“What?” she asks after a few seconds.
“Who is that?” I ask her, pointing upwards.
She follows my finger and squints her eyes to get a better look. “Ohhh, that’s Nina. My roommate.”
“You know her?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah, she’s cool. We don’t really hang out much, but I have nothing against her.”
Kai laughs at something she says. It pisses me off. “Are they… close?” I ask Mandy without looking at her. My eyes stay locked on his pleasant face.
“I don’t think so,” she answers. “Not that it matters anyway, right? Because this isn’t a booty call, right?”
I finally look at her. “Right,” I answer.
“You wanted him to move on, remember? You two want different things, remember?”
I hold up a hand. “Okay! I get it.” She stares at me, but says nothing more. “I don’t care what he does.” She raises an eyebrow at me. “I don’t!” The impatient annoyance in her gaze makes me angry. “I’m so sick of this. I’m not waiting anymore — just gonna get this over with.” I brush around her and charge up the stairs, bumping shoulders with plenty of people as I pass by them. The closer I drift to them, the more I hear his voice. It dominates my ears. I miss hearing it in the middle of the night and how he used to whisper dirty things to me in bed to send me over the edge.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Fine, I admit it. I want him so badly, I can taste his semen lingering on my tongue again. I don’t care who this bitch is, she needs to back off right now.
“Kai!” I shout through the crowd and come to a stop near him. He stands up tall and looks down at me with dark eyes. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” I ask him.
“No.” It’s firm, direct. But I can’t give up. I can feel this girl’s eyes on me, but I ignore them.
“Please,” I urge. “It’s important.”
“Hi, I’m Nina.” She forces her hand at me for a shake.
I refuse it. “I’m Piper. Kai’s sister,” I say at her. “I need to talk to him about an important family matter.”
He stares me down. “No.”
I sigh with impatience. “Please.”
“No means no.” He looks at me with that smug smirk and anger boils beneath my skin. Now he’s throwing my own words back at me?
Fuck that noise.
I reach out and latch my fingers around his arm. I didn’t come all the way here to be pushed aside for Ginger Barbie. My nails dig into his skin and I tug at his arm to force him through the crowd with me.
“What the fuck, Piper?!” he yelps in pain.
“Move!” I shout as I push him towards the nearest door. He fights the movements, but trips over his feet every time he makes a little progress. The more he yanks away, the deeper my nails slice into him. I kick the door open to find an empty bathroom. Perfect. I force him inside and slam the door closed behind us.
I release him and he inspects his arm. “Jesus, Pipes—” he moans. “You are deceivingly strong!”
“I want to talk to you.” I plant myself in front of the door.
“Too damn bad,” he barks. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Well, I need to talk to you.”
“Tough.” He steps forward and reaches around my body to grip the doorknob behind me. I dig my heels into the floor and refuse to budge out of the way. He manages to crack the door open, but I slam against it to force it closed again. “Piper, come on, you’re acting like a fucking child.”
“And you’re acting like a selfish prick.”
“I’m selfish?!” he fires back. “No, you’re the one that just threw a hissy fit and pulled me into a damn bathroom.”
“I wouldn’t have to if you’d stop avoiding me! It’s the only reason why I even came to this stupid party.”
“Well, I’m sure our lame college parties are nothing compared to what you’re used to,” he smirks. “Everyone here is fully clothed.”
My jaw drops. “You piece of—”
“Oh, have I made you angry, Piper?” he asks. “Good! I’ll leave then and you can get back to whatever stranger you’ve got lined up for tonight’s quick lay.”
I push the insult aside. There are more important things to worry about. “Not yet.”
“Get out of the way.”
“No.”
He shakes his head. “This stubborn princess routine is getting real freakin’ old, Pipes.”
“Deal with it.”
“And by the way,” he seethes. “You were hotter with longer hair.”
My teeth chatter with anger. He’s doing it on purpose to get under my skin, hoping to distract me long enough to slip away. I don’t budge, but the words still sting. “Go to hell!” I shout.
“I’m already there!” He tries to push around me, but I stay firmly in place. “Do you want me to lift you out of the way?” he asks. “Because it wouldn’t be difficult. You weigh like a hundred pounds.” He reaches for the knob again, but I slap his hand away.
“Then do it,” I challenge him. “But I’m still not going anywhere until you let me say what I need to say.”
He reaches out and does exactly as he warned me he would do. My alcohol-laced stomach lurches as he raises me off the floor like a rag doll.
“No!” I shout at him and kick my feet until he drops me back down.
“Piper—”
“No!” I hop back in front of the door.
He grabs at me again and tries to force me to the side, but I latch onto his shirt collar with an iron grip. “You’re being ridiculous!” he shouts.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be!”
“I’m making this harder?!” He slaps my hands away and I drop his collar. “You never should have come back here!”
“Yeah, but I did and I’m not leaving again until you listen to me!”
He grabs for the door, but I rush at it to keep it closed. “That’s it,” he growls and bends over to force me over his shoulder. “I’m done with this shit…”
“Kai, please!” I shout as he stands upright. He wraps one arm around my body, locking me in place on his shoulder as he reaches for the doorknob with his free hand. He certainly wasn’t kidding about it being easy to move me. I feel practically weightless in his strong grip. As he pulls the door open, I lash out with my arms to close it again.
“Knock it off, Piper!”
“You knock it off, Kai!”
He jerks the door open, only to growl once again when I punch it closed. “Goddammit!” He spins around fast and drops me to the floor. The sudden move of it knocks me off balance and I tumble onto the filthy mat near the bathtub.
Kai uses the advantage and takes a long stride to the door. I stand up quickly and hike up my skirt before rushing at him.
“Kai, Stop!” I shout as I leap onto his back.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Piper!” He grabs the doorknob.
I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his torso, latching myself to him. “I’m sorry!” The words shoot out from between my lips and fly directly into his ears.
His hand lingers on the doorknob, but he doesn’t turn it. “What?” he asks.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper again. My chest heaves, out of breath, while tears sting my eyes. “Kai, I’m sorry.” I bury my face in his back. His heart thumps hard. I can feel it beneath his skin and muscles, pacing just as fast as my own. I keep my grip on him, never wanting to let go. “I messed up,” I continue. “I shouldn’t have… God— I messed up and… I’m sorry.” I peak out to see him staring at me in the mirror above the sink.
Kai inhales slowly. I count his breaths one-by-one, waiting for the moment when he finally speaks. I found his silent treatment earlier annoying, but now, it’s completely devastating.
“I know,” he finally says. “You wouldn’t have come all this way if you weren’t.” His hand falls off the doorknob and glides back down to his side.
“Yeah…” I whisper.
“Look,” he begins, “I know those incredible thighs of yours can probably hang there forever, but my back is kind of…”
I loosen my grip on his neck. “Okay,” I say. I slide down his body and place my feet on the floor. For a second, I fear it is all a clever ruse and he’ll try to bolt again, but he does a quick stretch and turns around slowly to lean against the door with his hands in his pockets. “I thought about calling, but… it just didn’t feel right. I wanted to do this in person.”
“Do what, Pipes?” he asks.
I shrug slowly. “Fix this,” I say. “Beg you for forgiveness. Ask if we can be friends.”
“I told you I loved you,” he says, his voice low.
“I know.”
“And you let me believe for an entire week that you loved me, too.”
“I didn’t…” I sigh. “I didn’t mean to. Hell, I probably thought I did for a while.”
“What changed?” he asked.
I scratch my elbow as tickles strike my nerves. “We couldn’t keep going, Kai,” I say.
“Why not?”
I swallow hard to fight the lump growing in my throat. “Because… everything. We fought constantly.”
“I kind of liked that about us,” he admits with curled lips.
I continue on, fighting the urge to return his smile. “And obvious family relations aside… you were going to school. I wasn’t. I ran away to Europe and you didn’t.”
“I would have,” he interrupts. “Piper, you know I would have.”
“I couldn’t let you do that,” I urge. “I was prepared for that change. You weren’t.”
“That’s not your decision to make.”
“You were in no state to make a decision like that, Kai,” I say. “I had planned it for years. Months of mapping and waiting and preparation went into that change.”
“And yet…” he says. “Here you are.”
“Well…” I shrug. “There were a few factors I didn’t think of beforehand.” I look at him and I smile. “The day you showed up in Berlin… it changed everything.”
“Not everything,” he argues.
“Mostly everything.”
He inhales. “But not how you feel about me.”
I pause, questioning whether I should go further, but I push on. “Kai, I haven’t been with another man since you left,” I admit. “I’ve been completely tormented by what happened… by what I said to you. And I know you have as well.” His eyes fall for a moment. “I miss you and I can’t leave again until I know you understand that.”
“Oh, I understand you completely, Piper,” he scoffs. “I was just another one of your play things to be used up and tossed out.”
It cuts me deep. “That’s not true, Kai.”
He stands up tall. “Yeah, well, that’s what it felt like. And by the way… No. I’m not ready to forgive you. Maybe someday, but that day sure as hell isn’t going to come around anytime soon.”
“Kai, I’m sorry—”
“That’s not good enough for me, Piper,” he says, his tone firm and direct. “I get no fuzzy feelings from your apologies. I get no fuzzy feelings when I think about you at all anymore.”
I slink backward. Tears sting behind my eyelids. “Kai…”
“I might feel a little bit fuzzy when I hear how tormented you’ve been. That actually feels kinda good.”
“Wow.” I shake my head. “You know, I expected a little more empathy from you. I thought you were better than this.”
He presents his hands. “Well, I guess we’ll both have to live with being complete disappointments to each other.” He spins around and grabs the doorknob. I don’t bother trying to stop him this time. “Bye, Piper,” he says as he steps out of the bathroom.
***
I slide the card key into the slot and the light on the lock turns green.
“Mom?” I ask as I step inside the dark hotel room. Silence answers me. She must have gone out.
I plop down on my bed and stare up at the ceiling.
Well… that went well.
I should have turned around and flew back to Europe when I arrived here like my instincts told me to do. But, no. I just had to talk to him in person. I had to look into his eyes and tell him I was sorry for screwing up the most meaningful relationship I’ve ever been a part of.
Piper, you’re a fucking idiot.
But I did what I came here to do. I split my heart open, ripped it out, and showed it to him. I’ve never felt so unbelievably vulnerable in my entire life and in classic Kai Casablancas style, he used it to insult and degrade me. Why did I even bother with this again?
Oh, that’s right. Because he’s the best lover I’ve ever had and I’d do anything to experience him again.
I squeeze my eyes closed in a futile effort to curb the throbbing desire coursing through my body. It’s been eating away at me ever since I dragged him into that bathroom. I can still smell him on my hands. My skin quivers. Having his hands on me again, that rough touch of his, it’s so mind-numbingly powerful. I can’t stand it. I wanted to kiss him so badly then and the hunger lingers on my tongue.
I can’t leave again until I’m satisfied.
If appealing to him emotionally won’t work, then I’ll have to tap into his more primal side.
I reach underneath my skirt and slide my fingertips along my throbbing lips. It’s almost enough to send me over the edge immediately. I pull back and let the tingling pleasure dissipate before touching myself again. I bring myself close, then immediately stop. I want to savor this. I ride the wave over and over again, forcing myself closer to climax each time, but backing off before the point of no return.
Kai.
You won’t be swayed by fuzzy words and emotions? Fine.
Maybe a more direct approach is necessary to get what I want.
Chapter 6
Kai
“So, where were we?” I ask Nina.
She stares at me with wide eyes and glances down my body. “What the hell was that all about?” she asks.
I try to laugh it off, but my heart is still racing. It’s going to take one long and cold shower to shake off Piper’s powerful influence over me. “It was nothing. Really.”
Nina raises an eyebrow. “Didn’t look like nothing to me.” She eyes my collar. “I thought she said she was your sister.”
“She is.”
Her head tilts. “You have lipstick on your neck,” she points out, “and your shirt collar is completely wrecked.”
My hand shoots to the back of my head and I rub my skin. When I look at my fingers, I find Piper’s bright red lipstick smeared on them. Dammit, Pipes. “Well… she’s my stepsister.”
To my surprise, Nina starts laughing. “That’s one kinky household you grew up in.”
“No—” I hold up my hands. “It’s not like—”
“Calm down, Casablancas,” she chuckles. “I won’t tell anybody.”
I sigh. “I’ve completely ruined my chances here, haven’t I?” I ask her.
“Chances with what?” she asks.
“With you…” I say. I recall her flirtation with me at the gym, but a sudden wave of uncertainty plagues me.
“Whoa…” She steps back. “Kai, I’m sorry if I mislead you…”
Well, shit…
She shakes her head. “My friends couldn’t come tonight and I thought you’d need someone to keep you company, too. I mean… you’re not very social. I figured you’d be uncomfortable in a place like this.”
“Okay…” My chest burns. I haven’t felt this humiliated since… well, ever.
“Besides, Mandy told us you’re off-limits and—”
“Wait. Mandy told you what?” I interrupt.
“You’re off-limits,” she repeats. “Something about an old flame gone wrong and you’re still getting over it. Every girl on our floor knows.”
I grit my teeth. “She did, eh?” The sudden urge to strangle her overwhelms me.
“Yeah — but don’t be
mad at her or anything,” Nina urges. “I wish I had someone like that looking out for me.”
“Yeah, Mandy’s such a good friend.” I peak around the room. The party still thrives at full blast, but I don’t catch sight of Mandy anywhere.
“Anyway…” Nina continues. “It’s getting late and I have a class tomorrow morning. I’ll see you around, Kai.”
“Right.” I continue looking around, my eyes on constant watch for their prey. Nina is gone by the time I look up again, but I don’t really blame her for bolting. I’m a fucking mess.
Thanks a million, Piper.
I push through the crowd. After another minute of searching, I pull my phone from my pocket and send Mandy a message.
Where are you?
She replies quickly, Outside.
I turn towards the front door and step out onto the quiet porch. A cloud of smoke strikes my face immediately as I walk into a smoker’s exhale. I cough it away, pushing my palm through the air to block the rest from polluting my lungs. I make it down the steps to the lawn, but I still wreak of the garbage.
“Hey, Kai,” Mandy greets me by the curb while she taps away at her phone. “Any idea where Shawn is?”
“No,” I answer quick.
She holds the phone to her ear and waits. I hear the dull ringing repeating on the other end as I stand next to her. “I might just have to leave without him then,” she sighs. “I told him I had to be back by midnight—”
“Did you tell all the girls on our floor that I was off-limits?”
“What?” she asks with confused eyes. They wander about before light finally shines behind them. “Ohhh, yeah. I might have.”
“Why?”
She lowers the phone and ends the call. “It was months ago, Kai,” she says. “I was just trying to help you.”
“Help me? Or help Piper Lynch?”
She slinks back. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“How long exactly have you and Piper been derailing my chances with women behind my back, huh?” I accuse.
Her eyes go wide and her jaw drops in disbelief. “Okay…” she mutters. “You know, I was on your side throughout all of this nonsense, but now, I officially resign from this crazy fucking roller-coaster ride you two are hellbent on strapping everyone into.”
UNBROKEN: A Bad Boy MMA Romance (Midwest Alphas) (Book 2) Page 21
