Once I was satisfied with how I looked, I walked out of the bathroom and bedroom, heading down the hall to Kairus’s room. My heels clicked on the hardwood floor. I had never been inside, since it was one room that was supposed to be off limits. I nibbled on the corner of my freshly glossed lips and knocked. I waited, seeing if he would respond. When I heard nothing I grabbed the doorknob and made the choice myself.
Pushing it open I stepped inside and paused for a second, taking the room in. It was decorated in black and gray, I wasn’t surprised. Kairus didn’t have the most colorful personality so it didn’t shock me that his room matched. It was as minimalistic as everything else in the house. A king-sized bed, dresser, and bench at the end of bed.
“Who told you to enter my room?” My head whipped to the side, seeing him standing at the threshold of the bathroom.
I swallowed hard, taking him in. This was the first time I had seen him shirtless. The top half of his body was sculpted as if it was carved by hand—broad chest, bulging muscular arms, bulky build, yet I could count each individual ab easily. What really caught me off guard was the burned skin that ran down his left side. It matched the marks on his face. It started from his neck and shoulder, running down to his hand.
Flicking my eyes up to meet his hard stare, my nerves trembled.
The way he stood there devouring me with his eyes made my insides explode like fireworks. I never had someone watch me as intensely and hungrily as Kairus. My blood rushed through my veins, heating my body, and making my heart pulsate in an uncomfortable beat. For a second I stood there unable to move or speak, attempting to get my bearings.
“I just…” My words trailed off. Honestly, I didn’t know why I came into his room besides being curious about what it looked like. I walked to the bathroom door and he watched me like apredator stalking his prey. I thought he might have told me to get out, but instead he clenched his jaw then turned and walked back into the bathroom. I stood there watching him as he wet his lower jaw and grabbed the shaving cream.
I stepped forward without even realizing and he watched me cautiously in the mirror. “Let me,” I stated, reaching around for the razor.
“My face is fucked up enough, I don’t need you to add to it.” His words caused my chest to ache and tighten.
Making sure I locked eyes with him in the mirror, I shook my head. “I think your face is perfect,” I expressed in a whisper. It wasn’t a lie. Yes, he had scars and imperfections, but that didn’t take away from how handsome he was.
His eyes were vacant and so cold I was surprised I didn’t get frostbite. He turned and scowled down at me.
Swallowing that lump in my throat, I gave him a small smile and reached behind him, getting the blade wet before taking it to his face. He kept a watchful eye on me, his eyes never lightening.
“How do you know how to do this?” he questioned after a while.
I grinned and dipped the blade into the water again. “An ex-boyfriend taught me.” His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. It made my blood rush with adrenaline and my heart threatened to leap out of my chest. Before meeting Kairus I never had a man so possessive over me. To most it would be a red flag. I should be cowering and running for cover, but instead it made my logic fade and caused a fullness in my chest and a hot and burning fire to grow in my stomach.
Kairus was so cold and closed off to everyone, yet as soon as another man showed me any type of attention he became like a caveman having to protect the last of his hunt. While I knew I should be scared of Kairus, I couldn’t deny there was somethingabout him that made me feel alluring. I was used to gentlemen and he was anything but that.
I finished up, being mindful of where the healed scars from burns were. I was curious about what had happened to him, especially seeing the markings scattered down his top half, but I was sure if I asked Kairus would shut it down.
“All done,” I said and lowered the blade on the sink, stepping back from him. He still watched me with sharp eyes. A few seconds later he turned and examined himself in the mirror.
“Not bad, huh?” I bragged, gaining me a grunt.
Kairus didn’t show his emotions, not unless he was going caveman over me. Besides that, he was always calm with a dangerous aura surrounding him. I slid my eyes down his muscled back, noting the healed scars on it as well, but not from burns. I squinted and leaned closer, studying them intensely. It looked like he had been whipped or something.
Without thinking, I reached and traced one, causing his body to tense. I jumped back when he spun around and glared at me.
“Sorry!” I blurted out with wide eyes.
The rage that filled his eyes that quickly caused my heart to pound wildly.
“I’ma go wait downstairs,” I said slowly. His stance never changed. Obviously the markings on his back were just as triggering as the ones on his front.
Quickly I left the bathroom. I needed to stay on Kairus’s good side so I could try to convince him to let me go to my parents’ house to see my mom once she had surgery.
Kairus surprised me when we stepped into the ballroom of a local hotel. Everyone was dressed elegantly in suits and gowns or tasteful cocktail dresses.
I looked around the ballroom and it looked like we were at some kind of gala. The room was filled with important looking people, talking amongst themselves with drinks in their hands. Some standing, some sitting at the round tables. I noticed the mayor in the mix. She was speaking with some older Black man and the two seemed to be in a heated discussion.
“I wouldn’t expect you to come to something like this,” I commented, looking up at Kairus. He was silent, his eyes scanning the room.
“Well can we at least go to the bar? I want a lemon drop.” This time he glanced down at me, giving a subtle nod.
My eyes shot down when he grabbed my hand and held it securely in his. Shock shot up my arms up to my head, causing my scalp to prickle. He continued to face forward, but started walking, prompting me to follow him.
I could feel eyes on us as we walked through the crowd and the whispers. I wasn’t sure if it was because Kairus was in the audience or because he had someone with him. Either way it made my stomach clench.
