Page 130 of Powerless

“Shh.”

His fingers have found their way back under my chin, my jaw, cupping my face. Gray eyes drop to my mouth, gaze heavy. And then he’s dragging his thumb along the length of my bottom lip.

Wine.

I can taste it still coating the thumb he’s swiping across my mouth. I’m stunned, stone-still as his eyes track where his finger traces, ever so slowly, back and forth.

I should push him away.

But I don’t.

Instead, I watch him watch me. Watch his eyes roam over my face. Watch his chest heave with shaky breaths. Watch a muscle tick in his cheek. Watch a smile twitch his lips.

His next words are a murmur, as if he’s muttering his innermost thoughts while his thumb continues to wander over my lip. “Will you forever be the prize I am aimlessly trying to win?”

I inhale sharply, staring him down as I say, “Is that all I am to you? A trophy?”

A small smile twitches his lips as he shakes his head at me. “Oh, darling, a trophy implies that I won it, earned it,deserveit.” He leans in further, a certain reverence reflecting in his gaze. “But if I get to have you, it will be because you let me.”

I swallow, my mouth suddenly feeling far too dry.

It’s just the ramblings of a drunk man, that’s all.

His thumb is tracing my mouth and I allow myself one more moment to memorize the feeling.

And then I push him away.

One of my palms finds his chest, forcing some space between us while the other catches his wrist. I pull his fingers away from my mouth, my lips still tingling from his touch. I feel dizzy, like I could get drunk off his touch alone.

Dangerous.

“You’re not sober.” Tilting my head, I give him a smile. “So, you’re not allowed to touch me.”

He copies me, cocking his head to the side as he looks down at where I’m holding his wrist. “But you’re touching me.”

“Yes, well, I’m sober.”

A smile plays at his lips. “So, you’re saying I’m allowed to touch you when I’m sober?” His tone sounds more like a challenge than a question.

I consider it. Then I laugh. “I’m only saying yes because I doubt you’ll remember much of this conversation in the morning.”

His gaze flicks between my mouth and eyes, a drunken smirk twisting his lips. “Oh, darling, I doubt I could forget this.”

I shake my head at him, not bothering to suppress my smile before remembering that I’m still holding his wrist. I lower it slowly, letting it drop to his side as I distract myself by assessing the stain again.

I sigh, exasperated. “Obviously, that stain is not going to come out like this. You’ll need to take off your shirt and soak it.”

His grin is wicked. “You’re trying to get me naked? Again?” He says this far too loud and I’m sure far too many people hear it. I pin him against the tree, clamping a hand over his mouth so no more nonsense can come spewing out of it.

I’m trying not to laugh and failing miserably. I snort and clamp a hand over my mouth, shaking with less than silent laughter at my current situation. At that, I feel Kai’s lips smiling against my palm and tug my hand back before I can change my mind.

“Don’t stop,” he murmurs.

I nearly choke on my laugh. “Stop what?”

“That. Laughing.”

I still at his words, unable to stop myself from falling silent.

---