28. Kai
KAI
Wren is beneath me in my bed, hair spread across my pillow, lips swollen from mine, cheeks flushed in the low light.
My shirt is somewhere on the floor. Hers too.
Her nails press lightly into the back of my head, gently tugging at my hair, and every inch of me is so aware of every inch of her that it takes effort to breathe evenly.
I’ve wanted her for years.
That’s the truth I’ve been hiding and also running from.
Behind every practice and workout and routine I used to keep myself from thinking too long about the girl who I stopped calling.
Missing the piece of me that belonged to Wren felt like nursing an old injury that only ached when the weather changed.
Except she came back, the weather hasn’t changed, and I’m aching in a way I don’t know I’ll survive.
I follow her cues, listening when her breath changes. Going willingly when she pulls me closer. Letting her see what she does to me instead of pretending I’m not wrecked by it.
Because I am.
Completely.
I pick up my pace, making sure to roll my hips enough to add friction to her clit, and the way her body is moving tells me she’s close.
“You gonna come for me, Freckles?” I whisper. “I’ve got you; let go.”
She pulls my lips down to hers, and I groan into the kiss as I feel her tongue asking for entrance that I don’t deny.
I groan into her mouth, and that’s enough to push her over the edge. Her pussy squeezes around my cock as her orgasm hits. My hips move faster, chasing my own release, and with a few more strokes, I come long and hard, burying my face into her neck.
Wren Calloway is going to kill me in my own bed, and I am going to thank her for it.
I gently roll off her, doing my best not to crush her, but her arms tighten around my neck.
“Where are you going?” Her eyes are still a little dazed, but her body is relaxed.
I kiss her hair. “I’m just moving off of you. I don’t want to crush you.”
She huffs. “You’re not that heavy.”
I chuckle, scooting down and bringing her closer to my side before pulling a sheet up over us. We lay there for a moment, Wren’s fingers drawing lazy patterns across my chest, and I decide this must be what heaven is like.
Dreading her answer, I ask, “Do you need to go home tonight?”
I hope she doesn’t, but if she does, I’ll take her. If she wants to stay, I’ll keep her. The wanting on my side does not get to become pressure on hers.
She shakes her head, and I let out a breath of relief. “No, my mom is home today and doesn’t work until tomorrow afternoon.”
“So you’re staying?”
“If that’s okay with you, yes,” she says, slowly pulling out of my arms. “But I do need to clean up.”
I pull her back toward me before rolling us so that she’s straddling me. “Why do that if I’m just going to get you messy again?”
She tips her head back on a laugh before showing me just how much she likes being the one in charge of setting the pace.
I wake up the next morning with Wren tucked into my side, still sleeping peacefully.
At some point, her hair escaped its buns, falling in little messy pieces all over her face. Her lips are still slightly swollen, and her skin is glowing in the soft sunlight sneaking through my window.
The universe has favorites, and I must be at the top of that list right now.
I carefully try to untangle myself from her before slipping on a pair of sweats and quietly heading toward the kitchen.
I brew a fresh pot of coffee, and not long after the aroma fills the apartment, I hear the sound of footsteps coming down the hall.
Wren walks into the kitchen, her long, tan legs peeking out from one of my shirts. She squints up at me, looking all kinds of half-asleep. “You left me.”
“Good morning to you, too.” I hand her a mug of coffee as she takes a seat at the counter and place a quick kiss on her lips. “I figured you’d need coffee as soon as you woke up. I don’t think you got a lot of sleep last night.”
“Hmm,” she hums, carefully bringing the mug to her mouth. “I wonder why that was.”
“Seems like someone was insatiable.”
She lifts a blonde brow, clearly amused. “Uh-huh. Pretty sure that someone was you.”
I chuckle, turning back to pour myself a cup of coffee before taking a sip. “What time do you need to be back today?”
“Mom’s shift isn’t until three, so I have to be back around two or so.”
I take another sip of my coffee before moving to stand right in front of her. “So you’re saying you’re free for a while? Wanna hang out with me some more?”
She looks up at me, eyes narrowing just slightly, and I suck my bottom lip between my teeth. “That was my plan. Why?”
“Well…” I bring one hand to her face, tracing my thumb along her lips. “I have a pretty nice shower, definitely big enough for two, plus my roommate happens to be gone, and—”
I don’t get to finish my sentence before Wren wraps her arms around my neck, bringing her lips to mine. She giggles as she pulls away, hopping off the stool and heading down the hallway toward my bathroom.
I don’t know what I did to be lucky enough to live in her world, but I’ll gladly stay in it as long as she’ll have me.
“Have you seen my pants?” Wren’s walking around my room, wearing my shirt again, but nothing else.
I grab a fresh pair of boxers before sliding on a clean pair of shorts. “Pretty sure I folded them and put them on my chair by the desk.”
“Of course you did,” she mutters, and I can’t help but chuckle. “What time did you say they’re going to be here?”
Just then, I hear the front door open. “Hello! We’re here. Please have clothes on!”
I grin at Wren as my sister yells through my apartment. “I’d say about now.”
She rolls her eyes as she finishes getting dressed and heads for the door. I grab her wrist before she makes it all the way, pulling her back to me for a kiss.
“Now we can go,” I tell her, and she pushes my chest playfully.
“Oh good,” Harlow says as we walk into the kitchen, “you’re dressed.”
“Ha, ha, ha.” Wren plops onto the couch. “Hilarious.”
Grayson is standing in the kitchen, and I go to grab a glass of water. As I’m opening the cupboard, Grayson makes a choking sound.
“You good?” I ask.
He nods. “Yeah, man. I’m good. Seems like you had a great date.”
I narrow my eyes at him, confused. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Grayson points to his neck, grinning from ear to ear. “Might wanna check the mirror, Cap.”
My eyes swing to Wren, both she and Harlow trying, and failing, to hold in their laughter.
“You didn’t,” I say, heading toward the hallway so I can check my neck.
I hear footsteps following me, and sure enough, by the time I see my reflection in the mirror, I see what the laughing was all about.
She gave me a damn hickey.
Miss Giggles herself walks into the bathroom, eyes wide, anything but repentant. “I didn’t even notice until Grayson did.”
“Uh-huh.” I turn toward her, crowding her against the door frame. “Maybe I should return the favor.”
To my surprise, she just smirks. “Any time, Mercer. Any time. But remember that my siblings range in age from six to sixteen. I’d highly suggest keeping them out of sight.”
With that, she heads back toward the others, me following behind her.
Grayson’s still standing in the kitchen, takes a sip of his drink, and says, “High collar for film today?”
I stare at him, my sister full-on cackling on the couch, Wren chuckling quietly beside me.
I turn toward the sink. “I need to leave the country.”
Grayson’s mouth barely moves. “No judgment, from me at least. Can’t say the same once Cooper sees it.”
“That was judgment.” I grab my discarded water glass, filling it up. “We’re moving on.”
“From the hickey on your neck?” Harlow cackles again.
“Harlow.”
“What? It’s healthy to discuss the consequences of certain actions.”
“It’s also healthy to stop talking.”
Grayson nods. “I don’t know about that one.”
I look at him. “You are supposed to be on my side.”
He laughs. “Sorry, man. I’m really enjoying this.”
Two can play this game.
“Since we’re on the subject, then.” Raising a brow, I hold his stare, and he must realize what he’s done, because he quickly sets his drink down and tries to move farther away. “Anything you’d like to fill me in on between you and my sister?”
“Nope,” he says, taking a seat on the couch next to Harlow. “But you might wanna go change. Weston and Asher are coming over in about five minutes.”
Fuck my life.