Chapter 2 A Dangerous Little Game

LEAH

"What kind of favor?"I asked

"Kai!" the woman called again, closer this time.

He glanced over his shoulder, then back at me. "Just go with it," he said.

Before I could answer, he kissed me.

It wasn't soft. It was sudden and deep, and for a second my brain went completely quiet. His hands returned to my waist, pulling me closer until there was almost no space left between us. I should have pushed him away. Instead, my fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. When he tilted his head and deepened the kiss, a small sound escaped me before I could stop it. He made a low noise in response and slid one hand into my hair, holding me there.

"Kai!"

"You're a fucking whore!" the woman shouted. Her heels clicked hard against the floor as she stormed closer, then stopped. I heard her curse again before she turned and walked away fast.

He didn't pull back right away. When he finally did, we were both breathing harder than before. His forehead rested against mine for a second.

"You're a lifesaver," he said, voice rough.

I blinked, still trying to catch up. "You can put me down now."

He hadn't even realized he was still half-holding me. He set me on my feet carefully. "Right. Sorry."

He looked down the empty hallway, then back at me. "Come with me for a minute."

"I should-"

He didn't wait. He took my hand and led me farther down the corridor, into a room at the end. The door closed behind us. Inside, the space looked nothing like the rest of the bar. There were roses on the bed, a bottle of wine on the table, champagne sitting in a bucket of ice, and folded towels stacked neatly on the side. Candles were lit. It looked planned. Expensive.

He stared at the room like he hadn't expected it either.

"Are we supposed to also pretend we're on a honeymoon or something?" I asked.

He let out a short laugh. "I have no idea why any of this is here. She said this was the room we were staying in. I wasn't paying attention but I think she mentioned knowing the owner of the bar or building"

"She," I repeated. "As in the girl who just saw you kissing me?"

"Yeah." He picked up the wine bottle and turned it in his hands, reading the label without really looking at it. "She's not my girlfriend. She's just... someone I was seeing. She got the wrong idea."

I crossed my arms. "So you kissed a stranger to prove a point."

"Pretty much." He glanced at me. "Worked, though."

I didn't answer. The room was warm from the candles. My lips still felt warm too.

He poured two glasses without asking and held one out.

I stared at the glass of wine he was holding out to me, my jaw tightening.

"Why would I take a drink from you? I have no idea who you are."

He did not look offended at all. Instead, a slow, lazy smile spread across his lips.

"Suit yourself, princess," he murmured, before taking a slow sip out of the glass himself.

I stood there, completely stunned by how calm and relaxed he was acting after practically dragging me into a private room off a noisy club hallway.

"You could have just explained all of this outside," I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. "This is literally kidnapping!"

He let out a short, amused chuckle, swirling the dark red liquid in his glass. "She could still be hanging around the corner. I did not want to risk running into her again."

I scoffed, my eyes sweeping over the ridiculous romantic setup around us

"And bringing me into the exact room she planned for you is supposed to be any better?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

He paused, his eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and humor. He looked around the room as if he was only just noticing the decorations.

"You have a point," he admitted, setting his glass down on the table. "Though, I am positive she will go home crying to her roommate by now, so we are safe."

"You are insane," I breathed out, shaking my head at his total lack of normal boundaries.

His playful expression shifted slightly. He tilted his head, his dark eyes narrowing as they searched my face. The smirk faded, replaced by something much more sharp and observant.

"What is making you this mad? You alright?" he asked quietly, raising an eyebrow.

I almost laughed. "Not really. I walked in on my boyfriend with his coach's daughter earlier. My best friend allowed me to come here so I could drink away my sorrows while she spends time with the guy she's seeing. And now some stranger just kissed me to get rid of his fling."

He was quiet for a second. Then he said, "That's a shit night."

"Yeah obviously."

"For what it's worth," he added, "you're a great kisser and that stranger enjoyed every bit of it."

I looked at him. There was a small, crooked smile on his face, but his eyes were watching me carefully, like he was trying to figure out if I was about to leave or stay.

"You're very confident for someone who just used a random girl as a shield," I said.

"I am." He didn't deny it. "But I also owe you now."

"You don't owe me anything."

"I do." He stepped a little closer. Not enough to crowd me, but enough that I noticed. "And from experience, the best way to feel better after someone cheats is to stop letting them be the only one who gets to have fun."

"You want me to cheat back? How ethical," I scoffed, crossing my arms tightly over my chest as I glared up at him.

He took another slow, deliberate step toward me, closing the distance between us until I could feel the faint, warm heat radiating off his body.

"Not cheat back. Play back," he corrected smoothly, his voice dropping into a low, steady tone that sent an involuntary shiver straight down my spine.

"Think about it," he continued, his gaze drifting over my face. "He obviously played you. And honestly? He has probably been doing it behind your back for a very long time. You only found out tonight because you happened to walk in at the wrong moment. You deserve to have a little fun, too."

I should have told him to shut up. Instead I stayed where I was.

He reached out slowly and brushed my hair over my shoulder. His fingers barely touched my skin when he leaned in and pressed a light kiss to the side of my neck. It was softer than the one in the hallway. It still made my breath catch.

"What do you say, princess?" he asked against my skin.