Page 48 of The Chaos She Brings

“Is that so?”

“Mmhm,” he hums, leaning a fraction closer. “For example, I’m guessing you’re not a pink person. Too soft, not your vibe.”

I narrow my eyes, intrigued despite myself. “What else?”

“Blue, maybe,” he continues, his tone teasing but his gaze sharp. “Cool, calm, collected—at least on the outside. But there’s something fiery in there too. Maybe red.”

I scoff. “Is this your idea of flirting?”

“Depends,” he says, his smirk deepening. “Is it working?”

I open my mouth, but I’m cut off at the sound of the front door slamming closed and then Kai is there, storming into the kitchen like a man on a mission. His handsome face is thunderous, like he’s ready to say,“to hell with it” and murder someone.

His chest is on display, glistening with sweat and I’mmomentarily (it’s a long moment) distracted by the sight. I want to lick the path his sweat travels and taste the salt on my tongue. My pussy clenches at the thought of getting my hands on him again.Bad vagina.

Since my brain is now fried from the perfection that is Kai’s abs the only word I manage is, “Hi.” My tongue feels like it’s stuck to the roof of my mouth.

Kai’s expression softens just slightly when he looks at me and it makes my heart flutter when he says, “Hi, Hurricane.”

But then his eyes drift to Happy and his expression twists back into annoyance.

“What are you doing in here?”

Happy seems completely unfazed by Kai’s stare, one that’s hard enough to make any normal man wither. “Keeping Tess company.”

Kai crosses his arms in front of him. “Then your job is done. You can go.”

Happy’s face lights up. “You’re right. Job well done I’d say.” He gets up from the stool then stops right in front of me and reaches out to brush a strand of my hair from my face and tuck it behind my ear. “It was nice talking with you, Tess.”

He saunters off, laughing to himself, while Kai’s glares daggers into his back.

“What was that about?” I ask, turning my gaze to Kai but that was a mistake because I’m reminded of the fact that he’s half naked, his muscled body on display like a delicious platter of man meat.

Why must he be so hot?

He doesn’t reply. He just stares at me.

It’s… unnerving.

I shift on my feet, unsure where to look, the silence stretching out far too long. “I’m thinking about changing careers,” I blurt, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

Kai looks taken aback for a moment, his brow arching slightly, but he still says nothing. His eyes are so intense, like he’s trying to peel back my layers.

“I mean, it’s just a thought,” I ramble on, because, apparently, I can’t handle silence. “I’ve been doing the same thing for years, and honestly, it’s not even that exciting. Maybe I could be a chef.Not a fancy one, just, you know, like a café chef. I’m a decent cook. Or maybe a florist? I like flowers, though they do tend to die quickly when I’m in charge of them, which probably isn’t a great sign. But it could be peaceful, right? Surrounded by all those roses and—”

Kai

I think Tess is talking. Her lips are moving.

God, her lips. I want them on mine.

But I have no idea what she’s saying because of the jealous, buzzing static in my head—static that’s been screaming since that asshole of a security guard had the nerve to tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear like he had any right to touch her.

She’s mine.

I might not act on it—not in the way I want to. But she’s mine. No smug American prick is going to change that.

These are thoughts I’m not supposed to have. Tess is temporary, just passing through my life. She’s not someone I’m meant to get attached to.