Black Dahlia (The Dahlia Trilogy of The Gilded Flower Series Book 2)

by Winslow, Vivian

  Dahlia shakes her head as she paddles toward him, stopping on his left. “I could do this for hours.”

  “This coming from the woman who said she doesn’t surf anymore.” Kai smiles. “That roundhouse carve you did was pretty epic. Where’d you learn to surf like that?”

  Dahlia sits up and runs her hand along the rail. “Spent some time with a pro.” Saying those words aloud doesn’t sound right to Dahlia. Of course her time with Shane was more than that, but how can she encapsulate those years with him? There were too many highs and lows when they were younger. Then, when they finally found their way back to each other, their time was cut short. It was as if they were never meant for more than that.

  Kai nods, allowing silence to fall between them. Normally, it would make Dahlia uncomfortable, but she doesn’t feel that way with him. Like Shane, he seems to know when to give her room to breathe. Like Shane . . .

  Finally she says, “It’s getting pretty flat-faced out here, but I see a newly-formed little right.” Dahlia begins to paddle away, Kai close behind.

  “I give in,” Kai announces, catching one final wave. “I’m out.”

  Dahlia comes out of the water laughing and drops the board on the sand next to him. “I thought I’m supposed to be the one who’s out of shape.”

  “Yeah well, girls and endurance. I’ve heard your kind have super human strength.” He smiles but doesn’t open his eyes.

  “Are you hoping I’d forget our deal?”

  Kai turns his head to look at her, his eyes squinting from the bright sun. “Nah.”

  “So?” She prompts.

  “So?” He replies. The warning look from Dahlia makes him sit up. “Alright. Fine. Just to be clear, this is her thing, and just because she’s a legend around these islands doesn’t make her infallible. Got that?”

  Dahlia nods. “But you believe in whatever voodoo thing she does.”

  He shrugs. “Well, yeah, but it’s because she helped me when I was going through some major shit.”

  “Like what?” Dahlia almost forgets they’re supposed to be talking about her.

  “No dice, babe. This is about you, remember?”

  “Fine then. Start from the beginning,” Dahlia instructs.

  Chapter 22

  “First, she said you were really pretty.”

  Dahlia throws a fistful of sand at him. “You’re supposed to be honest.”

  Kai holds up his hands. “I am being serious. She totally said that when I laid you down on the table.”

  “She talked to you about me then too?”

  Kai nods. “Yeah. She said you were near death. At first I thought she was referring to the snakebite, but she said it wasn’t physical. But that you were dying on the inside—there was black on your spirit.”

  “Uh-huh.” Dahlia takes her finger and draws in the sand.

  Kai frowns, clearly not liking what he is about to say next. “She explained that this kind of darkness doesn’t go away completely. It brings death. Then she saw you drowning in water but being pulled out by someone who was you or looked like you but somehow different. Sometimes these visions are a bit convoluted. I figure maybe she was referring to your twin sister.”

  “Was that all she said then?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “And what about when I was awake?” Dahlia asks, steeling herself against his possible answers.

  “That you have pretty blue eyes, like the ocean.” Kai nods his head toward the water.

  “You’re so full of it,” Dahlia replies.

  “No really, she said that, I swear.” Then he adds, “And I have to agree.”

  Dahlia swallows, pushing down her stomach that had just leapt up into her throat.

  “And then?”

  “In your eyes she saw life force. She explained that the death she saw in you could mean one of two things. The first, that you will be so consumed by what’s drowning you that you succumb to the . . .,” Kai pauses to think. “There’s no great translation for this word, but it’s beyond misery, and loneliness. It’s like a void but something you can’t get out of, you know?”

  Dahlia nods, acknowledging that it’s how she’s felt since Shane’s death. There’s no word to describe the depths of her sorrow and whatever this other thing is that’s smothering her.

  “And the second?” She whispers.

  “That was crazy. She said some people are born to die. Like we are all marching towards death, right, as we get older. But in your case, your path was to experience death more than once so you could die as well. But it’s a metaphorical death. Like you die so you can live again, a completely different person.”

  “You’re right. That’s a tough one to get my head around.”

  “Just take it for what it’s worth.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this then?”

  “You were freaked out over the snakebite. But also, you were just so completely closed off and shut down. I could tell by your body language that you wouldn’t have been very receptive, and probably would’ve just caught the next boat off the island.”

  Dahlia looks out toward the water. “You’re probably right. Although I’m not sure where I would’ve gone,” she mumbles, the notion sinking in again that she has no place else to be.

  “Look, the Old Woman helped me when I needed it, so I don’t completely discount what she says.”

  “What happened to you?”

  “Talking about me wasn’t part of the deal.”

  Chapter 23

  “For you,” Kai says, laying a fragrant pink and yellow frangipani flower in her lap. For the past three days, Kai has brought her the same flower in different colors.

  Dahlia picks it up and smells it, gently fingering the smooth petals. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the smell.”

  “Same here,” he replies, sitting next to her on the beach. “You know, when I first got here, I thought the beauty would get old. Like with most things, when you get tired of seeing the same things. But here, I’m in awe of this place everyday.”

  Dahlia smiles and looks over at him. “I can see why. Its beauty is ethereal. Almost like, if I close my eyes for too long, it would disappear, or look different, so I want to take it in all the time.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean,” Kai says. “It’s like looking at you.”

  Dahlia’s eyes fall on the flower. “You’re probably not looking close enough because I’m pretty broken.”

  Kai leans back on his hands and sighs. “The Old Woman once told me that everyone is a little bit damaged. She said it’s like gluing the pieces of a shattered vase back together. The cracks are still there no matter what you do. But it’s always possible to make it whole again.”

  “You truly believe that?”

  He nods. “I want to.”

  Dahlia reaches behind and laces her fingers with Kai’s. Being with him brings her a sense of calm and peace that she hasn’t felt around anyone else. Of course, there were glimpses of it with Shane, but there was too much history and fire between them that it never lasted.

  Then, the thought begins to dawn on her—what if Shane had lived? Would they have stayed together as she wants to believe, or burned each other out as Lily suggested? Is she just mourning him, or the potential of what could’ve been, the story she’s chosen to create in her mind?

  Dahlia stands up and heads toward the water. Kai gets up but doesn’t follow. He holds his breath, watching as she dives into the waves, hoping she resurfaces.

  Chapter 24

  “You had me worried,” Kai says, smiling as Dahlia emerges from the water. His eyes, however, betray his concern.

  Dahlia lies back and closes her eyes. “No reason you should’ve. According to the Old Woman, I or someone who looks like me, saves myself.”

  “Are you just trying to test fate then?”

  Dahlia shrugs. “Perhaps. Although if you were that worried, why didn’t you come in after me?”

  Kai reaches for her hand. “Becaus
e I know better. You didn’t want me to.”

  “Aren’t you the mind reader today,” Dahlia replies sarcastically.

  “Dahlia, I know because I’ve been there.” Kai squeezes her hand.

  “Been where?”

  “In that deep abyss like you. You want to die because you can’t think of a single reason to live. But dying is so final—it terrifies you. So you think each morning, maybe I’ll find some reason to live, or maybe I won’t hurt as much today. And sometimes it doesn’t.”

  Dahlia looks away, the truth of his words cutting through her.

  “And then sometimes you tempt fate and wonder if you just put yourself out there, then perhaps fate or the universe will just put you out of your misery. But you know what?”

  “What?” Dahlia spits out.

  “It doesn’t. It never fucking does.”

  “Why not?” Dahlia fights the tears that are beginning to well.

  “You don’t get off that easily. You have to put that stupid vase back together one piece at a time.”

  “Is that what you did?”

  Kai nods.

  “And? Do you feel better?”

  His smile fades. “Most of the time. It’s not a question of better though. It’s more like, how high is your tolerance? Can you learn to live for yourself and stop giving your life over to a dead person?”

  Dahlia’s jaw drops. “I never mentioned anyone died.”

  “I wasn’t talking about you.”

  Before Dahlia can reply, Kai bends down and plants a gentle kiss on her lips. Taking a step back he says, “Sorry, this whole conversation was getting way too intense. I’ve been dying to do that since the first time we surfed together.”

  She smiles. “It’s alright. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if you did it again.”

  Chapter 25

  Kai hovers over Dahlia, his dark eyes hooded with desire. “Are you sure about that?” he asks in a husky voice. “Because I’ve wanted to taste you since I first laid eyes on you.”

  Dahlia nods, tracing his lips with her finger. “It’s probably the only thing I’m sure of,” she says.

  His warm lips press against hers. The gentle kisses slowly become more passionate as his lips push hers apart, his tongue entering her mouth. She accepts it eagerly, and they begin a graceful dance.

  Dahlia presses her body against Kai’s, feeling his incredible length strain against the thin fabric of his swimsuit. He sits up and draws her to him as he lowers his mouth down her neck, sucking and kissing as he goes. His hot tongue runs up her neck and over to her ear where he suckles and tugs on the soft flesh, tracing her ear with it before putting it inside. The sensation sends shivers down Dahlia’s spine, releasing a pool of her warm juices.

  Slowly, Kai makes his way to her other ear, nibbling and sucking her neck, his hot breath warming her to her core. Dahlia tightens her arms around him as he wraps her legs around his waist, massaging her ass as his hard cock presses against her throbbing clit.

  “You sure you want this?” Kai asks, as he moves his hand up to fondle and squeeze Dahlia’s right breast then the other.

  Dahlia removes her bikini top in one fluid movement in response to his question. She arches her back so he can continue to play with her breasts, swollen from his touch and her desire.

  Kai groans, tugging lightly on her rock hard nipple as he takes the other into his mouth, running his tongue around the soft flesh, slowly sucking and licking as he traces her nipple with his hot, wet tongue. Dahlia lets out a low gasp when he pulls the nipple into his mouth and bites down, an intense current of energy pulling at her in every direction.

  Instinctively, she begins to rub his cock along her soaking cunt, trying to find release from the overwhelming rush of sensations coursing through her body.

  “Allow me,” Kai whispers. Not taking his eyes off her face, he lays Dahlia back onto the towel and peels off her bikini bottom, leaving her completely exposed to him. Yet she’s never felt safer.

  He runs his hands over her body as he continues to look into her eyes. She gazes up at him, knowing he wants this contact with her. Kai raises her right leg and rests her heel on his chest, massaging and kissing her foot as he sucks on her big toe. Dahlia wants to close her eyes, allowing the moment to be sealed in her memory, but she continues to hold his gaze, taking pleasure in watching him enjoy her.

  He smiles at her as he draws up her other foot, kissing and sucking her toes, the sensation fueling her lust for him. He gazes down at her pussy and licks his lips.

  Kai releases her legs and bends over Dahlia to kiss her, this time more passionately and intensely than before. This is a kiss with purpose, with need. He moves his mouth down the front of her neck, past her breasts, only giving a bit of attention to each, sucking and nibbling on her nipples before tugging so hard Dahlia has to bite back a scream. She lifts her hips in wanting, and reaches down to pull off his swimsuit.

  “Not yet,” he mutters, looking up from her belly button. He dips his tongue into it, stirring Dahlia’s desire.

  When he finally puts his hot, wet mouth on her clit, Dahlia’s about to come undone. Every part of her being is aflame. Not just with lust and desire, but with purpose. She wants this moment with Kai, because she knows that this is all that they have. Knowing this makes her want him all the more.

  Dahlia’s legs open wider. She closes her eyes and fondles her breasts as Kai traces her pussy with a finger, lubricating her with her desire. He flicks his tongue over her cunt as he pushes two fingers inside of her. Then he replaces his fingers with his expert tongue, plunging in and out of her wet snatch.

  Just when Dahlia can’t take anymore, he moves his tongue up to her hard clit, sucking and biting it. She continues to squeeze and pull on her tits, as she feels her release beginning to build inside of her. Kai is so attuned to her body that he increases his pace, his tongue alternating licking and kissing her pussy, moving in and out of her hole, finally driving her over the edge into sheer ecstasy.

  Kai makes his way back up Dahlia’s body, kissing as he goes. She smiles, pulling his mouth to her, tasting her need, her desire on his lips. She holds her hands firmly at his neck.

  He pulls back gently and smiles down at her.

  “I think it’s time to reciprocate,” she says eagerly.

  Kai shakes his head and kisses her tenderly on her swollen lips. “Later, babe. This was my gift to you. I wanted you to feel how much I adore you.”

  Dahlia’s expression turns serious. “You can’t . . .I mean you shouldn’t.”

  Kai sits back on his heels. “Why, because you have problems?”

  “For starters.”

  “We all have issues, Dahlia. Your story is no more tragic than anyone else’s. Everyone has tragedies. You can’t start comparing.”

  Dahlia’s bliss begins to quickly wear off. How did they get here?

  Kai stands up and offers her his hand. She takes it, and he pulls her into a sweet embrace. “Come, let’s go for a swim.”

  Chapter 26

  “Do you ever think you’ll ever go back to Maui?” Dahlia asks one balmy evening. She rests her head on Kai’s chest, enjoying the breeze coming through the open windows off her balcony. For the past few days, since their time on the beach, he visits her in the evening as soon as the staff leaves. They rarely sleep, instead filling the nights with lovemaking and talking.

  Kai shakes his head. “Not likely.”

  “Does your family come here or do you go home?”

  A sardonic laugh escapes him. “That will never happen. Besides, my home is here.”

  Dahlia sits up, the sheet falling around her naked body, illuminated by the moonlight. Kai reaches his hands up to her face, tracing her lips with his long fingers. “You are an extraordinarily beautiful woman, Dahlia.”

  She looks down and runs a finger along his bare chest.

  “Don’t feel shy about your beauty. It’s a gift. Besides, I wasn’t talking about your looks.”

  Dahlia meets
his gaze. “Then what are you talking about?”

  “You. The deep and profound person you are.”

  “You are seriously bordering on cheesy right now.” She bends down and kisses his chest.

  “Look at me for a moment. You don’t see what I do. There’s so much fire and passion inside you. It comes through in your art, which is incredible. It shows how you see the world. You find beauty in all of its fucked-up-ness.”

  Dahlia laughs. “You’re saying that’s why I like you.”

  Kai shrugs. “Perhaps.”

  “Tell me, then,” Dahlia says, lying across his stomach, “What broke you?”

  Kai sighs and looks away. After what feels like an interminable silence he says in a low voice, “I killed the woman I loved.”

  Chapter 27

  Dahlia sits up and wraps the sheet around her. “Please tell me this is some metaphor or whatever spiritual allegory or word you want to use for personal growth.”

  Kai shakes his head. “I wish I could.” He runs his hand through his thick, dark hair and walks out onto the balcony.

  She watches from bed, admiring his naked silhouette in the light. Could this same man, the one with a warm smile and whose attentive lovemaking takes her out of her body, be a murderer? “Was it an accident?”

  He looks back at her, his face eclipsed by the moonlight. “Technically, yes.”

  Dahlia resists the urge to pull him to her. He’s listened to her talk about Shane and the baby. Now it’s his turn to reveal his pain.

  Her silence becomes his cue.

  “Melia was my everything. Her father was my father’s best friend and business partner. They were local surf boys who did well and owned a few surf shops around the island. We were born only days apart, although my mom always said that Melia was born under a lucky star and I was born cursed.”

  “My mom would probably say the same about me and Lil.”

  Kai nods. “We were inseparable growing up. It seemed inevitable that we would fall in love. I swear, I think I was seven when I looked at her and just knew she would always be in my life.”