Page 28 of Bloody Temptations

“What happened?” Apparently, I’m a sucker for punishment. I’m just glad it comes off as light and curious, not seething with jealousy.

Kai shrugs. “Nothing. It was never actually a ‘thing’ type of thing. Just convenience. Then we became closer as friends and that side of things just naturally died. No big deal.”

He doesn’t sound like he’s secretly pining for his best friend, but I’ve never been great at casual—not that I’ve ever really had a chance to practise—so what do I know?

“What about the dancing?” Okay, that came out way more pointedly than I meant it to. Kai’s laugh is loud and sharp in the otherwise muffled sounds of the cafe. Hopefully they are using some sort of warding to dull the sounds of the booths.

“That is just all in good fun. Seriously, there is absolutely nothing sexy about it.” Kai pauses, his head tilting as a sly smile spreads across his face. “Well, that’s not entirely true. It’s sexy as shit, but not because of Nikolo.”

Oh fuck. Heat darkens his eyes and I’m not in any way prepared for it. I chuckle nervously, rubbing the back of my neck where the fresh blood in my veins pools hot and prickly.

“Yeah, it’s definitely got something going for it.”

“You like watching me, Finn?” Kai’s voice is a touch deeper. He sinks further into the couch so his body pushes against me just a little bit harder.

My body is all kinds of hot and embarrassed all over again. I have no idea why he’s flirting with me like this. I’m not used to this kind of joking around and it’s making my nerves pull me in all kinds of directions. I don’t know if I want to run away or jump him right here, right now.

“Ugh, you know you’re hot. Don’t fish for compliments. It’s not cute.” A complete lie, it’s really fucking cute. Rolling my eyes, I huff with fake exasperation. Kai laughs, again, sitting up and withdrawing from my space enough to let me breathe—metaphorically—again.

“It’s a little cute. Admit it.” He taps my knee with the back of his hand and leans forward to get his drink, giving me a quick second to subtly rearrange myself. “Besides, I like being watched.”

He watches me choke on my saliva over the rim of his cup, his smirk just visible. At least I don’t have to feel so guilty about all those solo hours I’ve put into watching his videos, now do I? I reason, but only to myself.

Instead, I shake my head, and shove his thigh playfully. It makes him laugh and the brief contact does something to take the edge off the buzz under my skin.

As if he can sense how overwhelmed I am, he lets me take over the conversation, updating him on all the latest stories I’ve read onCrumbles.

It’s a special kind of torture as we laugh and talk and he jumps in with random stories and bits and pieces. He’s invested in everything I have to say, and it’s almost too much attention. I’ve never felt so interesting as when he’s watching me; it prods my egointo a fresh new life.

By the end of the night, I think I get his exhibitionism thing. Even if it’s not for me. Well, maybe if it’s him watching. I think I could get behind that.

“I better go,” I say reluctantly, pulling out my phone to check the time. It’s getting far too close to dawn for safety. I can feel the fatigue setting in.

“Yeah, it’s about that time. Let me just go settle the bill and I’ll give you a ride.” Kai pats himself down and stands. He’s a bit stiff because we’ve been sitting in the cramped booth for a couple of hours now.

“You don’t have to do that. Here, let me—” I try to stand, but it’s too small a space. That and Kai rests a hand on my shoulder, gently forcing me to sit back down.

“I kind of insist. I invited you, I’m paying.” He looks down at me so intently, my mind flashes to another scenario with him standing over me just like this, only with less clothes and a lot more privacy and I nod dumbly. Satisfied, he pats my shoulder and disappears to pay.

A short walk in the freezing dark of the morning and we’re in his car. If I thought the walk was awkward, our hands brushing together with each step, the car ride is much, much worse.

That nagging question is back. Because even though I started this night about eighty-nine percent sure that this is just a friendly hangout and Kai is just a flirty type of guy, it really, really feels like a date. Like when he went and opened the car door for me, with this sheepish little smile on his face and a hand on my lower back to guide me in.

So the awkwardness is entirely my fault, and I can’t stop the questions running through my head, which means I give really terrible directions to my place.

“Sorry,” I apologise for my attempts at navigation as we pull up in the front of my apartment complex. It’s an old, squat, brown building, wedged in between two much taller, newer apartment buildings withcoffee shops and twenty-four-hour gyms underneath. Even though they are all flash and no substance, they really put our scraggly patch of grass to shame. “I’m still getting used to how to get everywhere.”

“Not a problem. We got here in the end.” Kai twists in his seat to face me. It’s late enough that even he’s looking tired.

“You don’t have far to drive back to yours do you?”

“You inviting me up, Finn? Let me crash at yours until the sun’s gone?” He winks, biting his lip playfully. “Nah, this time of the morning, it’s a quick run. Nikki and I live close to the club.”

There is a palpable something in the air of the car. I need to get out, my hand is even on the door. But I can’t seem to make myself open it. Kai is looking at me with an expression I can’t quite place.

That something feels a lot like I should lean across the console and kiss him. My eyes drop to his lips and immediately snap up to his eyes like they’ve been burnt. My teeth ache, my lips can almost feel the tingle of the contact.

That something brews and bubbles, the seconds ticking by like we are caught in our own bubble separate from time. I swear Kai is closer, leaning towards me in slow motion.

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