10. The Dinner
CHAPTER TEN
THE DINNER
Sophie
I stop walking, and the equestrian supplies in my arms nearly slip out of my firm grip as my eyes take in the ‘For Rent’ sign sitting in the window. Setting the bucket of things down, I look around the quaint street corner. On one corner is an old-school newsstand, and on the other is a British pub. Directly across the street is an adorable-looking coffee shop called Perky Roasters .
“Cute, right?” a woman says, walking by in large sunglasses while she pushes a pram. “I wish someone would buy it and turn it into a bookstore. Crestwood doesn’t have one, can you believe that?”
“Unbelievable,” I mutter, waving goodbye as she walks off.
Looking back at the small corner shop for rent, my stomach bottoms out with nerves, and I can’t articulate why, exactly.
Except…
The art deco space comes to life before me. I glance into the building, noting the oak herringbone floors, white crown molding, and the large window that could be used for an amazing front display. There’s a lot of room inside—but not in an overwhelming way. I envision built-in shelves, a few tables for bookish merch, and perhaps a quiet reading chair somewhere in the back.
I could display my favorite romance books…
Or what if it was a romance bookstore?!
Grinning, I send a quick voice message to Stella Ravage, asking for her opinion. She’d recently recruited me into her romance book club, and I’d met her two sisters-in-law, Zoe and Layla, who were also in the book club.
A romance bookstore.
The idea is wild, but… I like it.
Glancing up at the window and ornate woodwork of the front of the shop, I place my hands on my hips as I brainstorm names.
Prose he knows I’m flustered, and that he’s the reason.
It’s just after five, so he must’ve come straight from Saint Helena Academy. The image of him in front of his students, offering them religious guidance while looking like this—tall, self-assured, and authoritative—flits through my mind, uninvited. I shove the thought aside, telling myself to stay focused.
“Out of sight, out of mind,” I mutter as I push open the front door, more to myself than him.
“What was that?” He arches an eyebrow, his gaze glinting with amusement as he steps inside.
“Nothing,” I mumble, motioning for him to follow me inside. Once he sets the bucket down, he straightens, his expression softening as he takes in the space, finally landing his gaze back on me.
“I had a couple of hours free and figured I could fix that garbage disposal we spoke about?” His tone is casual, almost too relaxed.
My mouth falls open slightly, caught off guard. I’d completely forgotten about the disposal—about the contractor’s mistake with the pipes. I’d mentioned it the day before the party, and he’d offered to fix it, but with everything that happened, I’d convinced myself he wouldn’t follow through.
I had it on my list to hire out, but of course life had been busy.
“Oh. Right. Of course. Come in.” I turn quickly, eager to escape the force of his gaze, but I don’t get far.
“Sophie, wait.”
I stop mid-step, turning to find him watching me with an unreadable expression, his hands resting in his trouser pockets, shoulders slightly hunched as if he’s choosing his words carefully.
“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “For what I said at the party. I know you’d never hurt Julian on purpose. I just… saw you with that other guy, and I reacted. Poorly.” His gaze is steady, and it softens as he watches me.
The memory returns, stark and stinging, the words he’d thrown at me that night.
Julian deserves better.
The words still hit their mark, even now.
“Thank you,” I say shortly, crossing my arms in front of me as if I can physically guard myself from him.
Kai’s eyes trace the movement, lingering on my folded arms before meeting my gaze again. He studies me for a few beats, as though he’s on the edge of saying something else. Then he takes a step toward me, slow and unhurried. I should move, or say something to fill the silence, but I don’t. The moment stretches, the tension between us thickening.
“It wasn’t just the kiss with the other guy,” he finally admits, his gaze fixed somewhere near his shoes. “It was… everything. Seeing you like that. Seeing Julian trust you so completely.”
My brows pull together, but I don’t interrupt. He lets out a tight breath, almost like he’s holding something back.
“I wasn’t angry because I thought you were cheating,” he continues, his voice lower now, heavier. “I think I was angry because… I wanted it to be me. And I hate that. Don’t tell Julian I said that,” he adds quickly. “Fuck, sorry. I just mean… I think I was jealous. That’s all.”
My heart skips a beat, but I say nothing, letting his confession settle like dust in the quiet entryway.
“Thank you for the apology,” I say softly. I want to examine his other words, I want to pick them apart and ask him exactly what he means when he says he’s jealous.
Jealous of Julian? Me? Or… both of us?
His eyes gleam with something mirthful as he looks down at me, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Speaking of Julian,” he says casually, breaking the tension in a way only someone in a leadership position can achieve. “How’s he doing? Besides being busy trying to take over the world?”
I let out a laugh as my arms loosen at my sides. Kai has a way of bringing Julian into the conversation that feels like there’s a hint of something else beneath it—an unspoken warmth that’s directed at him as much as it is at me.
“Honestly? He’s been swamped with work,” I say, shaking my head. “The new projects are practically taking over our weekends. I think he’s forgotten what a day off even looks like. You know how he gets when he has a new fixation.”
Kai’s mouth quirks in a smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Classic Julian.” He pauses, the corners of his mouth tugging into a soft, thoughtful grin. “And to think, the rest of us mortals struggle to keep up.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling despite myself. “Oh, please. You act like you’re any less of a workaholic.” I glance over at him, and there’s something new in his gaze—an intensity I can’t quite name.
He shrugs, the barest smirk still lingering. “What can I say? I have good taste in role models.” His voice softens just a bit, and his gaze dips, lingering on me with a warmth that’s almost… fond. His eyes roam over to the bucket of supplies for Snickers, and my Pilates outfit. “Maybe it’s contagious, spending time with the two of you.”
It’s a lighthearted statement, but I catch a faint note of wistfulness in his tone, a quiet undercurrent that he tries to mask behind a teasing smile. The admission hangs in the air between us, and my pulse quickens, surprised at how his words make me feel—something close to… curiosity.
“What?” he asks, noticing my expression. “Am I not allowed to admire my friends?”
The glint in his eye is mischievous, but his voice is sincere, the words slipping out as easily as his smile.
“How is it that you somehow know how to flirt without crossing any lines?”
He barks a laugh at this, holding his hands up. “No flirting here.” He winces. “Okay, maybe a little.”
I laugh, and he continues.
“But I’m just trying to be a good friend and apologize.”
“Thank you for the apology.” I look at the bucket. “I should go take these things to the stables before it gets too dark, and then I need to shower before dinner. Julian will be home soon. You know where the tools are,” I finish, giving him a teasing smile as I walk over to the bucket and pick it up. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
The second the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. But I can’t exactly whip around the kitchen trying to make dinner when he’s fixing the disposal and not offer to have him stay.
“I’d love to,” he says earnestly, giving me a genuine smile.
An hour later, I feel like I’m living in some sort of alternate universe. Somehow, despite Julian’s chilly reception to seeing Kai shirtless and fixing our disposal, they’ve both somehow been sitting at the kitchen island together… and arguing about art. I’m not wholly paying attention to the conversation, but Kai keeps pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing. Julian hasn’t stopped using his argumentative, sarcastic laugh. Every few minutes, I glance over at them between adding layers to the lasagna, and despite the fact that they’re not agreeing on whatever it is they’re discussing, they’re still talking .
And the way they’re sitting facing each other, focused only on what the other one is saying…
I can tell they used to be best friends.
My lips quirk as I triple check the recipe.
I don’t really cook, but my lasagna is one of the only decent things I can make from scratch. Julian does a lot of the cooking, and the other times, we just order a takeaway.
However, Julian just cinched his largest deal of the year and sold a painting for eleven million dollars, so I wanted to celebrate. I didn’t expect Kai to be here as well, but the more the merrier.
“Contemporary art is not overrated,” Julian scoffs, the aristocratic lilt to his voice evident. He brings his whiskey tumbler to his lips and takes a sip.
Kai holds his hands up. “I didn’t mean to imply it’s overrated. I just meant that for someone like Monet or van Gogh, a lot more craft and thought had to be put into it.”
“Right, but who classifies that as art? Where do we draw the line? Art is meant to make us feel something, correct? So if a pile of chewing gum makes you feel something, then so be it. And if a large oil painting makes you feel something, fantastic. We can agree to disagree, but you can’t possibly discredit an entire movement because you don’t agree with it.”
Kai sits up straighter and takes a slow sip from his tumbler, finishing off the last of his whiskey. Before he can set his glass down, Julian reaches over and refills it, the amber liquid glinting as it spills into the glass.
“Are you boys going to share?” I ask, my voice dropping low, silkier than I mean it to. “Or do I have to beg for something to drink?”
Julian’s mouth quirks up, his eyes glinting as he leans back and takes his time with another sip. “Might be fun to see you beg,” he drawls, his voice carrying a hint of challenge.
Kai’s lips twitch, but he stays quiet, his gaze heavy as he traces a slow circle around the rim of his glass with his finger, as though lost in thought—or perhaps, lost in me.
I reach for an empty tumbler in a nearby cabinet, holding it out between them. When I glance up, Kai’s eyes are on me, dark and unreadable, something molten swirling just below the surface. He doesn’t look away as he grabs the whiskey bottle and pours a slow, generous stream into my glass. I bring it to my lips, matching his gaze as I take a long sip, the whiskey warm as it burns a slow path down my throat.
“A woman who enjoys good whiskey is a woman after my own heart,” he murmurs, lifting his glass in a quiet salute before taking a sip himself, his eyes only leaving mine to skim down the apricot-colored sundress I’d thrown on.
I look over at Julian, who’s been watching the exchange with a slow smile and a knowing, familiar glint in his eye. There’s something possessive about his expression, but also… curious.
Like he’s assessing the dynamic between Kai and me.
Like he’s clocking how it develops… studying us. It’s clearly something more than just a casual interest.
I know what he’s thinking.
The idea sends a shiver down my spine, and I suddenly feel a bit too warm. My pulse starts to flutter, fueled by something beyond just the whiskey.
The tension between the three of us is palpable, filling the silence.
Clearing my throat, I take another, longer drink before setting my glass down. “Right. Who wants to help me with the salad?”
Julian glances over at Kai, a playful edge in his smile. For a beat, neither of them moves, and then Kai slowly rises to his feet.
“I’ll help,” he says, his voice rougher, his eyes lingering on me for a moment too long.
I slide my gaze back to Julian. He watches the two of us, his expression unreadable, but there’s a flash of something in his eyes—something almost approving, or perhaps he’s just a little too entertained. He tilts his head, toasting us with his glass, and takes a slow, deliberate sip, his gaze unwavering.
For the next half hour, Kai helps me with the salad. We default to our old camaraderie, and when the lasagna is ready, he helps me plate it and bring it to the small table near the back window. Tonight feels too informal for the formal dining room, so I grab a couple of bottles of red wine and we all sit down to eat.
Despite Julian’s icy reception to Kai earlier, the two of them seem to be on speaking terms now, even going so far as to discuss old memories of when they were teenagers. I love learning things I didn’t know about my husband—specifically, the quirks that made me fall in love with him in the first place.
“Does he still make piles with his clothes?” Malakai asks, leaning back with his glass of wine.
Julian snorts. “Of course I do.”
I look between them, wondering if Kai knows about Julian’s recent diagnosis, but before I can think any longer on the topic, Julian continues speaking.
“It’s ADHD. I was officially diagnosed last year. You should’ve seen me before I went on medication,” he adds, running a hand through his blond hair.
I place a hand on his leg. “The important thing is that you feel better.”
Julian gives me a warm smile. “It drove Soph up the walls. The piles. The unpaid bills. The forgetfulness, the inability to focus on one thing…”
I squeeze his thigh in solidarity and scrunch my nose in the way I know he adores. “I love you just the way you are.”
Kai’s eyes flit between us as he studies the way Julian brings my hand to his mouth, kissing it once. I hadn’t noticed the sun setting, leaving us alone in the dim light, illuminated only by the romantic candles on the table. But as several beats of silence pass between us, the weight of the evening feels almost oppressive in the dim glow of the flames.
I change the subject to something lighter—something that will calm my racing heart.
“Tell me—did Julian have the same obsession with Cadbury chocolate back when you knew him as he does now? Because the man is a menace when Easter rolls around.”
Kai chuckles, leaning against the counter. “That checks out. He used to hoard them in his dorm room like some sort of treasure hunter.”
“Cadbury’s my one weakness,” he says with mock solemnity. “Well, that and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Did you know they’re actually illegal in Britain?”
I snort. “Of course you’d love something illegal.”
He lifts his glass in a silent salute, giving me a slow, feline smile. “What can I say? I have a taste for things that shouldn’t be indulged.”
My voice softens, but it comes out too seductive as I roll my eyes. “Oh? Like what?”
He doesn’t answer right away, letting the silence stretch just long enough for me to feel the tension creeping up my spine.
Kai clears his throat, and I know what he’s going to ask before he does. “If you don’t mind me asking…” he starts, running his fingers over his lips, “how did you get started in the lifestyle?”
Julian goes still next to me, and my lips part as I take a large sip of wine. Despite eating two servings of lasagna, I still feel tipsy, and I’m suddenly eager to spill everything to Kai. I meet Julian’s gaze and feel a surge of warmth, the kind of thrill I get only when we talk openly like this. With Julian’s silent encouragement, I turn back to Kai, who’s watching us with a burning focus that sends a thrill up my spine and sends goosebumps to break out on my skin.
“Well,” I say, trying to steady my voice, “we were always unconventional. We dabbled in other aspects of the lifestyle occasionally—things like dominance and submission, bondage, role play, which is where?—”
“I am aware of what role play is, Sophie,” Kai says, his voice soft yet firm.
My whole body heats up.
“Right. Well, one night Julian brought up the idea. We were out, and a bartender in London had been flirting with me. We’d been in a bit of a rut with our duties, and Julian wasn’t happy as Lord Ashford. I was even more unhappy as Lady Ashford. It felt… stifling,” I finish, looking at Julian, who only gives me a small smile. “He suggested I let myself explore, so I did. I flirted back. Nothing more happened, but it set a precedent in a way. With each encounter, I got more daring. By the time I was ready to take a man to bed, we’d written up a contract and NDA, and from there, it just… happened.”
Kai’s eyebrows lift, and he studies me like he’s savoring every word.
Julian’s hand tightens slightly around mine. “I wanted Sophie to feel free, to do things she didn’t think she could. I guess you could say it’s my kink,” he says with a slight smirk. “Watching her come alive. Watching other men enjoy what I get to call mine. It’s exhilarating.”
Kai’s eyes flash with something, and he leans back, fingers still absently tracing his lips. “And how did that feel, Sophie?” His voice is low, controlled, but I catch the glint of interest beneath the surface.
“It was… liberating,” I confess, voice softer. “At first, it felt strange, stepping outside of the rules we’d grown up with. I mean, if anyone in our circle ever found out… we would’ve been ostracized. It was also incredibly exciting because of that. I didn’t realize how much I wanted to be wanted, to feel that rush of someone seeing me the way Julian does, but differently.” I can feel my cheeks heating as I speak, but I don’t stop. “It’s like discovering new parts of myself each time. And Julian—he loves it as much as I do. Which makes me love it. I guess my kink is watching him unravel in front of me,” I finish, squeezing my legs together as Julian gives me a heated, knowing look.
Kai is quiet for a moment, processing, but there’s a spark in his gaze. Fascination… mingled with something deeper. “So how do you invite others into this… arrangement?”
“I intentionally choose someone for us,” Julian says smoothly, his eyes fixed on Kai.
Kai’s fingers stop at his mouth, and his eyes shift between us, as if he’s searching for a hidden meaning behind Julian’s words.
It sends shivers down my spine, because all night, he’s been looking at me differently. At first, I thought it was because of his apology and confession. But now… I’m not so sure. He’s been nothing but polite, but it’s not the usual friendly warmth that I’m used to. His eyes linger for a beat too long, and I catch him studying the way Julian touches me when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
It’s subtle—so subtle that if I weren’t already halfway through a second glass of wine, I might convince myself I imagined it.
“And does this ‘someone’ usually understand your preferences?”
There’s a subtle emphasis on ‘someone,’ a wisp of interest laced with challenge.
Julian’s gaze doesn’t waver. “They usually do, yes. We make sure of it. Sophie is… precious to me. And I want her to be adored, in every sense of the word. Not to mention I want her to feel safe. So communication is key.”
My heart beats faster as Julian’s words sink in. Kai’s intensity has always felt charged, magnetic, but now it’s laced with the awareness that he’s starting to see us— truly see us.
Kai leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze turning serious. “I see.”
“And you?” I ask, holding my glass of wine as I give him a wry smile. “Tit for tat, Ravage.”
Malakai smirks. “Well, I’m not a stranger to these dynamics. I understand what it takes to build that level of trust.” His voice dips slightly, and I catch a note of something darker—something he’s holding back.
“Even as a pastor?” I ask, my voice quiet.
“Especially as a pastor,” he replies. “Over the last couple of years, my… interests… have blended and intertwined with my job. I think, like you, I started to resent the responsibility of it all. Everything is so heavy at work—my job is so important. I needed an outlet. So I found one.”
“Well, go on then,” Julian encourages.
I swallow, feeling the heat building in the room, and find myself leaning toward him, almost unconsciously.
Kai’s expression grows contemplative, his eyes shifting lazily from Julian to me. For a moment he seems almost hesitant to continue, like there’s a heaviness that only he carries. He releases a slow, resigned breath, as if he's steeling himself, and his gaze pierces me with a knowing glint.
“Let’s just say,” he begins, his voice deepening, “that the line between my work and my… desires has gotten a bit blurry over the years. Preaching every Sunday, shepherding my congregation, it requires control and a sense of responsibility. I’m held to a certain standard, you might say.” His lips curve into a slight, almost dangerous smile. “But as you might imagine, responsibility like that can feel suffocating.”
His words hang in the air, and a thrill runs through me as he continues, his gaze unwavering. If anyone understands the weight of responsibility, it’s Julian and me.
“I needed an outlet. I wanted something to let off that pressure. So I turned to the lifestyle. Not like this, exactly,” he nods to Julian and me, “but something with a little more… intensity.”
Kai pauses, watching our reactions, and the tension thickens. He leans back, his hands draped over the back of his chair, looking every bit the man who knows his own power—and the control it gives him over others. He clears his throat, and his voice lowers even further, almost conspiratorial.
“I enjoy guiding people to the edge, letting them feel their limits and push against them. Some call it edge play,” he says, watching me intently, “but for me, it’s about helping someone find freedom in surrendering control. I ask them to give up their fears, their expectations, even their sense of self.” His gaze flicks from me to Julian. “And sometimes that requires taking them to a place that feels… dark.”
A shiver runs down my spine, and I find myself clutching my wineglass a little tighter.
Julian must notice, because he starts to trace slow, lazy circles on my bare thigh. I squeeze my legs together to keep from moaning.
Julian’s eyes flick toward me, his hand warm as he digs his fingers in. I’m sure he can feel the way my breathing shifts when Kai speaks, the small telltale signs of excitement I naively think I’m hiding well.
But I’ve never been a good actress.
He catches Kai’s gaze across the table
“I think Sophie’s interested in your ‘edge play,’ Kai.”
I choke on my wine, glaring at Julian. “I am not.”
Kai leans back, lips twitching. “Are you sure?”
My cheeks burn as I avoid their matching gazes, because he’s not wrong.
He knows me well enough.
“And the religious side of things?” Julian asks, his voice soft but probing. “That’s part of the play for you?”
Kai nods, an edge of something wicked in his expression. “There’s power in ritual. In confession. In submission to something larger than ourselves. I find it fascinating, taking on that role—not just as someone who guides spiritually but also as someone who… demands devotion.” His eyes flash as he adds, “I ask them to obey, to trust, and sometimes even to worship.”
His gaze lingers on me, and I can feel the air between us heat, like the room itself is holding its breath.
I shift in my seat, letting my dress ride up just slightly. I’m not sure if I do it for Julian or for Kai. Maybe both.
The thought alone makes my stomach flutter.
Julian’s hand tightens on my leg. I glance at him, and the corner of his mouth twitches up in that smug, knowing way that drives me wild. He knows exactly what I’m doing. Worse, he likes it.
And Kai?
Kai’s gaze flicks down, catching the movement before his eyes meet mine again, darker now. I feel the weight of that look like a slow burn spreading through me.
“And when someone submits to me fully, when they’re willing to follow me to that edge,” Kai continues, his voice like silk, “that’s where they find release. Release from guilt, from shame… from whatever they’re holding on to. But it’s not for everyone.” He leans forward, his eyes gleaming with a dark promise. “It’s only for those who truly want to be led.”
I sip my wine, pretending like I don’t notice the silent exchange happening right here at our kitchen table.
But I do.
And by the time Julian squeezes my thigh three times—our unspoken signal—I realize I’m not just imagining it.
There’s something happening here.
And I’m not entirely sure I want it to stop.
There’s a long, loaded pause. Julian’s ministrations on my leg ground me, and I look over to find him watching Kai with a similar sharpness, something like respect in his eyes.
Julian smirks, leaning forward, his gaze unwavering. “And what about now, Kai? Are you still… guiding people to that edge?”
Kai’s gaze grows darker, his smirk twisting into something almost feral. “I try to keep it private,” he says. “But with the right people, in the right moment… yes.” He lets his eyes roam over us both, his expression unguarded and raw. “If they trust me enough to bring them there.”
The weight of his words lands between us, an open invitation wrapped in shadows. I feel a thrill that’s equal parts excitement and apprehension, and I can tell by Julian’s silent, encouraging smile that he feels it too.
Kai leans back again, his eyes on us both, and he lets out a low chuckle. “I imagine my tastes might be… darker than yours,” he says, almost teasing. “But then, I never thought I’d find myself with two people who might actually understand.”
“You’d be surprised,” I say quickly, shifting in my seat. “Julian and I have experimented with a lot of things, though none of it ever really stuck besides some basic bondage.”
Kai’s gaze sharpens, and his eyes lock on to mine as his voice drops to almost a whisper. “Have you ever had someone push you to the edge of your comfort zone? To that place where you lose control, leaving you with no choice but to surrender?”
I swallow hard, my heart racing, but Kai presses on. He leans closer, his voice low and steady.
“Have you ever had someone bring you to the edge of pleasure and pain, hold you there, and make you beg to go further, knowing they could either pull you back or let you fall?”
Julian’s hand squeezes my thigh, and I feel his pulse quicken against my skin. There’s a silent exchange between him and Kai, as if Julian understands exactly what he’s asking—perhaps even finds himself drawn to it, as I am.
Kai lets the silence stretch, savoring my reaction. His lips curve into a slight smile. “That’s what I mean by edge play,” he murmurs, his voice like a dark promise. “It’s about trust, Sophie. Trusting that someone knows exactly how far to take you. And trusting that they know just how much to hold back.”
I realize I’m holding my breath, and I let it out slowly, my mind reeling with the weight of his words.
I’m so turned on that every breath has my hard nipples brushing against the soft cotton of my dress. Looking at Julian, he nods once—and then squeezes my thigh three times.
His signal— again.
I know what he’s thinking. He doesn’t have to say it. He’s just waiting for me to make the first move.
I shift in my seat as arousal works through me. It sounds wild when I think about what’s hanging in the air between us. I have been drinking.
Or maybe… I’ve had just enough alcohol to lower my inhibitions.
Glancing between Kai and Julian, it’s like we can all sense the unspoken question that hangs heavily between us. I feel an undeniable pull—the potential of what could happen if we were to step over this invisible line together. I look at Julian and find his gaze steady, yet tinged with something I rarely see—anticipation. He doesn’t look surprised, just… intrigued. He turns to Kai, a glint of mischief in his eye, and finally speaks.
He knows I’m too modest to say anything outright—to ask Kai to join one of our games.
“Hypothetically,” Julian says, his voice smooth but tinged with something darker, “how would this work?”
Kai’s expression softens just a touch, but there’s still that edge, that delicious darkness in his gaze. “Hypothetically?” he echoes, leaning back, his hands clasping thoughtfully in front of him. “Well, hypothetically, I’d take my time with her. We’d build that trust together. All three of us.”
I feel Julian’s hand squeeze mine, and a shiver of excitement runs through me as Kai’s gaze travels slowly between us.
“Julian,” he continues, his tone low and deliberate, “if I were to guide her… it would mean surrendering control to me. Trusting me to lead her where she’s never gone, but only as far as she’s willing to go.” His eyes flick to me, his gaze softening as he adds, “It would mean trusting me to hold you both in the places that scare you and excite you, and knowing that I’d bring you safely back.”
I feel a swell of emotion, a mixture of anticipation, nerves, and an aching curiosity. Julian’s voice comes again, calm but laced with a hint of eagerness.
He looks at me, and I nod once, the only signal I outwardly give him that I want this.
“And if we were ready?”
Kai lets a small smile curve his lips, finally breaking the focus with a hint of warmth. “Then, we’d start slow. A night just for us to explore, to see where things feel right. To set boundaries and understand each other.”
He leans forward again, his gaze steady on both of us. “But,” he adds, voice softening, “only if this is what you both truly want. Only if you’re both willing to take that step… together.”
“No expectations, only a willingness to trust and explore,” I add, looking between the two of them.
There’s a part of me that already knows Julian and I are both ready. This moment has been building for a while now, though I didn’t fully realize it until this very moment.
“So?” Kai asks, looking between us. Somehow, despite everything, he’s become the facilitator. “Are we going to do this?”
I look at Julian one last time, but he just smirks at me. “It’s not up to me.”
Swallowing, I look at Kai. “I would like that.”