Page 23 of His Fate
"I appreciate that, Dad, but how am I supposed to make something work between us? I work two jobs for fuck’s sake. I barely have time to take care of myself let alone nurture a relationship."
He waves me off then scribbles away.If it's worth it you make time.
"Cause it's that simple."
It is, Josephine. If Kai is special to you at all then you make time.
"Ok, so what? I cut my hours at Kady's? Drop a day at Bill's? It's not like we can afford to get someone to come in and help around here a few days a week..."
I watch him write frantically on the board.
Janet said she'd be willing to help out with my appointments and get me situated at night if you ever needed a break.
My brows raise and I fold my arms against my chest.
Don't you look at me like that. Janet has become a good friend and great companion. I already showed her how to hook up all this junk to help me out and I really enjoy spending time with her. Not to mention if you took a damn night off maybe you could get a little action from a steady beau, get serious and make a grandpa outta me before I'm completely senile.
"We will talk about this tomorrow." I walk to the door and shake my head. "I love you, old man."
I love you, Josey Posey.
When I walk into the living room I find Kai sitting on the couch, scowling and tapping away on his phone.
"Everything ok?"
He nods but doesn't look up. "Andrej demanded I send him your address in case something were to happen. My eldest brother is a bit over protective."
I smile and join him on the couch, and though I have a desperate urge to sit next to him, curl into him and just be close, I sit at the other end.
Kai's thick fingers tap furiously away on the phone before he sighs and shakes his head. He is so gorgeous, even with his square jaw clenched tight, a muscle ticking as he waits for a response. His profile is a thing of beauty, the regal line of his nose with a faded scar that runs along the bridge. His high cheekbones and his beautiful, bright eyes under full lashes and dark brows.
I still don't understand why a stunning man like him would be here with a less than average woman like me, but oh well.
Kai looks up as if he heard my words, gives me a puzzled look then notes the space between us. He fires off one more text, sets his phone on the table then reaches over and pulls me to him.
He immediately buries his nose in my hair, wraps his arms around me and breathes deep. "You were too far away."
"Ah yes, the other end of the couch is definitely too far." I giggle as he snorts, more of a pout than a laugh, and out of reflex I begin tracing the elaborate markings on his forearm. "What do these mean?"
Kai pulls me closer and repositions so I'm tucked into the crook of his arm. "Those," he nods to the one on his forearm I'm tracing, "are marks of my lineage. My brothers have the same, as did our father."
My finger slides up to the tattoos peeking out from beneath the sleeve of his shirt. "These?"
"They speak of my history. Battles, victories, significant events in my life that have molded me into the man I am."
"And the one on your back?"
Kai's whole body tenses as he inhales a quick, sharp breath. I turn to look up at him only to find him already staring at me with what I can only describe as a look of shock.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry, I just saw the top of it through the collar of your shirt and assumed it covered your back. You don't have to tell me if it's—"
"No. No, it's fine, I just… I didn't realize you could see it."
I turn and start caressing his warm skin again. "When I held your hair back, on your bike, I could see the top of the design poking up out of the collar of your T-shirt."
I can feel him nod as he nuzzles the crown of my head. "It is something we get when we become men. A right of passage so to speak, that is specific to me." Kai holds me a little tighter and asks into my hair, "Do you have any markings, my beloved?"
I smile. "I have one. One tattoo that can't be seen by just anyone."
