I don’t even register where my feet are taking me, I feel so far away from my body. Why did Penny bring me here to bring me face to face with my pain?
When I come to, I am walking up the steps inside a tour bus. I jerk my hand from Penny’s and sta
rt to turn away.
“I can’t, Penny. I can’t see him. I’m not ready. I can’t.”
“You can, and you will. You need to see him, and he needs to see you. You are both miserable. Whether you fuck or fight, I don’t care, but I am sick of watching you waste away.”
“Fine, I might actually be dead right now just so you know.”
Vance and Hunter are sitting at a small table drinking beers. Their faces light up when they see Penny. She goes over and squishes herself between the pair. They are already fighting for her attention just like old times.
Jake pokes his head out from a refrigerator. He smiles at me. “Hey, Katie.”
“Hey, Jake. Been a while, huh?”
He gives me a hug.
“Hey, Katie,” Vance says, looking devious. He scrubs his fingers over his dragon tattoo on his head. “Did you bring your purse?”
“No, why?”
“Just thought maybe it was where you’ve been keeping Kai’s dick.” He starts laughing and I shake my head. Good to know he hasn’t changed.
I feel another set of eyes on me. I look down the narrow hall of the bus. Kai is standing in the doorway of what I assume to be the bedroom. He isn’t wearing a shirt and he looks so damn sexy. It would be so easy to run straight to him and jump in his arms. He is staring at me his eyes mixed with desire, hurt, and anger.
Jake nudges me forward toward Kai. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what I want…what he wants. But my soul is screaming to be reunited with its other half. My feet move at their own accord.
I slowly walk toward him. My chest is tight, and my heart is burning with desire. I’m on fire. He just stands there staring at me. When I reach him, he doesn’t say anything. He swallows hard, and I just want to reach over and touch him…something. I feel like I am dreaming, and he may disappear.
He reaches his hand up, slowly fingering the pendant hanging around my neck, and I might die. He smiles slightly, popping his dimples out. He lets go of the diamond horse and trails his finger along my collarbone, leaving a trail of fire behind his stroke.
“You’re really here,” he finally says something.
“Kai,” his name leaves my lips barely in a whisper for the first time in months.
“I want to hate you, but I can’t,” he admits.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes.
“You promised me wild horses, Kat.”
“I’m sorry…” my words are cut off by his.
Three words that turn me into mush leave his lips. His voice comes out shaky. “Killing me, Kat.”
“Want you so bad, Kai,” I say back, choking on the words.
His hands cup my face, and then he whispers softly in my ear, “I am going to kiss you, Katie, don’t kick me.”
I can only nod as his mouth crashes down to mine. Our tongues tangle and mingle as we find our way to the bed. I don’t even know if he shut the door. I only know I cannot breathe, and I need him to suffocate the fire burning through my veins with his love.
We kiss, touch, and stroke each other for minutes or hours, I don’t know. I just know that for the first time in a year, I feel at peace. I feel whole as his body lies here next to mine, our hearts beating fast, in perfect harmony, as they always have.
“We need to talk, Kat.”
“I know, just being here…it scares me, Kai.” I don’t know what he is about to tell me. What if he has moved on? What if there is someone else? My heart skips a beat. I don’t know if I can take hearing he has fallen in love with someone that isn’t me.