8. Hayes
Chapter eight
Hayes
Kai has kept me more entertained chasing down my livestock than I would have been on my own, and now he’s looking at me like I’m the hottest thing he’s seen in a while. I want to touch him, but I’m not sure how to ask. Thankfully Kai has no issues with saying what’s on his mind.
“I want to kiss you,” he breathes the words and I feel them on my lips like a hint of what he’s asking for.
Without seeing the need to respond, I tilt my head and press my lips to Kai’s.
Closing my eyes, I melt into him, savoring the sweet taste on his lips.
He still tastes like fresh strawberries and I deepen the kiss to get some more.
Gripping his upper arms, Kai holds my hips and pulls me in.
Our groins meet and I break the kiss on a gasp.
No one can see us between the chicken coop and the trees, but I still don’t want to start humping the guy outside like I’m the wild animal.
“Let’s, uh, go inside,” I whisper, sad to lose his touch when I step back. “Grab the egg?”
Kai blinks at me like he’s waking from a dream, and I feel my chest fill with warmth at the fact kissing me had that effect on him. “Right. Egg. Clean up.”
Latching the door, I decide we don’t need to check the rest right away and head to the house with Kai at my heels beside Shadow, who looks like he wonders why his dad is licking someone when I always tell him not to do that.
Washing my hands in the kitchen sink, I see Kai standing in the doorway looking lost. He’s holding the egg like it might hatch in his hand. “What do I do with this?”
Pointing to a bowl of eggs on the counter, I tell him, “Leave it there. I’ll package it for the stand in the morning.”
Kai closes the distance and puts the egg gently on the pile. “You don’t need to clean this or refrigerate them?”
“Nope,” I shake my hands off and step aside for him to go next. “You only put them in the fridge if you wash them, so I don’t do either.”
“I guess you don’t eat the shell,” Kai nods, using my dish scrubber to get the dirt under his nails. “And they’re pretty warm inside the chicken.”
“Ha,” I bark out a laugh. “Never thought of it that way.”
“Stick with me,” Kai winks. “I’m full of great observations.”
Checking him out from head to toe, I can’t help noticing his dirty shorts. “I’m observing that you might want to wash your clothes.”
“Huh?” Kai dries his hands on the dish towel and twists to see his own ass. There’s a snout print in red and brown from the pig rooting in mud and eating berries. “I look like I shit my pants.”
“If your ass is bleeding, I suggest seeing a doctor,” I can’t help teasing. “But I’ve got pre-wash spray that should get the stain out before it sets.”
Kai grabs me in a hug, “Thank you, I still need to shoot content in this outfit!”
“No problem,” I mumble into his hair. “Not like I haven’t washed your clothes before.”
We both lean back to look at each other, finally acknowledging that we’ve hooked up before. Right here in this kitchen. “Let me get you something to throw on.”
Nodding, Kai lets me go and I make an exit to my bedroom.
I take off my hat and riffle through my bottom drawer, finally finding some old sweats I grew out of in high school that might not fall off Kai.
Bringing them out, I find Kai is already spraying his shorts and loading the washing machine. And he’s only got boxer briefs on.
“Oh, um,” I mutter, thrusting the bottoms towards him. It’s not that I don’t like seeing so much of Kai’s skin on display, it’s more that I don’t want him thinking I’m trying to get him undressed every time I see him. “You can wear these while your stuff washes and dries.”
“My hero,” Kai purrs, and I wonder if he is hoping for us to hookup. Since he immediately slips on the grey sweat pants over his legs, which have a lot less hair than mine, I assume he doesn’t want to be naked right now. “What will we do to pass the time?”
“There’s a new All Stars episode,” I blurt out like a fucking teenager who is finally alone with his crush. That’s not far off from the truth with Kai standing there in no shirt and low-slung pants. “If you haven’t already watched it?”
“You started watching Drag Race?” Kai asks with a grin.
Rubbing at my beard, I start walking to the living room. “I mean, you suggested it. Last time.”
Sitting on the loveseat to avoid his gaze, I pick up the remote. I get bored out here most nights and end up watching a few hours of TV to fall asleep. I’ve watched a lot of the show. So much so that my continuing watching has it on the home screen.
“Drag queens and action movies?” Kai asks, but I don’t think he wants an answer. “A well-rounded man after my own heart.”
My own heart flutters in my chest at his words. Leaning back and rubbing at the offending organ, I lift the remote. “So what will it be? Die Hard or Drag Race?”
Kai grins and drops into the seat beside me., his legs resting on my lap like we’ve done this a hundred times. “Queens first. Do you record the untucked show as well?”
Scoffing, I select the latest episode and rest my arm along the back of the couch. “Of course.”
The show starts and we’re laughing within minutes. Kai scoots closer to rest his head on my upper arm, and I relax to hold his calf, wanting to keep him close. It is a small couch after all.
We make it through the main show and are watching the after show where they show all the behind the scenes drama when Kai makes a comment. “Hot take, but I don’t think queens on the most recent regular season should be on all stars.”
“But she’s my favorite queen,” I argue. “Even though I liked the winner, too.”
Kai scoots back to respond with some witty retort, but then he stops and stares at my head. I wonder if I have terrible hat hair and rub at it self-consciously.
“You took off your hat,” Kai comments. “I’ve never seen you without it before. I was starting to think it was permanently attached.”
“Oh, no. I can't sleep in it. But I usually wear it outside of the house.”
“It suits you. But I like how you look without the hat, too.”
“Yeah?” I scoot closer, hoping we’ll kiss again.
Kai nods, “Yeah.”
The buzzer goes off on the washing machine, breaking the moment. Damn. Can a guy catch a break? I have to wonder if he’s as hard as I am as Kai hops up, and I sit there watching him go. Based on his bulge in the sweats, I think we’re on the same page.
“No need to pause. I’ll be right back.”
It takes everything in me not to follow Kai’s swaying hips into the kitchen, and when he looks back, I give in to the temptation.