Chapter 66
Lily POV
I whirled around to find Kai standing in the doorway. His gaze shifted from me to the half-open drawer and immediately, an embarrassed expression and something defiant clouded his features.
“Why are my things here? In your drawer? I don’t remember giving you any of these things. You’ve been taking my stuff p>
“Not taking,” he corrected, moving into the room. “Keeping. Safe. Why are you here? Are you snooping around p>
“I wasn’t snooping. I was bored and decided to look around. I don’t understand, Kai… why do you have my things? What do you need them for? That’s I gestured helplessly at the drawer. “That’s not normal, Kai p>
“Well, I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. It was the only way I could stay grounded p>
I stared at him, convincing myself that this was all a dream. “You’re not the first person to find a mate. Don’t you think you’re going overboard with everything? Coming into my bedroom, taking my things… it’s not healthy p>
“Now you want to lecture me about what’s healthy or not?” he scoffed, brushing past me as he forcefully closed the drawer “Do you have any idea what I put up with every day? With the fire that consumes me every single minute. The need to be near you, to protect you, to have pieces of you close to me? And what do I get from you… your constant rejection p>
“Rejection?” my eyes widened with disbelief. “I haven’t rejected you. I told you I just had my wolf and p>
“I’ve heard that line already, say something else, Lily… I don’t understand why you’re still hesitating despite knowing that we’re fated mates p>
“I am not hesitating, I’m only trying to be careful,” I retorted. “Being in a relationship is not something to be taken lightly p>
“That’s because you keep comparing me to your ex he said quietly turning away from me.
“W-What did you say?” I walked up to him, coming to stand in his front. “When did I ever compare you to Lucas p>
“Every single time you flinch at my touch, every single time, you act like I’m crazy, that you don’t want me as much as I do. Every single time you push me away… I am not Lucas, Lily… I would not hurt you. I don’t know what kind of asshole he is but you’ve been here long enough to know that I am different from what they say… from the man that broke your heart and now I’m left to pick up the pieces p>
“That’s… not true I tried to defend myself weakly. “I’m just trying to make the right decisions. To set boundaries, to learn control and independence. The last time I depended on someone, my heart got broken p>
He ran his hands through his hair and held me by my shoulders. “Well, I don’t want control,” he said quietly. “I want you p>
The raw honesty in his voice made me stutter. “Kai p>
“I love you, Lily… not just because of the mate bond. I love everything about you. Your laugh, your kindness, the way you scrunch your nose when you’re thinking hard about something. The way you make me want to be silly and human and imperfect p>
Tears pricked at my eyes. “Stop p>
“I love that you’re strong enough to set boundaries even when I’m being an idiot I love p>
“Please stop,” I whispered, a tear sliding down my cheek.
“But I am not Lucas. I won’t break your heart, I won’t hurt you… I can promise that much because these are the things I can control. You have to let go of whatever thing you had with him, all the fantasies you created in your head and p>
“You’re engaged to another woman!” I yelled, the tears coming in torrents now. “You might even marry her… How can you expect me to give you all of my heart when I don’t know what will happen tomorrow? Maybe this mate bond was a lie p>
“I don’t love, Briella. You’re my true mate and I don’t know how to get out of the ties that bind me to her but I know I want you and you alone p>
I shook my head, placing my hands on his chest, not sure if I meant to push him away or pull him closer. “Being mates doesn’t automatically make everything right. I can’t trust another man who’s with another woman. I cannot let my guard down… I will not let it down p>
“Then what do you want me to do? To promise to break off the engagement? To promise to be with you? Tell me, what will it cost to show you how much I love you?” Kai said fiercely. “Tell me p>
“This was a mistake!” I swiped at the tears that were cascading down my cheeks. “I shouldn’t have come here. I’ll go p>
He moved around me and blocked my path. “Not until we resolve this,” he said quietly. “I’m not letting you run away again p>
“You’re suffocating me right now. I need to think, I need space and you – you keep pushing in like you don’t trust me to handle things on my own p>
“By ghosting me and not talking to me for days?” he countered. “I’m not trying to suffocate you! I’m trying to be here for you, Lily. Get angry, get mad but don’t leave and stay away? Don’t leave and shut me out. And go for days without talking. Don’t give me the silent treatment p>
I scoffed, stepping closer until we were face-to-face. “If I didn’t reach out, why didn’t you? Besides there’s a difference between support and control. And you my words caught in my throat, unable to stop myself, I shoved him, my anger taking over.
He barely moved, his gaze narrowing. “So that’s what you think of me? That I’m just some control freak who wants to tie you down p>
His words stoked the anger burning inside me and without thinking, my hand came up and I slapped him across his chest.
The sound hung between us, my pulse hammering in my ears as his eyes darkened flashing with an intensity that matched my own.
For a moment, we stood there, staring at each other, and then in one breathless second, we reached for each other at the same time, colliding in a fierce, hungry kiss. Kai’s hand gripped my waist, pulling me against him, while my fingers tangled in his hair, pressing against him as our mouths sought each other hungrily.
The frustration that came from our longing, poured out, the anger that had been simmering a moment ago suddenly melted into passion as his lips claimed mine with a demanding hunger.
He backed me to the wall, pressing me into the cool surface as his hands explored my back, my shoulders, and the curve of my waist. Our breathing grew ragged, our lips parting only to meet again, deeper each time, as if we were making up for lost time, for every unsaid word and unresolved feeling.
“Lily,” he murmured against my lips, leaning back to stare at me.
We were both breathing heavily.
“I want to make love to you,” he said hoarsely “I want you so bad that I cannot control myself anymore but he closed his eyes, taking in a painful sigh “There’s still a measure of self-control left now… if it’s not what you want… if you’re not ready then you can tell me and I’ll back off…I’ll respect your decision and wait until you’re ready p>
He trailed off. “Because I cannot promise that I won’t take off those flimsy clothes from your body the next time I touch you… if it isn’t what you want, let’s stop now… before it’s too late.