It was a week since the playdate and the devastating kiss between her and Tyler. She hadn’t set eyes on him since that night when she left his house. It was a deliberate act, she suspected, and she welcomed it. A distance between them was best for both of them. Their history was too painful for them to be in each other’s company all the time. Frayed nerves were set to go off, and the results would surely be unpleasant.
Since she, too, had been very busy trying to finalize the deal on her new school, she didn’t mind the fact that he no longer dropped off and picked Lili at the dance school.
His mom did all that now, and although the woman treated her frostily, it hadn’t stopped Kaiya from being warm and friendly to her. At least she got to see Lili every day, which was a blessing. Her bond with the little girl was growing, and Kaiya was beginning to fear that her strained relationship with the beautiful girl’s father might affect her connection with Lili.
What if Tyler suddenly decided that he didn’t want his daughter coming to her dance school anymore? What would she do then? Would she give up on the little girl or try to work on her relationship with Tyler?
She would be devastated if she didn’t get to see Lili every day. She wouldn’t worry about it now. Enjoying this party was what she would try to do.
Seeing her mom who just returned from her trip to Europe, she weaved her way through the crowd to reach her. Her sister wasn’t in attendance because she wasn’t feeling well.
Unfortunately, her mom couldn’t talk much because she kept being called away, or their conversation was interrupted by someone or a couple who wanted to say hello.
Giving up, Kaiya mixed with the crowd, having conversations with some of the people she had known almost all her life.
“Hello, beautiful.”
Kaiya turned to see Marcus looking splendid in a tux. A low groan left her throat. She had forgotten that he was a part of her Finn’s staff.
Smiling stiffly, she replied, “Marcus! You look good.”
“Not as good as you,” he answered, his gaze sensually going down her body that was clad in a strapless black sequin dress that ended just below her knees.
“Thank you,” she responded with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Smiling seductively, Marcus said, “Can I have this dance?”
Reluctantly, she nodded and took his outstretched hand. On the dance floor, she protested a little when Marcus drew her so close to his body that she couldn’t breathe. He apologized and stepped away a little.
“I’ve missed you terribly, Kaiya,” he commented as they moved their body to the rhythm of the music.
She didn’t say anything. What was there to say? She hadn’t even thought of him to forget missing him. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she wanted a man who she considered her enemy to make love to her.
“Please reconsider our relationship. My body burns for you.” He drew her close again, and Kaiya gasped when she felt the throbbing bulge poking below her stomach. She blushed and looked around her. Shamelessly, Marcus continued. “Feel what you do to me, Kaiya. The mere sight of you drives me crazy. We should be together.”
“It was just sex, nothing more,” she inserted coolly.
With a harsh whisper, he refuted her statement. “No, it’s not just sex. We’re made for each other.”
Kaiya rolled her eyes just as the hairs at the back of her neck stood. For some reason, she felt she was being watched intently by someone. But when her gaze trailed the room, she couldn’t find the suspect. Everyone was doing their thing.
Kaiya gritted her teeth and hoped the song would end soon because she couldn’t take Marcus’s sensual words anymore nor his blatant arousal still poking at her body.
A low sigh of relief fell from her mouth when the dance finally came to an end. Marcus asked for another, but she politely refused.
Shaking her head, she remarked, “Please excuse me. I have to use the washroom.”
She noticed Marcus was following her only when she had reached the end of the hall. She decided to ignore him. She reached the washroom and gave him a pointed stare to deter him from coming in with her. To her amazement, he did.
“What do you want, Marcus?” she queried sharply, folding her hands across her chest.
“You know you want me, Kaiya,” he purred, covering the distance between them.
“Not anymore.” She eyed him angrily. “Now, please leave, I need to use the washroom.”
“Do you really want me to leave?” His eyes dimmed, which annoyed her further.
“Please leave, Marcus.”
