Chapter 1 : Welcome-home bash

***Dylanne

I slammed the car door hard, staring at the building in front of me. The humid New York City summer air clung to my skin as I second-guessed my decision.

Kim's family penthouse towered above Hudson Yards—all glass walls and fountain, screaming Wall Street legacy.

Kim, my best friend since NYU, had dragged me here for her brother's "low-key" welcome-home bash. Kai. The brother I'd spent years pretending didn't exist.

I'd crushed hard on him at 18—every girl's dream: tall, brooding, and tattooed. But I couldn't confess; that would've betrayed Kim.

She always hated how girls gushed over him, calling them losers and fakes. So you bet it wouldn't go well if I said, "I have a crush on Kai." I couldn't risk losing her friendship.

Whatever. Now, everything was different. I worked to earn my keep and had no time for ghosts, especially ones flying in from London after five years.

Deep breaths, Dylanne. It's not like he remembers how you look or even sound. I juggled the custom three-tier chocolate cake and hurried into the elevator.

My phone pinged with a notification from Kim.

Kim📱: Where are you with the cake?!

I giggled as the elevator hummed up to the penthouse terrace. I could hear the music—hip-hop bass bustling out. Laughter and clinking glasses followed.

I got out of the elevator, rounded the pool cabana and collided with a wall of muscle.

The cake box flew. I tried to catch it mid-air, but strong hands beat me to it, steadying me at the same time. His scent hit me immediately, cedar and saffron.

I knew that scent all too well.

My eyes met storm-gray ones. Kai Reed. He was broader now, ink peeking from under his crisp black shirt. His jaw was sharp, framed perfectly by stubble.

He was…beautiful, and I couldn't help but stare.

“Dylly?” he drawled, his voice intoxicating with a certain rumble. “Still a klutz?”

I rolled my eyes as my cheeks burned. I snatched the box from him and headed to the kitchen.

“How’re you doing, kiddo?”

“Don’t call me that!” I warned.

He laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile. My heart thrummed in my chest just looking at him. Smelling him. Having him near.

“So you’re part of them planning all this?” He waved a hand around.

“A thank you would be appreciated.”

He snorted, opening the cake as he ruffled my hair aggressively.

Up close, he looked perfect. The perfect 6’5”. Rumors said he’d inked a big deal in London with the family name but got tied to the mafia and had to stall.

“Grew up nice, kiddo.”

“Can you just… urgh! Where’s Kim?”

“Somewhere around, playing hostess. What else did you bring?” He leaned in, trying to check my bag.

I pulled my bag away, and our hands grazed. My heart stopped for a minute, and I swear it did a backflip.

“Kai,” I whispered. For a minute, I saw the change in his eyes, the way he looked at me, trailing down to my lips.

I tried to yank free, but my body betrayed me, nipples tightening under my silk wrap dress.

“Finally, girl! You made it!” Kim dashed into the room.

I shifted far away from Kai like he was some kind of bug. Her hands flew straight to my shoulders, pulling me into a hug.

“You got here quickly, perfect. Come on, I have something to show you.”

“What?” My brows knitted together.

She pulled me to where Toby, a friend from highschool, sat—his eyes already on us as we approached.

OMG, what is she trying to do?

“Dylanne…I think you know our old-time friend, Toby, right? He just got back from the UK, and he needs someone to show him around New York.”

“Why?” I immediately blurted. She nudged me with an elbow and continued.

“Toby has spent half his life in the UK. Some parts of New York are blurry to him. Maybe you both can go out, have fun. Just a casual meet.”

Then my brow raised. If she's trying to freaking set me up with Toby… I won't let that happen.

“I'm busy,” I immediately said before she could utter a word. “But I will see if my schedule is free during the weekend.”

Toby nodded, his glasses looking too big for his face frame. I smiled awkwardly and pulled us away.

“What do you think you are doing?”

“What?! You don't seem to be interested in any guy you meet, so I decided to help.”

“I don't need your help.”

The guy I want is right here.

“I think you do, Missy. You're twenty-three, Dyl. You need a man in your life.”

“Why would I center my life on men? Give me one good reason.”

We walked back to the table where the cake was. Kai had his back to us, invested as he talked to a woman. I couldn't see her face, and I couldn't even cut the damn cake properly.

“One—you are a literal goddess, and any guy would be happy to have you.”

I could barely hear her talk as I tried to see who the hell he was talking to.

I just want to know if it's someone I know already. That's a lie.

God! I need to be over this. I can't still be pining over the same guy I had a huge crush on when I was eighteen.

I turned my attention back to Kim, who kept rambling something about me dressing up for a show?

“…so that way, you could find a date!”

“I'm sorry, what were you saying?”

“OMG, were you really not listening to me right now?”

“I was busy with the cake.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

“I'll get the right one.” She took it away from me and walked straight to the kitchen. Sometimes I wonder if she's acting oblivious or just too stupid to notice how much I—

No, I won't say it.

Repeat this: You do not like Kai Reed. Make it a mantra.

He was still talking to whoever it was. I tried to peek, acting like I dropped something on the floor. I noticed the way he turned his eyes back to look at me, sizing me up from top to bottom. I stood firm, eyes flickering, but I wasn't going to give in.

He faced forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. It felt like the whole room was hot and spinning. My throat felt clamped up as I tried to breathe.

I ditched the cake and walked right out of the room, taking a glass of champagne along.

I didn't stop until I walked into Kim's room, eyes closed, far away from the partying, the noise, and him. After a few calm breaths, I opened my eyes.

This looked nothing like Kim's room—it was stark, almost painfully plain. Bare brown walls and the heavy curtains loomed too dark, fitting my ebony skin.

This was definitely Kai's room. I walked straight to the wardrobe, my eyes raking over the fine shirts and tank tops that filled it as I picked one up and sniffed.

God, it smelled like him. Strong and fucking sexy. Just imagining him here, by my side, holding me by the neck.

The sound of keys jingling and a woman's laughter followed. In a panic, I rushed under the bed, slapping a hand over my mouth.

Kai walked in, but he wasn't alone. I could only see their legs moving around—the woman's in red high heels. I expected them to flop onto the bed. Instead, they sat on the seat close to the door. This way, it was easy to notice me under the bed.

He slowly wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her close.

Of course, he had to bring someone to fuck for his own welcome bash. Typical.

I turned my head away, swearing I wouldn't even peek, but this time it was different. I wanted to know what he did to other girls.

How he fucked them.

Why he never agreed to fuck me five years ago. What was so different then?

Slowly, I turned my head back, planting my eyes on them this time. Kai slapped her thighs, making her moan either from it or his mouth covering her nipple.

I gasped forgetting I was undercover.

I watched his fingers work into her as she writhed in his arms, screaming his name over and over. She held tight onto him, her tongue licking and nibbling at his ear.

My eyes shut tightly, I really shouldn't be watching this at least not like this but fuck.

I managed to get comfortable underneath without making a sound or giving up my location. I raised the vest still in my hand to my nose, and inhaled, his scent intoxicating my thoughts completely.

Slowly, my hand crepy under my dress, pulling my underwear to the side. I turned back to the oblivious duo on the couch, fucking myself with the same rhythm and pace as Kai did to the girl.

“Oh my god… yes, yesss, Kai!” The lady screamed holding his biceps tighter as her legs shut against his hands but Kai didn't stop, his fingers replaced his tongue on her nipple, switch from pinching to rolling it between his index and thumb, he spread her legs back open, a little wider this time giving me more to see.

“Hmm, you like that?” His thick voice resounded in the room. She put both arms around his neck and tugged him close.

Fuck this was hot. I mean I should be jealous that the man I've always wanted was fucking another woman with his fingers but all it did was make me even wetter.

Everytime his finger plunged into her mine did too, making squelching sounds that surprised even me.

“Yes, don't stop, Kai.” she moaned, bringing his head to her right nipple but instead of sucking on it he bit it slightly, making her groan loudly, “Omg, I'm about to come! I'm so close, baby.”

His eyes were on me this time as she squirmed under him, coming on his fingers.

“That’s right. Come on my hand, you filthy whore.”