Jessie felt her heart squeeze. “Me?” Her voice was a whisper too.
He stepped closer to her, so his hips were touching hers. “Yes…you.” His hand found hers, and their fingers laced together. “You’re always taking care of everyone else, making sure everyone has what they need.” His face just inches in front of hers, he breathed, “What do you need, Jessie?”
Jessie couldn’t speak. He was so close to her, even their chests were touching. His lips parted as his light breath washed over her. Their fingers tightened as his gaze drifted down to her lips. Stepping into his body, Jessie rested her cheek along his. With a shaky exhale, Kai clenched her hand. Jessie closed her eyes, and the blood pounding through her body sounded like a tidal wave in her head.
Knowing she shouldn’t let them stand so intimately, Jessie began to pull back. Her cheek slid across his as she retreated, but Kai didn’t move; his body was rigid as he clenched her hand. Jessie could feel his hot breath against her lips; it sent a jolt of electricity through her, clouding her mind. Wanting what she knew she couldn’t have—and hating herself for wanting it—Jessie gently pressed her lips to his. Kai made a deep noise in his throat that stoked the fire raging within her. Not caring who was looking, not caring who she was and who he was, that genetically and ethically, they shouldn’t be together, Jessie let go of her control and gave herself over to her basest desires. She wrapped his bottom lip in hers, and sucked him into her mouth.
He tasted like heaven.
He. Kai. Kai Harper, the gorgeous boy who shared her name. Her cousin. That thought instantly snapped her back to who she was. She jerked away, and that was when she noticed Kai’s closed eyes and fast breath. His free hand was slowly reaching up, like he was going to cup her cheek, pull her in for a deeper connection.
“Kai,” she whispered, mortified that she’d caved and kissed him.
His eyes sprang open, and remembering where they were and who might be watching, he looked around himself. Stepping back, his breath still unnaturally fast, he ran a hand through his hair. Searching the area, like he was sure someone had just seen that, he quietly told her, “I should go.”
Jessie felt horror, disgust, and pain rising within her. She shouldn’t touch him like that, especially directly in front of her house where her roommates could see. Her eyes nervously flicked to her front windows. They were completely empty, but Jesus, had either of them seen her do that to him? How could she possibly explain that intimate moment?
She swung her eyes back to Kai when she felt him step toward his bike. His head was down, his face looked thoughtful. Jessie hated that she’d completely ruined their nice afternoon with those last few minutes. Knowing she was to blame, she put a hand on his arm. He glanced back at her with confusion clear on his face. Jessie understood; she felt it too.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, staring at their shoes, unable to look him in the eye.
Sighing, Kai’s fingers came up to briefly touch her chin before dropping back to his side. “We can’t let this…” He paused, and Jessie peeked up at him. Now he was staring at their shoes, unable to look at her either. “I know it’s hard, Jessie, but we have to stop…this.”
Tears stinging her eyes again, she whispered, “I know…that’s why I want you to go out with April. You have a date with her Saturday, right?”
With a sound of weary trepidation, Kai looked up at her. “Yeah...” They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds, then he shook his head. “Jessie…about April. I don’t…” He stopped and bit his lip. Jessie felt her heart begin to race again, and she hated herself for it. Closing his beautiful eyes, he smiled sadly before reopening them. “I think I’m going to go over to Gran’s. Spend some time with her. Make sure she’s getting along all right.” He gave her a wry smile. “Give you a break from doing it.”
Jessie nodded, her heart relaxing. Grams. Their mutual relative. She was a tough old broad who managed to get around pretty well, but she still needed some personal attention. “Okay…cousin.”
Kai gave her a soft laugh and looked away. With a smile on his face, he turned back and said, “Goodbye, cousin.”
Jessie swallowed the enormous lump in her throat as she took a step toward her front door. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he grabbed his helmet, slipped it on, and climbed onto his bike. He revved the engine a couple of times after he started it, and with him still intently watching her, Jessie waved goodbye. Kai nodded in response, then twisted around and sped off. Jessie watched until he completely disappeared, then she closed her eyes and dropped her head.
Goodbye…cousin.