Page 11 of Kai
Just looking at him made her shiver. Kai Tanaka was a gorgeous man; his body lean and muscular. A body she enjoyed immensely. She knew what was beneath the tailored navy trousers. The powerful thighs with their sculpted muscles, what was between those thighs – the rippling muscles of his chest, the hairs dusting the golden skin. And the clever mouth. The man knew how to give pleasure while holding himself back. She wanted to be the one to make him lose control and so far had not been able to accomplish that task.
It annoyed her enough to want to try each time. And have her wondering if that woman at the store had managed to do so. She had seen the look sizzling between them, something that had the fear touching her. He had not been the same since that encounter.
He had ended the call and was coming back to the table when his phone went off again.
Pausing, he answered the call, his face expressionless.
"Mother." Turning his back on her, he walked over to the sofa and sat. Straining her ears to listen, she just made out a few sentences. She had met his mother a few times and thought the woman was as cold as ice. They had not warmed to each other and Marie wondered if she should try and get in the woman's good graces. Rumor had it that Kai and his mother were close. Deciding it could not hurt, she settled back to enjoy the wine.
Finishing up the call, Kai decided that it was time to bring the night to a conclusion.
Kai signaled for the waiter as he returned to the table, his movements precise and fluid, exuding an air of practiced control. Marie watched him closely, her thoughts a tangled web of curiosity and frustration. The evening had been a game of unspoken words and subtle exchanges, neither of them daring to breach the barriers that kept their emotions sealed away.
"Shall we?" Kai said, his tone polite yet distant, as the waiter approached with the bill. Marie nodded, the taste of the wine now lingering bittersweet on her tongue. As they stepped out into the cool night air, the city lights shimmered like scattered diamonds, casting a glow that softened Kai's sharp features.
Walking beside him, she was acutely aware of the space between them—a distance that had grown not just physically but emotionally over the last few weeks. She thought of the woman at the store again, the mystery surrounding their brief connection gnawed at her, an itch she couldn't ignore.
Kai's phone rang once more. He stopped abruptly, his brow furrowing as he glanced at the screen.
"It's work," he muttered, his voice clipped. Without waiting for her response, he stepped away to answer the call, disappearing into the shadows of the buildings towering around them.
Marie lingered by the car, her arms folded tightly against herself. For the first time, she felt the sharp edge of loneliness creep in—an edge she had been trying to dull with her persistence and charm. She had always managed to keep Kai's attention, to hold him in her orbit. But lately, the pull seemed weaker, the connection frayed.
When he returned, a hint of weariness mixed with resolve radiated from him.
"Another delay," he said tersely, opening the passenger door for her to slide in. His face revealed nothing, as always, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something—an emotion too fleeting to decipher.
As the car sped through the streets, the silence between them grew heavier. Marie stole a glance at him, his profile illuminated by the passing streetlights. Tonight, the barriers seemed higher than ever, yet her determination burned stronger. If Kai Tanaka was a fortress, then she would find the secret passage in. She had to.
He left her at the door with a chaste kiss that told her more than she wanted to know. The relationship was dying a slow death. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she vowed to put up a fight. She had too much at stake to allow him to dump her. Mr. Kai Tanaka was going to discover that she was not easy to get rid of.
She had to admit that she enjoyed herself. He had taken her to a calypso restaurant a few miles away where they were served drinks in bamboo containers and heaped with rum and pineapple, sweet and potent enough to have her senses swimming.
"Why do I get the feeling you're trying to get me drunk?" She had to lean forward on the table to make herself heard. The noise level was incredible but added to the ambiance of the place. The meal was excellent. Coconut chicken (Who would have thought!). And fresh vegetables with a sauce so delicious and spicy, it had her reaching for her drink.
"Am I that transparent?" he asked with a grin. He felt proud and several inches taller than his original height to be seen with a woman like her. As soon as they stepped into the building, heads had turned to watch her. The bold red and blue dress with the fussy neckline and belted waist was one of her own designs and suited her to perfection. She was stunning. He had told her so repeatedly and he had a feeling she was laughing at him.
He had no idea where this was going, but just to sit here with her on an actual date was enough for now.
He liked her. She was unaffected and far from being haughty. A woman with her looks and background should have been. But she was charming and witty and completely unaware of how beautiful she was. She wore her confidence the way she wore her lovely clothes – with careless grace.
"I would have you know that I have quite the head for alcohol. But this rum–" She lifted her large cup and shook the ice. "I have never had anything like it before." She told him, eyes dancing. She had had her misgivings about coming, but she liked him.
And she was determined to search for more. Not every relationship had to have sparks and flames. Besides, those two combinations either scorched or incinerated you.
Chapter 4
Sundays were sacrosanct or at least her routine was. It was the one day she had to unwind and relax -- which meant no work at all, except dealing with her gardening. She would attend early morning services at the local Baptist church to refuel her spirituality. She had been going to the chapel ever since she moved into the neighborhood and had invited Yvette once or twice.
Her friend was not exactly religious and would accompany her under duress. Maxie had learned the error of her ways when her friend would sit on the padded seat and criticize everything, from the way the members were dressed down to the faded runner in the middle of the aisle. And then she would tackle the sermon, declaring that the pastor was bigoted and narrow-minded.
So, she was enjoying her Sundays alone, something she much preferred. It was much too cold to do any kind of gardening, and the weather forecast predicted rain. After taking Brutus out for his usual run which had taken twenty minutes, she fed the dog and went upstairs to indulge in a long hot shower.
Deciding on a tropical theme -- it might be because of the restaurant she had been to last night, she suspected. Diggingaround for the mango and coconut blend she had bought a few months ago, she poured liberally, stepping into the foaming water and sighing as it swirled around her, seeping into her skin. Leaning her head against the padding, she allowed her mind to drift.
The date had not been so bad. Matthew was witty and sweet. He had taken her home and simply kissed her hand, which she considered kind of old-fashioned. He had not pressed her to come inside. She had been grateful for the fact that she did not have to disappoint him. He had, however, requested a second date. And she had said yes.
Picking up her glass, she took a sip of the chilled Chardonnay thoughtfully. There was no flame, no heat, no lightning from the sky with him. She had been comfortable -- kind of like putting on a pair of old shoes. But that's fine, she thought firmly. It's okay that she had never felt anything like that since...
