It's All Relative (54 page)

He leaned in to kiss her, then sighed against her lips. “Better for whom?”

She kissed him softly a few times, sucking on his lip. “I’m sorry they did that to you, Kai.”

Kai was already beginning to forget the conversation they were having. He unlocked their hands and cupped the breast that had been teasing him. Rolling the weight in his fingers, he rubbed his thumb over the peak. He heard her inhale a sharp breath.

“Kai…” she whispered, desire clear in her voice. “What are you going to do now?”

A list of all the things he could do—to her—was shuffling through his head, but he was pretty sure that wasn’t what she’d meant. His hand slipped down her chest anyway, ducking under the covers and aiming for the sweet spot that he hoped was completely saturated for him. His fingers were delightfully rewarded with a hot wetness as he slid them between her folds. She arched her back and moaned his name as his lips traveled up to her ear.

“My plans haven’t changed. I’m still going to go home, Jessie.”

She looked over at him, her breath fast as her body writhed under his fingers sliding against her. “What?” she managed to get out, her eyes rolling back in her head. “But…”

Hiding a grin, Kai encouraged her to lie back on the sheets. She did so, but a frown was firmly on her face as she struggled to contain her rising passion. His searching fingers twisted to probe inside her, plunging deep while his thumb circled the sensitive spot on the outside. He’d discovered early on that she really liked that. She gasped and clutched his shoulders, her frown forgotten.

Almost jealous of his hand, he rubbed his hard member against her thigh. In her ear, he panted, “I need to talk to them face to face. I just can’t do it over the phone.” She moaned, moving her hips in a determined rhythm with his hand. Dropping his head to her shoulder, Kai groaned into her skin, “I was hoping you would go with me, help me through this, like you always help me.”

She moaned yes, and he felt his stomach clench like he was going to release all over her, just from the sound of her voice. Pushing his fingers deeper into her, he frantically kissed her neck. “God, I don’t want to be apart, Jessie. Now that we’re together, I don’t want to ever be apart. Come with me. Please, say you’ll come with me.”

Clutching his head to her, she arched her back as she clenched around his fingers. “Yes, I’ll come…yes, God, yes, I’ll come.” She expressed her desire to go with him several more times and Kai smiled into her skin.

He wasn’t sure if she was actually agreeing to come home with him, or if she was even aware of what he’d been asking her, but he didn’t mind. Kai loved satisfying her, and would do it over and over again if he could. Besides, he was certain she would say yes when he asked her again during a less…provocative time. He was positive there was no way she would ever turn down a trip to paradise.

Jessie moaned his name over and over as she came down off of her high. Kai pictured her glorious, writhing body, scantily covered by the tiny pieces of a bikini, an outfit she’d once told him she rocked. He pictured her smiling at him in the ocean, imagined the sun beating against her skin, the wind billowing in her hair, and the water splashing up her thighs. He grinned as he watched the ecstasy on her face. The small smile on her open mouth as her breath started to recede, her eyes closed as she relished the pleasure he’d just given her. She was so beautiful, and she was all his. And Kai suddenly couldn’t wait to go home.

T
he early morning sky was a clear, perfect shade of blue near the horizon. As it lifted from the earth, the blue shifted to lavender and then a rosy shade of pale pink. It was almost like the world was blushing as it looked over the two young lovers lying beneath it. Jessie smiled as she stared out her bedroom window. Kai rustled beside her, but he was still deep in sleep. Jessie knew from experience that unless she woke him up, he’d sleep a bit longer. He’d been a fixture in her bed for the past couple of days, and she was getting to know his patterns. And if she really needed him awake for any reason, she knew the best way to get him there. Kai really liked being woken up with her lips securely wrapped around him.

She’d practiced that the other night, when she’d woken up early in the morning with an ache that needed to be satisfied. Jessie blamed it on the erotic dream she’d been having, but truly, she thought it was more likely the novelty of being able to freely have the man she never thought she’d get. Well, that and Kai was the most unbelievable lover she’d ever had. That didn’t hurt either.

Not able to face his real father again yet, Kai had taken some time off work. Not wanting to waste any time together, Jessie had followed suit, feigning her sudden illness for a little while longer. Her roommates were also keeping their distance, both of them staying away from the house after they got off work, only venturing home late in the evening, when they probably figured the two love birds were done for a while. Jessie felt a little guilty about that…but not really. She and Kai had endured some pretty hard times. They were reveling in the fact that as far as
their
relationship was concerned, the hard times were over.

With a content sigh, Jessie reached a hand out to touch the tattoo on his back. Twirling her fingers to mimic the swirls, she thought about the hard times yet to come. Kai needed to deal with his real father, needed to speak with his parents, and they both needed to talk with their grandmother. It seemed a little unfair that most of the emotional moments coming up were Kai’s, not hers. If she could, she would take his pain for him, spare him from feeling it. But life didn’t work that way, so all she could do was be there for him. And she intended to. She’d be there every step of the way.

Smiling, Jessie thought of Kai asking her to go to Hawaii with him. Once he’d asked her again during a quiet time, and she’d really understood what he was saying, a flutter of excitement had tickled her stomach. True, it was going to be a hard trip for Kai, and Jessie planned on supporting him in every way that she could, but putting the emotional hardships aside for a moment, she was finally going to paradise. She couldn’t wait.

But first things first, they needed to talk to Grams. At the bare minimum, they needed to let her know that they were aware of Kai’s true parentage. They also wanted to confess to Grams that they were in love and that they were together. They figured that out of all of the family members directly involved with this, she would be the easiest one to tell.

Yawning, Jessie quietly slipped out of bed and put on some warm lounge pants and a loose, long-sleeved t-shirt. She didn’t bother with real clothes, or underwear, since she was pretty sure when Kai woke up she’d be undressing again, but it was chilly in her home and the comfort was nice.

Smiling at the sight of Kai’s slumbering body as she made her way to the door, Jessie noted the pile of his things sitting on a chair next to her dresser. He’d gone to his apartment a couple of times, to pick up things he needed. Used to small spaces, he’d carved out a nice little corner for himself in her room. Jessie loved it.

She was grinning as she opened the door. She’d have to do some laundry for him soon, to save him from making another trip to his place. She didn’t mind though. Jessie loved doing things for him, and laundry was a pretty simple way to show her affection. Besides, she wanted him to stay as long as possible. Clean clothes were a good incentive.

Nearly skipping down the hallway, she noticed the kitchen light was on. Knowing that not everyone had put everything on hold for an amazing rock-your-world love fest, Jessie figured it was Harmony, prepping for her day.

Laughing, she surprised her friend by slinging her arms around her shoulders. Harmony spilled some of the coffee she was pouring into her cup. “Oh, Jesus, Jessie. It’s way too early for you to scare me like that.”

The redhead twisted to look at her, and Jessie knew exactly what she would see—a woman grinning like an idiot from ear to ear. She couldn’t help it. For the first time it what felt like forever, she was finally happy. Perfectly and contently happy.

Harmony smiled softly and shook her head. She was all done up for work as a paralegal in a local law firm, and her hair was swept into an orderly bun at the nape of her neck. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you…glow like that.” Stepping back, she took a quick sip of her coffee. “I’m glad he makes you so happy. You deserve it, after that last creep.”

Leaning back against the counter, Jessie’s head swam with pleasant thoughts of the gorgeous boy asleep in her bed; she could barely even recall what that the “creep’s” name had been. “Yeah, he makes me very happy.”

Chuckling, Harmony took another sip of coffee. It was clear she was amused by her head-over-heels friend. Raising a pale eyebrow she said, “Are you two ever going to rejoin the real world, or am I going to feel like I’m back at my college dorm for eternity.” She laughed again as she lightly shook her head.

Jessie wanted to be embarrassed about her and Kai’s eagerness, but she was just too damn happy. Smiling, she shrugged. “Sorry. We’re just making up for lost time.”

With a smile, Harmony patted her shoulder. “I know. I guess we can put up with it for a little while longer.” Walking past Jessie to the living room, she put on her stern face. “But just a little while, Jessie.”

Her friend was smiling warmly as she turned away, so Jessie was pretty sure she was teasing…or mostly teasing. She probably
was
a little tired of the erotic noises continually drifting out of Jessie’s bedroom. Staying where she was against the counter, Jessie sighed and smiled to herself. She knew she was being overindulgent with her crazy-in-love feelings, but she didn’t care. She
was
crazy in love, and she wanted to relish in it for as long as she could.

Glancing over at the pot of coffee on the counter, she thought about pouring herself a cup when she swore she heard a noise at the front door. She switched her gaze to the clock on the microwave, sure she was hearing things. It was hardly a decent hour for someone to visit.

Furrowing her brow, Jessie walked into the living room where she could hear Harmony talking with someone. When she saw who it was, shock nearly froze her in place. She’d only seen the man once before, but Jessie would never forget those eyes, not when she was staring into their duplicate on such a frequent basis.

Mason Thomas, the reason Kai was alive, was standing in her doorway, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.

Harmony twisted from the older man at the door to Jessie when she heard her approach. “Uh, Jess, this guy says he needs to talk to Kai?”

Harmony stepped back from the door when Jessie stepped up to it. “Mason? What are you doing here?” She glanced down the hallway at where Kai was still obliviously sleeping, then turned back to his reluctant father.

Mason swallowed uneasily as he rubbed his hands together in the frigid outdoor air. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, especially this early in the morning, but I was wondering…is Kai here?” His tropical eyes had a pleading quality to them that Jessie found confusing. Kai had never thought the man liked him, but he seemed…worried.

Jessie shrugged. “Yeah, he’s sleeping.” She tilted her head to indicate where he was. Mason briefly closed his eyes, relief visibly washing through him. Even more confused now, Jessie blurted out, “How did you find…him?”

Mason’s eyes opened and he looked past Jessie, to the point where his long lost child was. “It took a bit of investigating.” His eyes returned to hers. “I spoke with his mother earlier this morning.” Grimacing, he shrugged. “I explained to her that Kai had found out the truth a few days ago, and I hadn’t seen or heard from him since. Once she got past her panic attack, she mentioned his grandmother.”

Jessie felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Did you talk to Grams?”

Mason’s eyes narrowed. “Right…you’re the cousin. Well technically you’re not, but you do share the same woman Kai has always believed was his grandmother.” Jessie could only nod; she really didn’t want to go into the family dynamics with this man. He shrugged. “I needed to find him, to make sure he was…okay. I called her, she mentioned you, so I figured Kai was hiding here.”

Jessie ran her fingers down her face. Great, her grandmother knew Kai was aware of the truth. Kai’s mother also knew. Jessie knew they couldn’t hide in their newfound utopia forever, but she’d hoped to at least ride out the week. Sighing, she stepped aside and welcomed him in.

Harmony gave Jessie a swift hug and wished her well before popping out the door for work. Jessie had Mason sit on the couch and told him she’d wake up Kai. If he was at all curious about their relationship, he didn’t show it. He only seemed to be concerned and uneasy. As he sat with his hands over his knees, his feet ceaselessly bouncing up and down, it was clear that he was completely out of his comfort zone. But he was here anyway, here to speak to Kai…his son…and that said a lot about the man.

Leaving him alone and nervous on her couch, Jessie ran into April as she emerged from her bedroom. Yawning and rubbing her eyes, she pointed down the hallway. “Someone here?” she asked.