Page 57 of Defend Me

I shrugged. “Sen likes me and I think it’s Kai’s life mission to make him happy, so I feel pretty safe.”

“Unless you piss off Sen. I bet Kai is waiting for a reason to drop you.”

Narrowing my eyes, I put a piece of sushi in my mouth. It was satisfying when his gaze moved to my lips just like mine had.

I pointed my chopsticks at him with a menacing expression. “If you were on the run from the government, where would you go?”

“The streets.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It is. Blend in with the homeless community. They’re never gonna find you as long as you don’t do anything that’ll get you arrested.”

“You’ll just live on the streets forever?”

“Nah, just long enough for them to chill out and forget my face a bit. Then, I’d go to New Zealand. Since I know you’re gonna ask, it’s because I have some family that still lives there. It’s where my grandparents came from.”

I found myself smiling, so I paid attention to the belt, waiting for something that looked good to come around.

“What’s your favorite thing about yourself? Physically.”

The question made me groan. “I don’t know, uh… Since you have no frame of reference, I’m gonna say my dick.”

A smirk settled on his lips. “I have some frame of reference.”

“Doesn’t count.”

“Debatable.”

“Okay,” I drawled. “What’s your favorite thing about me?”

“That’s a hard one.”

“Because there are none, huh?” I laughed when he kicked me under the table.

“Your soul.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Fine, I guess you get two. Don’t let it go to your head, though. Your smile. The big, real one when you’re happy.” He tapped his finger next to his temple. “It affects your whole face, your eyes. Every time, it gives me butterflies.”

I had no idea what to say to that. Whatever smile he was talking about, I’d never seen it. If I could replicate it in a mirror, I’d try so that I could try to find what he saw.

He got up and moved to my side of the table. I scooted over so he could sit in the booth. His arm stretched across the back of it, then he leaned toward me. With a wink, he grabbed my last spicy tuna roll.

“Same question for you,” he said.

My response was immediate. “Your lips.”

Those very lips curled upward beautifully. “Yeah?”

“They’re your biggest tell. Your eyes are always guarded, but you don’t always control what you’re doing with your mouth.”

“Hm. I don’t like that.”

“They’re also beautiful lips,” I added playfully.

“So are yours.”

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