0.5

My heart raced as I stared at him, his cocky smirk doing nothing to calm the fire burning under my skin.

The rational part of me screamed for me to get away from him. It wasn't just the storm outside – it was the storm he brought with him, the kind of mess that left people in shambles. And I didn't do mess. Not anymore.

But then there was the part of me that was tired of being rational. The part that wondered what it would feel like to wipe that smirk off his face with a kiss he wouldn't forget.

My gaze flicked to his lips. He had the audacity to lick them, like he knew exactly what I was thinking

"Stop looking at me like that," I said, my voice more breathless than I intended

He tilted his head, his smirk softening into something more dangerous - like he was issuing a challenge. ""Like what?"

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. "Like you're daring me to do something stupid."

He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his dark eyes never leaving mine. "Maybe I am."

And that was it. The thread of control I'd been clinging to snapped

Screw rational.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I closed the distance between us, my heart hammering in my chest.

His eyes widened for half a second, just long enough to see the flicker of surprise before I pressed my lips to his.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t careful. It was fire meeting gasoline, messy, and unapologetic. His hesitation melted instantly, his hands finding my waist as he pulled me closer, like he’d been waiting for this as much as I had.

My fingers tangled in his damp hair, and he let out a low groan that sent a shiver down my spine. The storm outside felt like a whisper compared to the chaos inside me. I didn’t care about the consequences, about the million reasons why this was a bad idea.

Right now, there was only him—his warmth, his touch, the way he kissed me back like he’d been holding back for far too long.

I pulled back just enough to catch my breath, my forehead resting against his. His smirk was gone now, replaced by something raw and intense that made my pulse race even faster.

“We really shouldn’t do this,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t let go of me, his hands still resting on my waist, grounding me and yet setting me completely adrift. His dark eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought he might agree, might pull back, and let me escape this madness I’d started.

But then he tilted his head, his lips brushing against my jaw, featherlight. “Maybe we shouldn’t,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. “But do you really want to stop?”

My stomach flipped, the rational part of me screaming to push him away. But that voice was drowned out by the rapid beating of my heart, by the warmth of his hands and the ache building between us.

I swallowed hard, trying to find some scrap of resistance, but it was a losing battle. My fingers tightened against his chest, not pulling him closer, not pushing him away, just holding on.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice trembling with honesty.

He leaned back slightly, just enough to meet my gaze, his expression softer now, but no less intense. “Then let me make it easy for you,” he said, his voice quiet but firm.

And before I could argue, before I could think, he kissed me again, slow and deliberate, like he was trying to erase every doubt left in my mind.

The worst part? It was working.

But the gods really weren't having it because just then, the power went out.

The room was plunged into darkness, save for the occasional flash of lightning that illuminated his face—his slightly parted lips, the furrow of his brow as we froze in place.

“Son of a bitch.” I muttered, breaking the silence.

Kai chuckled, low and deep, his hands still lingering on my waist. “Guess that’s a sign.”

“A sign of what?” I asked, trying to ignore the warmth of his touch, the way my body betrayed me by leaning into him.

“That someone up there doesn’t trust you to make good decisions,” he teased, his voice laced with humor.

I shoved at his chest, half-hearted but enough to put some distance between us. “Or maybe they don’t trust you.”

“Fair,” he admitted, stepping back completely this time. “You got candles or something?”

I exhaled slowly, my pulse still racing. “Yeah. I’ll grab them.”

As I moved through the room, feeling my way toward a drawer, I could still feel his presence behind me, the heat of him lingering even in the cool air of the powerless house.

The storm outside raged on, but the real chaos was the one brewing inside me.

"Guess we should probably sleep now," Kai said, his voice low, the words lingering in the dim candlelight like a challenge.

I glanced at the couch—too small, too narrow—and then at him. He stood there, all broad shoulders and long limbs, looking entirely out of place in my living room, yet somehow, as if he belonged.

I crossed my arms. "That couch is not going to work for you."

Kai raised an eyebrow, his smirk teasing. "You offering something better?"

I rolled my eyes, though my pulse quickened. "There's the bed. But don’t get any ideas—it’s just one night, and there’s a clear line in the middle."

He tilted his head, pretending to consider. "Clear line, huh? That sounds like a challenge."

"Sounds like a rule," I shot back, trying not to let my nerves show.

His smirk softened, something in his expression shifting to sincere. "Fine. Your rules."

I nodded, motioning toward the hallway. "Let’s go before I change my mind."

As we entered the bedroom, the storm outside seemed to grow louder, a chaotic backdrop to the silence between us. I pulled back the covers, gesturing to one side. "That’s yours."

Kai kicked off his shoes and climbed in, his size making the bed feel smaller than it was. He glanced at me as I slid in beside him, keeping my distance.

"Relax," he said, his voice low. "I don’t bite."

"Good," I muttered, turning my back to him. "Because I might."

His chuckle was soft but warm, and I hated how much I liked it.

The storm raged on outside, but the real storm was the one brewing between us, as I lay there, pretending to ignore the fact that I could feel the heat of him, even from my side of the bed.

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