“You could have given a girl some warning!” I say, shaking my head even as I laugh. Trust Kai to spring something like this on me.
“Where’s the fun in that?” he teases, signaling the bartender. “The usual for us, Luke.”
As Luke mixes our cocktails, a couple of women sidle up to the bar on either side of Kai. They eye him appreciatively, their smiles turning predatory when they notice me. I see the way they look at him, like he’s something to be conquered or possessed. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
Don’t they realize there’s so much more to him than appearance? Beneath the charm and playboy façade is a depth of character I’m only just beginning to fathom. Kai is culture and contradiction, sensitivity and strength. He’s everything they can’t see.
I love the fact that his background is different from my own, but it’s not why I’m with him. There are so many things I admire about him. I just get the vibe their interest in him is surface level, as if hanging on his arm in Instagram photos will make them more attractive by association.
My hands tighten around the stem of my glass, a surge of possessiveness washing over me. I want to shield this side of him from their gaze, to keep his complexity for myself alone. The depth of my emotions startles me. I’m in deeper than I realized. And if the look in Kai’s eyes is any indication, he knows it, too.
The woman on Kai’s right runs a hand down his arm, her gaze lingering on his tattoos. “I just love your tattoos, they’re so...exotic. I bet you have a gorgeous accent as well. I’ve heard about people from where you’re from… you’re all so… gorgeous. I’ve longed to meet a man from there.”
A flare of irritation sparks in me at her objectification. I move closer, sliding an arm around Kai’s waist and meeting her look with a smile. “Aren’t my husband’s tattoos amazing? Each one has a story that’s even more fascinating. Right, Kai?”
His arm wraps around me in turn, grin flashing. “That’s right, wifey.” The woman’s smile falters at the implication, and Kai gives her a polite but dismissive nod. “Thanks for the compliment. Have a good night.”
She stalks off in a huff, her ankle twisting awkwardly on her impossibly high heels and almost sending her careening to the floor, with her friend hurrying after her.
I let out a breath, the tension easing from my shoulders.
Kai’s hand squeezes my hip, drawing me against his side. “My hero,” he murmurs, humor glinting in his eyes. “How will I ever repay you?”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.” I arch a brow and meet his gaze, unable to resist the flirtation. “Nice ‘neutral stare’, by the way.” I grin.
A deep laugh rumbles in his chest. “Careful. I may take that as a challenge.” His gaze turns molten, igniting a slow burn of heat low in my belly. “Ready to get out of here?”
I nod, my pulse leaping at the promise in his tone.
We drain our drinks and head out into the night, Kai’s giant arm remaining comfortably snug around my waist. The cool air is a relief after the close warmth of the bar, sharpening my senses. Kai hails a cab, giving the driver an address I don’t recognize.
“Where are we going?” I ask as we slide into the backseat.
“My place.” He grins, eyes glinting. “I thought it was time I showed you where I live.”
Anticipation thrills through me at the implication. I lean into him as the cab pulls away from the curb, my pulse racing with the unknown. What else will Kai reveal to me tonight? I can hardly wait to find out.
The cab rolls to a stop outside a stylish high-rise, all sharp angles and glittering glass. “This is me,” Kai says, ushering me through the lobby. We take an elevator up to the penthouse, and the automatic doors open into a spacious loft with panoramic views of the city.
The space is modern but warm, decorated in a blend of sleek and rugged with artful nods to Polynesian influence. Kai gives me the tour, pointing out details of personal significance with casual intimacy, as if I’ve been here many times before.
It’s a glimpse into a private world he rarely shares. I soak in each detail, piecing together a fuller picture of the man behind the charm. Here, in this place he calls home, I find Kai laid bare. It’s a massive change from the last time we were together, in a neutral hotel room full of beige and other neutral tones. This is much more exciting, much more personal. And I want nothing more than to lose myself in every part of him.
When the tour ends in the bedroom, I turn to find Kai watching me with a smoldering look. Heart pounding, I close the distance between us and press my lips to his. There’s no pretense, no suggestion of a nightcap that neither of us is remotely interested in.
Kai returns the kiss hungrily, his giant hands roaming my body. He lifts me onto the bed, leaning over me as our kisses grow more heated.
“I want this to be unforgettable for you,” he murmurs against my skin. His lips trail down my neck, igniting sparks with each touch. “Let me show you how much you mean to me.”
I arch into him with a gasp, desire flooding my senses. “With you, it’s always more than I could have imagined.”
Kai grins, his eyes darkening, and proceeds to prove my words true in the most pleasurable way. His hands and mouth move over me expertly, drawing out responses I never knew I was capable of. Before long I’m trembling at his mercy, my senses overloaded with bliss.
Kai guides me from the bed and presses me up against the floor to ceiling window, my palms pressed against the cool glass. Below us, the city is a sea of twinkling lights, a breathtaking view from up here in his penthouse.
His massive cock slams into me from behind and I gasp, seeing stars. So deep, so hard—it’s almost too much.
“Look at that view, Dylan.” His voice is a low rumble against my ear. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?”