“You hurt me,” I admit. “When you said you regretted every second you spent with me.” Pain dances in his eyes. “I know you didn’t mean it, and I tried telling myself that, but it didn’t matter. Seeing you whispering with her, and touching her, it… it killed me.”
“I took it too far.” He holds my face in his larger palms. “I didn’t intend to be that hurtful. I knew we needed to snap at one another, to sneer and pretend like we hated each other, but I wasn’t planning on being so touchy with her.”
His tongue darts out, wetting his lush lower lip, and I’m envious.
I want to be the one licking his lips.
Tasting how sweet and sexy they are.
“I let jealousy get the better of me,” he explains. “He was all over you, Abby, and I was frustrated and fucking mad as hell.”
“I couldn’t stop him, Kai, because Father was watching us like a hawk.”
“I noticed.” Kai scowls. “And it wasn’t just him. Everyone was watching us with bated breath.”
“I’m sorry about the kiss.” I drag my nails lightly through the side of his head, in the place where his skull tattoo starts, and he purrs under my touch. “I hated it. And I knew it was upsetting you, but I couldn’t see any way out of it without making it look obvious.”
“I know, baby.” He rubs the underside of my wrist, sending delicious tingles shooting up my arm. “You have no idea how badly I want to end Charlie Barron.” His eyes burn with anger, and he sighs heavily. “But I’ve been thinking about it ever since, and I can’t deny how much he cares about you. And that’s… that’s a good thing.”
My brows climb to my hairline. “What are you saying?”
“He’s genuine in his feelings, Abby. I’ve always thought that, but he confirmed it today. Yes, he was all grabby hands to send me a message, but he loves you. Or at least he thinks he does.”
“And you’re pleased about that?” My voice is laced with disbelief.
“It’s better than the alternative.” His reaction shocks me into silence. “I hate him. I hate every look and every touch. But he won’t let anyone harm you, and that is reassuring. I can’t be there to protect you.” His voice cracks, and his face contorts unpleasantly. “And I’m worrying about you nonstop. It helps that I know he’d die to save you. I still hate the bastard, but it’s better he truly loves you than it being a lie.”
I’m stunned speechless, and Kai knows it. He smiles, tweaking my nose.
Someone pounds on the door. “Open the fucking door, Kai,” Drew shouts.
Kai’s eyes widen. “I thought this room was soundproof? How can we hear him?”
“Xavier built it using this new technology developed by some Italian scientists. It’s kind of like a one-way mirror for sound. They can’t hear us, but we can hear them.”
“Man, he really is a freak.”
I thump him in the arm. “He’s a freaking genius. And we’re lucky he’s on our side.”
“Kai!” Drew roars. “I’m not fucking messing. Open the damn door before I take a sledgehammer to it and your face.”
Kai laughs, and I roll my eyes. Now that we’ve both gotten that off our chests, it’s like a weight has been lifted. I feel lighter and more reassured than when I arrived here. Kai moves to place me on the seat alongside him. “Wait.” I cling onto him. I examine his face closely. “This is going to be infinitely harder than we thought.” I bite down on my lip. “He won’t stop testing us. Pushing us. Can we do this?”
His answering kiss is devoid of the recent tenderness and laced with resolve. “Yes, we can fucking do this.” He grabs hold of my face. “We love each other, and we both understand what we need to do to protect one another and our relationship.” He rubs at my cheek. “No other couple could handle this.” Steely determination glints in his eye. “But we can.” His eyes search mine. “Because we’re one and the same, Abby, and there isn’t anything either of us won’t do to save the other.”
Including kissing other people, it seems. My gut twists painfully at the thought of having to watch Kai kiss that fawning bitch. But if he can watch me kissing Charlie, I guess I’ll just have to suck it up. I still live with the memories of Rochelle grinding in his lap and giving him head, and at least it’s not as bad as that.
Plus, if Dad continues to involve him, then it means Kai and Rick will be at the wedding party in the dungeon, and more hands on deck is always a good thing.
I’ll just have to focus on finding the positives in every situation forced on us rather than dwelling on the negatives.
I press my forehead to his again, ignoring Drew’s latest round of insults as he continues pounding on the door, demanding we open up. “I would die for you, Kai.” I mean it sincerely. “Nothing or no one means more to me than you.”
His lips crush against mine again, and we are both panting when we break apart. “The only ones dying are those bastards who helped give us life.” He sweeps his thumb along my swollen bottom lip. “But you and me aren’t dying, Abby. We’re going to do this. And we’re going to live a long and happy life together.”
I commit his words to memory, knowing I’ll need them to keep me motivated, and sane, in the coming weeks.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
