It's All Relative(74)

Kai was staring at her, and she was staring at him, the movie in the background playing some melodramatic scene that Jessie wasn’t even listening to. She was only hearing her heart thumping in her chest, only feeling her breath passing over her lips. And Kai…she was very aware of him.

They were sitting with their hips touching. They hadn’t started out that way, but over the course of the movie they’d slowly inched together. They were leaning against his headboard, and somehow, Kai’s arm had snuck around behind Jessie and his thumb was rubbing a circle into her low back. Jessie’s knees were propped up, her hands tightly clutching them to her chest. Mainly out of fear. Because she knew if she relaxed her grip on her knees, her hands would drift to Kai’s face—that beautiful face staring down at her, watching her as intently as they’d been watching the movie…in the beginning.

Jessie sighed as her eyes flicked between his. She wanted nothing more than to feel his lips press against her…but not on the cheek this time. She wanted them enclosed over hers, tasting, teasing. She wanted it more than she’d ever wanted anything, even though it still made her ill to want it.

Kai sighed too, and by the expression on his face, it was clear he wanted it, too. Jessie knew that she had to get up, knew that it was time to leave him, before the feeling overwhelmed them both. She made a move to stand, but Kai made a move too, and it froze her in place. Kai’s move wasn’t to get up, but to lean toward her. Jessie’s lips parted as she felt him draw nearer. Her already fast heart quickened to a dangerous pace. Kai’s breath brushed over her face, light and fast. Then, achingly slow, he bent toward her.

Careful to not let any other part of their bodies move, just their faces touched. A small gasp escaped her as their noses, cheeks, and foreheads brushed against each other. It was more erotic than him flat-out kissing her, and a tingling desire shot through her, igniting her. Kai hissed in a quick breath and exhaled in a low groan; he was feeling the ache too. Digging her fingers into her jeans, to stop herself from grabbing him and shucking off his clothes, she let out a low moan as his cheek lightly ran across hers.

Jessie could feel her control slipping. Her breath was a fast pant as she moved her face to find his lips. Kai let out a ragged exhale as his face adjusted to find hers as well. When his breath was entering her open mouth, mingling with her own, and she was positive that they wouldn’t be able to stop this in time, his ear-splitting cell phone ring broke the passion simmering in the air.

Jessie jerked away just as their lips brushed together. They stared at each other with matching expressions of shock and concern, then Kai twisted to find his obnoxious phone. Jessie brought the backs of her hands to her cheeks in an effort to cool her face as Kai grabbed his phone from his nightstand. While he answered the call, Jessie repeatedly ran her hand through her hair. That had been too close, much too close.

“Hello?” Kai’s voice was strained and fast, obviously distressed. Swallowing a few times, he closed his eyes and struggled for calm. He pulled away from Jessie, and she did the same. They needed a little space; that was the whole point of Kai being with April.

“No, I’m fine. I’m glad you called, April.”

Opening his eyes, Kai gave Jessie a remorseful look. Jessie averted her gaze as fresh guilt added to her turmoil. Needing to walk off the last lingering remnants of desire in her body, she stood up. Kai hugged his knees to his chest as he watched Jessie pace beside the bed.

While watching him listen to the phone as April talked, Jessie finally felt herself come down from that fateful moment; sadness crept in when the lust-fueled high faded. Kai’s expression matched hers as he made agreeing noises into the phone. Then he started, and his expression shifted into confusion. “Costume party?” he asked. Jessie’s curiosity peaked as Kai frowned. “For Halloween…right. Okay, I’ll pick you up at six.”

Kai listened for a minute more and then a soft smile graced his lips. “Yeah, me too. Goodnight, April.” Disconnecting the call, he tossed his phone on the bed. Staring at it, he ran a hand through his hair. “She, uh, just wanted to let me know about tomorrow.” He glanced up at Jessie, his face apologetic again. Then he frowned. “She’s taking me to a costume party for Halloween.”

Letting out an unhappy huff, he rested his arms across his knees. Jessie smiled softly at seeing his displeasure, then felt guilty that he wasn’t looking forward to his date. She wanted him to be with April. She had to keep reminding herself of that. “I hate dressing up,” he muttered.

Jessie smiled wider; she hated dressing up, too. Sitting on the very edge of the bed, as far away from him as she could, she shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll have fun. What is she making you wear?” It soured Jessie’s stomach that she was assuring him he’d have a good time on his date, right after they’d almost kissed. Again.

Kai smirked. “You’re going to laugh.” Jessie bit her lip to make sure she didn’t smile; she only half-succeeded. She was so glad that he was the one being subjected to this and not her. Kai smiled at her attempt to not show her amusement, then frowned. “She’s dressing me up as a pirate.” With a dramatic groan, he let his head thump against the headboard. “She wants to be a slutty bar wench, and she seems to think I’ll look good as Captain Jack.” He ruefully shook his head.

Jessie smiled, then frowned. Kai would definitely look good as a pirate, but April… Jessie had seen her dress for Halloween before, and she was going to look unbelievable. She felt her eyes begin to sting as she realized that this time tomorrow night, those lips that had been so tantalizingly close to hers, would most likely be all over April’s. She swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat. They should be all over April. They should be as far from her as possible.