“But…” Her mind must have been reeling. “Why didn’t Dirk just go after her in the beginning instead of pushing you to date her? So much drama would have been avoided.”
“Right, but in the beginning, it was me with the power. Dirk and I didn’t become fifty-fifty partners until we got the Broadway deal. He’d played us both and then took what he wanted. He’s still trying to take what he wants. It will never be enough.”
Kai went silent, and I wished I knew what she was thinking.
“Which is why you’re adamant about this being the last Angst and Grace run.”
I nodded. “It’s what I promised Dirk so he could make back enough money to get off my back.”
Kai released a sigh into the darkness. “I guess I don’t understand how I’m just finding out about this now. Jake was with you and the original cast. Why wouldn’t he have mentioned anything about you and Claudette dating before she got engaged to Dirk?”
“No one knew about Claudette and me. No one but Dirk. I suspect Jimmy knew too. It was something Dirk had made us agree to for the sake of the show. Turned out he’d only wanted us to keep a secret so he didn’t look like a prick when he went after her.”
“So you’re telling me you never even loved her? Not even a little?”
I shook my head and swallowed. “Never, Kai.” Not the way I love you. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I chose to hold onto them for just a little bit longer. “Get some rest, okay? You’ll need it for tomorrow so you can get back out on that stage.”
She nodded as her eyelids fell shut and her hand fell into mine. “You’ll stay with me?”
“Always.”
Chapter 39
Kai
My eyes flickered open to a cluster of stars through the porthole window in Sebastian’s room. His arm, warm and heavy, was draped over my waist. His breathing was deep and steady against my neck.
A slight shift of my body told me the pain was still there, but the majority of it was most likely masked by the meds prescribed by the ship’s doctor. I felt okay—better than okay, actually. If I ignored the slight aches, I would even dare to say I felt great.
My worries had been put to ease by Sebastian’s confession—surprising, since he’d been keeping a secret from me. But in the end, all the truth did was solidify the fact that Sebastian was every bit the man I’d started to fall in love with. He was sensitive and driven, thoughtful and affectionate. Best of all, he reserved the best version of himself for me.
The last thing I remembered was Sebastian’s piano as he played for me while I drifted off to sleep. Before that, he’d stripped me of my clothes, let me shower, and replaced my panties with a clean pair he’d washed with his things. The oversized shirt I was wearing was his.
I shifted my body again, this time moving his arm from around me and placing it by his side. I ran my fingers down his chest and bare abdomen, finally resting where the elastic of his black boxer briefs met his skin.
How many times had I awoken to Sebastian caressing me in ways that sent me over the edge? How many times had I awoken to his fingers pumping inside me and my body already crying out with a pending release? Sebastian always took care of me. Yet he was just as deserving.
I slipped my hand inside his underwear and reached down to where his cock was already growing. He was so big that I’d never forget our first time, when my throat felt it would catch fire with each breath—the way he stretched me, filled me, pumped me as full and as deep as he could.
Once he was fully hard in my hand, I stroked him slowly, rolling the skin over his shaft and earning a sweet growl from the man at my mercy.
“God, yes,” he said as I jerked him again and again until his eyes shot open and locked onto me.
I released him from his briefs then scooted down with a grin, placing my parted lips over his length. “Sorry I woke you.” I batted my eyes, knowing that would drive him crazy. “I couldn’t sleep.”
A whoosh of breath left his lungs, and a hand moved through my hair. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to me.”
My tongue darted from my mouth, swiping at his tip, like a snake getting ready to attack. I looked down at the glistening wetness, the mark of my tongue. Then I smiled. “I’m certainly going to try.”
I slid my tongue from the base of his shaft up his length before finally wrapping my lips around him. As I eased him down my throat, I used a hand to stroke the rest of him. Sucking and moaning, I worked him relentlessly until his grip in my hair tightened with warning. But I didn’t stop, not until his warm release shot down my throat. I swallowed back each spurt then eased off his lap, swiping at my mouth with the back of a hand. His eyes were wide, his breathing heavy, and he reached for me and pulled me to his mouth.
“Holy shit, Kai. I thought you were injured.”
I chuckled between kisses and spread my legs, pressing my knees into the mattress on either side of him. “The doctor said to start moving as soon as I felt well enough.”
His hands moved to my ass and pulled his shirt up and over my head. “Give me a minute, and I can really get you moving.”
I sat back on his thighs as his fingers drew light patterns over my skin. When he got to my breasts, he cupped one and squeezed it in his palm. “I love how we fit together.”
“Me too.” I bit my lip, testing my next thought in my mind before speaking aloud. “Speaking of that. What if I told you I wanted to feel you? Bare?”
His eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I’m on the pill now. We’re both clean.” My cheeks heated with embarrassment, but only for a second.
He kissed me hard on the lips before pushing his hips up into me, cocked and loaded. “I’d say, what are you waiting for?” He flicked his tongue out, swiping it against my lips. “I thought you’d never ask.”
I slid a hand down to feel his erection growing again and placed it at my entrance. He sat, abs tightening as he placed his palms on the mattress behind him to prop himself up.
“Okay,” he rasped as I wrapped my palms around the back of his neck. “Have your way with me.”
I chuckled and eased down around him, instantly sucking in a breath when I felt the intensity of his girthy cock stretching me.
“Are you okay?” The look of concern on his face made my heart melt.
I continued to ease myself down around him. “I am now,” I said once I reached his base.
He slammed his lids shut and groaned while pushing his hips into me, deepening his fill. “Holy shit, you feel good.”
I bit my lip and circled my hips before lifting and sinking again and again. My heart was already whirring so fast, as much as I wanted to take it slow, I didn’t know if I could. He met my hips with thrusts of his own, and I tightened my hold around his neck until my mouth was a breath from his.
With a growl, he took a hand from the mattress and cupped my ass with it. “Slow down, or this will be over before it even started.” He squeezed my ass and slowed my movements with his steady grip.
My head was spinning, but I followed his lead, wanting nothing more than to make this feeling last forever. A connection that existed only between the two of us. A bliss I know I’d never feel with anyone else.