by Eden Butler
Kai watched her, his eyes focused, gaze centered on the wetness forming between her legs the harder his look became. “This,” he said, reaching for the strap of her thong, hooking it under one finger, “this I get to do myself.” The material freed from her body with his tug, whispering off her hips, down her thighs, over her knees until Kai curled it in his fist, pressing his hand against her legs to spread her wide. “This is how I want you.”
He reached for her, fingers gliding over her skin, his touch heavy, hot, his thumbs skirting just along the surface of her pussy, teasing. Gia watched him, her breath catching, heart racing as she waited. She only wanted him to touch her. The longer he waited, the slower his movements became, the more heightened her senses seemed to become.
“Kai,” she whined, not caring that she sounded like a beggar.
“You want me to touch you?” There was gravel in his tone, a seduction that tightened Gia’s stomach and hardened her nipples just with the breathy release of those six short words.
“Yes…please, baby. Touch me.”
Kai seemed to like her panting and the low moan of her tone when she called him something sweet. He released a muffled groan, and pushed two fingers into his mouth, sucking them, moving his thick tongue around them before he lowered them into Gia.
“Oh, God,” she cried, arching at the touch, head falling back as Kai worked his fingers inside her, as he leaned forward, priming her for all the things he seemed eager to do to her. That large body covered her from above, like a shadow, blotting out the dim light, his fingers inside her, his mouth and tongue sucking on her nipple, his freehand threaded into her hair as though he needed more of her to hold onto. “Kai…faster…oh…oh…God!”
He sucked hard, worked his fingers deeper, curled his knuckle toward her G-spot and Gia was crashing, her inner muscles tightening as she came.
“That’s what I missed,” he said, kissing her neck, her mouth, rubbing his lips over her breast as she tried to even out her breaths. Then Kai moved away from her as Gia lifted her arms, stretching like a satisfied cat with her hands over her head and he stood up, catching her attention when he unfastened his jeans and lowered them.
He was ready for her, hard, long, and beautiful, gripping himself, stroking as he watched her bend her knee. Kai stared again at her wet pussy, his eyes darkening when she rubbed herself, his hand moving faster, then stopping to touch her ankle, bringing her foot to his mouth. He didn’t take his gaze from her face when he kissed her leg. Kai didn’t stop watching her at all as he made slow, sweet swipes of his fingers on the outside of her thigh, but then, a twitch shook his bottom lip and moved the right side of his mouth and the man gripped her ankle, holding it in his large hand and pulled fast, moving Gia to the edge of the bed.
“Ah!”
“This is my bed and you’re in it,” he told her, his voice back to that tone that sounded like a seduction. “You’re in it with me. I won’t share you with anyone.”
She shook her head, feeling a little breathless. “I…I’m not asking you to.”
Kai nodded, stroking her leg, still holding her between his massive hands. “If you don’t want me again after this, I won’t let you back in. If you’re with me now, you’re with me always.”
Gia understood his meaning. Kai was giving her the opportunity to leave. It wouldn’t come again. If she wanted him, she had to take him now. There would be no turning back. Kai seemed tired of her running, tired of her hiding in the past and Gia understood why. She’d grown tired of it too.
When he stared at her, the slow stroke of his fingers stopped as though he wouldn’t give her any pleasure until he had her answer. She gave it to him then. “There isn’t anywhere else I want to be.”
Kai nodded, taking her foot and leading it around his waist as he leveraged himself forward and plunged right inside her. “Then this is mine…this tight, wet pussy…it’s for me. Isn’t it, ku'uipo?”
Gia cried out, her body shaking at the sensation of being so filled, so stretched by him. It was a sweet sort of ache she hoped never went away. “It…yes, fuck…yes, it’s for you.”
“And this…” he continued, holding up one leg, stretching her farther, going deeper inside her until Gia was only able to open her mouth in a soundless, awed cry. “Do you feel this? Me inside you? What I’m giving you? That is yours, nani. That is only yours. Do you want what’s only for you?”
“Yes…” Gia cried, gripping his shoulder, craving more of him, only him. “I want all of you.”
“Good…that’s what I wanted to hear.” Then Kai moved faster, seemingly done with talking, making a noise, low and guttural in the back of his throat, head twisting when he started to thrust inside Gia faster, then took her mouth, holding her tight against him. “Gia…my nani Gia…”
He moved them, his breathing becoming erratic as he held her around the waist, pumping into her, Gia’s shoulders on the mattress while he held her hips up until he seemed unable to stand the sensation, the weight of what this felt like again.
“Kai…I…I love you…” she said, needing him to hear her, to know, wanting those words in that space while he moved inside her and they changed him. They shifted the tone.
Everything in his expression softened, his eyes, his mouth, his touch. Kai slowed, his hips still working, but his kisses became reverent, not rushed. His looks were awed, not feral.
Then Kai’s body tensed, his nostrils flared, and he gripped Gia’s face, pumping faster, holding her and himself together as they both crashed from the edge.
“I love you too.” He curled her to his chest, brushing her face clear of hair, letting his fingers rest between the thick curls before he kissed her forehead. “I never thought…” Kai paused, his breathing calming. Gia could hear the rapid rhythm of his heart beginning to slow as he held her against his chest. Everything was crystalizing in that instant—the weight of the moment, the feel of their bodies moving together and the surrender they’d both made. It was changing for them. Life was shifting forward.
“I never thought there would…be more,” Kai admitted, releasing a breath. His voice was deep, but calm. “You’re giving me more than I ever thought I could have.”
Gia smiled, turning her face to place a kiss against his chest. “You’re giving me more than I thought I’d ever want.”
Kai tightened his hold around her arms and didn’t speak. That crystallized instant solidified and expanded, and Gia thought if she didn’t move, didn’t breathe too hard, it would go on forever. But Kai was never one to be still and patient for long. Even post-coital. He always seemed to be ready for the next moment.
“I’m…going to ask for a trade.”
Gia sat up, leaning on her elbow, her eyes widening. “You absolutely will not.”
“I’m not sacrificing this,” he said, motioning between their two bodies, “and I can’t buy my way out of my contract.”
She settled back down against his chest, waving off his worry. “It’s handled.”
“How?” he asked, rolling to his side. Gia loved how he watched her. Sometimes if felt like Kai had never seen a woman up close, the way he watched her. “Seriously…”
“You’re to have a liaison during contract negotiations appointed by McAddams and agreed upon by your management.” Kai blinked, head moving to the side when Gia pretended to yawn.
“A what?”
“And,” she continued, ignoring his question, “there will be no penalties attributed to either one of us because of our…internal fraternization,” Gia spoke those last words using air quotes. “Furthermore, any team management issues that you encounter will have to go through your team liaison, once they are selected as I will be unable to act as the team administrator in any dealings with you or have professional communications that do not extend to your external representation of the Steamers’ organization. That is my only function in the matter of one Mr. Kai Pukui.”
He leaned up, resting against his palm as he stared down at her. “S
o, what you’re lolo ass is saying is that you are not, technically my general manager?”
“I am the general manager of the Steamers organization, Mr. Pukui and as such, definitely your general manager as it pertains to your external representation as a member of the Steamers’ organization.”
“But…”
“But,” Gia said, smiling when Kai curled his hand around her waist. She pretended to swat his kiss from her chest, but it was a half-hearted effort. “But…um…I can’t…um…manage you, technically. That’s…nice.”
“How the hell,” Kai said, kissing her neck, “did you pull that shit?”
“Threatened…oh…Topanga…threatened to take any CPU recruits from the Steam…Steamers…”
Kai sat up, eyes wide as he stared down at Gia. “What?”
She tried not to laugh at the expression on his face. “Just so happens that the defensive line coach considers me his sister.” She smiled when Kai rolled his eyes. “And I may have let it slip that said defensive line coach might have a problem with Ricks and McAddams interrupting this new chance his kaikuahine and cousin have found at finally getting a little happiness. And, you know, that might translate into CPU edging their outgoing players into other franchises when the time comes.”
“Did Kona say anything…” Kai’s shoulders shook with his small laughter.
“I don’t need Kona to negotiate for me, junior.” Gia poked Kai, who grabbed her finger. “I’m a professional.”
“That comes with age, does it?” he asked, pretending to bite her nail.
“You wanna see what comes with age?” Gia pushed him back, making Kai fall against the pillows.
“Gray hair?”
“Oh, no, baby,” she said, pulling a slow grin across her face that had Kai biting his bottom lip. She straddled him, lowering her mouth to his stomach. “Experience.”
EPILOGUE
KAI
FOUR YEARS Later
Ohana is a precious thing. It becomes something that can be taken for granted. It can be belittled. Perverted. It can be ignored. But never is it not wholly real. Never, is it not alive.
And it can never truly die.
Kai hadn’t understood this as a kid coming up in the system.
He had his sister in those sporadic moments she made her way to whatever home he lived in or the even rarer moments they were together before she aged out of the system. He and his sister were loyal to each other. Then, when he met Keeana, he was loyal to her. For the first time, Kai had found his ohana.
But even then, it didn’t seem real to him.
Not like it was the day Keola was born. Not like it became the day Gia gave him his boy.
“Makani, be careful!” Keola followed after her little brother faster than Kai could, but then, her legs were shorter. She was lower to the ground. “Seriously, makuakāne, was this a good idea? He’s only two.”
“Keiki…” he started, sending his tween a look he knew she understood. When Kai nodded toward the incline, past the small cluster of their family gathering to listen to Kona’s cousin Dado play the ukulele and the kahu, holy man, as they stood near the headstones where his wife and Kona stood, his daughter’s expression changed.
“I’m…sorry.” She lowered her voice, glancing toward Gia and back to Makani who fought to be put down. “Is…Gia okay?”
“Of course, pēpē…but this day is about our ohana, all of us.”
“And Kona’s brother?”
She walked next to Kai, stretching out her arms when he took his son from her. “Luka,” he explained, head shaking at her. He’d explained who Luka was a half a dozen times before they’d made the trip to visit his grave.
Twenty-five years ago, the cousin Kai had never known gave his life trying to protect his brother. Gia had explained that to Keola. The girl had asked often about the picture on their living room mantel. It was the only one his wife had left of Luka. The others, all the Polaroids, she’d burned in her fireplace the same night she’d told Kai she loved him.
“And Gia…loved him. That’s what she said.”
Kai nodded, looking down at his boy when he yawned and laid his head on his father’s shoulder. “Luka was her first love.”
“But you…”
“I’m her last.”
They stopped several feet from where Dado and the kahu talked to Kona. Next to them Keira held the hand of their daughter Makana while their boy Koa stood next to Aly, their oldest son Ransom’s woman. Kai watched the man as he stood in front of the headstone, his hands in his pockets and Gia at his side. She always went quiet when she came here and seemed even quieter anytime Ransom was around. Kai understood. The man did look a freakish lot like all the pictures he’d seen of Luka.
“We’re going to start now,” the kahu said, waving everyone close and Kai led his daughter toward the headstone, standing behind Gia, giving her space. Ransom joined his woman while Kona and Keira stood next to the kahu and Dado who began to play his ukulele. It was a song Kai only vaguely remembered that reminded him of goodbyes and celebrations, renewals and promises of reunions.
“Today we honor Luka, our brother,” the kuha started. Kai adjusted his son, his chest tightening as he spotted the way Kona dipped his head how he seemed unable to look at that tombstone or give more than a passing glance at the picture of his twin fixed to the center of it. Kai could understand. He didn’t like to think of Keeana alone in the earth back in Maui. He’d only been back once since she died to bring Keola to visit her grandparents. Kai hadn’t been able to go with them to the cemetery. He hadn’t wanted to see her there. If he thought about it and was honest, he didn’t understand why it was so important to Kona and Gia to be here now, seeing Luka like this.
“This isn’t my brother,” Kona said, his voice breaking through Kai’s solitary thoughts. His cousin stood with Keira’s hand clutched in his, gripping it like every bit of strength he found to speak came from her touch alone. “Luka isn’t stuck in a grave on a small hill next to a lake.” Kai caught Keira’s nod, and the smile that moved her mouth up. The way she looked at Kona reminded Kai of someone, though he couldn’t place it right away. There was a lot of devotion there, loyalty too. He saw the same looks shooting back at her from her husband, from her children as well.
“I don’t like to think about what might have been,” Kona continued. “What happened to my brother, happened for a reason.” He rubbed his neck, sighing before he continued. “I don’t claim to be a theologian. I know nothing about God or what happens when we die, but I know that love doesn’t end when we do. I know it doesn’t stop.” He shot a look at Gia, offering Kai’s wife a smile, then to the man himself and he felt simple and foolish for not moving sooner. With everyone watching, he stood behind Gia, kissing her cheek before she turned, taking the baby from her husband and welcoming their daughter to stand next to her.
“I know that I see my brother every day in my son’s smile. I know I learned that the love I had for him only got bigger and brighter every day of my life.” Kona looked at his kids, his head shaking. “I know that if he was here, he would be smiling. He’d make sure everyone in this place knew they were welcomed and loved.”
Next to Kai, Gia smiled, curling her body toward him to lean against his chest.
“I know,” Kona continued, “that he’d make sure everyone he loved knew how to fly.” Gia grabbed Kai’s hand, squeezing it before she nodded. “Today, every day, let’s honor Luka and our ohana and the people that matter the most to us.”
“IS it still hard to see him?” Kai asked Gia, holding her hand when it seemed his voice surprised her. She sat bundled in her coat on the edge of the pier, her feet dangling off the side. She watched Keola and Makana, Kona and Keira’s young daughter, playing with their son Koa, and Makani, as Ransom lay his head on a blanket-wrapped Aly’s lap, on top of the Adirondack chairs next to the fire pit. Keira and Kona’s Northshore property was quiet, serene and at the moment, filled with the sound of laughing children. “He�
�s a good-looking kid.”
“You know, he’s not that much younger than you.”
“I see you deflecting, nani wife.” Kai moved behind her, brushing the hair off her shoulder to rest his hands against her neck. “Not going to answer?”
“It’s not hard for me to see Ransom. He’s a sweet boy, and he looks like that sweet boy I loved a long time ago, but I’m not pining for Luka or projecting on your cousin.”
“You sure?” He rubbed his thumb between her shoulders, earning an approving moan from Gia when he massaged away the tension there.
“Yeah, baby. I’m very sure.”
Kai looked down at that beach, to the kid who looked so much like the shadow he sometimes thought he’d always be living in. Then Gia pulled his arms around her waist, turning to bring his face close to hers.
“I’m not sorry I loved Luka.”
He nodded, unsure why she was telling him something he already knew. “This isn’t a secret to me.”
“I had to love Luka. I had to have a first love to get me to my last love.” Gia held his face, kissing him once. “You can’t have a last love without a first love.”
“Unless you only have one love,” he said, frowning at his own logic.
“But then, you’ll never appreciate how good that last love can be.” Gia shook her head, shutting her eyes, her mouth moving up into a smile that reminded Kai of the expression she made when she had one of those dreams she refused to tell him about. She promised they were always about him and always about the things he could never convince her to let him do to her. “If I never loved Luka, if I’d never lost him, then I would have spent my whole life not expecting much from love.”
Kai tilted his head, his eyebrows furrowed when she smiled at him. “And?”
“And if I didn’t expect much, there wouldn’t have been much, but because I had something really good with Luka, exceptional, in fact, I knew love was supposed to be this really wonderful thing.” Gia’s smile went wider then as she rubbed her fingers over Kai’s eyebrows, as though she wanted to smooth them out. “Then you came along and pestered me,” she smiled when he rolled his eyes, “and wouldn’t let up and showed me that really wonderful thing could be something greater and grander and utterly beautiful. Luka’s love was like this warm, steady flame, burning bright. It was constant for so long, but yours, husband, yours is…” Gia closed her eyes, inhaling against his neck, “yours is like the brilliant incandescence of a burning sun. It’ll never die.” She kissed him, laughing when he nipped at her bottom lip. “Always warming me, always keeping me out of the cold.”
