Page 42 of Kai
Her smile was tremulous. "I was going to say, I miss you too and would love to see your place."
His eyes glittered and before she had time to say anything more, he crushed his mouth to hers.
"Let's go." His voice was unsteady--his breathing shallow. "I want you in my bed."
She had seen a photo layout of his loft in 'Home and Gardens' a few years ago when they were interviewing the up and coming young and handsome executive who had taken over from his father. She had reluctantly admired the classic lines and symmetry of the place.
As they stepped into his loft, she was struck by how much more breathtaking it was in person. The photographs had barely done it justice. Moonlight streamed through massive windows, casting long shadows over polished wooden floors. The openspace was elegant yet inviting, a masterful blend of modern design and warm, earthy tones. Shelves lined with books and artifacts hinted at his travels, while a sleek piano stood in one corner, its presence a quiet testament to his hidden passions.
Kai watched her as she took it all in, his expression unreadable but his posture tense, as though he feared she might find fault with the space that bore his imprint. She turned to him, her gaze softening. "It's beautiful," she said simply, and the sincerity in her voice made his shoulders relax.
He reached for her hand, guiding her further inside. "I wanted you to see this place because it's the closest thing I have to a part of me," he admitted. "You're free to make any changes you deem necessary."
She swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling in her chest. It wasn't just a place he was offering her; it was a piece of his soul. The realization was both overwhelming and comforting, like stepping into a world she hadn't known she needed.
"Kai--"
"I know." Taking her hand, he linked their fingers. "And I will not apologize for doing so."
Kai stopped by the kitchen, its counters gleaming under the soft light. "Hungry?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes still searching hers for some unspoken reassurance. "Or would you rather sit for a while?"
She shook her head, a smile forming at the corner of her lips. "Not hungry," she said softly, stepping closer until there was barely any space between them. "I think I'd rather... stay right here."
His arms wrapped around her without hesitation, pulling her into the warmth of his embrace. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to lean into him completely, her walls crumbling under the quiet promise of his presence.
"The view is spectacular," she murmured, leaning against him, eyes dazzled by the brilliant lights of the city. "Close enough to the town, but far away enough to lend an air of privacy."
He could not believe how comfortable he felt with her in his arms. "Within close reach to everything important. The theaters, museum and some of my favorite restaurants. You smell good enough to eat." He sniffed her neck. "What're you wearing?"
She struggled to remember. "I experiment with scents. I think it's called Seductive."
"It's living up to its name," he murmured. He wanted to take a huge bite out of her and devour.
"Kai--" his name was a sigh on her lips as he trailed fiery kisses down her neck.
The sigh became a gasp when he swept her into his arms and up the stairs.
It was several minutes later when she got a chance to look at her surroundings. The trip upstairs had been a blur of battered senses, with her clinging to him as he kissed her until she was swimming in sensations. He had undressed her hurriedly andthen himself before sliding into a bed big enough to hold a dozen people comfortably and destroyed what was left of her sanity.
Now climbing down from the incredible high, her body cushioned against his lean frame, she opened her eyes to take in the smoke blue décor.
The bedroom was sprawling, with honey gold paneled wood, a soaring ceiling with treated glass that filtered in the light from the moon. She knew vaguely from the strike of his footsteps when they stepped inside, that it was a board floor.
She liked the space and the exquisite décor and the fact that he could so unnerve her, she had not noticed where she was.
She pressed her fingers lightly against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, each beat syncing with her own. The intimacy of the moment wrapped around her like a velvet cloak, and for the first time in years, she felt unmoored, liberated from the weight of the past.
Kai's hand brushed against her cheek, his thumb tracing the edge of her jaw with a tenderness that belied the passion they had just shared. "What are you thinking?" he asked, his voice a low murmur that sent shivers down her spine.
She hesitated, her lips curving into a faint smile. "I was just wondering how someone manages to have a bed big enough for an entire village and yet makes it feel like the smallest, most private corner of the world."
He chuckled, a deep, rich sound that warmed her from the inside out. "It's not the bed," he replied, his fingers trailing lazily down her arm. "It's the company."
Her laugh was soft, a melodic hum in the quiet room. "You have an answer for everything, don't you?"
"Not everything," he admitted, his gaze locking with hers, a quiet intensity simmering beneath the surface. "You, for instance, are a puzzle I haven't quite figured out yet."
She raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "A puzzle? That sounds ominous."
