Chapter 23 #2
Kai was gazing up at me; his chin glistened with my release, and his pupils were blown wide. He looked thoroughly debauched, but as he stared, his eyes still shone with such awe and tenderness, it was almost overwhelming.
He kissed my inner thigh before moving my leg off his shoulder and placing my still socked foot back on the floor. “You look so beautiful when you’re all mine.”
My face heated as my smile grew. “I’m yours.” The words came out on a whisper that sounded like a question.
He rose slowly, still watching me with a predatory gleam in his eyes, as he undid his pants and pulled out his impressive length. He licked his lips as he stroked himself, never breaking eye contact. My face flamed as I panted, my back resting against the door, still exposed to him.
“Fuck, Wildflower, you turn me on so much. Feeling you come apart on my tongue had me so close to the edge. Fuck, fuuuck,” he moaned as his release hit him and cum shot from his tip. He was close enough that he shot ropes onto my stomach and pelvis.
Once he was finished, he was panting as hard as I was.
“Now that is quite a sight. Look at my cum dripping down your swollen pussy,” he growled as he brought his fingers up to rub the cooling cum into my skin, marking me.
Kai rubbed down my folds and back up over my sensitive clit, making me squirm.
“Kai,” I whined.
“Yes, Wildflower of mine.” He stopped his tormenting touches to rest his forehead against mine before rubbing our noses together. My heart somersaulted at the sweetness of the gesture.
He stepped back, grabbing paper towels to wipe his hands before he helped me into my leggings and retying my shoe for me.
“From the first moment you came back into my life, you’ve been mine.
You’ve always been it for me. You were my best friend, and from when I was seventeen, I knew I loved you.
Leaving you was the hardest thing I ever had to do.
” His blue eyes shone with so much sincerity that I was almost speechless.
“You…you loved me?” My voice shook as his words registered.
He’d loved me all this time; he’d had feelings for me, too.
I’d been sure I’d imagined it; we were both so young and sheltered.
Our friendship had been enough for me, but to know that he wanted more, that he felt more, brought all those suppressed feelings crashing to the surface.
“Kai, I…” I love you too, I wanted to say, but the words got lodged in my throat.
Kai placed his finger on my lips, halting my words. Teasing it over my bottom lip before kissing me. “Not yet, sweetheart. Tell me when you’re free.”
My heart pinched, and I brought my hand up to rub over my chest. Would I ever really be free? “But Kai…are you really willing to wait?”
“I’ll always wait for you.” His words whispered over my skin like a promise, and I knew he’d keep it, no matter what.
It was my turn to fight for us, and that meant facing my past, no matter how badly I wanted to forget all I’d endured.
The only way I would truly be free and about to start my new life was if I cut the strings of the past that still had their hooks in me.
And that meant filing for divorce and getting a restraining order.
My mind raced at the thought of doing that, of finally breaking free, but fear crept in.
Cain would be mad. He’d find me, and he could hurt me, Indy, Kai, any of my new family.
He was vindictive and arrogant. But would he really bother fighting me for a divorce?
Sadly, I knew the answer; yes. Cain hated to lose and would want the last word, no matter what.
“Gracie,” Kai’s whisper broke through my spiraling thoughts.
“Sorry, I…I need to get a divorce…but I’m scared.” My hands started to shake, and my throat felt tight as panic seized my bones.
“Breathe, Gracie, breathe.” Kai’s hands gripped my upper arms, jolting my gaze to meet his. Just seeing his face calmed the edges of my panic so that I could take a full breath. “That’s it, sweetheart. It’ll be okay. I’ll protect you and help you through this.”
I collapsed forward, crashing into Kai’s chest, forcing him to take a step back as his arms wrapped around me. Silent tears dampened his shirt as I held onto him like a lifeline. Which, in this moment, he was.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“You never have to thank me, sweetheart. I’ll always protect you.” Kai held me close, and I breathed in his cedarwood and pine scent. It had always calmed me and made me feel safe, and I needed that more than ever. Especially considering all I was about to face.
Kai and I went our separate ways after class, as I had some forgotten chores to do and had to get ready for work. He promised he’d bring the team by during my shift today, to see me, and I was grateful.
Work started at four, and I oversaw stock levels, making sure everything was ready for us to open at five.
“Evenin’, honey,” Avery called from where she was unloading crates of alcohol when I arrived. She grabbed my arm as I passed her, ready to lose myself in work.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, why?” I asked.
Her gaze assessed my face, and her brows furrowed in concern. “You look beat, is all. You sure you’re okay?” She went back to her task, knowing confrontation was uncomfortable for me.
My cheeks heated as I fidgeted, picking at my cuticles. “I’m fine, just been tired lately. Please, I need all the shifts I can get. I can push through. It won’t affect my work, promise.” I needed this job.
“Hey now.” She paused what she was doing and came straight over to me, staring me straight in the eye. “That is not why I asked. I’ve already told you, y’all have nothing to worry about with your job here. I was worried about my friend.”
Her dark eyes shimmered in the low light of the bar.
“Your friend?” I mumbled.