Confirmation. Kong’s heart beat rapidly in his chest as Ayla smiled, descending the stairs. She took his breath away. Hair swept up into a messy bun, skin glowing against the red silk of her two-piece camisole and short set with little bows in the detail to the spaghetti straps. She was effortlessly perfect in his eyes.
“Find out everything about that adoption and get back to me,” Kong said in a rush before hanging up.
Ayla caught the concern on his face when she padded in his direction.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “It’s just been a long day.”
She glanced past him at the picnic he had arranged on the floor for them. All her favorite rolls were lined up on a service tray with wasabi, soy sauce, and chopsticks. Her stomachrumbled at the idea of a California crab roll. Kong even lit candles, giving the room a romantic ambiance.
“You did this for me?” she asked, big brown eyes filled with admiration like he was the only man in the world for her.
Kong’s shoulders relaxed, and he tried to push the information Mozzi had given him out of his mind, at least for tonight.
“I fucked up that first go round.” Kong swiped his beard, and Ayla watched how he seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say. “I made bad decision after bad decision, and each time, it hurt you. I’m not trying to ever do that again. I need you to know that.”
She had no idea what he struggled with. Mira’s words ate at him all the time following that night. He’d put off mentioning it to Audiemar because he was afraid of what he would find out and what it would change. Now, on top of everything else, this whole situation with the Whitakers was pulling at his intuition.
“You’ve made that pretty clear since I’ve been back.” Ayla grabbed his hand, and her warm chestnut eyes landed on his. “Nobody can ever say you Blackmoor men aren’t persistent if nothing else.” She tittered.
The familiar tone of her cell going off caught Ayla’s attention. She picked it up off her coffee table and studied the screen where her sister’s face flashed. Kong noticed the hesitation. Ayla didn’t answer. Instead, she let her go to voicemail and then turned the phone on DND with a sigh.
“When are you going to let her in?”
She faced him, void of any type of expression before shaking her head. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about the fact that you’ve been holding Inari at arm’s length for months. She doesn’t deserve that. She grieved you for months?—”
“You her cheerleader now?” Ayla queried, arms folding across her breasts.
“She was there for me, and I was there for her. I saw firsthand what she went through when she thought you were dead.”
“I don’t want to talk about this.” Ayla threw her hands up and reached for the bottle of wine on the table.
The cork had already been popped, so she just had to pour. Grabbing her glass, she filled it to the top and took a gulp with her back to Kong. He came up behind her, hands falling on her shoulders, which caused her to tense. She didn’t need Kong telling her how to move in her relationship with her own sister. She’d deal with Inari when she felt like it. The whole time she was locked in that room, all she kept thinking about was how her own sister had lied to her for nearly her whole life. How were they supposed to come back from that?
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do.” He kissed her shoulder, and Ayla sighed with her next sip waiting at her lips.
“I know.” Shoulders shrinking, she shut her eyes and absorbed his touch.
“Then let’s forget about that and everything else right now. Come on, let’s eat.” With his hands on her hips, he spun her so she was facing him, a cute pout on her lips.
Kong reached for her free hand and led her over to the living room, where he had everything set up for their night together. Grabbing her glass from her hand, he set it on the table and nodded for her to take position on the cashmere cover he’d arranged. She had to admit, it was perfect, and she was truly grateful for the moment. A soft smile claimed her lips, and Kong picked up the chopsticks. He picked up a piece of the spicy crab roll, knowing it was her favorite before he dipped it in soy sauce and brought it to her lips. Ayla opened her mouth and accepted, bliss filling her taste buds when the flavor burst on her tongue.Sushi was probably the one thing she hadn’t had since being home.
“Mmm, that’s good,” she mumbled, chewing slowly.
Kong licked his lips, watching her enjoy her food. Entranced. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Ayla practically forgot all about him as she grabbed the chopsticks and plucked away at the array of rolls in front of her. She inhaled one after another, and Kong sipped his wine and sniggered.
“You got me feeling like a fat kid!” she said, chewing the last of the crawfish and asparagus roll she’d just popped into her mouth. “Don’t you want some?” she turned to him and asked with the chopsticks resting in her hands against her thigh.
Kong didn’t respond, but she read the hunger in his eyes for something else. He’d been looking at her as if she’d put some kind of spell on him since she’d been home. She didn’t want to rush into anything, though. Learning about him and Nayelli and all the other shit that had gone on while she was gone was enough for her to pump the brakes and give them both some space. She plucked a roll into her chopsticks and dipped it in soy sauce before bringing it to his lips. Kong took it in slowly, eyes fixated on her as he chewed.
“It’s good.”
“You should have some of these dumplings and tempura. It’s so good.” Ayla took a moment, taking in every inch of his handsome face before sloping toward him.
Kong allowed her to lead as her supple mouth smothered his. He didn’t want to do anything she didn’t want. She dipped her finger in the sweet and sour sauce for the dumpling and brought it to his mouth. Using it as a gloss over his lips, Ayla leaned forward, tasting him gradually. Her tongue slithered along his bottom lip, then his top, before she devoured him with a kiss.
