Chapter 33
JASMINE
The bungalow settled into silence, Jess tucked away on the couch, and for the first time since everything blew up tonight, Kai and I were finally alone.
The bedroom door clicked shut behind us, and the sound went straight through me. No more audience. No more distractions. Just him and me.
Telling Jess the whole story had made me realize how insane—how awful—it had all been. For a while there, I hadn’t been sure he’d ever want to see me again. And now, standing here with Kai, the relief tangled with a rawer edge: desire.
He’d sung my praises to Jess, called me amazing, called me the prize. But part of me still couldn’t help wondering if those words had been more for her benefit than mine. The unease pressed in hard as I turned toward him, my heart thumping in my chest.
“Even though it ended up working out for the best,” I said softly, “I’m really sorry about talking to Faith. We had a pact, and I broke it.”
The words hung there, heavier than I wanted them to. My chest cinched as I studied his face—his shoulders drawn tight, jaw flexing—and I braced for him to retreat.
Kai’s shoulders rose and fell on a slow breath. “Yeah,” he said finally. “But you were right.” His mouth pulled tight, regret shadowing his eyes. “I’m the one who’s sorry—for losing my shit over it. I should’ve trusted you.”
Relief poured through me so fast my knees went weak. “So… no more secrets?”
He stepped closer, closing the distance until I had to tip my chin up to hold his gaze. “Deal.”
And then his mouth was on mine—hot and urgent, like he couldn’t get close enough, like the only way to erase the distance between us was to devour it. His hands framed my face, his thumbs sweeping my cheeks as his tongue slid against mine, deep and claiming.
The kiss wasn’t gentle. It was fierce, messy, the kind that stole every ounce of air and gave it back as fire. My whole body trembled, the fight and the fear dissolving under the sheer need of it.
When he finally broke away, breath ragged, his forehead dropped against mine, his voice a hoarse whisper. “I meant what I told Jess. You really are amazing. I don’t deserve you.”
“Yes, you do,” I whispered, my heart climbing into my throat. “You are the most incredible man I’ve ever known, Kai.”
A flicker of a smile tugged at his mouth. “Yeah? What’s so incredible about me?”
“You put your heart into everything you do,” I told him, my chest tightening with each word. “You’re fiercely loyal. You’re kind. And…” Heat rushed up my neck. “…you’re the best kisser.”
That earned me a slow grin. “You know where I want to kiss you right now?”
I laughed, breathless. “Nuh uh. Not yet.”
His brows lifted in mock challenge. “Not yet?”
“Mm-mm.” I skimmed my fingers down his chest, tracing the hard lines through his shirt, then lower, over the flat plane of his stomach. The heat of him pressed against my palm through his khaki pants, thick and straining. My breath caught at the feel of him, at how much he wanted me.
Kai groaned, low and rough, when I squeezed lightly. “Jas…”
I looked up at him as I tugged at his zipper, wanting him to see the choice in my eyes. The metal teeth parted with a soft rasp, and then he was in my hand—hot, heavy, pulsing against my skin.
I kissed the trail down his stomach, my lips brushing over him before I took him into my mouth. The salt and heat of him filled me, his thighs tensing on either side of me, one hand braced on the dresser, the other sliding deep into my hair.
“Jesus Christ,” he ground out, his voice already ragged. “You’re the best I’ve ever had at this. The absolute best.”
The praise spurred me on, my scalp tingling under the drag of his fingers, my tongue stroking deeper, slower, savoring the shudder that rolled through him.
Before I could sink further, his grip in my hair tightened. Not harsh—just firm enough to make me pause. A shiver went through me. God, I liked that.
His breath hitched when he saw the heat in my eyes. “Enough,” he rasped. His chest heaved, his jaw tight like he was barely holding on.
I eased back slowly, lips glistening, my chest rising and falling. “Already?” I teased, though my pulse was still racing.
His laugh was wrecked, but his gaze steady. “If I let you keep going, I’m finished. And I’m not finished with you.”
He pulled me up, kissing me hard, pouring all that need into it. His hands roamed over me, down my back, up my sides, savoring every inch before slipping the straps of my dress from my shoulders. The fabric slid down, pooling at my feet, and his eyes devoured me.
“Slow,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I want to take my time with you.”
He laid me back, spreading me open with reverence, his mouth hot and hungry against my skin as he kissed his way lower.
“I can’t wait to taste you,” he said hoarsely. “I swear it’s like a drug. I can’t get enough.”
And then he was on me.
His tongue teased and stroked, coaxing me higher, until I was gasping, clenching the sheets in my fists. The need to keep quiet only made the pleasure sharper. I bit down on my lip, muffling what I could, but Kai pressed harder, humming low against me, until a cry ripped out of my throat anyway.
I snatched up a pillow and shoved it over my face, smothering the sound as my climax tore through me. My hips bucked helplessly against his mouth, his hands anchoring me in place as the pulses rolled sharp and relentless, leaving my legs trembling.
When I finally collapsed, limp and quaking, the pillow slipped from my grip. Kai lifted his head, his mouth wet, eyes blazing. “Sweet Jesus,” he rasped. “I could stay here all night. You have no idea what you do to me.”
I was still shuddering when he crawled up over me, his body hot and solid as it pressed me into the mattress. My limbs felt boneless, my mind hazy from the aftershocks. Then his face was above mine, his eyes fierce and tender all at once.
For a heartbeat, I just stared at him, dazed. Then the need surged back, raw and undeniable. I curled my fingers into his shoulders, dragging him down. “Kai,” I whispered, breathless. “I want you so bad.”
A guttural sound tore from his chest as he kissed me, his hips settling between my thighs. He pushed into me slowly, inch by inch, stretching me until I gasped, clutching at him, overwhelmed by the fullness.
“God…” he groaned, his voice breaking. “You feel so damn good.”
Every thrust was slow at first, deliberate, his jaw clenched with control as if he was engraving the feel of me into memory.
My body rose to meet him, hips lifting in desperate rhythm, breaths tangling with his until the rhythm frayed.
Then his control slipped, movements stronger, deeper, each stroke wringing gasps out of both of us.
“Kai…” My nails dug into his back, pleasure spiraling.
“I’ve got you,” he rasped, kissing me hard, his pace finally breaking loose. “Let go for me.”
And I did. I shattered around him, dragging him with me, his release crashing into mine in a rush of heat and hoarse groans.
We clung to each other, trembling, our hearts thundering as the storm eased. His weight sank into me, heavy but comforting, our breaths slowly syncing. He kissed my temple softly, lingering there, and the tenderness of it made my chest ache.
For a moment I floated in the warmth of him, weightless, dazed. But then the memory of our fight cut through, sharp and raw. The fear of it, the way I’d thought I’d lost him, pressed hard against my ribs.
I clutched his shoulder tighter. My voice came out small. “There was a moment earlier tonight when I wasn’t sure you’d ever want to see me again. Or ever trust me again.”
Kai lifted his head, his gaze fierce and unflinching. His thumb brushed across my lips, grounding me. “Jesus, woman,” he said hoarsely. “I love you so much it hurts. And I would trust you with my life. With my heart. With everything.”
The words washed over me, too big to take in all at once. For a moment I just stared, stunned, my eyes stinging. No one had ever said anything like that to me. No one had ever meant it like that.
My lips trembled as I finally whispered, “I know exactly what you mean. Because I feel the same. I love you, too, Kai Rodman. Like I’ve never loved anyone.”
He gathered me close, holding me tight, our hearts pounding together in the dark.
We’d been through hell. But this—this was heaven.