Page 15 of Bait and Switch
“Technically, it would be the new number one since it’s a fresh count.”
“Maybe we should keep a running total,” he teased, hand sliding over my hip. “See how fast I can get you to a hundred.”
The prospect was both intriguing and exhausting. Still, his self-challenge cracked me up. “Wow, you’re really competitive, aren’t you?”
“Lil bit.” His innocent grin contrasted with the way his fingers trailed up my back, threading into my hair. “That’s not a bad thing, though. It pushes me to try harder. To do better.”
“That’s true. My sister’s like that. I don’t have it, though.”
“No? You don’t like to win?” His hand slipped lower, sliding over my stomach and between my thighs with wicked intent.
“I like winning, it’s just not a priority. Like, it’s great if it happens, but not the end of the world if it doesn’t.”
“You seemed to enjoy it last night,” he said, working his fingers into my wetness.
“Wait a minute…” I gasped, trying to clarify. “I’m talking about winning. You’re talking about orgasms. I care a lot more about orgasms than winning.”
“Orgasms are winning, don’t you think?”
“Definitely.” My sigh came out shaky as my hips tilted under his touch. Pleasure flared hot and insistent, chasing away the shadows of my nightmare, tethering me to this moment where nothing existed but this man and the way he made me feel.
Kai kissed me softly, whispering against my lips, “You deserve allll the orgasms.” His fingertips coaxed my clit while our tongues tangled in a deepening kiss.
Then a loud thud reverberated through the house. I froze, the sound a gunshot in my nerves.Every cell in my body braced, the echo collapsing into memory—zip ties, guns, voices barking threats.
I jerked away, ears straining. Another noise—the slam of a door, followed by muffled movement. My heart spiked, dragging me straight back into the nightmare. “What the fuck was that?” I whispered, propping on my elbow as if higher ground would help me hear.
“Relax,” Kai murmured, brushing my hair back. “It’s just my brother bringing the dogs home.”
“Are you sure?” My voice was thin.
“Yes, I’m sure. It was already arranged.” He kissed the tip of my nose, trying to pull me back into ease. Then he raised his voice toward the door. “Yo! I have company, so don’t come barging in.”
“Heard,” came the answer from the other room.
I sagged against the pillow, adrenaline still burning through my veins. I remembered watching Kai twist the deadbolt last night. If someone had come in, it had to be a brother with a key. Still, my chest squeezed with unease.
“Relax, beautiful. Let me take care of you.” His laugh was easy, like nothing about this was alarming. “Where were we?”
My anxiety didn’t listen to logic. It never did. It wasn’t just about his brother being in the next room. It was about the memory of being tied up on his couch at gunpoint, about knowing those men weren’t finished with us. The fear was awake now, prowling inside me. But I didn’t want to admit weakness. Not to him.If I gave voice to it, the fear would take over. Better to mask it, to turn the moment playful even as my insides twisted.
So instead, I forced a smile. “We should wait until we’re alone if you want to make progress toward your goal,” I teased, though my voice shook faintly. “I’m easily distracted.”
“Not the first time my brother has cock-blocked me,” Kai grumbled, but his grimace smoothed into a grin.
I slid out from under the sheets, scanning the room for my clothes. “You hungry? I can whip us up some breakfast.”
“You cook?” He tossed back the covers and stretched, popping to his feet with a grin. “I didn’t think you could get any sexier,” he winked, grabbing a white tank from the chair and pulling it over his head.
My clothes from last night reeked faintly of bar smoke and spilled beer. Twisting my hair into a low bun, I followed him toward the kitchen. “Do you have eggs? I make a mean omelet.”
“Yeah, just got a dozen. In the fridge.” He padded out the back door to greet the dogs, I presumed.
The refrigerator was jammed, mostly with bottles—beer, protein shakes, sports drinks. I shoved several of them aside to dig out the carton of eggs buried at the back. The cool air on my armssoothed me, at least until I closed the fridge door and nearly screamed.
Kai barreled into the kitchen out of nowhere, bounding in with wet hair and a Nirvana T-shirt. My heart slammed into my throat.
“Jesus! You scared the shit out of me,” I snapped, glare automatic.
