Page 40 of Fault Line

“Becker, come on.” She tilts her head, giving me a small frown. “We both agreed.”

“I know, but hear me out. I thought that’s what all this tension had been building up to, right? We just needed the one night to get this shit out of our system. Hell, I’ve been wanting to get a taste of you since the second I laid eyes on you. And I thought, after I did, that maybe I could clear the idea from my head. But it was so fucking good between us, right?”

“It was nice, yeah, but—”

“Judging by the way you were trembling and shaking until you passed out, I’d say it was more than justnice.”

“Okay, calm down, Casanova.” She rolls her eyes. “Yes, I’ll admit that it was great. It’s clear we have sexual chemistry. And I did sleep like a baby afterward, which is honestly what I was looking for, so—”

I falter back. “Wait, what?”

“I uh—” Her voice trails off as she awkwardly scratches at the back of her neck, pulling at some of the stray baby hairs. “I’ve been struggling to fall asleep for a while now. It’s like my mind just won’t stop buzzing, and I can’t seem to find any relief no matter what I try. I was hoping that maybe a hookup would help me shut off my brain. Let me get a few solid hours in.”

I tilt my head, watching her carefully. I can’t deny the way my pulse quickens at the thought of being with her again. “And what, you think one night of sleep is gonna tide you over for the rest of time?” I ask, arching a brow.

“It should do.” Her lips quirk up in a small smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I feel like a new person already.”

I take another step closer, closing the gap between us. “Karras,” I murmur, my voice low and soft. “Let me try again for you. Let me be that guy.”

She blinks, her gaze flicking up to meet mine. “That guy?” she echoes.

“If you’re struggling, I wanna be the guy you call for help. The one who can make you forget about everything else and just ... be in the moment.”

There’s a long, stilted silence, the air between us heavy with unspoken tension. Finally, she speaks again, her tone teasing. “So, what you’re saying is that you want to be my last resort?”

A smirk tilts my lips. “As long as I’m your something.”

She shakes her head. “Not happening.”

“Okay, well, you had your shot.”

“Oh, yeah?” She snorts, her tone lightening. “What is this—a limited-time offer?”

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me, even though it’s laced with disappointment. “I’m a hot commodity, Karras. I won’t be on sale for too much longer.”

“I think I’ll take my chances.”

“Your loss.” I shrug, letting it go for now. There’s no use pushing the issue, not when I’m certain this thing between us is far from over. We both feel it, and I know it’s only a matter of time before Kaia willingly admits the truth.

If she’s looking for the key to unlock her problems, then I’m exactly what she fucking needs. It’s undeniable.

* * *

As I stepinside the gym, I find my housemates standing in a tight huddle, heads together, chuckling like they’re sharing some sort of inside joke. But as soon as they catch sight of me, they all break apart, grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s up, Becksy?” Rai asks, clapping me on the back. “We didn’t get a chance to chat after the meeting yesterday.”

I know what’s coming next, and I’m not exactly in the mood for their teasing, but I play along anyway. “Yeah? And what’d you all want tochatabout?”

They share a smirk, and Bodie elbows Rai in the ribs. “We were just wondering where you went on Saturday night.”

“Yeah,” Will chimes in, raising a brow. “One minute, you were there chatting with some of the brothers. And then the next, you were gone. Vanished like a fucking magician.”

I work to steady my voice. “Just had some stuff to take care of.”

“Stuff?” Rai echoes, giving me a pointed look. “What kind of stuff?”

I grab a towel from the rack and start to stretch. “You know, just running some errands. Nothing exciting.”

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