Page 41 of Kai
“Good.”
She cocked her eyebrows. “Good?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “I like a human with mojo.”
She wrinkled her nose as if she’d caught wind of a stench. “I don’t care if you like me or not.”
I widened my grin. “I’m gonna hope you’re lying.”
She sneered. “You’re deluding yourself if you think I’m a likable person.”
“Youarelikable,” I said without hesitation. “Ilikeyoua lot.”
“Liar,” she snapped. “I’m rude, vicious, and belligerent. I don’t give a damn about anything but my research. Hell, I brokeup my family so that I could be free of my father and do my thing.”
“Aaaaand we’re back to wallowing in guilt,” I deadpanned, even though it killed me that she was so hard on herself.
“It’s true,” she insisted.
“Is it?” I challenged her with a stare. “Your colleagues admire you. Missy and Thena adore you.”
She drew back. “They do?”
“They think you’re brilliant, daring, sensitive, and sweet. I don’t know Affie, but I’m sure she would agree.”
She let out a startled cackle. “Right.”
“That’s what your sisters said, and so far, everything they told me about you is true.”
She squinted at me so fiercely that I wondered if the afternoon sunlight was bothering her. Just in case, I slid my shades from my pocket and offered them to her. She accepted them and put them on. She looked hot with my aviators perched on top of her nose.
I recalled the quiet sighs and moans that had drifted out of her berth this morning, and the words I’d made out when she didn’t know I could hear her.Get in my pussy,she’d whispered. I begged every god in the universe that, in her fantasies, she’d meant that order for me.
Fear and guilt ambushed me. I had to repress the surge, take a deep breath, and give myself the talk.Time to move forward, Marine.Time to test your mettle and prove your progress.
I had to tell her theotherreason I was here. Then I had to let her choose what she wanted to do with that information.
Maybe she’ll laugh at me, and I’ll be off the hook.
That’s the coward’s way,I reminded myself. Didn’t you say you were ready to move forward? Then move, Marine.
“You’re beautiful,” I said as evenly as I could. “Your sisters told me so, but you’re even more gorgeous than they said. You’re also a great kisser.”
“Oh, please.” She slid the sunglasses down her nose, gave me an epic eye roll, and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “That was nothing. Adrenaline. Spur of the moment. Already forgotten.”
I defied the voice in my head that urged me to take that as her final answer and told her one of my truths. “Ihaven’t forgotten it.”
“Well, you should.” She hardened her gaze. “You and I arenotgonna be friends.”
“We are already friends.” I surprised myself by saying that so easily. “Kissingfriends.”
“Kai King.” She took off the shades and plunked them on the table as if she were throwing a gauntlet. “You’re making me want to kick your ass again.”
“Peace, Sorceress.” I pretended to wave a white flag in the air. “We can talk about the kiss later.”
“Or better yet, never again.”
If the curiosity I spotted in her gaze was any indication, she was both alarmed and intrigued by the turn this conversation had taken. This was the opening I’d been looking for. So, I went for it.
