Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(42)

He wraps one hand around my neck, applying just the right amount of pressure. Not enough to leave a mark but enough to send adrenaline coursing through my body at the implied threat. My eyes roll back in my head as my orgasm peaks and I come, screaming out his name as I feel him releasing inside me.

He didn’t use a condom.

But there’s no need to anymore.

The second that thought flits through my mind, a sob bursts free of my mouth. I’m not fast enough to smother it and he goes rigidly still. Then I’m lifted into his arms, and he’s cradling me to his injured chest. “I’m sorry, baby. I was too rough.”

I shake my head, forcing the tears to subside. “No.” I press a fierce kiss to his lips. “You were perfect.” I gently cup his face, completely at odds with the way we just attacked one another. “It’s not that.” I peer into his eyes, silently communicating what’s on my mind because I can’t voice those words.

“Firecracker.” He winds his hands loosely through my hair. “I fucking love you so much.” He kisses me with infinite tenderness, and it has the power to unravel me, rendering me into a mushy pile on the floor.

“I love you too.” I press my forehead to his and our joint ragged breathing echoes around the room.

“I’m sorry,” we both blurt at the same time, and then we smile. I love how in sync we are. How much we just get one another. I’ve never had this connection with anyone else.

I rest my head carefully on his chest, circling my arms around his waist. “Am I hurting you?” I whisper.

“Never,” he whispers back, running a hand up and down my back.

We stay locked in our embrace for a while, before fixing ourselves up and putting our clothes back on.

Kai drops onto a chair and I curl myself around him, situated in his lap. “Today was fucking hell,” he admits, kissing my temple. “I only found out at the last minute, and I tried to warn you, but your cell was off.”

“It’s okay. I know you would have if you could.” I cup his handsome face. “I fucking hate her. I want to rip her apart with my bare hands. Gouge her eyes out so she can’t give you those pathetic googly eyes and rip out her tongue so that incessantly annoying giggle dies an instant death.”

“She’s a stage five clinger,” he agrees, his face contorting as he shudders. “And it killed me acting like that with her as much as it killed you.”

“You hurt me,” I admit. “When you said you regretted every second you spent with me.” Pain dances in his eyes. “I know you didn’t mean it, and I tried telling myself that, but it didn’t matter. Seeing you whispering with her, and touching her, it … it killed me.”

“I took it too far.” He holds my face in his larger palms. “I didn’t intend to be that hurtful. I knew we needed to snap at one another, to sneer and pretend like we hated each other, but I wasn’t planning on being so touchy with her.”

His tongue darts out, wetting his lush lower lip, and I’m envious.

I want to be the one licking his lips.

Tasting how sweet and sexy they are.

“I let jealousy get the better of me,” he explains. “He was all over you, Abby, and I was frustrated and fucking mad as hell.”

“I couldn’t stop him, Kai, because Father was watching us like a hawk.”

“I noticed.” Kai scowls. “And it wasn’t just him. Everyone was watching us with bated breath.”

“I’m sorry about the kiss.” I drag my nails lightly through the side of his head, in the place where his skull tattoo starts, and he purrs under my touch. “I hated it. And I knew it was upsetting you, but I couldn’t see any way out of it without making it look obvious.”

“I know, baby.” He rubs the underside of my wrist, sending delicious tingles shooting up my arm. “You have no idea how badly I want to end Charlie Barron.” His eyes burn with anger, and he sighs heavily. “But I’ve been thinking about it ever since, and I can’t deny how much he cares about you. And that’s … that’s a good thing.”

My brows climb to my hairline. “What are you saying?”

“He’s genuine in his feelings, Abby. I’ve always thought that, but he confirmed it today. Yes, he was all grabby hands to send me a message, but he loves you. Or at least he thinks he does.”

“And you’re pleased about that?” My voice is laced with disbelief.

“It’s better than the alternative.” His reaction shocks me into silence. “I hate him. I hate every look and every touch. But he won’t let anyone harm you, and that is reassuring. I can’t be there to protect you.” His voice cracks, and his face contorts unpleasantly. “And I’m worrying about you nonstop. It helps that I know he’d die to save you. I still hate the bastard, but it’s better he truly loves you than it being a lie.”

I’m stunned speechless, and Kai knows it. He smiles, tweaking my nose.

Someone pounds on the door. “Open the fucking door, Kai,” Drew shouts.

Kai’s eyes widen. “I thought this room was soundproof? How can we hear him?”

“Xavier built it using this new technology developed by some Italian scientists. It’s kind of like a one-way mirror for sound. They can’t hear us, but we can hear them.”