Page 139 of Heir

I could understand that. After all, I didn’t like it when other people touched me either, but that had more to do with my hypersensitivity. Most people didn’t know how to touch me.

They did it wrong.

But Kai knew just the right amount of pressure to use to calm me, and ground me in the space I was in. Like last night at the bar.

But did Kai like my touch?

Almost as if he could hear my unasked questions, he squeezed me to him and said, “I find I’m breaking all my rules with you. It’s not too bad when you touch me.”

I smiled. “Good. I like touching you.”

His chest rumbled as he laughed, this one sounding different from the other ones. Better. I leaned back against him.

I had called the museum this morning to take the rest of the week off. I hadn’t put in my notice yet, still unsure about where I stood with Kai, even if he told me he wasn’t letting me out of his sight.

But what about when he had to go to work?

I wished I had given Leslie some advance notice, instead of calling so suddenly.

I had some time saved up, so it wasn’t exactly a problem, but we were running on a tight schedule and my calling out hung Leslie out to dry. I felt guilty about it, but Kai was right. Last night proved Mom and Uncle Frank weren’t going to give up, even though I was sure she would have guessed I was no longer a virgin, considering all the time I spent hanging out with Kai.

I didn’t know what the penalties were for going back on the bid on the darknet, and I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to care.

It wasn’t my problem.

At least, that was what I tried to tell myself.

It was easier to convince myself to forget my problems when he held onto me like this.

My hands skimmed the surface of the water softly. I could feel Kai’s eyes on me.

Slowly, he pushed up and grabbed the clean cloth nearby. He put some body wash on it and scrubbed my body thoroughly.

We cleaned up pretty quickly, and then got out, towel-drying ourselves next to each other. I looked at Kai’s mirror reflection, looking away when he directed his eyes at me.

I felt…

Empty and light.

But in the best way, something I didn’t think would be the case when I woke up this morning and realized I would have to tell Kai the truth.

Things were off to a good start.

23

KAI

A weekand a half passed in peace.

I had stayed home with Gemma the entire time, and we barely went anywhere, save for a trip to the grocery store to stock up and back to Blue’s apartment to pack the rest of her things. She barely had anything to pack, which was a fucking tragedy, and I vowed when shit settled and I felt safe taking her out again, the first thing we’d fucking do was go shopping.

For now, I settled for buying her things online, which soothed a part of me I hadn’t realized existed. I fucking loved taking care of her and providing for her.

It was a week of bliss, though, in the back of my mind, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Things had been too quiet with the Savkin Bratva. I was no closer to figuring out their involvement in all this than when I first found out their pakhan had bid one hundred thousand dollars for Gemma’s virginity.

There were also no signs of Gemma’s mom or stepdad.

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