by Kaylea Cross
A slow, intimate smile curved his lips. “Now how’s that for chemistry?”
She grinned. “Pretty damn great.” How the hell had she ever done without it before? She resented missing out on it before now, and yet grateful that she’d experienced it for the first time with Kai. He’d made everything about this day unforgettable.
Chuckling, he drew her into his arms and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “How do you feel about spooning?” he murmured.
“I’m a huge fan.”
“Good, me too. Roll over.” He turned her, pulled her back into the curve of his body, then drew the covers over them and wrapped those warm, solid arms around her.
Abby sighed and snuggled closer, her body replete, fighting the questions about them in her mind as the gentle rush of the waves filled her ears.
She shook the thoughts away, made up her mind to enjoy the here and now. Tomorrow would come soon enough. Whatever happened between them after tonight, she would just have to deal with it as it came.
Chapter Twelve
Kai opened his eyes in the faint light that signaled dawn was coming, and smiled sleepily. Gentle waves lapped softly at the sand yards from the tent, and birds sang in the nearby trees. Abby was snuggled into him, her back to his chest, the sweet pressure of her ass pressed against his groin. She was dead asleep, her breaths slow and even, the sweep of her lashes forming crescent shadows against her fair skin.
The feel of her, remembering what they’d done last night, had his cock starting to swell. He’d thought they’d be good together, but last night had been so insanely hot. He’d wondered what it would be like to combine that kind of chemistry with someone he shared a base of friendship and respect with. Now he knew.
He’d never be the same again.
She’d given herself to him so sweetly, surrendering control to him. That took trust, and it humbled him that she placed hers in him.
He wasn’t perfect. He was cocky and proud, loved to play practical jokes. There was a reason he liked to be the center of attention and the life of the party. And why he’d continually engaged in dysfunctional relationships with emotionally unavailable women. Thankfully Abby was the opposite of that.
He tightened his arm around her ribs, careful not to wake her as he wrestled with his inner demons.
When his mother had left him behind, he’d barely been out of diapers. Too young to understand anything about it except that she’d abandoned him.
It wasn’t until the shit show of a breakup with Shelley that he’d finally confronted the emotional and psychological impact of it. Acknowledging that he’d always wondered if it was something he’d done that had made his mom leave. That maybe she’d been able to leave him so easily because he wasn’t loveable.
He breathed in the sweet scent of Abby’s shampoo, letting the uncomfortable thoughts tumble through his mind. Even though his tutu had stepped in and given him the love he’d craved so badly, it couldn’t fill the hole his mother had left in his heart.
Wasn’t easy for him to admit, but the plain truth of it was, all his life he’d been searching for love and acceptance. Craving it on a level so intense that he would do anything to get them. He’d found it in one form with the Marine Corps, and he had it with his FAST Bravo brothers. But he’d never found it in a woman. And a deeply buried part of him worried that he wasn’t worthy of real, unconditional love.
Until Abby.
In every other romantic relationship he’d been in, he’d given and given and given in a futile attempt to prove himself worthy to his partner, all the while aware at least on a subconscious level that it would never be enough. He’d done that to himself over and over in an endless, toxic cycle, maybe as a form of self-punishment because some part of him thought he deserved it.
Until Abby had shone a light on the secret place deep down inside him that he’d been too terrified to look at. It had not only opened his eyes to what was really going on, it had made him see her and what he wanted in a whole new light.
To be loved for who he was, faults and all. To have a peaceful, devoted relationship with someone he trusted and respected.
He knew on a gut-deep level that the answer to all of that was sleeping in his arms right now. If he could just find a way to convince her that he was the one.
Kai nuzzled the top of her head, the silky, platinum strands catching in the stubble on his jaw. She stirred slightly, that sexy body shifting against him. He tightened his arm around her, skimmed his lips over the vulnerable skin on her nape, down the side of her neck.
Her swift inhalation and the sudden tension in her muscles told him she was wide awake. “Morning,” he whispered, sucking at her skin softly.
She made a purring sound and angled her head to give him better access. “Morning already?” Her voice was pure, sleepy contentment.
“Mmm.” They still had a couple hours before she needed to head back to the resort. She was naked and warm and soft, and he wasn’t going to waste a moment of their remaining time together.
He slipped the covers off them, commenced with slow sweeps of his hands over all her gorgeous curves and hollows, building her arousal. She tried to turn toward him but he stilled her with a solid grip on her hip, keeping her right where he wanted her.
Every caress of his fingertips over sensitive flesh earned him sighs and then soft, pleading gasps. When she was mewling and moving restlessly, he reached between her legs to cup her in his palm, adding pressure to her clit with the heel of his hand while he eased two fingers into her slick core.
“Ohh,” she breathed, her body arching in a lovely bow.
Kai played with her, his mouth busy on her neck, his other hand squeezing one hard nipple. They were a soft, rosy pink, even prettier than he’d imagined. And so sensitive that every movement of his fingers made her gasp and moan.
God, he wanted inside her so bad. He was hard as granite, aching for her.
As he withdrew his fingers to slide them up and down the side of her swollen clit, she whimpered and clamped a hand around his wrist, her hips moving with his touch. Her breathing hitched, a soft, almost desperate whimper escaping.
Kai withdrew his hand, quickly sheathed himself with another condom from his wallet, and tucked back in behind her, easing one of her legs forward. Opening her for him.
Grasping the base of his cock, he moved into position and slid the swollen head inside. He groaned and scraped his teeth along her nape at the feel of her tight, slick walls squeezing him. She surged back to meet him, trying to push him deeper, but he refused to be rushed, instead holding her still with an arm around her hips, the other snaking beneath her to caress her folds and clit.
A soft, liquid moan rolled out of her throat. Kai whispered to her, getting lost in sensation, taking her with slow, easy thrusts, angling his hips to ensure he hit her inner sweet spot.
Her panting breaths turned into gasps and moans, the muscles in her thighs and belly quivering as she neared the peak. She dug her fingers into his forearm and let out a sob as her release hit, her core squeezing him in rhythmic pulses that pushed him past the last of his control.
Wrapping both arms around her tight, he growled into her neck and surged deep, letting the pleasure take him. Her name chanted in his head. Abby. Abby…
When he could breathe again he withdrew gently, got rid of the condom and gathered her back into his arms again. A warm wave of fatigue washed over him, along with a sense of peace he hadn’t felt before. Ever. He was so damn thankful that Abby had shown him what this was like. He’d do anything for her.
Anything except let her go.
Abby groaned, her body warm and soft in the cradle of his own. “I don’t ever want to get up. Don’t make me get up.”
His deep chuckle ruffled the top of her hair. “Don’t tempt me, shortcake.” He’d love nothing more than to keep her here all day and night, hidden away from the rest of the world. But unfortunately, reality awaited them both.
He woke her up twe
nty minutes before they had to leave, reluctantly peeled himself away from her, dressed and left the tent. The sun was barely up.
He grabbed a quick shower, had just snuck out the back door to head back to the tent, but stopped when he saw Hani there waiting for him, arms folded across his chest as he leaned against the picnic table.
Kai’s hand froze on the doorknob as he met his cousin’s hard, unwelcoming gaze.
“You’re up early,” Hani said, a hostile expression on his face.
Kai straightened, bracing himself for the coming battle. No point in avoiding this any longer. They’d have this out right here and now.
“WHAT DO YOU want, Hani?”
Hani steeled himself, forced himself to hold that dark, wary gaze even though his insides were writhing with guilt. It wasn’t good enough that Kai was leaving the island in a few days. He needed to leave the island now. Hurting him this way was the only thing Hani could think of to have a shot at making that happen. “Need to talk to you.”
“Get vertical when you talk to me.”
The low command wasn’t sharp, but it was hard as steel and held a deadly edge to it, the tone of a man accustomed to having his orders obeyed. Hani reacted instinctively, straightening and uncrossing his arms, shoving his hands into his pockets instead. He’d worshipped Kai his entire existence, the strong, protective brother that life hadn’t given him but circumstances had.
Kai had taught him how to swim and ride a bike, how to catch fish and stand up for himself. Later, he’d taught Hani how to steal cars and catch girls. Then he’d moved on to a bigger, better life, leaving their rough, crime-riddled neighborhood behind—and Hani with it.
Kai had chosen the harder road. The right road. While Hani had chosen the wrong one, unknowingly leading them both to this very moment.
Now he had to betray everything they meant to each other. Destroy it to save the man he’d idolized forever.
“Better. Now, talk.” Kai cocked his head, waiting.
Hani hadn’t been able to do this last night, he’d lost his nerve at the last moment, but he couldn’t put it off any longer. He had the whole argument figured out now, had rehearsed it in his mind on the way over. Kai’s life was in danger here. Hani’s words might not be enough to make him leave the island, but they were all he could think of, so he had to try.
“Why’d you come back here, Kai? You wanted to show off your haole whore to everyone from the old neighborhood?”
Shock flared in his cousin’s eyes at the slur, quickly replaced by rage. “What did you just say to me?”
“You heard me.”
Kai took a menacing step forward, his jaw set. “You better hope I didn’t hear right.”
“You did.”
His cousin stopped, inhaled deeply as though trying to calm himself, his stare never wavering. “What the hell is your problem, man? You don’t even know Abby.”
He couldn’t stop now. He might not be able to extricate himself from the life he’d created, but he sure as hell wouldn’t allow Kai’s blood to wind up on his hands. “I don’t need to know her. She’s just another one of your drama queen sluts you like to parade around, pretending you’re the man, like you’re better than the rest of us. Well, you’re not.”
Kai flinched at the verbal punch, and it felt like someone had driven a dagger through Hani’s chest.
He blurted out the rest before he lost the will to continue. “News flash, Kai. We don’t need you here. We don’t want you here. You up and leave us behind for a better life just like our mothers did to us.” He gave Kai a scathing look, dying a little inside. His voice shook, and he prayed Kai thought it was out of anger.
“You’re no better than them,” he spat. “You like to talk about how we’re ohana, but you don’t even know what the fuck that means anymore, because you’ve been gone too long. You turned your back on me, Tutu, and our people years ago and I’ll never forgive you for it. You ever stop to think about anybody but yourself? Like Tutu?”
“What about her?”
“The people back in the old town, the locals, they know you turned your back on everyone. You think she deserves the insults and the way they talk about her behind her back?”
Kai’s jaw flexed. “What are you talking about?”
“Yeah, she takes their shit every time she goes into town, defends you at every turn. All without ever telling you how it really is for her.”
A hint of uncertainty flickered in that imposing gaze. “I’ll talk to her.”
“You’ll talk? What the hell good is that gonna do, huh? It’s been like that for years, ever since you left. And the longer you stay here, the harder it is for Tutu to watch you leave again. So do us all a favor, take your woman back to the damn mainland you love so much and fucking stay there. You’re not one of us anymore, so stop pretending.”
Kai paled, and Hani’s stomach twisted so hard he feared he would puke right then and there. “What the fuck, Hani?” he rasped out, the stricken note in his voice almost more than Hani could bear. “I didn’t turn my back on anyone,” he bit out, jabbing his index finger into his own chest for emphasis. “I might have left for the mainland because of my career, but you’re the one who turned your back on all of us. You were too smart for everyone else, including me, wouldn’t listen to a goddamn thing I said. No, instead you took the easy way out with the losers from the old neighborhood, and look where you’ve wound up. Right in the same place we started, staring at a dead end, and now you’re running scared because of it. That was your choice, not mine. No one forced you into it.”
Hani’s mouth went dry. The words cut deep, because they were true, and the truth hurt. Almost as much as having to do this. “I don’t need your approval, you egotistical asshole.”
Kai’s eyes cut sharply to Hani’s right. Hani swiveled his head to find Abby standing at the end of the path leading to the beach with a bag looped over her shoulder, looking between them uncertainly.
She took a step backward. “Sorry. I’ll just go wait—”
“How long have you been with him?” Hani demanded of her.
She stopped, faced him, and he couldn’t help but admire her poise. She was calm as she stood her ground and confronted him. Raised her chin to give him a cool, you-don’t-intimidate-me stare.
“Not long, I’ll bet. Well then, let me give you a little tip and save you some heartache.”
“Shut up, Hani,” Kai snarled.
Hani ignored him. Abby was Kai’s other weak spot. So he would keep hitting that to get this done. He hoped it worked, because he didn’t know what the hell else to do. “He seems like a great guy, until you get to know him.”
“I think I know him pretty well,” she answered evenly.
“Yeah? Do you even know what he does for a living?”
“Yes.”
No she didn’t. Not everything. Kai wouldn’t be able to tell her, for security reasons. “Really? You know he’s with the DEA?”
“Yes.” Her expression was impassive, but her eyes were cool. She didn’t like the way Hani was talking about him. Was prepared to defend him. Christ, Hani wished he’d been able to get to know this one. Hoped Kai knew what he had in her.
“So then you know he’s part of FAST Bravo, huh?”
At that, Kai drew in a shocked breath. Abby stared at Hani, uncertain, before her gaze shifted to Kai.
“Ah, you didn’t know that. Well, I’m not surprised.” Hani turned slowly to face his cousin, a derisive smile in place, using it as armor, and clucked his tongue. “How come you didn’t tell her? Don’t trust her? Or me, for that matter. Tutu either, since you didn’t tell either of us. But Abby? That’s not very forthcoming and honest of you, is it? Doesn’t bode well for a new relationship between you two. Didn’t you think she’d wonder what you got up to when you’re gone all the time?”
Kai’s nostrils flared, his eyes narrowing in warning. “Shut. Up.”
He eyed Abby, let his gaze rake over her body in a way that was blatan
tly disrespectful. “Or maybe he was just looking for a good fuck while he was here. I hope you made last night worth his while.”
“You son of a bitch,” Kai snarled, and came at him.
Hani tensed, brought his hands up to try and deflect the punch he was sure was coming. Kai grabbed the front of his shirt instead and wrenched him forward until only his toes touched the ground.
Hani gripped the thick wrists holding him prisoner, his throat tightening at the fury and hurt in his cousin’s eyes. “Get your goddamn hands off me.”
“Who told you,” Kai growled, the muscles in his shoulders standing out beneath his T-shirt, fists twisting the fabric of Hani’s shirt. “Who told you about my job?”
“Doesn’t matter. Point is, you lied to us all, didn’t even tell your own family what you really did for a living. Because even though we’re ohana, you still don’t trust us. That’s the truth, and we’re better off without you.”
“It’s got nothing to do with trust, you stupid asshole.” Kai shoved him away.
Hani stumbled back and fell into the picnic table, catching the edge across the middle of his back. Pain radiated down his spine. He welcomed it.
Quickly righting himself, he shot Kai a look of pure hatred. “Or maybe you had an ulterior motive, huh? Playing it cool when you come home for a ‘visit’,” he said, using his fingers for air quotations, “when you’re really here to keep tabs on me and report back to your bosses.”
“Why, you got something to hide?” Kai grated out, his voice like gravel. “Is that why you’re packing now? Why you got so spooked last night when that car backfired? Huh? Someone after you?”
Shame curled inside him. He stuffed it down, kept the sneer in place as he jerked his chin at Abby. “Fuck you, Kai. Take your haole bitch, get outta here and leave me and Tutu the fuck alone,” he snapped, spinning on his heel before Kai could reply. He stormed off to his truck, his legs unsteady with every step.
Kai didn’t try to stop him. Didn’t call out or come after him.