Page 65 of Kai
After a little while, I opened my eyes and blinked up at him. “I’m going to win this.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Kai’s smile rivaled the sunlight. “Feeling good?”
“Feeling brave.” I paused, hesitated, then went for it, realizing I needed answers, because not knowing was driving me insane. “What happened at the ridge?”
He straightened his lips. “I thought you wanted to avoid that topic.”
“I reserve the right to change my mind, remember?”
“I do now.” He took a deep breath. “The ridge was great.”
“For me,” I said. “Until you grossed out.”
“Grossed out?”He shook his head adamantly. “Fuck, no. That’s not what happened.”
“So, I didn’t repulse you?”
“Hell, no,” he said. “I wanted you so bad I almost exploded in my swimsuit.”
“So, this lust thing goes both ways?”
“It does.” His aura flared to show me he was telling the truth, as usual.
“Then what happened?” I asked. “Why didn’t you want me to… you know… do you?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Try,” I said. “And please don’t give me the standard ‘it wasn’t you, it was me,’ because I may very well drown you in shallow water.”
“I’m not sure.” The hesitation that dimmed his eyes surprised me. “I think I chickened out.”
“You don’t chicken out, Marine.” I discovered I could float and toss out accusations simultaneously. “If you’re not repelled by me and my bitchy attitude, then there’s something else going on here.”
“I’m not repelled by you or your attitude,” he came back at me, his tone firm, his gaze glittering with resolve. “I’m so attracted to you I’ve had a boner for days. You’re amazing, smart, beautiful, captivating…”
“But?”
“But… up there… I froze.”
“You mean you froze inside?”
“Yes.”
“I can tell it’s not for lack of wanting.” I brushed the tips of my fingers casually over his board shorts, where his erection spoke even louder than his aura.
He scoffed. “You’re right about that.”
“So, what happened at the ridge was… what?” I could also float and make coherent conclusions at once. “You shut down and then you shut me out?”
“Something like that.”
“You can’t talk about it,” I said bluntly. “Am I right?”
“Not right now, but maybe—”
“You’re not cheating on someone or something awful like that, are you?” I narrowed my eyes at his face. “Because I want no part of that.”
“I’m not the cheating type,” he offered evenly.
