She should've known he'd show up again.
Ivy had dragged her to some rooftop lounge, champagne, string lights, and people with money to waste and no souls to save. Alexis had come for the distraction.
Instead, she got him.
Kai was leaning against the far railing, drink in hand, dressed like a man who didn't belong anywhere… yet made everything feel like it belonged to him.
She noticed him the moment she stepped onto the rooftop.
And he didn't take his eyes off her.
Not once.
Alexis downed her drink too quickly.
Ivy was flirting with some minor celebrity near the bar, oblivious. And Alexis? She was fuming. Or flustered. Or both.
She turned toward the elevator, ready to leave. To avoid. To pretend none of it was crawling under her skin.
But he was already there.
Blocking her path. Shadow in motion.
"You need to stop doing that," she said, voice sharp. "Following me."
"I wasn't following you."
She crossed her arms.
"I was waiting," he added.
"Even worse."
He stepped closer, just enough for the scent of him to hit her again, clean, cool, something like smoke and want.
"You didn't tell me to stop last time."
"That doesn't mean I want you here."
His gaze dropped to her mouth, then lower. She could feel the heat in his stare like a curse.
"You don't lie very well," he murmured.
Alexis's jaw tightened.
"Say the word," he said. "And I'll leave. For good."
She looked at him.
At his restraint.
At his temptation.
And said nothing.
The elevator behind him dinged.
They both knew where this was going.
Back at her place, neither of them spoke.
The door had barely shut when Kai had her pinned against it, lips crashing into hers like he was punishing her for staying silent. Her hands fumbled at his shirt, nails dragging down his chest as he kissed her harder than before, hungrier, worse.
She dragged him toward the bedroom, but he spun her before they reached it, pressing her back to the wall instead, pulling her thighs around his waist like gravity didn't apply to either of them anymore.
Clothes vanished like smoke.
He took his time, too much time.
She gasped when his mouth found her neck, not just because of what he was doing, but because she wanted to feel teeth.
She wanted to feel all of him.
When he entered her, it was like falling again, sharp and full and overwhelming. He moved slowly at first, like he was fighting himself.
Then faster, rougher, hands gripping her like he couldn't let go even if he wanted to.
"You're in my head," he muttered against her collarbone, voice almost broken. "And I don't like it."
She arched into him, whispered, "Good."
He groaned, low and desperate, and thrust deeper. "This isn't supposed to matter."
"Then stop."
"I can't."
She shattered under him again. He followed.
And for a moment, the only sound was their breath.
Heavy. Tangled. Human.
Alexis pushed him off gently, slid out from under his arms, and walked away, naked, silent, steady.
Kai stayed against the wall.
He didn't follow this time.
He just watched.
And knew he wasn't going anywhere.