Page 33 of The Chaos She Brings

Her presence is like a balm, soothing something raw and aching inside me, and that scares me more than I’d ever admit.

Tess leans back on her hands, legs swinging. “Why don’t you let anyone in?”

I freeze, her question slicing through me. “I do.”

“Yeah, right,” she snorts.

“I let Nate in. Carina… sometimes.”

“Okay, so why won’t you let me in?” What am I doing wrong?”

“Nothing, Tess. Not a fucking thing.” I sigh with exasperation, raking my fingers through my hair.

She grins, clearly enjoying getting a rise out of me.

I clench my fists tighter. “You’re exhausting.”

“Admit it, Kai. You’d be bored out of your mind without me.”

I narrow my eyes. “Go to bed.”

She ignores me, of course. “You know, you could try smiling. Just once. It’s not that hard. Here, watch—”

“Tess.” My voice is sharp enough to cut glass.

She pauses, tilting her head, her tone shifting. “It’s okay, you know. To let someone see you. The real you.” She says it so softly, her words digging under my skin like they belong there.

Her gaze locks on mine, and something inside me snaps.

Before I can think better of it, I’m out of my chair, closing the space between us in two strides. She doesn’t flinch when I step into her space, her lips parting as if to speak, but I don’t give her the chance.

My hands cup her face, her wide eyes are dilated, looking at me with a hopefulness that crushes my willpower.

I crash my lips against hers. It’s messy, raw—more of a battle than a kiss—but when her hands fist my shirt, yanking me closer, I know I’ve lost.

Lost the fight. Lost control.

I kiss her with everything I have, and she gasps against me as her body rocks against mine. My dick strains against my joggers.

I jerk my mouth off hers. Instead of pulling away I kiss down her jaw, her neck. I pull her closer, her body heat radiating through her clothes. “Kai,” she whispers as her head lolls backwards. The motion pushes her tits closer towards me, teasing me.

I bring one hand up to cup her perky breast, finding her without a bra, the soft flesh, warm beneath my palm and covered only by thin cotton. A low growl slips from my throat and her head snaps to mine. I push her top higher up, exposing the smooth, pale skin beneath until her chest is free. I lower my teeth to her nipple, biting the pointed bud and she arches into me.

Tess moans and the sound goes straight through me, sending all my blood rushing south.

I release her nipple then lift her into my arms, clutching her under her thighs and carrying her out of my office. Her lips latch onto mine as I stumble to my room, kicking the door open with my foot.

She gets tangled in her top in her haste to remove it, I help force it over her head then do the same with my own as our mouths separate for a fraction before crashing back together.

Lowering her onto the bed I trail my lips down over her, kissing her, tasting her. Her collarbones. Her breasts. Her stomach. I peel her sleep shorts off her legs then kiss my way back up until I’m hovering above her soft red curls.

“You’re a natural redhead.”

She laughs and slaps my head gently. “Oh god, I haven’t shaved.” She tries to push my head away.

I growl, my hold on her hips firm. “I don’t care about that, Tess. Let me taste you.” I look up at her with hooded eyes to see the same desire reflected back at me.

She gives a small, jerky, nod and I take the green light.