Kai shifts onto his back, wraps his arm around me, and pulls me toward him. And when my hand slides to his chest, he covers it with his, and shifts it to his heart, where the petal tattoo is.
I don’t even think of the scars under my fingertips, only about his hand over mine, and his heart beating under my touch. As loudly as mine.
45
KAI
I am notsure I slept at all.
When I open my eyes, we are in the same position we fell asleep.
Callie’s body presses tightly against me. Her hand is on my heart. Where the petals are.
She is warm, somewhat familiar, though it’s only the second time we slept in the same bed.
This feeling is so overwhelming that it leaves me breathless. It reminds me of how things used to be. The feeling of home. Happy dinners with dad and Lilly. Driving my sports bike in the fast lane. Lazy afternoons on the couch watching TV. Pizza and beer. Morning alarms. Late-night TV shows. Thanksgiving with family.
My name being called by someone I love.
Kai…
I want her to say it one more time. Right now, she is the only one in the world who can bring that feeling back. The only one who cares. That fact is heartbreaking and heartwarming at once.
My heart pumps like the powerful tide of the ocean that whispers outside.
It’s already dawn, though I didn’t notice it until the room grew lighter. We’ll have to part soon…
Callie stirs.
She lifts her face and looks at me through the sleepy slits of her eyes.
I let go of her hand on my chest and cushion my head with my arm, studying her. My other arm is still wrapped around her. I fix the sheet over her and tuck her closer to me.
“You don’t have to get up yet,” I say softly and smile.
“Do you? If you do, I will, too,” she says, her fingers stroking my chest.
“Last night was perfect,” I say.
It’s me telling her things now because I want to keep her close, and she needs to hear how I feel.
She nods.
“I can’t stay away from you, Callie. You know that, don’t you?”
She smiles. Her blue eyes send soft vibrations to my heart, which gets heavy again.
“I can’t promise I won’t try to seduce you any chance I can,” I say.
She laughs then, burying her face in my chest. Her hair tickles my inked skin.
I grin.
This is heaven.
She tilts her face just slightly, so she can peek at me.
“Can we do it again later?” Her eyes are playful.