“The night of Daisy’s party.”
Holden looked confused. I was biting the inside of my cheek, and Kai gently squeezed my hand. I didn’t mind him knowing, but I knew he would put two and two together and realize that I was the one that gave him the lap dance, and made him cum in his boxers.
“Oh my God. It was you that gave him the lap dance,” Holden snarled.
Fucking shit.
My cheeks flushed red. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, taking a step closer to him.
“Save it, Isla,” he fumed.
Fuck. He’s definitely pissed.
Holden walked away and headed to the concierge. Kai turned to me.
“Are you okay,” he whispered. Kai ran his hands up and down my arms. I shook my head.
“He’s so angry with me,”
“I know,”
“He’s upset that I lied and I don’t blame him. What kind of friend am I?” I sniffed. Tears stung my hot cheeks. I quickly wiped them away. God, he knows I’m lying to him about this. Imagine when he finds out I was a call girl. Damnit.
Kai pulled me in for a hug. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. The warmth from his body calmed my beating heart.
As much as I want to stay with him right now, I need to find Holden to apologize.
“I have to fix this.”
Kai pulled away from me, holding my face in his hands. “Tell him how we first met. Please, Isla,” Kai begged.
A lump crowded my throat, my eyes swelled again. “I can’t. It’s too hard.” Kai leaned in and gently pressed his lips against mine. I gripped his navy t-shirt as he pulled away.
“Come back up to the suite when you’re finished talking to him. It’ll be fine once he gets over the initial shock.”
I nodded, Kai pulled away from me and made his way up to the penthouse. After running my hands through my hair, I turned towards the concierge desk. Holden briefly caught my gaze before he focused on the computer. Strolling hesitantly, I made my way to see him.
“Can we talk,” I whispered.
Holden picked up the phone and started to dial a number. “I’m busy,” he lied.
“Please Holden,” I begged.
He slammed the phone down and turned to his colleague behind the desk. “Cover for me.”
The girl nodded and Holden stepped out from behind the desk, took my hand, and led me into the private meeting room. He shut the door behind us so hard, I could feel the vibrations beneath my feet. Holden turned to face me.
“Talk,” he sneered.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“What for, huh?”
“You know what for,” I whispered.
“I don’t. Why the fuck couldn’t you just tell me. I’m your best friend. Why hide something like that, Isla?” Holden yelled.
“I don’t know. I was going to tell you. I just didn’t know how.” My body trembled and the knots in my stomach tightened. God, I hate feeling like this.
Holden sat down on one of the chairs that surrounded the long boardroom table. After a moment of hesitation, I sat down next to him.
“This wasn’t how I wanted you to find out, but here we are. I’m really sorry,”
“So, he was the guy that you have the lap dance to?” Holden growled, ignoring my apology.
I nodded, but my cheeks blushed as the memories of that night flashed in my head.
“That means you went up to his hotel suite,” Holden scolded.
“What?”
“Kai said he was going to take the girl back to his suite, which means you were the girl that went back with him,”
Fuck.
My voice dipped low. “Yes,”
“So, you’ve slept with him?”
I nodded. I didn’t care that Holden knew we were together, but I didn’t want to discuss details with him.
“I can’t bring my head around this. You know I wanted the two of you to see each other. I can’t see why you’d fucking lie about it. To me!” he shouted.
“I know. I’m sorry. I made a mistake. Forgive me, please,” I begged.
“Is there anything else you’re not telling me?”
Shit.
That night on the bridge was one of the worst nights of my life, and also the best. I wanted to die but Kai Storm saved me. Telling Holden that I was on that bridge would destroy him. He would hate me, and I couldn’t handle it if he hated me. So, I needed to lie again.
“No.”
“Why do I have a feeling like you’re hiding something from me?”
Because I am. “Holden…”
“Fine.” Holden stood up and I automatically got off my chair. The wheels swung the chair back to the wall. “I need to get back to work.”
“Please don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, Isla. I’m just furious right now,” he continued. “Kai should have told me, too.”
I nodded, understanding. The one thing we promised each other as we grew closer, was that we would always be truthful. I broke that promise as soon as it was made.
“I’ll leave you alone. Call me when you’re ready to talk.”
Holden nodded. I walked out the door and hastily made my way through the lobby to the lift and up to the penthouse suite. After unlocking the door, I found Kai sitting on the couch waiting for me.
“How did it go?”
“He’s mad at me,” I replied. Huffing, I climbed onto Storm and straddled him. His hands moved to my waist and he pulled me closer. “He’s mad at you, too,” I continued.
“Fuck!” Kai grunted.
I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on the crook of his neck. He sighed, and tightened his hold on me.
“He just needs time,” he whispered.
“He asked me if there was anything else I was hiding from him.”
Kai gently moved me off and cupped my face in his hands. “You should tell him.”
I shook my head. “He’ll hate me for keeping it from him for this long.”
Using his thumb, Kai began to caress my cheeks. His touch was welcoming and gave me comfort I didn’t realize I was missing. “You’re so damn beautiful.”
A faint smile spread on my lips. I lowered my head to meet his, and he swept the hair off my face before our lips melted into each other. Our kiss was soft and sensual. I opened my mouth to invite him in and our tongues began to dance rhythmically. Kai’s hands moved down to my ass, where he gently caressed it before he gave it a tight squeeze. “Mmmm.” He pulled away from me the moment a moan escaped from my breath.
“Stay with me tonight?” Kai whispered. There was nothing more that I wanted than spending time with him and getting to know him. The connection was intense and I was almost getting scared how close we were becoming. I wonder if he feels the same way.
“Yes, I’ll stay with you.”
“I have to work tomorrow, though.”
I nodded. God, I need to start looking for a job. Kai had told me to as Holden. I just don’t think that’s such a good idea right now.
“I need to organize my move.”
“I’ll help you with it,” Kai offered.
There’s no way you’re seeing the inside of my house right now. I hated that he wanted to get a glimpse of the part of me I despised.
“No, baby.” I refused.
“Why?” Kai narrowed his eyes. I took a deep breath before I responded.
“Because I don’t want you to see where I live.”
“You know I don’t care about that.”
“I know, but I do.”
“Is it that bad?”
Oh, much worse than whatever is going on in your head.
“Yes.”
“You need someone to help you out. I doubt Holden will offer right now.”
Damnit! Kai’s right. I can’t ask him for anything right now. I can ask Daisy, though.
“I’ll ask his girlfriend.”
Kai swept my hair off my shoulders to my back. “I’m
here if you need me.”
I smiled. He moved his hand to the side of my neck. God, his touch does something to me. My body reacted instantly. The electricity between us could light up a whole damn town. I love the way I feel when I’m with him. My eyes closed slowly. Kai pulled me closer and started to devour me with a kiss. When he pulled away, he rested his fore head on mine.
“You’re mine, Isla. No one can have you but me.”
I licked and sucked my bottom lip. “I’m all yours, baby.”
I was lying in bed with Kai and suddenly heard my phone buzzing. The alarm clock’s bright red banner alerted me to the time. Who the hell is calling me at one am? I reached over to the night stand and grabbed my phone, quickly peering at the caller I.D. It was Ace. Fuck. I haven’t told him that I’m no longer a call girl. I hope he’ll be okay with it. I’m sure he’s got a few girls from before he can see.
After I swiped the answer key, I whispered into the phone. “Hi. Give me a second.” Treading lightly on the carpeted floor, I made my way out of the bedroom, closing the door behind me and sat on the lounge chair. “Hi, Ace.”
“Hi, Isla. Why have you been ignoring me?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy. I should have messaged you back.”
“I’ve missed you, and missed being with you. I should be back soon, and I want you again.”
Fuck.
“I’m sorry, Ace. Look I probably should have told you, but I’m not a call girl anymore. I’ve given it up.”
I moved the phone away from my ear when Ace screamed at me. “What?” Ace growled; his breathing turned heavy.
“I’ve started seeing someone.” An eerily silence suffocated me. “Um, Ace?”
“I heard you, Isla. That’s unacceptable.”
Unacceptable? The fuck is he on about? Fuck. He’ll find someone else, I’m sure of it.
“What do you mean, Ace?”
“I meant what I said. I only want you. No other girl will satisfy me like you do.”
“I’m sorry Ace. This is my decision and I have made it,” I affirmed.
Ace lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’m not giving you up that easily.”
Did I just hear him right? Not giving me up that easily? I was never his.
I took a deep breath and shuffled on the couch. My heart was beating quicker and the knots in my stomach twisted, causing nausea to set in. “Ace…”
“Isla…”
“I’m with him and that won’t change.” My shaking voice was no match for his stern and direct tone.
“I’ll change your mind when I see you next,” he promised.
“I won’t see you again, Ace.”
He whispered something underneath his breath, but I couldn’t quite hear him. “We’ll see about that.”
“I have to go.” I hung up on him without giving him a chance to respond. Why would Ace even say anything like that to me? Being a call girl was something I hadn’t done for long, but he was only my client. Nothing more ever went on between us.
I took a deep breath. My shaking hands threw the phone beside me on the couch. It settled in the slit between the cushions. Do I have a right to be reacting like this? I’m sure I do. My phone lit up and I could feel the vibration underneath the material of the couch. Picking up my phone, I covered my mouth with my hands. Shit. Ace sent a text with a picture of him smiling. A note was attached.
You want me as bad as I want you.
No. I really don’t, Ace. I used to, before I knew what I really wanted. And what I wanted then was Kai Storm.
Finding the courage, I send a reply to Ace. Please don’t message me again. Simple, yet direct. I hope he takes the hint.
After deleting the photo and message, I contemplated on blocking his number. Do I need to go that far? My phone lit up again, this time a full-size picture of his cock occupied my screen. Yeah, I need to go that far. I sent another message hoping he could hear the tone through my words. I said STOP! I deleted the picture and blocked his number. Damnit. I hope this is the last time I hear from him. I already told Greg that I was unavailable.
My eyes closed for a moment, and I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, before standing up and heading back to the bedroom. I placed the phone on the bedside table, lifted up the covers and settled underneath with Kai. He stirred for a moment, before he grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him, mumbling beneath his breath.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just couldn’t sleep.”
Kai’s grip on my waist tightened and his nails dug into me before they traced the skin from my neck down my spine. We were so close, our breaths were melting with each other. I loved how safe he made me feel. Still shaking from before, I calmed down the moment he touched me.
Kai’s arm was still wrapped tight around my body when I woke up in the morning. God, he looks so peaceful sleeping. His eyes fluttered open and a smile crept on his face when he noticed me watching him.
“What are you doing?”
“Watching you sleep,” I replied. My thumb gently caressed his bottom lip and Kai gently kissed the tip.
“Do we still have time?”
I turned my body away and grabbed my phone from the bedside table. I hoped that Ace hadn’t sent me another text from a different number. Relief washed over me when there were no new notifications.
“It’s eight.”
‘Fuck! I’m late,” Kai shouted. He jumped out of bed before quickly turning around and got back in. “Can’t leave without kissing you.”
My mouth curved into a faint smile, just before he crashed his lips onto mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers twisting through his hair before I laid back down on the bed. He broke the kiss.
“I’m late.”
“Hopefully you won’t hear me say those words to you anytime soon,” I joked. Kai smiled before he pulled away, and headed to the bathroom. The splash of the water echoed when Kai turned on the shower. I picked up my phone and started to send Holden a message, when I realized that he was still angry with me.
Fuck. How do I make him forgive me? Please, I hope he forgives me.
After opening my phone, I tapped on the Netflix icon and started an episode of Suits. Half way through, I was distracted when Kai walked out of the bathroom. Swallowing hard as the water dripped lightly from his hair to his shoulders, and slid down the side of his arm. A white towel sat tight around his muscular body, which looked to be carved by Michelangelo himself. Kai’s body was art. His defined abs, broad shoulders and beneath the fluffy material, veins that sat right above his hips.
I can’t fucking get over how sexy he is.
Kai smiled when he caught me gawking at him. “Should I turn around as well so you get the whole package?”
Oh boy, do I want his package right now.
“Mmhm,” I nodded.
Kai’s smile widened. He grabbed the towel around his waist before he slowly opened it up. Letting it go, it slid down the well-built contour of his legs.
Hot damn!
I took a deep breath. My eyes moved up and down his body before meeting his gaze.
“Unless you want me to keep you hostage for the day, you should get changed.”
“Don’t tempt me, beautiful,” Kai winked.
My eyes wouldn’t move away from him. I watched him change into a pressed gray suit, before he put on his light blue tie. Kai took a few steps and sat on the bed next to me.
“Stay here as long as you like,” he offered. His hands moved up and down my legs.
“I don’t think I can. I need to start looking for a new job.”
He nodded. “Come back to me tonight?”
I smiled, leant up, and pressed my lips against his. A moan escaped into our sweet kiss. “Mmmm.”
After pulling away, he pouted his lips. “I have to go.”
I nodded and Kai left, making his way to work. I decided to take a shower at the hotel instead of in my infested bathroom at home. After getti
ng changed, I left the suite and made my way to the lobby. Holden noticed me right away, and quickly strolled up to greet me, an apologetic expression etched on his face.
“Isla…”
“Hi, Holden.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m not happy for you, because I am,” he clarified. Holden scratched the area between his thumb and forefinger. I gave him a faint smile.
I knew he would be happy with me finding someone, but the reason he was angry wasn’t because I was with Kai, but because he feels I didn’t trust him enough to tell him about it.
“I know, Holden.”
“I just wish you felt like you could tell me,” he whispered.
“I get it. I really do. I’m so sorry, Holden. Can you forgive me?”
A lump formed in my throat and my eyes swelled. Definitely not what I expected to do in the middle of a hotel lobby. Holden wrapped his arms around my body and pulled me in for a hug. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and settled in his familiar comfort. I knew he was upset, but we could never stay angry at each other for long. God, I hope that is the same when he finds out about everything else.
After pulling away, he looked at me with a smile. “I love you, Isla,” he declared, cupping my face in his hands.
“I love you too, Holden.” Holden kissed my forehead lightly before he took a step back.
“Where are you off to?”
My response was quick, without a thought. “Looking for a new job.”
Holden narrowed his eyes at me. “What’s wrong with your old job?”
Ahhh, shit!
“I got sick of standing on my feet the whole day, getting grabbed by randoms,” I lied. Well part of that’s true.
“Would you work here?”
Hope filled my expression and my mouth slightly opened. “Are you serious?”
He nodded. “A position has just come up and I need someone to fill it.”
I rubbed my hands together. “Which position?” The truth was, I didn’t care. I knew I was desperate for a place to work that would give me enough money to allow me to pay off my new apartment, and buy necessities like food.
“Administrative assistant.”
“I’ll take it!” I blurted, jumping up and down, unable to contain my excitement. I stopped when a thought struck me. “But I don’t have experience.”
His Desire Page 13
