Page 49 of Papers Don't Lie

“Yes!” I hiss, waiting for him to go so I can dress before he tells me whatever he has to say. “So were you two minutes ago.”

“Yes, but I don’t look as good as you do in lingerie.”

I look at him over my shoulder, not believing his words. But I swallow mine the moment I see the bulge in his sleeping pants. He seems to notice where my eyes went because his spine straightens and he clears his throat, turning with his back at me.

“Tell me when you’re dressed,” he says before leaving me alone.

With a laugh, I shake my head. As heart-stopping as this was, it was surely fun.

“Are you laughing?” he asks from the next room.

From the wardrobe, I grab a T-shirt and a short pair of pants before screaming back to him, “Yes, it was funny to see you so embarrassed.”

“I’m definitely not embarrassed,” he replies.

I put my pants on, followed by my T-shirt, and walk to his door to open it, letting him in. “No?”

He bites back a smile. “No. Definitely not embarrassed.”

“Then how were you if not embarrassed?” I ask, raising a brow.

Kai hesitates, biting his bottom lip to keep words from getting out as his hands rest on my doorframe, his height towering over me. “I don’t think I should say it.”

“Say what?” I frown, not understanding.

“It’s inappropriate.”

“I have an idea of what it might be, but I won’t know for sure until you tell me.” I lift my chin and cross my arms over my chest.

His eyes burn into my skin, and I swallow the automatic dryness in my throat at the intensity of his gaze. Kai has this way of watching me, undressing every layer of skin down my body, curious about finding out more and more. It’s like he can never get enough of discovering how I am.

Well, we haven't known each other for long, so that kind of makes sense.

He leans towards me, so close that our noses touch again, just like they did downstairs mere moments ago. His breath collides with mine, and my heart beats like crazy in my chest.

“I wasn’t embarrassed. My body and eyes were enjoying the view,” he says in a deep voice, and I don’t know why, but his words make a hole in my chest instead of pleasing me.

I look away. “Your body and eyes, but not you?” I ask, not being able to stop myself.

Kai sighs, putting some distance between us and threading a hand through his hair. “I don’t think this is a conversation we should be having. We’re just getting to know each other, and if there’s anything you need to know, it's that yes, I’m very attracted to you.”

My cheeks immediately flush. I don’t know what has gotten into me, talking about things like that when we've done nothing but kiss twice, and only because we were forced to. I shake my head, taking a step back. “Sorry, it’s my fault. I was trying to follow your advice and be myself. No overthinking, you know? It seems like it’s not the best idea.” I give him a small smile, hugging my shoulders.

He steps closer. “Is there something you wanted to do and I stopped you from doing it?” Kai raises a brow at me, curiousness dancing in his eyes.

If I’m being honest with myself, he needed to stay that close for two more seconds before I kissed him. But now the spell has been broken, and I don’t want to do anything anymore besides get into bed and go to sleep without thinking about today’s events. Because it was packed as shit.

“No." I shake my head. “I just want to go to sleep. You wanted to say something?”

Kai squints his eyes at me, and before he realizes I won’t let it alone, he nods his head. “Yes, I was thinking maybe you and Lacey can go shopping tomorrow. To get to know each other.”

“Of course.” I smile, not thinking twice about the decision. Lacey is part of his family, and even if she didn’t give me much attention so far, tomorrow might change things. “I’m gonna go to sleep,” I tell him, pointing to the bed.

He nods again, and I turn without looking behind to see if he’s still in the doorframe or if he went back to his room.

TWENTY-SEVEN

ESMERAY

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