66. Aiyana

Chapter sixty-six

Aiyana

Friday, January 12, 2024

M y eyes start to flutter open, the light from the massive windows peering in and illuminating the open living space.

Lifting my head off of Kas's chest, I look down to see that he's already awake and smiling, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he gazes up at me, trailing my features and stopping at my lips.

Heat pools in my core as a smirk starts to curl his lips—the split bottom one has crusted shut now, and bruises have blossomed along his jaw. He cups my cheek, pulling me into him and pressing a soft, warm kiss to my lips.

It feels too intimate, especially given last night's circumstances and the fact that I'm literally not supposed to be letting things with him get too emotionally involved. Though I know I'm an idiot for even trying to believe that lie.

"How're you feeling?" I ask, my voice a little rough in my just-waking state.

Kas blinks up at me as if the memories of last night are suddenly flooding back in, and a pained look takes over his previously relaxed features.

He shakes the darkness from his thoughts and does his best to give me a smile. "I'm sore and in desperate need of a shower, but okay. We should get up though. I'll need to bring Kat her meds. She doesn't need to be without those and dealing with everything else."

I nod my agreement and pull myself off of him, standing by the couch and extending my hand out. I know he doesn't need my help getting up, but he takes my hand in his, getting swiftly to his feet.

His dark waves are a mess, his knuckles bruised and crusted with his dried blood, and his shirt rumpled.

"Shower with me?" he asks, and I give him a small nod, following him up the stairs to his room.

Once we're stripped and the water is warm, we each step into the shower, letting the water wash away the pain that yesterday brought. I motion for Kas to take a seat on the waterfall ledge he has in this enormous shower of his, and he does, quirking a brow at me in question. I grab the bottle of shampoo, squeezing a sizable amount out into my hands and lathering it up before running the suds through his hair, massaging his scalp as I go.

Kas releases a low groan, hands darting out in front of him to grip my hips. When I'm done, I wordlessly motion for him to tilt his head back, letting the stream from the waterfall fountain wash the sandalwood-scented shampoo away before repeating the process with his conditioner.

When I'm done, he places me in the seat he was previously occupying and does the same for me. My heart swells at his tender touch, and I fight a moan from escaping my lips as he works his fingers through my scalp, massaging as he does.

He finishes, and I stand, taking his hands in mine and inspecting them. The scabs and blood have been cleared from his skin, leaving behind irritated red wounds and bruises. We take turns lathering each other in bodywash and rinsing off, and when we're done, we dry ourselves, change, and head back downstairs before we head out.

***

We dropped by the apartment to let out Alessandro's dog, Tank, though his dog walker left a note saying she'd be back in a couple of hours. Luckily, Gianni had already contacted her, making sure Tank would be taken care of in Ale's absence.

When we got in, there were a few reporters camped outside, waiting to ask us questions, but we ignored them. By the time we left, there were at least a dozen more.

After retrieving Kat's meds and bringing them to her at the hospital, I'm relieved to hear that Ale seems to be doing well. Unfortunately, I still have to head into work, so Kas insists on bringing me.

When we arrive, he puts his truck in park and grabs my hands, bringing each of them to his lips to press a tender kiss along my knuckles. "Thank you," he whispers as he does this, "for not leaving me and for believing in the good in me."

My heart cracks. How can he still think he isn't the incredible, kind, and generous person that he is? " All of you is good Kas. Thanks for taking me to work," I tell him, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to his cheek before turning and pushing the door open, climbing out as he chuckles at me. This truck is too damn high up for me.

I huff when I get to the bottom and wave before making a beeline for my building.