[English] Obligation

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“Where are they now?” Kai asks, forcing me to move in front of him, wrapping his arms around me, and causing me to become immobile.

I try to wiggle away, but Kale looks between us, frowning, so I instantly wrap my arms around Kai, making it look like we’re embracing.

“I’m not sure,” he mutters, looking around, and I do the same even though I have no idea what his mom and dad look like.

“Well, before they get here, let me introduce you to my wife,” Kai says as I return my gaze to Kale.

“Nice to meet you,” I tell him softly.

“You too,” he grunts then glances behind us, a smirk appearing on his face. “Good luck. You’re going to need it,” he says, looking at Kai before disappearing.

I’m just about to open my mouth and yell at Kai about how giant of an idiot he is when I hear someone take a sharp inhale. I turn my head to look over my shoulder and see an older woman who’s wearing a swimsuit with a sarong tied around her waist and a handsome older man wearing a linen shirt and shorts.

“****,” Kai groans under his breath while turning me in his arms and wrapping his hands around my waist.

“Svezda,” the woman whispers, looking at me. Then confusion fills her eyes as she looks at Kai.

“Mom, I would like you to meet Myla. Myla, my mother and father, Leia and Bane Jr.”

Kai’s mother’s eyes travel from Kai to me then back again, and I can see hurt in her eyes, which I don’t understand.

“Nice to meet you,” I tell her, putting my hand out in front of me.

Her eyes drop to my hand then lift to meet mine again. “Bane?” she gasps quietly, looking from my hand to her husband.

I take my eyes off her and look at him just as he’s pulling his eyes off me, but I still catch the look of sadness in his gaze.

“Kai?” I ask as his father tucks his wife into his chest when she begins to sob.

“My mom and yours were very good friends,” he tells me softly in my ear, “and you look a lot like her, so I think it’s just a shock for her to see you here.”

“My mom?” I whisper back.

I don’t have any pictures of my family. I remember my mom having long, blond hair, but that’s all I can recall about her appearance. So thinking about the fact that I might have been seeing my mother every day when I looked in the mirror is shocking.

It takes a moment for Kai’s mom to pull herself together, but when she does, her head turns towards me, and she takes a deep breath before stepping away from her husband and coming to stand in front of me. Her hand lifts and she cups my cheek as tears fill her eyes.

“I didn’t know.” She inhales and closes her eyes when her gaze meets mine again.

I’m confused by the look on her face until she speaks.

“Your mother would have been thrilled. We would joke often when you were young that you and Kai would get married. At the time, it was just wishful thinking, but seeing that her wish has come true, I know she is still watching over you.” She whispers the last part, and I hate myself a little more.

I swallow over the sudden lump in my throat and notice that Kai’s hands have tightened around me so much that I can feel every one of his muscles against my back. I try to speak, but there are no words to describe the emotions I’m feeling right now. I can’t believe that his mother and mine were friends, and I can’t believe he knew the kind of effect this situation would have on everyone yet still followed through with it. He never even gave me a choice in the matter, and I feel worse now than I ever did.

“You knew my parents?” is the first thing that comes out of my mouth, and then I feel horrible when silent tears begin to fall from her eyes.

“I did. We did. I thought…” She pauses and looks over her shoulder at her husband then brings her gaze back to me. “I believed you were dead. If I had known, I would ha—”

“Leia,” Kai’s father says, cutting her off, and comes to stand next to her. “Maxim didn’t want that.”

“But—” she tries to argue.

“No, love. It wouldn’t have been safe,” Bane says firmly, and Leia dips her chin then looks up at Kai through her long lashes.

“How did you know?” she asks him quietly.

I tilt my head back to look at Kai. His sunglasses are now sitting on top of his head again, his eyes focused on his mother.

“We always knew,” Kai tells her.

I instantly wonder what else he could be keeping from me. I first believed he was doing this to help me, but a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach is leading me to believe that this has more to do with him than me. I just can’t figure out why.

“I know you have a lot of questions, but let’s put them off for another time. Myla hasn’t eaten.”

“I’m fine,” I tell him, hoping he will relent. I have a lot of questions of my own, and maybe his mom will be able to answer them for me.

“You need to eat,” he tells me on a squeeze.

“He’s right, honey. And we’ll have plenty of time to talk when we’re planning your real wedding.”

At her words, the nausea I was feeling earlier comes back in full force, making it hard to breathe.

“That’s not necessary,” I wheeze out.

“Of course it is. I don’t understand kids these days, all of you in such a hurry to get things done that you forget you need to remember the little moments. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy you have fallen in love with my son, but as a friend of your mother’s, I know she would have wanted a big wedding, with you in a dress. I want to make that happen for her.”

I nod because I can’t say anything.

“We should find your sister. I know she will be excited to meet Myla,” Kai’s mom mutters, looking around.

“She met her earlier,” Kai states, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

Her eyes come back to us and go soft when she sees Kai press a kiss to the side of my head, which I stupidly feel all the way down to my toes.

“We’re both glad you’re here, Myla,” Bane says, looking between Kai and me. “I’m sure we will be seeing a lot of each other.”

“We will,” I agree, and he puts his arm around his wife.

“I’m glad you’re here, Myla. I will come over soon and visit with you,” Leia promises.

“I would enjoy that very much,” I tell her, feeling my face brighten.

Without thinking, I take a step towards her and give her a hug. When her arms close around me, I feel like she is somehow a link to my parents, and I will be able to find out whatever it is I need to know. That feeling alone is worth whatever messed-up crap is going to happen.

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“Do you have any photos of my mom?” I quietly ask her when I pull away.

Her face goes soft again, and she gently slides her finger across my forehead, moving a piece of my hair. “I do. I’ll bring them when I come visit you.” She smiles slightly then looks at Kai. “Take care of her.”

“You know I will,” he tells her, and I can hear the sincerity in his tone. “Are you guys going to stick around for a while?”

“Yes. Your uncle Frank is here,” his mom says.

Kai mutters, “great,” under his breath.

“I heard that,” she scolds then looks at me. “You’ll like Frank.” She smiles. “Your mom loved him. He’s funny.”

“No one thinks Frank is as funny as Frank thinks he is,” Kai’s dad says, shaking his head.

“He’s funny,” his mom tells me with a wink. “We will see you guys before we head home.”

“Sure,” I concur, watching them walk away. Once they are out of earshot, I turn in Kai’s arms, get up on my tiptoes, and pull his head down so I can whisper in his ear, “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

He leans his head back and looks down at me. His arms wrap around my waist, and he hauls me flush against him, making me inhale sharply at the feeling he ignites between my legs.

“You told me you would trust me.”

“You keep making that task very difficult,” I tell him honestly.

“Sometimes, the things that seem the most difficult end up being the most extraordinary,” he tells me quietly, dipping his face and running his nose across mine.

My breath pauses as his lips barely skim mine. “Please stop,” I murmur, dropping my forehead to his chest.

He is making it so difficult to separate real from fake, and I cannot let myself be pulled down any further than I already have been. Regardless of how much I want to get lost in this thing with him, I know I can’t.

“Myla?”

“No, Kai, please. This is already hard enough.”

“All right, makamae,” he says gently, letting me go, but not before I can feel his arousal against my belly, which makes my stomach dip.

“What does makamae mean?” I question as he takes my hand again, making a tingling sensation shoot up my arm.

“One day, I’ll tell you,” he says, leading me through the sand back towards the fire pit.

“Why not now?”

“Now, you need to eat,” he says, giving my hand a tug when my feet stop moving, because in front of me, on a table, is a pig that looks like it has been cooked whole. The outside is golden and glossy, and in its mouth is a bright-red apple.

“I’m not hungry,” I tell him immediately.

I love meat; hell, I love bacon as much as the next person. But seeing a pig whole like the one sitting in front of me makes my stomach turn over.

“You need to try it.”

“I can’t,” I whimper.

“I know you eat meat. I’ve seen you eat meat, including bacon.”

“I know,” I swallow as saliva fills my mouth.

“I’m going to make a plate for myself and one for you without the kalua, and if you feel like it, you can have some of mine,” he tells me, which makes my body relax. I don’t want anyone to think I’m being disrespectful of their culture, but I cannot imagine myself eating that.

After making our plates, he leads me a little ways down the beach, away from most of the crowd. He takes a seat in the sand, and I follow his lead, slipping my sandals off before sitting down next to him. Once I’m situated, he hands me my plate and I begin to eat, enjoying everything he chose for me.

“It’s really beautiful,” I say, looking out at the ocean.

“It is,” he agrees.

I turn my head and see that he’s not looking at the water, but at me, and there is a dark look in his eyes that makes my pulse speed up.

“Would you try something with me?”

“Like what?” I ask, turning slightly towards him.

“I want you to close your eyes and I’m going to feed you.”

“Kai.” I shake my head but then realize this might be the perfect opportunity for me to get some answers. “If I do this, then you have to do something for me,” I tell him.

“Like?”

“Answer a question for me.”

His expression closes off, and I can tell he is going to say no.

“One question, Kai,” I plead, sitting up a little taller.

His eyes search my face, and then he nods, making me feel like I just accomplished a huge feat.

“Turn towards me and close your eyes,” he orders, taking my plate.

I shift slightly and sit cross-legged in front of him. His eyes drop to my chest and then my legs, and I pull my dress down slightly so it lays over my thighs.

“Close your eyes.”

The rough, deep tone of his voice makes the butterflies erupt once more, and my pulse pick up. I bite my lip and close my eyes, feeling the intimacy of the moment wrapping around me.

When I hear a low growl from him, my eyes fly open and I see that his are locked on my mouth.

“Close your eyes.”

I do and inhale sharply when I feel the touch from one of his fingers on my bottom lip.

“Open,” he says, pulling down slightly on my chin.

My lips part, there is a cold, sweet taste on my tongue, and the flavor of ripe pineapple fills my mouth.

“Do you like it?” he asks, and I nod.

I have always enjoyed pineapple, but since coming to Hawaii, I have found out that it’s nothing like what I used to buy at the store back home. Here, it’s sweeter, and there are times when I swear I can taste the sun when I take a bite of it.

“Open again,” he tells me as soon as I swallow.

I do, and this time, the taste of ginger and chicken hits my taste buds. I chew slowly, enjoying the texture.

“Do you like that?” he asks.

“Yes,” I whisper as soon as I swallow.

“Again,” he instructs, pulling down on my bottom lip.

My lips part, and the taste of smoked meat fills my mouth. I block out what I saw and just enjoy the flavor.

“That is the taste of years of tra***ion. Men are taught at a young age how to properly prepare and cook the Kalua pig.”

I feel his finger on my bottom lip again, and my eyes open. I look at him and suck in a breath. His face is inches from mine and his dark eyes are on my mouth.

“I’m going to kiss you.”

I can’t say anything. I can’t even breathe. His lips brush lightly over mine at first. I turn my head slightly, not wanting it to be over, and he groans as his hand tangles into the hair at the side of my head, making me gasp. Then I feel his tongue on my bottom lip, and I open my mouth, losing myself in his taste and smell. He pushes me back into the sand, his body lying half on me. His hand not in my hair holds on to my waist, his thumb close to the edge of my breast.

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“Kai,” I moan into his mouth as my hands find the hard, smooth skin of his back under his shirt. My nails dig in and my hips lift as he slides one of his large thighs between my legs.

“TU Kai,” he groans when he pulls his mouth from mine and presses his forehead against my shoulder, ending what was one of the hottest make-out sessions of my life. “Ask your question,” he says as his chest moves rapidly against mine.

My mind is in such a haze that it takes a moment to decipher what he said. My brain goes over all the questions I have to ask, trying to pinpoint one that will help me the most.

“Why are you doing this?” I whisper, not realizing I spoke out loud until his body stiffens and his face rises above mine.

“When you were little, I found you crying in your tree house. I wasn’t very old then, but the moment I saw you with tears in your big, blue eyes, I knew you were something that needed to be protected.” He looks above me and out into the water before bringing his gaze back to mine, pulling his hand out of my hair, and running it down my hairline. “I have always needed to protect you,” he says softly.

I feel my world tilt once again. Without thinking, I lift my head and press my mouth to his. He groans, and his hand slides behind my back, pulling me deeper into his embrace. The sound of the ocean off in the distance and the feel of the warm sun on my exposed skin makes the moment feel even more surreal.

He slowly pulls away, placing one last kiss on my lips before lifting his head and looking down at me. There is something in his eyes now that I didn’t notice earlier, but before I can read it, he looks away and sits up, pulling me along with him.

“I don’t think we can eat that,” I say, laughing when I see that our plates have been sprinkled with sand.

“I think we should head home,” he says, ignoring my comment.

As I watch him stand, I suddenly feel awkward when he doesn’t look at me. I get up, dust myself off, and then pick up my sandals and my plate, heading towards a trash can. I have no idea how he can create such a tornado of feelings inside me.

I don’t like that he has the ability to make me melt with a kiss or become so mad that I swear I could spit fire. With him, I feel like he causes me to become two different people. And I don’t even know if I like one of those people.

“Are you ready?” he asks when his hand takes mine as soon as I have dumped my plate into the garbage.

I look around and notice once again that people are watching us, so my stomach drops when I realize that, to him, this is probably all just a show.

“Sure.” I shake my head and wish I had a pair of sunglasses so I could block him out. I know that, if he were to look into my eyes, he would see much more than I want him to.

Chapter 4

Popcorn

“How long are you going to pout for?” Aye asks.

I look over at him and glare. It’s been a week since I went with Kai to the beach and met his family. One would think that things would have been different after our awkward moment¸ but they haven’t.

The man confuses the hell out of me. One moment, he is kissing me senseless, and the next, he is standoffish and making me feel like I had made a giant mistake. But then he’s back to being his regular charming self while acting like he didn’t rock my world.

“I’m not pouting,” I sigh.

“Your bottom lip tells a different story. Now be a big girl and tell Daddy what’s wrong,” he says, taking a seat next to me on one of the oversized loungers as I fight back the smile threatening to take over my face.

“Please stop referring to yourself as Daddy,” I say, but I end up laughing at the end, which makes him smile.

“Please stop telling my wife to call you Daddy,” Kai growls, walking up behind us, which makes me jump.

“Yes, sir,” Aye says, standing quickly as I tilt my head back and put my hand above my eyes to block the sun so I can look at Kai.

“Are you still upset?” he asks then looks at Aye and flicks his head in a sign for him to leave us.

“No,” I tell him, watching Aye go, even though I still feel a small amount of anger over the news he gave me this morning.

“It’s for the best,” Kai assures me.

“Is it?” I ask, tilting my head when he comes over to sit down at my side.

“Yes. Your mother and father have been worried, Myla.”

“So you”—I press my finger into his chest—“took it upon yourself to tell them that I ran off and got married, and then you paid for their plane tickets to come visit. So now, not only am I forced to lie to your family, but I have to lie to the people who raised me since I can remember. Not to mention, their son is Thad, so you have just told him where I am,” I say, trying to keep the fear over the last part out of my voice.

“Thad won’t get near you,” he growls, grabbing my thigh.

“Okay, Kai. You know everything.” I shake my head and look out at the ocean, trying to ignore the feelings his hand on my skin is giving me.

“It’s a few days, Myla,” he says gently.

“It’s a few days of lying to their faces,” I clarify. “How are we going to explain sleeping in separate rooms?” I question, raising a brow at him.

“We’ll be sleeping in the same room while they’re here.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“What?” I whisper, feeling the color drain out of my face. It’s difficult enough seeing him every day. I have no idea how I will deal with him sleeping in the same room as me, let alone the same bed.

“It will be fine. You’ll see.”

“You’re delusional,” I breathe.

“Pardon?” he asks, taking on the same tone I hear from him when he’s speaking to his men.

I gather some much-needed courage and look him dead in the eyes before repeating myself more slowly. “I said you’re delusional. You actually believe this is going to turn out okay, when I know that it won’t. Haven’t you ever watched a movie before? There is always some huge lie that is being kept hidden, and in the end, the truth comes out.” I suck in a breath. “I don’t want to be there when this hole ****s in.”

“The difference is this isn’t a movie, Myla, and I know what I’m doing.”

“If you say so.” I shake my head again and pull my eyes from him.

When we were just lying to ourselves, I was able handle all of this, but now that we have gotten people we both care about involved, I know that this is going to be something I end up regretting. I just hope I don’t regret it for the rest of my life or that my choice doesn’t have a negative effect on the people who are innocent in this whole thing.

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“Your mom misses you,” Kai says, breaking into my thoughts.

“I know, and I miss her too, Kai, but this isn’t the time or place for a family reunion.”

“You need to learn to trust me.”

“And you need to learn to talk to me before taking it upon yourself to just do stuff you have no right to do,” I argue.

“You’re right,” he says, and I’m completely taken aback by his words and the fact he just agreed with me. “You’re right, but I’m also right.”

I let out a defeated breath, realizing once again that he just doesn’t get it.

“So much for that,” I think and don’t realize I’ve said it out loud until I see his lip twitch.

“It will all work out.”

“You keep saying that, Kai, but you and I both know that your mother has built it up in her head that my mother’s wish has come true. She is so happy that she has this relationship to reconnect her with her friend who is long gone that she is not going to be very understanding about the fact we have lied to her and everyone else.”

His eyes search my face, and for the first time, I get the feeling that he finally understands what I have been saying all along.

“So we try to make this into a real relationship.”

My lungs freeze and my mouth goes dry as I sit there in stunned silence, looking at him and trying to think of a way to come back from that.

After a moment, I sit up in the lounger. “Are you insane?” I screech.

“You’re attracted to me,” he states.

“I…I’m attra—attracted to you?” I stutter out.

“And I’m attracted to you,” he says as his eyes travel over my body, and I feel my nipples pucker against the thin material of my bikini.

“Be serious.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“I’m being very serious.”

“It won’t work,” I argue.

“Why won’t it? Every relationship starts with attraction. You’re attracted to me, and I’m attracted to you.”

“Stop telling me that I’m attracted to you,” I growl, trying to stand up, but before I can, I’m down in the lounger and Kai is leaning over me with his face inches from mine.

“Why not try, Myla?”

“Because it’s a very, very dumb idea, Kai.” I roll my eyes.

“We don’t even have to have *** until you’re ready,” he says, ignoring what I just said and moving his face closer to mine. “Let’s try it while your family is in town. After they leave, we will reevaluate everything and then decide if we want to keep moving forward in our relationship.”

“I can’t believe I’m even considering this,” I say.

A small smile appears on his face right before he lowers his head and takes my mouth in a kiss so hot that I feel it all the way to my toes. When he pulls his mouth from mine, his lips go to my forehead, my nose, then my chin. I’m surprised by the sudden feeling that ignites in my chest from his soft show of affection.

“We need to have a first date,” he tells me, and I don’t even try to fight back my smile this time. “What?” he questions as his eyebrows pull together.

“I get to pick our first date,” I tell him and then bite my lip when his eyes narrow.

“All right, Myla. You get to pick the first date,” he agrees.

I can tell he is trying to figure out what I’m up to, and it takes everything in me not to smile or tell him that he’s in for it.

“In the meantime, would you like to watch a movie?” he asks, catching me off guard.

“I…” I pause and search his face before lowering my voice and asking, “A movie?” Aye, Pika, and I watch movies often, but Kai has never even asked to watch one with us. And he honestly seems annoyed when he finds us all lazing on the couch together.

“It’s Saturday. There isn’t much going on, and I don’t need to work, so uh—”

“Okay,” I agree, cutting him off, seeing how uncomfortable he is with asking me, “but I get to pick.”

“No!” He shakes his head. “I’m not watching a chick flick.”

“I never said anything about watching a chick flick. I said I get to choose the movie.”

“Nope. I’m picking,” he says firmly.

I roll my eyes and hop off the lounger before he can stop me again. I look over my shoulder when I notice he’s not following me. “Are you coming?”

“Yep,” he mutters with his eyes glued to the waist of my bikini.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking down to where his eyes are locked.

“Your color is changing,” he says, his eyes traveling up my body, making me feel like I’m not wearing anything.

“I’ve been using sunscreen,” I tell him when the look in his eyes doesn’t change.

“I can see that,” he says so quietly that I almost don’t hear him.

I’m just about to ask him what his problem is, but then his hand goes to my waist and he pulls the side of my bikini down.

“What are you doing?” I ask, stepping away from his touch.

“Your tan lines…” He shakes his head like he’s coming out of some kind of trance.

“What?” I ask confused.

“Nothing. Are you ready?”

“Sure.” I bite my lip and walk into the house in front of him. The whole way, I swear I can feel his eyes roaming over my exposed skin. “I’ll be right back,” I mumble, running up the stairs and into my room, where I quickly grab an oversized shirt and slip it on before I run back down to the movie lounge. “What did you pick?” I ask, plopping myself down onto one of the overstuffed sofas.

“You’ll see.” He smiles at me over his shoulder, and that image alone is enough to make me want to go to him and kiss the smile off his face.

For a man who doesn’t smile often, when he does, it’s always stunning. It astounds me that someone who gives off the energy of a person you wouldn’t want to cross is the same man you would pray to spend a moment with just to see if you could get him to smile at you.

“Myla?”

“Hmm?” I ask.

“I asked if you would like something to drink?”

I feel my face heat up, realizing I was staring at him, and know that I need a moment to gather my wits before sitting alone with him in a quiet room. “Oh, I can get it.” I hop up off the couch and make it to the edge of the movie room before turning around and asking, “Would you like something?”

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“A beer.” He smiles and I feel my already-hot skin become even hotter.

“Got it. Beer,” I say under my breath, quickly going to the kitchen.

By the time I make it back to the movie room, it has been a good fifteen minutes. I got drinks, made some popcorn, and dug around in the cupboards until I found some gummies and chocolate. I was killing time, but I knew that, if I was going to be around him, I would need to have provisions that would keep my mouth and my hands full while I was in such close proximity to Kai.

“So, what did you pick?” I ask him again before grabbing a handful of popcorn and shoving it into my mouth.

“You’ll see,” he says once more, coming to sit down right next to me.

I try not to look at him, but I can’t help it. I swear my eyes have a mind of their own. When I turn my head, he has what looks like an iPad in his hands and is pressing the screen.

I study him for a moment when I know he is completely caught up in what he’s doing. His hair is tied back like it usually is, and his jaw is locked in concentration. The slight bump in the center of his nose is more pronounced with the downward tilt of his chin. My eyes lock on his lips, and even from his profile, they look full and completely kissable.

“You’re staring at me.”

“Am not,” I tell him, putting popcorn into my mouth while turning my face towards the TV.

“I told you you’re attracted to me,” he mutters.

“Whatever.” I smile then look over at him when I feel his eyes on me. “What?”

“Nothing.” He grins, making my belly dip.

“So, what are you torturing me with?” I ask.

His eyes heat at my words, which makes me squirm in my seat. Without answering, he presses another button. Then the TV lights up and Die Hard begins to play.

“Oh my God! I love this movie,” I beam at him, and his hand comes up, his finger running over my lips before he drops his hand and turns to face the television again.

I inhale a deep breath, letting it out slowly before turning back to face the screen. We spend the rest of the day watching movies and relaxing, and by the time we’re both ready for bed, I have found something out about Kai that I never expected: he is definitely someone I can see myself falling head-over-heels in love with.

I also realized that, with him, it would never be as easy as just love. Love seems too simple of an emotion to describe what I’d feel for him if I allowed myself to go there.

Chapter 5

Swimming with the Sharks

“Are you sure about this?”

No, I’m not sure now that we’re out in the middle of the ocean, but there’s no way I’m backing out. When I woke up this morning, I was surprised to find Kai sitting on the side of the bed, watching me. I was even more surprised when he told me that we were going to have to have our date today because my parents would be here in two days and he wouldn’t have much time to get away during the week.

Although I’m excited to see my parents, I still have a fair amount of anxiety about their visit. Even if Kai and I are going to be seeing where this thing goes, I have no idea how it will play out with two people who know me having a front-row seat at the start of our relationship.

I look from the ocean, where a cage has just been placed into the water, to Kai and give him a shaky nod. When I was around ten, I watched Jaws for the first time and instantly became obsessed with the ocean and all the creatures that live in it. One of the things I loved the most about the ocean was sharks, and I promised myself that, if I ever got the chance, I would go swimming with them.

This plan always seemed like a good idea. That was before I was sitting on a large boat, wearing a diving suit, getting ready to be lowered into the ocean in a cage, where fish blood and body parts will be tossed into the water with me, at which time I’ll come face-to-face with one of the world’s greatest predators.

“I promise you will love it,” he tells me, grabbing my hand, running his fingers over my skin.

“I want to do it.” I swallow thickly.

When I told Kai what my plan for our first date was, his face lit up and he looked like I had given him some kind of gift. He told me that shark diving is one of his favorite things to do, next *****rfing. He said that he doesn’t get to go often but his friend would be willing to take us out on his boat. I can’t believe how fast everything happened. It felt like all I had done was snapped my fingers, and then I was on a boat, wearing a wetsuit.

“Do you remember what to do once we’re in the cage?” he asks.

I nod again, my voice seeming to be lost. Luckily for me, I took diving lessons a couple of years ago, and when Kai and his friend went over everything with me and asked me questions, I still knew all the right answers and what to do in case of an emergency.

“All right. Let’s get the rest of your gear on, makamae.”

He takes my hand and leads me to the ledge, where I don the breathing mask and the rest of my gear. After Kai gets me ready and has checked me over at least three times, he quickly puts on his own, gives a thumbs-up, and then signals me to place the breathing apparatus in my mouth. I do and immediately feel the flow of air that will allow me to breathe underwater.

As soon as I’m set, Kai pulls me over to the side of the boat, where a set of stairs leads into the water and down into the cage. He goes ahead of me and waits at the bottom of the steps for me to follow him down. When I reach the step that has half my body in the water, I become fully aware he is there, his body caging me in. His hand gives my waist a squeeze of reassurance before he submerges himself fully into the water.

I follow him under and am instantly stunned by the serenity. The ocean is so blue from above, and the water is so clear from below that I swear I can see for miles. The silence is like nothing I have ever known. The only sound I can hear is the noise coming from my own concentrated breathing.

I spin around slowly and come faceto-face with Kai, who points to his eyes then up to the top of the water. Suddenly, the water turns red and there are specks of white, which I know are fish particles filling the area surrounding us. Even though I know what’s coming, I’m still in awe when small fish swim near the cage and begin to eat up the smaller pieces of chum.

As I watch them, I realize they are almost moving in slow motion up until the moment their mouths open, and then they move suddenly, snatching up the food they were after. I don’t know how long it takes—it could have been minutes or maybe even hours—but Kai taps me on my shoulder. When I look over at him, he’s pointing to the far end of the cage, where there is a large, black mass heading towards us. I grab Kai’s hand and try to keep my breathing even as the fuzzy image clears up and the black mass becomes a large shark. I know right away that it’s a tiger shark, one of the deadliest animals on Earth.

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I grab Kai’s hand tighter as the shark swims around the cage a couple of times. The moment seems almost suspended in time, but before I have even really had a second to appreciate the beauty of the magnificent creature in front of me, he’s gone. We float around the cage for a few more minutes, but when Kai taps his wrist, I know that it’s time to head up.

Once we reach the surface, Kai’s friend helps me onto the boat and begins getting my gear off me. When my mask is off, I take a deep breath of the salty ocean air and look around for Kai. When our gazes connect, I try to convey with my eyes how much this moment means to me. It’s not every day you get to live out one of your childhood dreams, and I couldn’t be more thankful that he is the one who gave this to me.

I finish getting everything off and put away while trying to understand the feeling I have in my chest. It’s not until Kai comes over and drags me from where I was sitting to a large couch at the back of the boat when I realize what it is: Happiness.

I have always considered myself a happy person, but I didn’t know that, deep down, I really wasn’t, and since the moment I arrived in Hawaii, I have been truly happy. I miss my shop and my girls, but to me, I was just getting by before. And now that my life has evolved, I’ve been forced to do something I never would have done before, and I’ve left what I’d thought of as the security of my home, I’m finally, really, and truly happy. With that thought, I curl into Kai’s side, lay my head on his chest, and drift off to sleep with the smell of the ocean and the rocking of the boat lulling me into dreamland.

*

I wake up and attempt to roll over, only to find myself tethered to the bed by an arm over my waist and muscular, hairy legs tangled with mine. And then I remember that my parents are in Hawaii, sleeping a few doors down from our room.

“Go back to sleep,” Kai rumbles against my neck, causing goose bumps to break out all over my body.

“I thought you were going to stay on your side of the bed?” I whisper, rubbing my legs together, which have suddenly become restless.

“It got cold. I needed your body heat to stay warm.”

I smile at his reply and turn in his arms to face him, noticing that it is much colder in the room than it normally is. As soon as I’m facing him, he wraps an arm back around my waist, places his hip over mine, and begins to play with my hair. It has gotten easier over the last couple days to be this close to him, and if I’m honest with myself, I have come to crave his touch and presence. He’s like a drug I know is bad for me but can’t help wanting more of.

After a moment of enjoying the ease of the moment, I tilt my head back and ask, “Do you think it will be weird today, having my mom and dad and your parents here?”

His gaze travels from the piece of hair he’s playing with to mine, and then he looks over my head before replying, “No. My mom and I talked. She won’t even be bringing up the fact she knew your mother.” He tucks my face under his chin, forcing me to inhale a lungful of his scent.

“I still think it’s going to be awkward.”

“I’ll be with you for most of the day. I have to leave for a couple of hours around noon, but after that, I’m all yours,” he tells me, and I ignore the feeling I get from him telling me that he’s mine and pull my face out of his chest so I can look up at him.

“You know, if your mom brings up planning a wedding while my mom is here, we’re completely screwed,” I sigh.

“If that happens, we will deal with it when the time comes.”

“You act like it’s not a big deal, Kai. It was bad enough that I got married once and it wasn’t real. I don’t want to do it again, only this time wearing a white dress and doing it in front of my parents.”

“Don’t worry about that right now. Just enjoy the time you have with your parents while they are here,” he encourages.

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying more. It seems like, no matter what I say, he’s not understanding that that, for me, is way more than I can handle right now. I have never been a good liar, and it’s not something I want to become good at.

“We should probably get up.” I pull away, take the blanket off, and shiver when the cold air hits my skin. “Did you turn on an air con***ioner?”

I look over my shoulder, and though his back is to me, I hear him mutter, “No,” under his breath as he stands. I try to pull my eyes away from him, but seeing the muscles of his back flex when he raises his arms above his head keeps my eyes in place.

“Do you need to shower?” he asks, smiling when he catches me staring at him.

“I do.” A cold one, I think but don’t add as I stand and go to the bathroom.

I shut the door, go to the sink, get my toothbrush, and see that Kai’s toothbrush is next to mine in the holder. I ignore the feeling that gives me, squeeze some toothpaste onto the toothbrush, and brush my teeth before going over to the shower.

“What are you doing?” I ask him as he walks into the bathroom just as I’m turning the water for the shower on.

He ignores my question, walks over to the sink, and begins to load his toothbrush up with toothpaste.

“I’m going to shower,” I say, looking at him through the mirror and frowning when he begins to brush his teeth. “Do you need to do that right this moment?”

Our eyes connect and he pulls the toothbrush from his mouth. “Feel free to get in,” he tells me, and I can hear the challenge in his voice.

Something in me snaps, and I pull off the pair of panties I have on then rip my nightshirt over my head and get into the shower, keeping my back to him.

The glass doors are mostly fogged, but I know he can still see me. I honestly can’t believe I did something so ballsy, but I feel like he is constantly pushing me, maybe even testing me. I peek over my shoulder and find his gaze locked on me through the mirror.

My nipples harden and I feel my ***** contract from the look in his eyes. I start to think I’m an idiot when all he does is stare, but when his body turns to face me, he starts to take a step in my direction. Instead, he stops and shakes his head, adjusting the bulge in his pants and then leaving the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. I let out the breath that was locked in my chest and turn the water temperature to cold for a moment, needing to cool down before switching it back to warm, quickly washing up, and getting out.

By the time I make it into the bedroom, Kai is gone, but the scent of his cologne is still lingering in the air. I put on a pair of navy-blue shorts that fold at the hem and a white, linen button-down shirt over my navy-blue bikini before toeing on a pair of white flip-flops that have rhinestone studs across the straps and putting my hair into a quick braid. Then I leave the room.

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“Hey, Pika,” I say when I open the door to our room and find him leaning against the wall across the hall.

“Kai asked me to take you to the dining room.”

I nod and begin to follow him down the hall. Things have gotten a little easier between Pika and me, but I still hate the look of pity I sometimes see on his face when he’s looking at me. I guess it helps that he doesn’t talk much, and honestly, half the time, I forget he is even around.

“Did you have a good night off?” I ask, trying to fill the silence between us.

His eyes come to me over his shoulder, and he shrugs. “Didn’t do much,” he grumbles then turns around and continues walking.

“Sounds like fun,” I mutter then bite the inside of my cheek, wondering why the hell I said that.

Normally, Aye is with us, so it’s easier to deal with Pika and his cold demeanor. He seems like an all right guy—if you like the silent, broody type who would be more inclined to watch paint dry than to talk to you.

We walk the rest of the way in silence, and as soon as we make it just to the entrance of the dining room, I hear my mom ask if I’m coming and Kai tell her that I was getting out of the shower when he left the room. I duck my head and fight back a blush that is getting ready to take over my face, remembering what I did.

When we enter the dining room, I take in my mom, who is sitting next to the large open doors that lead out to a balcony. If you didn’t know any better, you would think I’m her biological child. We have the same blond hair and blue eyes, and she is also tall and lean.

My dad is sitting at the table with a newspaper open in front of him. He shaved his hair off when I was fifteen and hasn’t grown it back since. He is also tall, but his body is larger, and where he used to be fit, his body has started to go soft with age. His dark-brown eyes meet mine and he smiles, pushing back from the table and coming towards me.

“There’s our girl,” he says quietly, wrapping me up in a hug.

“Hey, Dad,” I reply just as softly, wrapping my arms around his back while soaking in one of his wonderful hugs—one of my favorite things in the world.

“You doin’ okay this morning?”

“I am.” I lean back and smile up at him.

His face goes soft, and he leans in and kisses my forehead.

“I can’t get over how beautiful you have become,” my mom whispers.

I turn towards her just as she engulfs me in a hug. Even though she said the same thing yesterday when we picked them up from the airport, my head soars from hearing her words. I hadn’t realized just how much I missed them. They are the only parents I have ever known, and there was never a moment growing up that they didn’t make me feel welcome and loved.

“I’m happy you’re here,” I whisper back honestly.

“You know, wherever you are in the world, if you needed me, honey, I would go through hell to make it to you.”

A sob climbs up my throat. I know she is telling the truth, and that is why I have always tried to protect both my parents. The thought of something happening to them because of what their son has done has always made me fearful.

“Don’t cry. We’re here now.” She holds me tighter then whispers in my ear, “Your husband looks like he’s going to murder someone. I don’t think he likes it when you cry.”

I pull my face away from her chest, and my gaze collides with Kai’s. “I’m okay.” I wipe my face with a tissue my dad hands me.

Kai comes over to me and wraps an arm around my waist before kissing the side of my head. “I was telling your mom about our shark diving trip.” He looks down at me and smiles.

“I told him about when you were little and you were fascinated with the ocean but how the closest you ever got to sea life was at the aquarium,” Dad says.

“Dad used to tease me about him having to work more hours just to afford my obsession with the aquarium.” I smile at the memory.

“I loved having that time with you,” my dad says then looks at Kai. “My sons were always doing one sport or another, and life was always hectic. It was nice to spend a quiet afternoon once a month with a little girl who wanted nothing more than to sit in the observatory of the aquarium, watching the fish swim around.”

“I loved that time with you too—just as much as I liked helping you in the bakery on Saturdays when I got older,” I tell him.

“You were always a good kid.” He looks at me with eyes full of sadness then takes my mom’s hand. “I don’t know what we did, but whatever it is, we’re sorry. We tried to be good parents.”

“Oh God,” I choke out. “You didn’t do anything,” I get out around the lump in my throat. “You were amazing parents—the best. I just… I just…” I pause, not knowing what to say. There is no way to explain to them why I left home and never looked back without calling out their son, and I’m not willing to risk telling them what he did to me.

“I know there is much to talk about, but if we could put all of that off until another time, I would be grateful. Myla has been very stressed since we got married, and I really don’t want my wife to spend the first few weeks of our marriage depressed,” Kai says.

My face goes soft, and I lean deeper into his side.

“This should be a happy time for us, makamae,” he adds, tilting his head down towards me.

I look up at him in wonder and know that this is one more reason why I could fall in love with him so easily. He has a way of reading me that no one has ever had before.

“I agree,” my mom says quietly, and my eyes go to her. She is looking up at Kai with her eyes shining. “We have plenty of time to talk about everything. Let’s just have a good time while we’re here.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I whisper.

She smiles at me and reaches out to gently hold my cheek before dropping her hand to her side.

“I, for one, am starving,” my dad chimes in, and the energy in the room becomes lighter.

Kai presses another kiss to the side of my head then leads me over to the table and pulls out a chair for me before taking a seat at my side.

“Thank you,” I whisper, looking at him when the servers come in to take the breakfast orders.

“Any time.”

He leans in and I tilt my head back without thinking, accepting his kiss. When our lips part, his eyes stay locked on mine and the look I have been trying to decipher appears on his face again before he turns away, not giving me a chance to figure it out.

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*

“I’m glad you found a good man.” My dad smiles at me as we walk down the beach.

After breakfast, we decided to take a walk while my mom went to lie out in the sun.

“You have always put everyone before you. I’m glad you found a man who makes sure you’re taken care of.”

“He’s good to me,” I say while taking in a lungful of ocean air.

“You can see it when he looks at you that he adores you.”

“Really?” I question, then wonder if I should have said something different.

“When you picked us up at the airport yesterday, your mother and I paused the moment we saw you at the baggage claim. We were, quite frankly, in awe. Kai is…well, kind of intimidating.”

“No, he’s not.” I shake my head. Kai is beautiful to me.

“He is, but he was looking at you with a softness in his eyes that I have only ever seen once before, and that was from you father when he looked at you or your mother,” my dad whispers.

My head swings his way. I’m in shock because we have never, not even once, spoken about my father before.

“You were his star.” He shakes his head before he looks out at the water and then back at me with a deep sadness in his eyes. “When he asked me to take you in, I knew how hard it was for him to do. Your mother and he loved you. You were the reason they were put on this Earth.”

“I hate that I don’t remember them,” I say through tears.

“You do…” He pauses, takes my hand, and then places it over my heart. “In there, you remember them. They have always been with you, will always be with you.”

“I know they loved me,” I tell him after a moment, when I finally find my voice again.

“I know they did too,” he says as his face softens.

“No, I know, because they gave you and Mom to me.”

“Oh, Myla.” He shakes his head and tugs me into a hug. “We miss our girl.” I can hear tears in his voice, and it kills me that I have done this to him.

“I miss you guys too,” I sob, wrapping my arms tighter around him.

“Let’s make this the last time we wait so long between visits.”

“Okay,” I agree, holding on to him tighter.

We stay like this for a long moment. I have missed both of my parents, but my dad and I have always been close, so not having him in my life over the last few years has really hurt.

“Love you, Dad.”

“Love you too.” He pulls away then looks at my tear-stained face. “You need to stop crying before we get back to the house and your husband sees you.”

“I’m done,” I smile at him through watery eyes.

He wraps his arm around my shoulders, and we walk the rest of the way back to the house in silence. I feel like, over the last few weeks, I have been bombarded with things from my past—some good, and some bad. But I’m also grateful for the closure I’m getting from it.

Chapter 6

Tethered to Him

“I told you the moment we got them together it was going to be bad,” I growl at Kai, who has the nerve to smile at me.

After my dad and I got back from our walk on the beach, Kai’s mom showed up and instantly began talking to my mom about weddings and how she believes we should have another ceremony where everyone can come to witness us exchange vows. Then my mother started telling her that they would only be able to stay until the weekend but she would love to have some kind of celebration before she went home. So now, my mother and Kai’s have just told us what is going on and how we will be having a party with over one hundred and fifty people.

He shrugs. “It’s just a party.”

“Did you hear them?” I practically shout. “They said a hundred and fifty people. A hundred and fifty people is more than a party. That’s like…a concert or something.”

His eyebrow rises, and he shakes his head. “What kind of concerts have you gone to?”

“That doesn’t matter.” I roll my eyes, completely exasperated.

“I know you don’t want to do this, but look at how happy our mothers are right now. And it will be good for everyone to meet my wife. I should have done something as soon as we got home, but with everything that happened, I didn’t want to put to much pressure on you.”

“I don’t need to meet everyone, Kai,” I tell him, feeling nervous from even thinking about it. “We don’t even know what we’re doing. Things between us are still up in the air.”

“Stop,” he growls, turning to face me. “Every time you talk about us, you make it seem like we have an expiration date. We agreed to try to make this work, but in order for that to happen, both of us have to be involved. You can’t have one foot out the door already, Myla.”

I swallow, close my eyes, and drop my forehead to his chest, realizing that he’s right. I agreed to see where things go with him, while at the same time, I have been counting on us coming to an end.

“You’re right.” I open my eyes and look up at him. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

His hands come up, and he gently holds my face between his palms. “Let’s worry about one thing at a time.” He kisses me softly then leans back just enough so he can look me in the eye. “Let’s give our mothers this party. I know it will mean a lot to both of them.”

I nod and lean into his touch.

“I’ll be with you all night.” He kisses me again, but this time, before he can pull away, I nip his bottom lip.

He growls deep in his throat and his hand tangles in my hair, forcing my head to the side. My mouth opens under his, and the moment his tongue touches mine, I whimper. I have never been with someone like him, and as much as it scares me, I still want him more than I have wanted anything in a very long time. He slows the kiss and pulls away, resting his forehead against mine.

“You’re right.”

“I’m right?” he asks, surprised.

“Well, it would mean a lot to my mom to be involved, even if it is just a party.”

“And us?” he questions.

I debate for a moment how to answer him before pressing my chest against his. “I know you don’t think I’m giving us a chance, but I am. I have never been with someone like you before. You scare me.”

“Myl—”

“Oh, honey, I’m so excited!” my mom says, interrupting Kai. “Do you think we should have a photographer?”

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“I don’t think that’s necessary,” I mumble, gaining a squeeze to my waist from Kai.

“I’m sure your brothers would love to see some pictures of you.”

My body freezes and I feel the blood drain out of my face as Kai’s arms band around me.

“You don’t look so well. Are you okay, honey?” my mom asks.

I nod, not able to speak.

“She’s had a long day. I’m going to get her to bed. Tomorrow is going to be another busy day,” Kai says.

“Of course,” Mom mutters, looking me over.

I give her a shaky smile and a quick hug before Kai leads me back towards our room. Once we’re inside and I hear the door close behind us, I walk to the bed, sit down, and then kick my shoes off before pulling my feet up onto the bed and tucking myself into a ball.

“Do you know that Rory was once my best friend?” I ask Kai as I watch him slip his shirt off over his head then pull his pants off, leaving him only in his boxers, which shows off the tattoo on his right hip that disappears into his underwear, the bottom of the ink ending just above his knee. I wish I could see the full extent of the artwork and get up close to the very detailed work.

“Thad’s brother?” he questions, pulling me out of my thoughts as he walks towards me, holding a shirt in his hand.

I nod as I watch the muscles in his stomach flex.

“Do you still keep in touch with him?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No. When I moved away from Nevada, I just left everything behind,” I say, sitting up on the side of the bed.

When he mutters a quiet, “Up,” his hands go to my stomach. Then he pulls my shirt off over my head and then quickly tugs the new one down. I reach behind my back and unhook my bra, pulling it off then out one of the sleeves of the shirt.

“Why did you run after graduation?” he questions.

I look up at him, and he searches my face. Part of me wonders how he could know about that, but I’m starting to understand that Kai knows a lot more than I could even begin to realize. And I wonder if his question now is more of a test than him just asking out of curiosity.

“I got accepted into culinary school,” I say softly, watching disappointment flash in his eyes.

I quickly slip my shorts off, watching as he walks around the bed and gets in behind me. I don’t know why, but I expect him to ignore me, to just turn his back to me and go to sleep, but instead, he comes to me, pulling me down with my back to his front. Then he slides one arm under my neck and wraps the other around my stomach.

“So, you guys were friends?” he asks softly after a moment.

I feel his breath on my neck, so I close my eyes for a moment, memorizing the feeling.

“We had all the same friends, and when we were home, it was like living with my best friend. I think it was harder leaving him behind more than anything else.”

“Huh,” he grunts, and a small thrill fills me that perhaps he’s jealous, but I squash it immediately, knowing he would never be jealous.

“I got an engagement announcement from him about a year ago, and I sent a congratulations card back in return, but I just couldn’t find it in myself to even pick up the phone to call him.”

“Something must have happened to make you cut off all ties with the people you considered family.”

“I think I was just trying to find my own way in the world,” I lie, gaining a squeeze from him.

“I wish you would talk to me,” he says quietly.

I turn to face him and bury my face in his chest, wishing I had the courage to share what happened to me with him.

“I’m so tired,” I tell him instead, breathing him in.

“Sleep, makamae,” he says, wrapping his arms tighter around me.

Even though I try to talk myself out of it, and even though I know it’s a huge mistake, I fall asleep feeling safe and wanted.

Kai’s face is between my legs, his large arms holding me in place, his hands holding mine against my thighs, making it impossible to touch him. I cry out in frustration as I feel my clit pulse in his mouth.

I wake up breathing heavily, and I remember the dream I was having. I was begging him to make love to me, but he just kept me on the edge. I go to get up and realize Kai’s hand his cupping me over my panties, and I can feel the hard length of him against my back.

“Oh, God,” I moan quietly, squeezing my eyes closed. I know that all I need is the smallest brush against my clit and I will explode. I go to move again and his fingers press in. “Kai,” I whisper, unintentionally rolling my hips forward into his hand.

“TU Kai,” he rumbles, pressing into my back.

My hand goes to his thigh and my nails dig into his skin as his fingers slide my panties to the side and his middle finger circles my clit.

“Drenched,” he growls against my neck as his finger does another circle.

My hand on his thigh goes behind my back and down into his boxers, my fingers attempting to circle his width without coming close. From the feel of him in my hand, I can imagine how large and beautiful he is. I slide down then up, and he growls, his teeth nipping my neck.

He feels like steel covered in smooth silk. My thumb runs over the tip, catching the bead of pre-cum before doing another downward stroke.

“Makamae,” he says, and without warning, two fingers swiftly enter me.

“Kai!” I cry out and turn my head over my shoulder in time for his mouth to capture mine in a kiss that takes my breath away.

His fingers move in sync with the hand I’m pumping him with. I pull my mouth from his and cry out again as his thumb rolls over my clit, causing the orgasm that had been building since I woke up to explode through my body.

I squeeze my eyes closed as my ***** convulses around his fingers, and his teeth take hold of the skin of my neck as my hand fills with cum from his release. After a moment, I begin to come back to myself, and I can feel my face turn red from embarrassment. I never expected that to happen. It normally takes a while for me to feel okay with any kind of intimacy, but as with everything about Kai, he brings it out of me so easily.

“I could go again,” he says.

I feel that his **** is still semi-hard. I let him go when I realize he is still in my palm. He flips me over to my back, and his fingers sink deeper inside me, causing me to moan loudly as aftershocks from my orgasm fill my lower belly.

“You’re my wife, Myla.”

“I know.” I squeeze my eyes closed.

“This is natural.”

“I’m not ready for this,” I say then feel the bed begin to shake. “Are you laughing?” I ask in disbelief, popping one eye open.

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“You might not think you’re ready, but you were begging me for it…even in your sleep.”

“No,” I whisper, feeling my eyes get big and my face turn even redder.

“I haven’t come from a hand job since I was thirteen. I’m just as surprised by what happened as you are. But I don’t regret it. I don’t regret anything that has happened between us.”

I feel my face go soft, and I lean up, pressing a kiss to his mouth. Then I moan down his throat as his fingers begin to slide in and out of me again. He pulls his mouth from mine then looks down into my eyes.

“This time, I want to see you when you come. I’ve imagined it a hundred times, but now, I will have the memory of the way you look, the way you smell, and the way you taste,” he says, lowering his face to my stomach, and then his teeth pull my shirt up, exposing my breasts. “I think I’m obsessed with your tan lines,” he says, licking my breast and making me whimper. “One day, I’m going to strip you down and trace every inch of them with my tongue and teeth.”

His mouth moves to my other breast, and I feel him lick it as well, his mouth avoiding my nipple with each stroke of his tongue.

“Kai!” I cry, my fingers threading through his hair when his lips lock on to my nipple.

His tongue flicks over the tip as his fingers stroke into me harder and faster, his thumb zeroing in on my clit. My head digs back into the pillow. My eyes squeeze closed, but then they fly open when he demands, “Open your eyes.”

When our gazes lock, I fall apart in his hands, my insides becoming liquid as another orgasm explodes through my body. My eyes stay locked on his as I float off before slowly coming back to myself.

“I now understand what beauty really looks like,” he says, pulling his hand out of my panties and curling himself around me.

“Thank you,” I whisper, and he pulls away so he can look at me.

“I will do that for you any time you ask.”

I feel my lips twitch, and I’m just about to say something when there is a loud bang on the bedroom door.

“Kai!” a woman yells. “Let Myla up! I have strict orders to take her from you, even by force. I need to get her ready for the party tonight.”

“You’re going to have to come back,” Kai grunts, rolling us over so that I’m sprawled out on top of him.

“I’m telling Mom!” she yells dramatically.

I begin to laugh then quickly gasp when one of his hands slides up under my shirt then down into my panties before it cups one cheek of my ass.

“I should get up,” I say quietly, looking down at him.

His hand goes to the side of my face then slides around as his fingers circle the back of my neck. He tugs gently, forcing my mouth down to his. His teeth nip at my bottom lip. Then he soothes it with a swipe of his tongue.

“You should spend the day in bed with me,” he says, causing a tingle to shoot right to my core.

“Myla, if you can hear me, I really need you to come out here,” Meka yells, and I begin to laugh against Kai’s mouth.

“I’ll see you later,” I tell him.

His hand gives my ass a squeeze as his hips lift. I feel the hard length of him against my belly before I’m rolled again and he’s over me, his hair like a curtain, making the moment seem even more intimate. His face lowers and he takes my mouth in a deep kiss then quickly pulls away. Then he hops off the bed. His eyes look me over before he walks over to the dresser, grabs a pair of sweats, pulls them on, and then opens the door to the bedroom, where Meka comes flying in.

“Oh, thank God. I thought I was interrupting,” she says, and I bite the inside of my cheek, because she is obviously oblivious.

“You did interrupt us,” Kai growls then looks at me on the bed again, and I can see the silent promise in his eyes.

“Are you leaving?” she questions, ignoring his last comment, coming to the bed, and flopping down next to me.

Kai grunts at her then looks at me, and his eyes change, appearing softer. “I’ll see you at the party.”

“See you at the party,” I reply softly.

His eyes stay locked on mine for a moment then travel to his sister. “Take care of my wife.”

“Will do,” she tells him on a whisper.

I watch him leave and don’t pull my eyes from the door until Meka pats my leg.

“It’s going to take some time to get used to him being in love,” she says.

My gaze goes to her. “Pardon?”

“I have never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”

I stare at her, unsure of what to say and not wanting to get my hopes up. But the feeling I have had in my gut since the moment I met Kai is causing a warm feeling to spread throughout my body.

“Anyways, you already know he’s in love with you.” She smiles then jumps off the bed. “Okay, go shower, We have a lot to do.”

I get off the bed, stumble to the bathroom, and shower quickly. When I come out, the room has not only Meka waiting, but also my mom, Kai’s mother, and a large woman wearing a very bright floral dress that accentuates her dark skin and fuller figure.

“You’re here! Let’s get started.”

I begin to take a step back from the woman when she starts towards me holding a bag in her hands.

“Come on, child. We don’t have all day.” She rolls her eyes.

I look at Kai’s mom, but she just smiles.

“Marcy is going to get you dressed and make sure your dress fits you. She can size it while we go out and get your hair and makeup done.”

“Um…I thought we were just doing a small get-together.”

“We are, but there will be a photographer and I would like to have some pictures of you and Kai,” my mom says, making me feel guilty.

I swallow down my own personal feelings and walk towards the woman. “Where would you like me?”

“Here is just fine.” She stops in front of me, sizes me up, and then opens the garment bag, pulling out a white dress. “You’re much smaller than he normally likes,” she mutters to herself.

I shake off the feeling I get from her words and look at my mom.

“You’re going to look beautiful.” My mom smiles then begins talking to Kai’s mom and sister.

Even though I’m in a room full of people, I feel alone. I close my eyes and wish that I were back in bed with Kai again.

*

“Makamae.”

I lift my head and my eyes crash with Kai’s. His eyes run over my hair and body then land on my feet before meeting my gaze again. When I looked in the mirror after his sister and Marcy finished with me, I was shocked. I looked like a model—nothing like myself at all.