Page 37 of They Call Me Wicked

“Oh…” I pause for a beat as Kai sits up on the bed and moves behind me, his arms snaking around my waist as if we’re some kind of couple.

“Who’s Ryan?” He asks more than a little too loudly, enough so I know he meant for Ryan to hear him and I elbow him in the gut.

“Who’s that, Wicked? Is that a guy?” Ryan’s voice grows weirdly cold on the other end of the line and alarm bells start ringing in my head.

“I really don’t think that’s any of your business.” Kai nuzzles his face into my hair and my frustration climbs. This is way too much testosterone this early in the morning. “Listen, Ry. I’m not sure if we’re coming tonight or not. I’ll have to check with Nana’s home and see, alright?” I try to keep my voice sugary sweet, but even I notice the bite in my tone.

“Right.” Ryan’s voice shakes as he spits the word at me, promptly followed by the click of the line disconnecting. I’m left feeling completely off kilter by his sudden personality switch.

I know he has somewhat of a crush on me, but I never, in all the times I’ve come across him, felt like he was this…aggressive. Territorial? Whatever the word is. It makes me suddenly uneasy about everyone else I’ve ever met. I must have gotten too comfortable and stopped reading into people like I used to.

I’m clearly off my game. But that stops today.

“You alright? You look a little…pale.” Kai presses a kiss to my neck, sending shivers up my spine, but I try to shake off the sensation.

“I’m fine. What do you care anyways? It’s not like you’re my boyfriend,” I snap, pulling myself out of his hold and getting out of bed, knowing full well I’m as naked as a chicken without feathers.

My mind is running rampant with self hatred over what we did last night. Not only did I fuck the dapartment’s well-known player, despite knowing his reputation, I also did it raw. I didn’t even think to use a condom. While I knowI’mclean, and I’m safe from pregnancy, I know nothing about his status. And suddenly that’s all I can think about.

Even if it was the best sex I’ve ever had in my life…it was stupid. I was stupid.

And it can’t happen again.

Ever.

Well…maybe just-

No.

“Woah. Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” Kai’s voice is calm, but his aura flashes with hurt.

“Okay, fine.” I locate a bra and panties and slide them on before tossing on a pair of jeans and a black hoodie that says ‘I’m blind, not deaf’ with a picture of sunglasses on it. “Last night was fun-”

“Yeah, it was!” Kai shifts from the bed and his aura starts closing the gap between us, but I put my hand out in front of me and stop him in place.

“But…”

“But? I love your butt.” I hear the smile in his voice, the teasing lilt to his tone, but I straighten my shoulders and grab a pair of sunglasses at random. My shields now firmly in place.

“But that’s all it was.” My voice feels small, far too small for the room and the space I’m now placing between us. “A one time thing. You know, like a one off for just a bit of fun. This doesn’t mean I want to date you or something.”

“Who said anything about dating?” Kai’s voice hardens, taking on an edge of steel to it. “Your ego is showing, Wicked. Might want to cover that up, too.”

His aura is a vortex of hurt and anger that threatens to drag me under, but I resolve to not let it affect me. Professional colleague romances never work outside of fantasy novels, especially ones with a man like Kai Zhao. The kind who can have anyone he wants and gets bored quicker than a husky without exercise. He’ll inevitably destroy everything around him.

Plus, I have no reason to feel guilty. I know all about the kinds of send offs he’s given women the morning after. It’s one of the most popular topics of gossip in the department break room. I know all the gory details.

I’m saved from having to respond to his shitty comment by him swiftly leaving my room and I take a moment–only a short one–to feel sorry for myself. To remember the way he kissed me. The way he owned my body like he’s known it his whole life. And, ultimately, the way he held me after until I fell asleep. How safe and…notalone I felt.

But now that the moment is over, it’s time to move forward. Starting with a delicious, sugary-sweet cup of coffee.

I grab a pair of socks and my black moccasin ankle boots and slide them on my feet before pocketing my phone and card clip in one of the zipper pockets of my second favorite leather jacket–my first one lost somewhere in the house–and grabbing my cane. Making my way down the hall, I’m relieved to find no weird packages or bags to trip over.

Taking a quick stop in the bathroom to freshen myself up, and hopefully make my hair halfway decent, I beeline straight for the front door. The house is quiet and I release a soft whistle, my two adorable little trash pandas letting out squeaks of excitement as they bound down the hall towards me, happy to go off on an adventure.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I curse as the smooth accented voice of Nic surfaces from the living room.

“Out.” I start unlocking all the bolts and chains on my front door.

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