If they were here the background wouldn't matter, the noise, the wind, even the smell of salt in the air would fade away. Nothing would remain, only us.
I wish I could talk to my Mama about things like this. Our relationship is better than it's ever been, but that doesn't mean Ican tell her how much I want to feel up my stepbrothers. Talk about awkward.
Sighing into him, he bends down and captures my lips. The kiss is slow and nothing like Gunner's. I wonder how Kai's mouth would feel on mine. Would he ruin me, or leave me unfulfilled like Chad?
A gust of wind blows past us, and the faint scent of mahogany and rosewood assaults my senses. Terror grips my heart, because there's only one person with that scent. It's been etched in my brain and my heart forever.
In an instant I push Chad away from me. Turning to run, I'm stopped by Declan. I knew there would be trouble as soon as I saw him playing volleyball. Yet, he’s not the one that scares me.
Standing on a throne made of sand, Kai slides down the hill with the ease of a god from Olympus. “Declan, take Presley Kate back to the party while me and Chad here have a long talk.”
“No!” I scream.
Kai hasn’t taken his eyes off of Chad, which is the equivalent to a signed death warrant. With his temper I can’t leave or this situation will go from bad to worse.
I try reasoning with Declan, because he’s not dumb. He knows his best friend is on the near side of crazy. “Dec, you know he can’t be left alone with him, and that I’m the only one that can calm him down. I can’t leave.”
He nods. “We aren’t going anywhere.”
“Then let me go, Asshole.”
“Not a chance. He’ll put me on his kill list next if I let you get in the middle of this shit and get hurt. I don’t want to have to punch my best friend in the face tonight. So, your ass is staying right here.”
Kai circles Chad, who doesn’t look at all bothered. He doesn’t know what I know, that he’s being toyed with.
“Declan, why did you tell him?”
“Because it would be against the Brotherhood to keep it quiet.”
Of course the damn brotherhood! I’m so sick of their alpha male bullshit. They’re both a part of a frat, but those aren’t the ones they really consider their brothers.
No, the Brotherhood is my stepbrother’s friend group that they’ve had since coming to Pixie Hollow. They’re thicker than thieves and up to no damn good, and the literal banes of my existence. I’m still pissed they won’t let me in their little boys club.
“Kai! Stop goading him. He’s not going to hit you first. Can we just go please?”
Kai turns to me for the first time. “He was warned by Declan not to touch you, Pres. He disregarded that order, and don’t worry, I’ll deal with you fucking later.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m done with this bullshit.” Beyond done with all of their shit, I stomp on Declan’s foot.
He’s wearing flip flops, so it doesn’t bode well for him. I like Dec, but I don’t like being backed into a corner.
Getting in between Kai and Chad, I try to diffuse the tension of the situation. Grabbing Kai by his chin, I force him to meet my pleading gaze. “Kai, I need you to listen to me. Let him go, I’m the one that approached him. This is our fight.”
The tight lines around his eyes soften just a fraction. He's unpredictable on a good day when it comes to me, and I’m a fool for loving how only I can make his eyes darken in a fraction of a second.
His warmth is a cocoon around me. This isn’t normal, the feelings I have for them.
Chad clears his throat behind me.Fuck. I gave him a chance to escape. Why didn’t he run?
Whatever softness there was, left when he made his presenceknown. Placing me gently behind him, he punches Chad so hard that he flies into the air and crashes into a wave.
I scream at Kai to leave him alone, but he runs for the water instead. Leading Chad back on the beach, Kai begins pummeling his face. Blood pours out of his mouth, nose, everywhere.
My stomach drops, because this is a nightmare. I’ve seen Kai angry, but never like this. This is something else entirely. It’s brutal, barbaric even.
“Declan!!! Stop him! He’s going to kill him!” I beg.
He nods, but doesn’t seem in too much of a hurry to comply. Picking up a piece of driftwood I slap Kai in the back of the head with it.
