ChapterOne
Ismile as I look down at my list. It’s finally complete. Now all that’s left is to get Kai to say yes.
That shouldn’t be too hard.
The tea kettle whistles, and I walk over to the stove and fill my cup. Once my tea is ready, I carry it back over to the island. Before I can even take a sip, I hear Kai murmuring as he approaches. Hurrying, I set the cup down and get into position.
I rest my elbow and forearm on the counter and rest my chin in my hand. I fight back a giggle as I arch my back, sticking my butt out. My legs are on display, and my short black silk robe slips down my shoulder. When I found this robe, I knew I had to have it because he would love how it barely covered me.
Kai steps into the room and comes to a stop. “I’ll call you back,” he says before hanging up on whoever he was on the phone with.
“That was rude, you know.” I can’t help but point out.
Silently, Kai approaches, and when he reaches me, he runs a finger over my bare shoulder.
“Tell me, princess, what is it that you want?”
“Who says I want anything?”
Kai raises an eyebrow as his hand wanders down my body, and I fight to keep still.
My body comes to life under his touch.
Licking my lips, I turn toward him and run my hands down the lapels of his jacket.
“So, I was thinking…” I pause, batting my eyelashes. “That we should have a Christmas party.”
“No.” Kai shakes his head.
“Please, hear me out.”
The corner of his eye twitches, but he nods.
“It would just be us, my brother and his family, Kenji and Miya, Declan, and Kado. Just small and sweet.”
Kai’s eyes lock on mine. I stare him down, unwilling to be the one to look away first. After a few moments, my eyes start to burn.
Don’t blink.
Don’t fucking blink.
The corner of Kai’s lips quirk up, and I break.
“Dang it,” I mumble.
Kai chuckles as he pulls me into him.
“Why do you want to do this?”
“Because we’re all family.”
“Warring families,” he points out. “You know we shouldn’t associate as much as we do.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “We aren’t warring. You and Callum have a lifelong truce, as long as neither of you piss me off. Please, this is really important to me.”
Kai runs his thumb down the side of my face. “Is it?”
“Yes, I’d do anything?”
