Chapter 3

Morning came slowly.

Kai didn’t sleep. He replayed every touch, every word, every sound. Never see him again…so why think about it? He muttered.

He lay there after sneaking back into his room, one arm thrown over his eyes, breathing like he’d run a race. His thighs still felt weak.

His lips were swollen. His chest…

A knock cut through it.

“Kai?” A soft female voice. “Breakfast is ready, sweetheart.”

He froze. Sweetheart. Throat tight. “Yeah…coming.”

He dragged himself up, wiping his face. Just eat. Just be normal.

Kai pulled the door open, poking his head out first to make sure the man from yesterday wasn't there.

And luckily…he wasn't.

“The last thing I want is us meeting again” Kai thought heading to the dining room.

The dining room was already set when he got there. Plates. Cutlery. Coffee. Toast.

Brielle, Mr. Singh’s younger sister, and her husband Finn sat at the dining table talking inaudibly.

Mr. Singh was also sitting. And another woman that Kai didn't recognize.

A woman smiled at Kai. “Good morning.”

Kai nodded. “Morning,” he muttered, sitting. Chair scraping loudly. Fork lifted, then dropped, then lifted again.

Mr. Singh cleared his throat. “Now that everyone is…”

“Sorry I’m late,” a familiar voice interrupted.

Kai’s heart stopped. Footsteps. He recognized the voice. The sound that still throbbed through him.

Noah.

Noah stopped in the doorway.

The soft click of the door made Kai glance up.

Their eyes met.

For a second, neither of them moved then recognition struck. Kai’s lips parted on a silent breath, while Noah’s jaw locked as his gaze dragged slowly over him.

What the fuck is he doing here?

“Why are you still here”. Noah asked, his voice cold and emotionless.

I should be asking what the fuck he is doing here Kai thought, he opened his mouth but no words came out of it.

Mr. Singh smiled. “Oh. I see you two have met.”

Kai blinked. “Met?”

“This,” Mr. Singh said, hand on Kai’s shoulder, “is your newly adopted brother, Kai.”

Brother.

Brother??

Kai’s stomach dropped. He turned slightly. Noah’s eyes locked on him.

“And Kai,” Mr. Singh continued, “this is Noah, my biological son.”

No one spoke. Kai’s ears rang. Noah didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Didn’t…

Kai’s gaze dropped first. He sipped water, nearly choking.

Noah finally sat. Their knees almost touched under the table. Kai jerked back, chair squeaking.

“Are you alright?” Brielle asked.

“Yeah…just hot,” Kai said too quickly.

Noah picked up his fork. Didn’t eat.

Kai tried to cut his eggs. Missed. His hands were shaking. Keep it together…he said to himself, but he couldn't keep it together, not with Noah sitting across from him.

The knife scraped the plate, Noah looked up at the sound and their eyes met. Kai dropped his gaze quickly. Noah didn’t, he stared at Kai like he was trying to kill him with his eyes.

Kai picked up his food, trying to shove the food down his throat, but it just wasn't going down; it's like his throat is closed up.

Noah finished his food and didn't even bother wasting another second.

Noah pushed back first. “Kai.”

Kai stiffened, his hands paused on the fork he was holding. His spine straightened automatically.

“Come with me,” Noah said Kai couldn't refuse because he knew very well that it wasn't a request.

Kai dropped his fork and stood up the chair scraping slightly as he pushed it back.

They walked to the hallway corner. Noah turned sharply.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Kai flinched. “I…”

“Cat got your tongue?”

“Sorry…”

“Does my father know?”

Kai blinked. “Know what?”

“That you’re a fucking gay slut.”

Kai’s chest tightened. “…Excuse me?”

“Does he know what you did before he adopted you? Or did you forget to tell him about it?”

“ Tell him about what?” Kai’s voice rose. “I don’t…”

“Don’t play dumb! What were you doing in my room last night?”

Kai opened his mouth, closed it. “I didn’t know who you were. I didn’t know you were his…”

Noah laughed short, humorless. “Yeah. Sure.”

“There’s a misunderstanding…”

“Shut up.”

“I’m not a…”

Noah walked away.

Kai clenched his fists, breathing hard.

He followed, silent, back toward the dining room.

Kai walked back to the table beside Noah, trying to keep his expression neutral.

Kai pulled his chair back and sat down.

Noah took the seat across from him.

Neither of them looked at the other.

A gay slut. The phrase echoed in Kai's head.

Kai picked up his fork and stabbed the cake harder than

necessary.

How could he put all the blame on me when he started it first? Fuck…I should've left the moment he asked me to come in last night but I can't really be blamed too can I? Maybe a bit but…fuck.

He glanced briefly at Noah and he looked expressionless.

How is he keeping a straight face like that, Kai thought.

The table had been cleared now but there were desserts on the table.

Noah didn’t look at Kai again for the rest of breakfast, not even once but Kai felt it anyway, that awareness sitting hot and itchy under his skin every time his fork moved, every time his knee shifted under the table.

He’s right there.

Across from him.

The man from last night is his brother.

Kai's mind drifted to what Noah had said a few minutes ago.

“Gay slut”.

He was literally inside me last night and he fucking enjoyed and he is here today calling me a fucking slut uh? He enjoyed it too, didn't he? Kai thought, trying to contain his rage.

Kai’s fingers tightened around the fork as he forced himself to chew, the food turning dry in his mouth before he’d even swallowed.

Don’t think about that. Don't think about it…fuck.

He is the fucking slut, he was the one pleasuring himself with the fucking door open. Kai almost said it out loud. Almost.

He glanced at Noah who looked completely calm.

How is he keeping a straight face like that? Kai thought.

Mr. Singh was still seated at the head of the table.

Across from him sat Mr. Singh’s younger sister, Brielle, and her husband Finn.

A butler stepped forward quietly and placed a fresh pot of coffee near Mr. Singh.

“Thank you, Daniel,” Mr. Singh said.

“You’re welcome, sir.”

The man stepped away.

Brielle glanced between them with mild curiosity.

“So,” she said lightly, “is this the new addition to the family?”

Mr. Singh nodded. “Yes. This is Kai.”

Kai gave a polite nod. “Good morning.”

Brielle smiled warmly. “Welcome to the family.”

Kai forced a small smile.

Brielle lifted her cup. “Coffee?”

Kai nodded. “Yes, please.”

Daniel poured it.

Across the table, Noah finished his food and set his fork down.

The quiet scrape of metal against porcelain sounded louder than it should have.

“I’ll be leaving today,” Noah said.

Kai’s head snapped up before he could stop himself.

Mr. Singh glanced at him. “Already?”

“I have work waiting.”

Kai dropped his gaze immediately when Noah’s voice carried across the table again.

Like Kai hadn’t had his mouth around him hours ago.

His throat tightened.

Brielle frowned slightly. “You just got here yesterday.”

Noah shrugged. “Things came up.”

Mr. Singh wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Kai will leave with you.”