CHAPTER TEN
Mia’s kiss swollen lips were the last thing I thought of when I went to sleep last night. Those rosy red lips. I was hard again just thinking about them, especially since I was thinking about them wrapping around my cock… I shifted in my seat rearranging myself being as discreet as I possibly could, but Mia noticed and snorted. “Did you just snort? That’s fucking adorable.”
Her cheeks flamed. “Yeah, I, uh, do that sometimes when I laugh.” Then she sank her teeth into that damn lip again. That single move was going to be the death of me.
“You need to cut that shit out. It’s distracting,” I told her.
Her doe eyes widened. “What’d I do?”
I took her hand bringing it across the centre console to rest on my thigh and hold mine as I drove us to check out apartments. “Biting your lip. It drives me nuts. I wanna bite that lip, and then suck it to soothe the hurt.”
“Oh,” she said. “Well, I’ll umm, I’ll work on that.” Her eyes darted around, looking everywhere but at me. I squeezed her hand and returned my full attention to the road in front of me.
We pulled up outside an apartment building five minutes out of the city. It was a gated community made up of six five-storey apartment buildings. I glanced at Mia and asked her again if she wouldn’t prefer a freestanding townhouse instead. She shook her head, her eyes firmly fixed on the building in front of us.
“This is so much nicer than anything I’ve ever lived in,” she whispered.
I looked up at the building, too. It was far from flashy, but the way Mia was looking at it you’d think it was a palace. It pissed me off that this was her idea of luxury. I had tried to convince her to look at some nicer places, but that just resulted in more pouting and mini bitchfits, so I backed off.
We climbed out of my truck when the realtor walked up to the front of the building with a folder tucked under his arm. Mia’s small hand slipped into mine as we approached him. He eyed us the closer we got, and when it was clear to him that we were the people meeting him, he held his hand out to shake mine. “Kai Phillips?” he asked. I nodded and returned his handshake.
Ten minutes later, we were standing inside a tiny apartment with paper-thin walls, listening to the neighbours fuck against the adjoining wall. My eyes narrowed as I looked at the guy who was trying to tell us that this was usually a really quiet building. Mia’s face was bright red with embarrassment as the woman next door yelled out, “Harder, Darrin, fuck me like you’re paying for it.”
The realtor had the decency to look as embarrassed as Mia as he herded us out of the building. I tucked Mia into the passenger seat while he waited on the footpath for me to return. “I can’t let Nugget live in a place like that,” Mia whispered.
“I know, Pretty Girl. I’ll sort it.” I winked at her then shut the door behind me.
The guy could tell I was pissed when I turned my stare to him. He looked down at his feet as I approached. I stopped in front of him and cut him off when he tried to explain. “Don’t bother. And you can forget about the other place we were supposed to be looking at, too. It’s in another complex like this, and there’s no fucking way I’m letting Mia live somewhere she has to listen to her neighbours fucking.” I walked away from him before he could respond.
I slammed my door when I climbed back into the car. I was pissed off that these were the only places Mia had agreed to look at. I turned to see her chewing her bottom lip again, so I reached my hand out and used my thumb to pull it from between her teeth. That got her attention and she stared at me. God, she was gorgeous.
“Mia,” I said, “we’re not looking at the other apartment.”
Her brown eyes widened. “Why not?”
Closing my eyes, I let out a deep breath through my nose. “Because it’s in a complex just like this one. I can pretty much guarantee the same company built them. That means you’ll have to listen to people fucking there, too.”
“But the other place might have a nice old lady living next door,” she said hopefully.
“And when the old lady dies? Or moves into a home? Then what? And what about the neighbours across the hall? And the ones on the other side of you?” I shot back. There was no way I was letting her live in a place like that. No fucking way.
She sighed and dropped her head back against the headrest. “Shit,” she muttered.
“We did it your way. Now we’re going to do it my way,” I told her.
Her head shot up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means now we’re going to look at the places I picked out,” I explained.
She began shaking her head. “No, no, Kai. There’s no way I could afford those places.”
The worry on her face was so palpable it filled the car like a thick fog. I’d been thinking about this last night after I put Mia to bed. Once the thought took hold in my mind, I couldn’t shake it. And now, after seeing this apartment, I made my decision. I stroked her cheek and began speaking hoping I could convince her that this was a good plan and hoping like fucking hell she would agree.
“Pretty Girl, I was thinking it’s past time I moved out of Gabe and Ivy’s spare room. I’m a grown-arse man living with his best friend and his wife and kids. It’s a bit pathetic really.” I was laying it on thick—I actually liked living with Gabe, but Mia didn’t need to know that. “I’ve been thinking of getting my own place for a while,” I tried for a casual shrug, “so I thought you and I should just move in together. It’ll save time in the long run.”
Mia’s eyes had widened to deer in headlights width. “I’m not moving in with you, Kai! That’s crazy. We haven’t known each other long enough, and I’m going to have a baby. You don’t want to be constantly woken up by a newborn through the night, especially one that isn’t even yours. I mean, seriously, you’ve already—” I put my hand across her mouth cutting off her tirade. Her eyes narrowed and she licked my palm.
I raised a brow. “Was that supposed to gross me out? Because it didn’t. I like that tongue of yours.” I winked and her eyes widened again as a pink blush spread up her neck. I liked that blush, too. “I wasn’t asking you to move in with me like a couple move in sort of thing. Not yet. I was thinking more like roommates. And as far as crying babies go, you see where I live now, and I’ve lived there since before the twins were born. I can deal with a crying baby.”
When I finished, I moved my hand away from her mouth and waited for her to respond.
She didn’t. Respond that is. She just sat there, watching me with a puzzled look on her face. Her eyes flicked over my features, looking for something. I watched her right back, waiting.
She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again just as quickly. Her head tilted to the side, and her dark hair spilled over her delicate shoulder in waves of chocolate, making my fingers itch to reach out and run the silky lengths between my tips.
Her silence was eating me up. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I asked, “Can I take your silence as your acceptance?” Still nothing. My throat felt thick as I swallowed past the lump that had formed while waiting for her to answer me. “Mia?” I prodded.
I watched her, waiting for any sign that she was at least considering what I said. Then she spoke—fucking finally. “Roommates don’t kiss or give each other amazing orgasms. So that would have to stop,” she said.
The relief I felt when her mouth started moving vanished as soon as her words reached my ears. My gaze narrowed. “Says who?” I said with a growl. I didn’t mean to but the thought of having to stop kissing her pissed me off.
She was startled by my tone. “I don’t know. But it sounds right. I mean, that’s just not what roommates do.”
“How about we make our own rules about that, because I’m not cool with stopping. I’m just getting started with you, Pretty Girl, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon. I told you I want to be with you. But this doesn’t mean we have to move things along faster than you’re comfortable with. I’ll still wait until you’re ready for more.”
Her lips quirked up on one side as she tried to hide her smile from me. “Okay,” she said.
Sweet fucking relief. I felt my smile widen. “Good. Well, now that’s settled, let’s roll. I got calls to make.” I winked at her, put my car in gear, and then pulled away from the curb.
As soon as Mia and I got back to Gabe’s, I pulled out my laptop and started searching for apartments. I was pumped. I didn’t know if Mia and I would work out, but fuck it, no time like the present. I’d wasted enough of my life. It was time I started living with the living. And Mia had so much life flowing through her veins I had to hope it was enough for both of us.
Mia came up behind me and ran her fingers through my hair sending a shiver down my spine. Then she bent down and trailed a row of tiny kisses down my neck to the back of my ear. “Mia, what are you doing?” I asked with as much casualness as I could muster.
I felt her lips quirk into a smile against my skin. “What’s it feel like I’m doing?” she whispered.
My dick began to stir and my focus flew out the fucking window. “It feels like you’re playing with fire, Pretty Girl.” My hand moved up to cup the back of her neck, keeping her in place. “Unless you’re ready to follow through, I’d stop what you’re doing. Right now,” I growled and felt her pulse quicken against the pad of my thumb.
“Knock it off, lovebirds. I’m gunna crack a fat watching you two.” Axel’s voice cut through the thoughts of my one-track mind. Fucker.
I let go of Mia’s neck when I felt her stiffen beneath my fingertips. She stood ridged behind me as I closed my laptop before lifting my head to look at Axel’s smirking face. He was standing on the opposite side of the kitchen counter holding a DVD in front of him. I raised a brow.
“It’s movie night, bitches!” Axel said. “The twins are having a sleepover at Stella and Bray’s, so BAM, it’s adult time.” He was as excited as a small child.
I rolled my eyes. “I agree that means it’s adult time, but what makes you think we want to spend it with you?”
He pretended to be offended. “You love me. You haven’t had the chance to spend quality time with me since sexy mumma moved on in, and I’m giving you the perfect opportunity to apologise to me for your appalling behaviour towards me the other night.”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. “Fuck off, wanker. There will be no apology.” Mia still hadn’t said a word, but I could feel her presence behind me, so I turned enough to catch her around the waist and pull her around beside me. “You want to watch a movie, Pretty Girl?”
She looked unsure, and her eyes darted between Axel’s and mine several times before she said, “What movie?”
“300,” Axel told her. “I figured it was the perfect movie for inter sex viewing.”
“For what?” Mia spluttered.
“Chicks and dicks. You know, us guys will like it because it’s fucking awesome. And you chicks will like it because it has Gerard Butler in it. Win-Win.”
Mia giggled. “Oh.”
I rolled my eyes again—I did this a lot when Axel was around. He hadn’t quite grown up yet and was still extremely immature. But he had skills. I’m not sure how he was as good as he was, but the dude’s a weapon.
“Guess I’ll make some popcorn,” I muttered since Axel had just ruined any thoughts of alone time with Mia. It was safe to say I was a little pissy.
“Sah-weeet!” came from Axel.
At the same time as, “Like at the movies?” came from Mia.
I glanced at her. “Umm yeah, like at the movies. I think we’ve got buttered or plain salted. Which one do you want?”
Her eyes grew big. “Buttered, definitely buttered.”
Axel came around the bench. Hooking his arm through the crook of Mia’s elbow, he pulled her away from me and towards the lounge room. She looked at me, a little nervous with how comfortable he was with her already, but she relaxed when I smiled and nodded at her. Only then did she allow Axel to tow her away.
I rummaged through the pantry until I found the buttered popcorn packet and made an extra one just for Mia.
When I was done, I emptied the packets into two bowls, threw the rubbish in the bin, and went to the lounge room. Gabe and Ivy were already in there, and everyone was in their spot ready for the movie. I kicked Axel in the thigh since he had taken my seat next to Mia, and he moved along without much more than a few muttered curses.
I put one of the bowls on the coffee table and gave the other one to Mia as I sat down beside her. I threw my arm around her shoulders and pulled her body into mine.
“This isn’t all for me, is it?” she asked.
“I was planning to eat half of it,” I told her and she relaxed into my side letting out a contented little sigh.
The movie Axel had chosen was doing crazy things to my hormones. One second, I was so turned on by all the nearly naked men with their chiselled abs and sweat soaked skin and the next, I was fighting back the vomit trying to crawl its way up my throat as blood spray flew across the screen.
I’m not ashamed to admit I hid my face in Kai’s chest more than once. Probably for half the movie, truth be told. It was super gory yet strangely sexy. I was so conflicted.
Gabe and Ivy had bowed out halfway through the movie, claiming to be having an early night. We all knew it was code for getting busy while the twins were on a sleepover. But none of us said anything. Well, kinda. Axel insinuated a few things, but Gabe just flipped him off, threw Ivy over his shoulder caveman style, and walked away. I swooned a little at that move.
When the movie finished, I was snuggled up into Kai’s big, warm body, and I didn’t want to move. But I didn’t have an excuse to stay put. I couldn’t even fake being asleep because both the boys noticed me sobbing when Leonidas was killed. Stupid movie and stupid pregnancy hormones. I was not a crier.
Kai stroked my cheek with his fingertips sending a shiver down my spine. “You ready for bed, Pretty Girl?” he asked.
I was, but I also wanted to stay right where I was. So I just shrugged. “I suppose,” I murmured into his chest.
“We can put on another movie if you want? I can make you some more popcorn,” he suggested.
And as much as I had loved the popcorn, I couldn’t eat another bite. I had admittedly eaten most of the bowl Kai had given me. “I’m too full,” I mumbled.
He pretended to think it over before he said, “How about I tuck you into bed, then. We could snuggle a bit? Maybe…” He let his words trail off and winked with suggestion.
Axel chose that exact moment to announce, “I’m leaving before you two start going at it on the couch. I have a perfectly good TV at home and a subscription to PornHub. If I wanted to watch people getting down and dirty, I’d do it in the privacy of my own home.” Then he got up off the couch he was sitting on, removed the DVD from the player, slipped it into its case, and left.
I lay against Kai blinking at the space Axel had just been sitting in moments ago. “Did he just say he has a subscription to PornHub?” I asked.
“Yes, yes he did,” Kai replied.
“He’s strange, but I kinda like it,” I told Kai.
Running his hand through my hair, Kai smiled down at me. “I’m glad. He’s a big part of this family. It’s not a normal family by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s ours. I want you to be a part of that too, Mia. And the fact that you don’t want to scratch Axel’s eyes out for his random inappropriateness, makes me think you were meant to be a part of this ragtag family, too.”
I tried to swallow the lump of emotion clawing its way up my throat, but I just couldn’t. I drew in my bottom lip and clamped it between my teeth. Kai’s eyes turned from caring and slightly insecure to fierce and lusty in an instant.
“I told you the next time you did that there would be consequences,” he growled right before he flipped me onto my back on the couch and came down on top of me then wrapped my ponytail around his fist.
Holy crap! He was so quick I didn’t have a chance to catch my bearings or realise what was happening. Then his tongue was on my lips, and I opened for him. He growled again, took my lip between his teeth, and bit down on it. Before I had a chance to register the pain, he was sucking it, and my body convulsed.
“Fuck, Pretty Girl, you’re so responsive. I’m hard already.” His words washed over me, and I wrapped my arms around him to hold him closer. He didn’t let up, he kept kissing me, and his hands were everywhere all at once. I felt him hard between my legs, and my thighs clamped around his hips.
“Kai,” I breathed against his lips, too flustered to do or say anything else.
His hips ground deep into mine, and the delicious friction it caused sent another shiver through me. I felt his hand slip under the hem of the tank top I was wearing, and he didn’t waste any time in sliding it up my stomach until he was cupping my boob in his hand. He squeezed it at the same time the hand he had wrapped up in my hair pulled my head back, forcing me to look into his eyes.
“You feel what you do to me, Mia,” he thrust his hips again, “how hard you make me.” His neck strained as he ground himself against the heat between my legs. “Fuck, Pretty Girl.” He swallowed hard as he continued moving against me.
His words mixed with his actions warmed me, body and soul. “Kai, please,” I murmured. I needed more. My body edged closer to what it needed, but I couldn’t quite reach it. “Please, more,” I begged as I stretched towards his lips.
He dropped his head and took my mouth with his. We were all hands and mouths, practically clawing at each other. My hands fisted in his hair the closer I got to my release. He groaned against my mouth then ripped his lips away from me and dropped his head to my breasts. He pulled down the cup of my bra and pinched my nipple between his thumb and forefinger. At the same time as he took it in his mouth through my tank, he thrust his hips one last time, harder than the others.
I shattered beneath him, moaning his name loudly. His hand moved from the hair at the back of my neck to my mouth, muffling my sounds. I was loud, and I didn’t care who heard me.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.” Kai ground out as he clenched his teeth together and squeezed his eyes closed as his hand slid away from my mouth.
I smiled big. I did that to him. I’m not sure what I did, but whatever it was must have been good. Although, he kinda looked like he was in pain. “You okay?” I asked coyly.
Eyes still closed tight, he muttered, “Yep, just trying not to blow my load dry humping my woman on my best friend’s couch.”
I burst out laughing. I was gasping for air I was laughing so hard, and then tears started to gather in the corners of my eyes.
Kai’s eyes narrowed on me. “It’s not funny, Mia. I’m a grown-arse man. This shit is not funny.”
“Oh, it’s funny alright,” I shot back as I wiped the tears from my eyes. “I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard,” I told him.
“Well, as much as I love the sound, I don’t appreciate the fact that it’s at my expense,” he grumbled. But I caught the twinkle of mischief in his eyes right before he bent down and kissed me softly.
I sighed. “I could get used to this.”
“I want you to,” Kai replied.
I blinked at him a few times before asking, “What if we don’t work out and we’re stuck living together? I couldn’t handle seeing you with another woman. I know that for sure. And I never in a million years thought I’d already be with someone so soon after leaving Trent.” I licked my lips, my nerves were about to bolt, but I pushed through while I still could. “You could break me, Kai, and I’m only just beginning to put myself together.”
The air in the room went still. All that could be heard were our mixed breaths and my own pulse roaring in my ears the longer he stayed silent. Yet I waited.