Page 171 of Puck Me Back to Life

“Yes.” I grin. “I also want nasty, whiny sex, but that's not the highlight. Just a plus.”

I point my fork at him again. “But if you ever introduce me as your fuck buddy…”

He starts laughing before I even finish. “I won't, I won't.”

A drunken haze seems to waft over Kai as he asks the next question. “When did we start dating?”

I think about it. “I don't know.”

“No idea?”

“I think somewhere between buying you books and cleaning your apartment.”

His ears turn pink. “I don't remember agreeing.”

I smirk. “You let me kiss you. You sleep in my bed most nights. You put up with my horror movies. I figured you were basically mine.”

He tilts his head. “Don't forget the letting you tie me up.”

I laugh, surprised. “You really enjoy making me blush.”

“I do.” He smiles into his wine glass.

I stare at him for a second, then reach my legs under the table to tangle with his.

“I think…” I shake my head. “I think I started falling for you before I even realized it.”

His smile slowly fades. The joking atmosphere softens into something quieter.

“What made you…” He searches for the words. “Me?”

The answer comes easier than I expected.

“Your kindness.” I set my fork down. “You have no idea how gentle you are.”

He immediately starts shaking his head. “I don't think that's true.”

“I didn't ask what you thought, Hayes.”

A small smile spreads on his mouth.

“You make me feel safe,” I admit

His head lifts immediately. “Safe?”

I nod. “My grandfather was the only person who was ever really gentle with me. Your kindness… it reminds me of that.”

He stares down into his wine glass for a long moment, his ears turning pink.

The room has gone quiet again, light jazz filling the silence as I wish to bring him closer.

Kai is watching me with those impossibly gentle gray eyes. He doesn't rush to fill the silence. He lets it exist.

Eventually, he speaks. “Can I ask you something?”

I nod. “You can ask me anything.”

His fingers turn the stem of his wine glass slowly. “You don't have to answer if you don't want to.”