Chapter 5

****Dylanne

I followed the bouncer into the elevator as it took us straight to the eleventh floor. Kai had sent a message, asking me to follow him instead. When the elevator made its pinging sound and opened, I stared at an empty corridor, gold-colored doors facing each other.

“Room four,” the bouncer said, pushing the card key into my hands. I walked out of the elevator and looked around. Before I could turn and ask him anything else, he had already shut the elevator doors in my face.

Jeez.

I slowly walked by, scanning the doors for their numbers, and eventually got to room number four. I placed both hands on the cold door, a smell wafting from the room. This place already looked like it was made for celebrities and was eerily calm.

“Kai,” I whispered, placing an ear on the door, listening to see if I heard any movement of some sort.

“Kai,” I whispered again. This time, I crouched down, trying to see if I could spot any peephole.

Look, I had the key, alright? But I've been jumped by thieves before, and what if the notification wasn't from Kai and was from a bad gang leader who wanted to sell my parts off?

I took deep breaths, counted at least to five back and forth, and was about to open the door before it got opened right in front of me and I tripped. Large hands caught me before I could land on the floor.

Kai stood there, hands wrapped around me. Our gazes locked on each other, and I swear I felt embarrassed, watching him there, looking all flustered when I was barely holding it together, my cheeks burning from the touch.

I immediately shoved him, gaining my stance. He doubled back, almost falling on his heels. He stood up, arranged himself as I eyed him, taking in what he had on: a pair of grey sweatpants paired with a black body-hug shirt that held his biceps together. They looked glorious.

Fuck, is it wrong to want to lick them?

Ink peeking from under his arms. He'd gotten more tattoos done; I could tell. His hair was in an updo this time, a clean face that I prayed to sit on.

“Dylly!” He snapped his fingers in my face, pulling me back to reality.

“Took you long enough. I've been waiting, and my security told me you were here already. What held you up?”

“Nothing,” I lied through my teeth.

He held my arm and dragged me inside. Immediately, my mouth dropped open as I scanned the room. It was mostly filled with dark drapes and sheets that matched, giving an aesthetic. In the middle of the room stood a small glass table with a tray of food and fruits on it, and by the side sat a small basket. The room smelled good, and I bet chicken was there because the aroma wafted around the room. Cool jazz music played in the background, and two chairs were proportionally placed at the end of the table.

It didn't look like a meeting anymore. Kai guided me inside until we got to the table.

“I thought we could have our first meeting here.”

“Uhm… it’s…” Words failed me. It was amazing, and at the pit of my stomach, I was speechless about how I felt.

“I'm sorry, but I love some privacy when I'm in important meetings,” he said, his voice low with a certain rumble to it.

It was hard to swallow, especially with his hands over mine, thumb rubbing on my skin, goosebumps peeking out like a second skin.

“I hope you like it?” he asked lightly. I could see that he was nervous, his other hand at the back of his head rubbing, with a tiny smile that made my heart flip.

Like it? I love it.

I glanced through the basket and saw berries inside a plate. Not just any kind of berries…my favorite! Raspberries! I jumped for joy as I pulled it out, hugging it to me.

God, I once had a crazy obsession with raspberries and ate them for two whole days. But hunger caught up with me soon, and unlike some girls, I genuinely loved food.

Kai smiled—a genuine one—as he watched me dance around the table. “I know how much you love your berries. You haven't restocked yet?”

“I always forget anytime I go to the mall.” After a few minutes of dancing, I dropped, exhausted, onto the chair, my breath quick as sweat dripped into my bra.

Kai had already dished out some nice pasta with chicken sauce on a plate for me.

“We eat, and after that, work. That okay?”

“Yeah.”

“How did you know I wanted these?” I shook the container.

“Of course I would. Remember that time you decided to go on a cleanse fast and ate berries for two whole days?”

“Omg, you remember that?!” I slapped a hand over my mouth, laughing my ass off. He burst into a fit of laughter alongside me.

“I genuinely saw it online.”

“Dylly, you always see those online. Remember when you thought berries had some kind of meaning to them too?”

“Heyyyy, I still believe in that. Just look at this pretty thing.” I shoved it in his face. “It genuinely looks like it would cleanse your soul.”

“Oh my God,” he said, full-on cackling this time.

I shook my head as I opened the container and popped one berry into my mouth. I picked up my fork, about to start eating, when I noticed Kai staring.

“You know… it's not gentlemanly to stare at a woman.”

The air was thick this time. My cheeks were already burning, and I swear, I could feel the pool forming between my legs.

“You've got something here.” He stretched his hand out and, with the serviette he had just picked up, cleaned off whatever was at the side of my mouth.

His hand, cold as it grazed my skin, I closed my eyes, holding it in place. I inhaled; his strong scent of cologne hit me. I could feel the way he shook. His eyes held something different this time. Pain was definitely part of it.

“I missed this. I miss us,” he whispered. I placed small kisses on his arm, enough for him to writhe and look all flustered.

I was about to speak when a knock came on the door. We both ignored it, focusing on each other, but then came another, and another.

“Kai?!” Kim shouted from behind the door.

We both froze, staring at each other like complete morons.

“Are you in there?! If you don't respond to me, I'm coming in!”