Page 93 of Tamed (The Courtside King Duology 1)

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Kai sighed as he glanced at his phone. 8:47 PM. Scott had invited him to go to an exhibit tonight; Max, an art instructor at George Mason, was hosting a show for his students at the local art gallery. It must’ve been important to Max, because it’d definitely seemed important to Scott. As Max’s best friend, Scott wholeheartedly supported him in virtually everything he did.

Kai slid his phone into his slacks’ back pocket, then shouldered on his slate blue, silk Armani button-up. In truth, he wasn’t all that excited to go. Was once again just doing it as a favor to Scott.

Leaving his hair down, he crossed his apartment, recollecting how his most recent favor to Scott had gone; Max had stopped Kai’s little meet-and-greet with Sean which, in turn, put him back in the kitchen nursing beers with none other than Breck.

Grabbing his key fob, he slid on his casual dress shoes, then exited his flat and descended the stairwell to his garage. Their following encounter had been an entirely different ballgame, with Breck paying him a visit, wasted as hell and completely pissed. Allegedly, Kai had derailed his game, but the real reason for Breck’s anger had been raging just beneath the surface. He was furious that Kai had that power, that effect. Breck didn’t want to want him, but he did. And Kai could totally relate. He didn’t want to be attracted to Breck, either, but he was. Even after he’d punched him. So what did that make Kai? Insane? Thing was, he understood Breck’s frustration, and in all honesty, regretted his role in Breck’s distress that night. Had he known the disturbance he’d cause, he never would’ve gone to that game.

Hitting the vestibule, he ducked into his garage, then strode to his Camaro and pulled open the driver-side door. The scent of leather instantly greeted him. He drew in a lungful, then dropped into his seat and fired up the engine.

In hindsight, he should’ve responded to Breck’s aggression differently. Showing some remorse wouldn’t have killed him, as he did feel bad. And goading Breck with that dick comment clearly wasn’t so great. Breck’s words, though. His fiery anger. They’d stung more than Kai had anticipated, and before he knew it, he was back on the defense. A state he didn’t typically reside in. And yet, where Breck was concerned, it seemed his brand-new MO.

Behaving out of character and acting recklessly.

Like that slap, for example. Definitely not smart. He’d known it wouldn’t just stun Breck, but redirect all that heady aggression. A stupid move, given the circumstances, he’d admit that. But in the heat of passion, he’d just… well, he’d just reacted. Triggered by the emotional engagement, then completely pulled from his calm by the ensuing altercation, his mind careening back to that day when they’d grappled on the mats. When, for whatever reason, he and Breck had allowed themselves to get lost in each other.

He’d wanted that connection, not the current one, yet hadn’t even considered that he might actually get it.

Kai adjusted himself at the memory of Breck’s heated reaction. He’d wanted that senior more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. To feel his lips, his heat, the weight of his body. God knew, Kai didn’t mind aggression. More often than not, he found it hot. But it’d been wrong. The timing, the anger, the hostility. Not to mention the fact that Breck had been totally trashed.

Sighing, Kai peered over his shoulder, backed out of his garage, then exited his building’s back parking lot and turned onto Brenswick. It’d been a month since their falling-out. True to his word, he never went to another game. Which was for the best. Staying away from Breck was wise. The chemistry they created together was just too combustible. Too strong.

Still, sometimes he couldn’t help wondering if things could’ve ended up differently between them.

Kai arrived at the gallery and found a parking spot around back, then climbed from his car and made his way to the entrance. The building’s front was made entirely of glass, the grand foyer’s lights emanating onto the sidewalk and busy street. He stepped inside and glanced around. Lofty ceilings. Wide-open center. He lifted a brow. The place was nice… and seriously packed.

A waiter swooped over with a champagne tray and handed him a flute.

“Thank you.”

The young man grinned, “Enjoy the show,” then hurried off.

Kai smiled and brought the glass to his lips. Looked like it was time to check out some college kids’ art. If Scott was there, he’d bump into him eventually.

He sauntered straight ahead into the gallery’s main hall. Smack-dab in the center was a huge marble structure. All around it, carved platforms draped with satin displayed twelve-inch sculptures. And there were tons of them, made of dark, glossy bronze. All portraying the same man in the exact same pose. Except for one, situated in the center, he noticed. That sculpture was unique unto all the rest. The same young man, yet in a different position. A man who, incidentally, looked extremely familiar.

Kai moved in for a closer look, then smiled in recognition. These were sculptures of Sean. Wow. Max’s students were talented, their attention to detail off the charts. And yet, only one captured Sean’s likeness to pure perfection. That statue in the middle. Without question, it was the centerpiece. Its handiwork unlike anything he’d ever seen.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” A gentle voice said to his right.

Kai turned to the lady who’d come to a stop by his side. She was staring at the very same statue. “Yes,” he answered honestly. “The likeness is remarkable.”

Her brows raised a little, her eyes still glued on the piece. “You know the model?”

“Somewhat, yes.”

“And he looks like this?”

“Exactly like this.”

Her expression turned wistful. “He seems like such a lovely boy.”

“He is.” Kai suddenly wondered how Sean was doing. If he and Max had ever managed to work things out.

The woman smiled and turned to face him. “I’m Mika. Max Kelley’s mother. Maybe you know him? The art professor who set this whole thing up?”

Kai’s brows hiked. This was Max’s mom? He took her in for a second time. Long dark hair, chestnut eyes, tan skin accentuated by that ankle-length turquoise dress. She was pretty, he had to admit. And yeah, now that he looked at her, he could definitely see—and sense—the similarities. Max had her eyes, though his were green. And the very same coloring, though his hair had hints of red. But Max also held the same strong air; the grit of a warrior.

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