Page 51 of When Sinners Dare

“No problem. Catch up tomorrow.”

“For sure. Good job tonight.” I wink at her and turn to leave with Kai. We pass security and use the stairs, heading for the back where I’d parked earlier this evening.

“Your bike?” I ask.

“Not here. Nice car.”

I run my hand over my baby. “She’s pretty, right.”

“Well, I wouldn’t use those words.”

“Get in.”

Considering how late it is, the workout Kai put me through, plus the rest of the excitement this evening, I should be dead. Instead, I feel alive for the first time in months, and the second Kai slams the door on my car, I rev the engine and listen to the V8 do its thing. The power seeps through every fibre of me and vibrates in my hand as I grip the wheel.

I pull out and ease into the traffic-free streets to head for home. He doesn’t fill the quiet with words, and I enjoy the near silence after so much going on tonight. The drive is easy, being so late, and we pull up to the gated entry. I glance at him as we wait to drive through, but he doesn’t say anything, so I coast the car up the drive to my usual parking spot outside the steps of the house.

“We can save the tour for tomorrow,” I say as we get out, and he follows me up to the porch. “Do you have to be at work tomorrow?”

“Not until later in the day.”

“Great.” I pull him through the hallway and up the stairs to my rooms. There’s a giddiness inside of me, maybe a nervous excitement. I’ve never had a guy back here before. The only one who came close was Antony, so it’s a big fucking deal for Kai to be here. It’s even better because there’s nobody to answer to. At least not tonight.

We make it to the bedroom before I turn and wrap my arms around his neck. “So, round two?”

Both his hands land on my ass, and he hitches me up to him and starts walking. “Fuck, yes.”

~

It’s late when I finally stir. I can tell because the sun has already stopped streaming in my window. Kai’s still sleeping or at least pretending. I stare at him for a moment to see if he opens his eyes.

Yesterday was a big day. A great day and he was a part of making it such, but in the harsh reality of ‘the morning after’, there are some questions to iron out. I don’t want to feel like I did when he brushed me off after the overnight trip. I’m not that kind of girl and will never accept that. So, if that’s what he thinks this is – a hook-up when he feels like it – then I’ll cut to the chase.

“Kai?” I whisper. There's no visible sign of him stirring. “Kai.” Louder this time.

“Yeah, I heard you,” he murmurs, his voice thick with sleep.

“Breakfast? Or is it closer to lunch?”

“Whatever you’re having is good.”

“Coffee?”

“Please.”

“You can grab a shower, and I’ll get breakfast sorted.”

Climbing out of bed, I pull on a satin robe hanging on the back of my dressing room door and leave to head downstairs. There was a time when I couldn’t reach the bottom before I’d run into one of Mother’s servants. Most have gone now, but there are still a few to run the place.

“Marci?” I call, hoping she’s nearby.

I wait at the doors to the kitchen. I’ve not been back inside since they removed her body. There’s been no need, and I’m far from ready to face my memories in the same place as it happened.

Marci comes out of the doors in front of me. “Great, there you are. Can we get something for brunch and coffee? Outside, by the pool?”

She nods and turns away.

The shower’s running when I make it back upstairs, so I pull out a bathing suit and put it on before slipping back into the robe.

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