridge. I think there’s some leftover Chinese takeout from the other night.”

He followed me to the kitchen, his hands skimming my hips as I rummaged through the refrigerator. “Ah, here we go. Kung pao chicken and fried rice. A feast fit for royalty.”

We settled onto the breakfast nook table, our bare legs intertwined as we devoured cold leftovers straight from the containers. Between bites, we traded lazy kisses and savored the mix of spices on each other’s tongues.

“You know,” he said, setting aside his empty carton. “I could get used to this. Mind-blowing sex followed by early morning snacks with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest at his words. “Careful, mister. Keep talking like that, and I might just keep you around.”

He pulled me closer, his fingers toying with the hem of my shirt. “Is that a promise?”

“That depends,” I teased as my fingers danced across his bare chest. “Think you can handle being kept around by the likes of me?”

“Oh, I’m up for the challenge,” he murmured, his lips grazing my earlobe. “In fact, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than be kept by you.”

The door to the kitchen flew open, and Archer stepped inside, followed by Mila. I hadn’t had a chance to speak to either of them since that night at the compound, and I’ll admit, I was suddenly overwhelmed with nerves.

I quickly pulled away from the intimate embrace, tugging at the hem of the shirt in a futile attempt to maintain some modesty. Heat crept up my neck as Archer's gaze swept over us, taking in our state of undress and the remnants of our impromptu meal scattered across the table. Mila, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.

“Well, well, well,” Archer drawled, crossing his arms over his chest. “Looks like you two have been busy.

Mila elbowed him in the ribs as her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Leave them be, Archer. They deserve a little happiness after everything they’ve been through.”

I cleared my throat, desperately trying to regain some composure. “We were just…grabbing a bite to eat,” I said.

“I can see that,” Archer chuckled, gesturing to the empty takeout containers. “Though it seems you worked up quite an appetite in the process.”

Kai slung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “What can I say? She brings out the best in me in more ways than one.”

Mila’s smile softened as she looked between us. “I’m really glad you’re okay, Haven. After you were shot, I hoped you would survive so I could thank you for what you did for me. Youbrought me back to Archer, and I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”

I felt a lump form in my throat at her heartfelt words. I hadn’t realized I had pressed my hand against the spot where I was shot, now just an angry red scar. Kai must have seen it because he intertwined his fingers with mine and squeezed my hand reassuringly.

“You don’t owe me anything. I’m just happy to be alive and free of my brother.”

“Speaking of your brother, I need to have a conversation with Kai if that’s okay,” Archer cleared his throat, his expression turning serious.

Kai tensed beside me, his grip on my hand tightening. “What’s going on?”

Mila sighed, her earlier levity fading. “I’ll stay with Haven, Kai.”

Kai hesitated, his eyes searching mine as he made sure I was okay with him leaving. I gave him a small nod, silently communicating that it would be okay. He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead before he reluctantly followed Archer out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with Mila. She settled into a spot a few feet away, and an awkward silence stretched between us. I fidgeted with the hem of Kai’s shirt, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable. Mila, sensing my discomfort, offered me a gentle smile.

“Why don’t you go get dressed? I’ll clean up here and make us some coffee. I have a feeling we’re going to need it.”

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