Page 67 of Papers Don't Lie

“What?” I ask.

“I call you Ray and my wife.”

“And your point is…?”

Kai sighs like I’m stupid for not understanding him right away. His hand curls on my skin, and he drags me even closer until I feel his cock hardening on my ass. “Will you call me Kai for the rest of your life?”

That’s something I don’t know how to react to. “Do you want me to call you my husband?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Give me an example.”

My bottom lip sneaks under my teeth as I think. “Goodnight, my husband.”

Kai shakes his head twice. “No. I don’t like it.”

I put a hand on my forehead, trying to come up with another nickname, though I’m certain he’ll forget about his wish as soon as he wakes up. At least it will make him happy now.

“Sweet cheeks,” I say, laughing through the words.

“What am I? A fucking child?” He snuggles closer into me, sighing. “How about Mr. Big?”

My smile wipes away, and I raise a brow. “Mr. Big?”

“Yeah. Try it.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Big,” I say, but I can’t shake away the laughter trembling my body. I wonder how people would react if they heard something like this.

Kai exhales deeply. “You’re not good at this.”

“Yes, you’re talking because nicknames come naturally to you—you call your sisterlittle peanut. For me it’s unusual, but I promise I’ll think about it.”

He nods in my arms, not uttering another word. I sigh, still not over the sight in his office tonight. Sure, we had fun afterward, but it doesn’t make the reality any less real.

Something is bugging Kai, and I don’t know how to fix it.

“You know that I’m here when you need me, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Good.”

We settle into a comfortable silence, and I’m almost close to falling asleep when he talks again.

“At first, I thought I cared about you because of my condition, but now I realize it’s more. You consume my entire existence, Ray.”

My body turns rigid at the murmur of words getting out of his mouth, and I turn to look at him, not being able to control the fast, hard beat of my heart. It’s mostly because of his loving confession, but also because of one specific word.

“What condition?” I ask, my breathing harsh. “Kai,” I push when he doesn’t reply, but quickly realize he’s passed out.

Goddamn it.

I drop back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling until the daylight shines through the curtains.

His condition?

THIRTY-SEVEN

KAI

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