Page 61 of Papers Don't Lie

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Esmeray brought a smile to your face,” he says, and I ignore him as I open the envelope.

I always win.

THIRTY-FOUR

ESMERAY

When I hear his steps getting closer, I sneak under the covers and take Purple with me, but he refuses to stay in one place. I put my hand on his head, keeping him steady.

“If you want to sleep here and not there,” I say, pointing at the floor, “you have to do as I say.” His eyes follow every move on my lips, and when I hear Kai’s hand on the doorknob, I throw myself on my back, my head landing on my pillow as Purple curls around me.

Good boy.

The door squeaks open, then closes, his feet walking on the carpet and most likely to the closet. I peel my eyes open, winking at Purple before going back to my fake sleep so Kai won’t catch me.

A few minutes later, he enters the bed with so much carefulness I almost miss it, his voice filling the silence.

“Don’t get used to it,” he says, and I figure it’s meant to be a threat for Purple. I drag him closer to my chest, mumbling under my breath like I’m really sleeping.

I hear Kai switching the lights off, and a victorious smile breaks free on my face when I realize he isn’t going to make Purple sleep on the floor. Esmeray: one, Kai: zero. Got ya.

When he sighs, dropping his whole weight on the bed, I forget about my supposed victory and open my eyes. Kai has a hand in his hair, his position similar to a stone.

“Is everything okay?” I whisper.

Kai’s head turns to me, his pupils dilating in surprise at the sound of my voice. “Yes. Go to sleep.”

I tilt my head to the side, throwing him a look. “It doesn’t look like you are.”

He cocks a brow at me. “Are you saying I don’t look good?”

“What?” I ask, puffing out my breath. “No, I didn’t say that. You surely have something on your mind. I can hear your wheels turning from here.”

“I’ll oil my wheels if it bothers you that much. Now go to sleep,” Kai tells me but still doesn’t get in a sleeping position.

Doesn’t he know that I don’t do what I’m supposed to do?

He was there to lift me up from the ground when times were tough. I’m not going to sleep like I don’t have any care in the world when he’s in a state like this.

“Want to talk about it?” I push.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

Purple sneaks away from under my arms, jumping over me until he reaches Kai’s chest. He swipes his tongue across his face, earning a low smile from him. “Your mouth smells awful,” Kai complains, trying to push him away, but Purple insists on getting as close as possible to his face.

“Do you want a hug?” I ask and open my arms with my eyebrows raised.

Kai pats Purple on his head and moves him on his side before glancing at me. “I’m not a hugger.”

I can’t help but laugh. “That’s because you don’t know my hugs.”

He’s silent for a second, his eyes locked up on my lips as he traces his tongue on his own. I swallow, the tension in the roompalpable. “I’m not a hugger, Ray. A kiss would definitely get me out of this bad mood."

My breath gets caught in my throat, and my lips part open as his words settle in. This is the first time Kai has taken a step toward me. Sure, he's complimented me and all, but he's never suggested any kind of action that would involve touching me. He’s always been respectful with the way he touches me, no matter if we are in public or not, and it’s an understatement to say his words surprise me.

“It’s not a demand. Stop overthinking. It’ll happen only if you want to,” he adds after squinting his eyes at me, his brows lowered.

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