Chapter 26
chapter twenty-six
Kai
I've tried to be slow, tried being gentle. But Denali is intentionally being obtuse, so I realize I'll have to pull out the big guns to make her see what I've been hoping to show her all night. To get her to accept what I know is going to be impossible to comprehend, after all she's been through.
"Remember when Reese left the house the other day, claiming I moan another woman's name in my sleep?"
Her lips quirk up at the memory. It's the first time I've seen her smile all night. "How could I forget?"
Yeah, okay, it's funny. It is. But it's more than that now. I don't want her to see the funny side. I want her to see the truth behind my rushed denial, and this equally rushed admission.
"At first, she thought I was getting aroused by sports cars." I try to give her a hint, hoping she'll put the pieces together on her own.
But she disappoints. "Why would she think that?"
The way her nose scrunches as she tries to work it out makes me groan.
I want to lay down next to her and just kiss her stupid.
Wanna leave her head spinning as I peel my clothes off her body and make her see a side of me I'd forgotten existed a long time ago.
I wanna show her that there are good men out there, and tell her that I want to be one for her.
But the words stick in my throat.
"Kai?"
I sigh and close my eyes now, hoping that not looking at her would make it easier.
But it doesn't. In fact, it's harder this way.
I want to look at her, want to see the expression she wears when she finally realizes what she means to me now.
How deep I've fallen in love with her. How there's no way back now.
"Because," I say slowly, praying that she understands, that she doesn't hate me. "The name I whisper in my sleep isn't a name at all." My eyes soften, and I take her face in my hands, pulling her atop me as I utter the words that will seal my fate, or break me. "It's kara."
"Kara."
"Yes," I breathe, hoping this isn't too much, too soon.
"That's not a she." She slides from the bed, and I come with her, already watching my future slip away from me.
Denali takes a step back, and I take one forward, worried that somehow, what Reese has done here has ruined the tenuous relationship I've built with my lovely assistant. The kara from my dreams. "That's me."
She doesn't wait around for me to explain. She retreats, and fast. And she takes my heart with her. "Denali—it's not—I mean it is, but—wait!"
She's not listening. In fact, she's heading for the kitchen, where she set down her bag. She grabs it and makes a mad dash for the front door, Taco all but forgotten as she panics and doesn't think any of this through.
My worst fears come to life.
I sprint out the door and into the hallway of the ritzy apartment complex, catching sight of her quickly-fleeing form as she rounds the corner and heads for the elevators.
Pursuing her is easy, because though she's fast, I'm faster.
Just as the elevator doors start to close between us, I reach through the gap and grab her by the wrist, yanking her into the hallway with a groan of effort.
She falls against me like a movie scene come to life. But then, she comes to life, too, and starts to struggle against me. Her hands shove against my chest, eyes everywhere but on me.
"Let me explain," I tell her, because the only chance I have now to salvage this is to make her understand.
To admit what's going on with me and put it out on the table.
"Please, Denali, can we—can we talk?" I glance around the hall, and though there are other people, other apartments on this floor, I seriously doubt they'll be up and active yet. There's still a chance, but it's slim.
I make the spilt-second decision to throw her over my shoulder and jog lightly back to the apartment, closing the door behind us and locking it for good measure. But so that she doesn't think I'm trying to kidnap her here, I make sure to point out the keys on the way past.
"If you don't want to stay after you listen to me, the keys are on the counter, right by your bag. I won't stop you.
I walk right past the kitchen, right through the living room with all the fancy rugs and seating spots, and head straight back for my bedroom, where I dump her on my bed and wait for her to right herself before I speak.
When I do open my mouth, I lean over her, bracing my hands on either side of her hips to cage her in so she can't run from me any more.
"Yes. It's you. You're the kara. My little annoying woodpecker. Is that what you wanted to hear? Did you need me to confirm what you already knew? Or was it just that you couldn't believe me when I said it the first time?"
Finally, finally, her eyes are on mine. "Kai," she starts, but I don't think she can decide what to say to that. If she even has anything to say to it. "I—we—this is—you—"
"You wanna know why she was so mad, walking out of here?
" I watch as Denali inches backward away from me, putting herself inevitably further on my bed.
I crawl after her, refusing to let her get too far away.
"Yeah, she wasn't lying. I couldn't get it up for her.
Nothing I did mattered. Because every time I looked at her, I realized she was no you.
" My cock twitches in my pants at the way Denali's legs peek out of those briefs that look so familiar, that have been on my body more than once, taunting me, reminding me what does get me hard.
"Ever since you stepped into my life, I've not been able to get you out of my head.
You're intoxicating, addicting, like the headiest wine.
" Another few inches backward, and she's almost out of room to run.
I follow, my knees on the bed , one hand snaking out to grab one of her ankles as her heels slip on the satin sheets and threaten to land in my lap, in an uncomfortable way.
"I don't want any other woman, Denali," I tell her, desperation making me choke on the admission I'm giving in the worst of ways. "I want you."
"No," she mutters, her eyes wide. "You can't—"
"But I can. I do." She's run into the headboard now, and I tug her down a little, the shirt she's wearing riding up on her ribcage, baring her stomach as it catches on the bed and bunches the fabric.
"When I close my eyes at night, I dream of you.
Under me. On top of me. Your lips on mine, and those legs around my waist as I fuck you senseless.
Is that what you want to hear? How desperate I am for you?
How much I want you?" I crawl in between her legs, a hand on each ankle, spreading them so I can make room for myself.
She doesn't fight me, which is a good sign.
I'll take it. "If you don't want this, tell me now.
Say no, and I'll stop. But if you want me like I think you do, like I want you, kara, then let me show you how you drive me crazy.
Let me show you the only thing that's on my mind every minute of the day. "
She doesn't say a word, just shifts her knees a little further apart and bunches her hands in the sheets, tossing her head to the side as she bites that bottom lip and moans my name.
That's the last thing I see before I put my face in her lap and inhale her arousal, my hands sliding under her ass to bring her center to my lips so I can get to work showing her just how bad she's got me twisted up inside.