Chapter 6 Greer #2
Is it bad that I was hoping he would say dare?
An itching feeling under my skin wants me to ask him to kiss me.
It would be silly—stupid, really—and so blatantly middle-school girl behavior I can hardly stand it.
But it’s there in my mind regardless. And the urge becomes stronger the longer he stands there.
Then it occurs to me: If I do lean into my silly yet overwhelming urge and dare him to kiss me, I need to know something first. “That man that was here before.” My eyes flash to the empty whiskey tumbler a few seats down. “Was that your boyfriend?”
His shoulders straighten before he tucks his long hair behind his ear. For a heated second, I wonder if that was too personal, but I’ve never been afraid to ask any type of questions before, personal or not.
“It’s complicated,” he says.
“Tell me the truth.”
Kai leans on the bar, and I naturally draw forward, like I’m a magnet that’s pulled to him.
“That’s the truth. We’re complicated.”
“You’re not together?”
“We are.”
“But he’s not your boyfriend?”
“He’s…” Kai trails off, his eyes going hazy. Yet, I can’t tell what the look means. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Try me.”
Kai leans back, and I immediately miss his heat.
I don’t have to miss it for long, though, because he comes around to my side of the bar and takes the stool next to mine.
We’re close enough now that our arms nearly touch.
His shoulders are broad, and he smells like the woods on a winter day, crisp and a little smoky.
“We’re together, but we’re open.”
“Open how?”
“We see other bei—people.”
My head cocks because it sounded like he was going to say something else besides people. I shake that thought off because what else would he say?
Regardless, something in me settles. I may be called an Ice Queen and go after what I want with efficiency and emotional detachment, but I’m not going to be the person anyone cheats on with, no matter if it’s a kiss or something more.
I know my worth, and the last thing I’m going to do is make him a cheater or me a home-wrecker.
“I see.”
I sip my martini as Kai’s gaze studies me. The air in the room shifts, not only from his closeness but also because of the conversation topic I brought up.
“Your turn,” I say.
He nods. “Truth or dare.”
“Truth,” I say again.
This time, he does seem surprised by my answer, and honestly, I am, too. Now would have been the perfect time to say dare. I’ll never admit it, but for once I want to keep talking to a stranger.
Usually, if I feel chemistry with someone and want to kiss or have it turn into something more, I’d skip the small talk and go straight to the bedroom. But there’s something calming about his energy I want to feel more of.
Kai shifts his weight on his stool so our arms brush, and that feeling I got when we shook hands pushes through my body like a tidal wave. My mind blanks out, and I only come back online when his rumbling voice penetrates the haze.
“Why are you here, Greer?” he asks.
My brow pinches in confusion, but I can’t deny that the way he said my name—like he’s savoring it—makes my core heat. “You already asked that.”
His eyes darken, and I swear he’s closer to me than he was a second ago. He shakes his head. “No, Greer, why are you here? Why did you choose to come to my bar?”
My mind seeks the answer through the haze that being close to him has created. It’s like he’s a Venus flytrap and I’m walking right into his waiting jaws.
The longer I’m near him, the more that sounds like a great idea. I want to be devoured by him.
His head tips to the side, and I blink, remembering his question. I’m confused as to what he means, but at the same time, I find myself answering automatically, like when you know the words to a song you haven’t heard in years.
“Because I need to be.” I exhale before I follow it up with a more logical answer. “Because I was starving.”
My breathing picks up as Kai turns his body toward mine. “For what?”
I want to say food, but I don’t think that’s it.
I open my mouth in an attempt to answer, but nothing comes out.
Kai uses the pause to bring the large hand I was entranced by when I first arrived—with the perfect amount of veins—up to my face.
He gently tucks a strand of highlighted hair behind my ear.
I shiver from the contact he makes on the sensitive shell of it, and my stomach flips in anticipation of his next move.
“For what, Princess?”
My attention falls to his full lips surrounded by coarse brown hair. “I’m not a princess.”
He hums. “Sure, you aren’t.”
A smile tugs at my lips, and in the back of my mind, I find it odd his comment didn’t make me pull away. Instead, I lean in, two words I didn’t expect to say falling out of me in answer to his question. “For you.”
He traces his fingertip down my cheek until he’s holding my chin in a light grip. His head tilts as if he’s going to kiss me, but before he can, his hooded eyes go blank, and his body stills.
The sexual tension between us snaps, and the flirtatious energy around him shifts. He sits back, hand dropping away, and he blinks several times.
When his gaze refocuses, Kai clears his throat. “You should finish your meal. I’ll get the place closed up, and then I’ll walk you to the inn.” He stands before I can say anything, and the feeling of rejection overtakes the hunger in my gut.
I look at my meal, but I no longer want it. With clarity in my mind and Kai no longer near me, I’m annoyed at myself for even feeling attracted to him. For wanting him to kiss me and hoping it would lead to anything more.
I push my plate away and clear my throat. “I played your game. Now I’d like the Wi-Fi password.”
Despite his rejection of me, he has the nerve to look disappointed by my words. He finally nods. “Network is The Drift and the password is thedriftwifi, one word.”
“Seriously?”
A ghost of a smirk returns to his face. “I don’t lie, Greer.”
I exhale a breath, annoyance riddling my features as I take out my phone and enter the password.
When the internet connects, I see Avery has sent me everything I’ve asked for.
The only thing I’m surprised to see is that she didn’t ask if I made it anywhere safely or found the Roads Motel she booked.
My throat feels tight, but the sensation only serves to irritate me more.
“Emotions are a liability. Control is power,” I whisper to myself as I start to download everything I need so I can look at it without Wi-Fi.
“What?” Kai asks.
“Nothing. I’m going to get going.” Now that I have what I need, there’s no reason for me to be here.
“I said I’d walk with you.”
“I’ll be fine.” I stand up and put my coat and scarf back on. I open my purse and throw more than enough cash on the bar to cover everything.
“It’s on the house,” he says, trying to hand me back the money.
I snag a cold fry and pop it into my mouth. “Keep it.” Then I turn and leave, Kai’s heavy gaze on my back as I walk out into the storm.