Jessie could feel her control slipping. Her breath was a fast pant as she moved her face to find his lips. Kai let out a ragged exhale as his face adjusted to find hers as well. When his breath was entering her open mouth, mingling with her own, and she was positive that they wouldn’t be able to stop this in time, his ear-splitting cell phone ring broke the passion simmering in the air.
Jessie jerked away just as their lips brushed together. They stared at each other with matching expressions of shock and concern, then Kai twisted to find his obnoxious phone. Jessie brought the backs of her hands to her cheeks in an effort to cool her face as Kai grabbed his phone from his nightstand. While he answered the call, Jessie repeatedly ran her hand through her hair. That had been too close, much too close.
“Hello?” Kai’s voice was strained and fast, obviously distressed. Swallowing a few times, he closed his eyes and struggled for calm. He pulled away from Jessie, and she did the same. They needed a little space; that was the whole point of Kai being with April.
“No, I’m fine. I’m glad you called, April.”
Opening his eyes, Kai gave Jessie a remorseful look. Jessie averted her gaze as fresh guilt added to her turmoil. Needing to walk off the last lingering remnants of desire in her body, she stood up. Kai hugged his knees to his chest as he watched Jessie pace beside the bed.
While watching him listen to the phone as April talked, Jessie finally felt herself come down from that fateful moment; sadness crept in when the lust-fueled high faded. Kai’s expression matched hers as he made agreeing noises into the phone. Then he started, and his expression shifted into confusion. “Costume party?” he asked. Jessie’s curiosity peaked as Kai frowned. “For Halloween…right. Okay, I’ll pick you up at six.”
Kai listened for a minute more and then a soft smile graced his lips. “Yeah, me too. Goodnight, April.” Disconnecting the call, he tossed his phone on the bed. Staring at it, he ran a hand through his hair. “She, uh, just wanted to let me know about tomorrow.” He glanced up at Jessie, his face apologetic again. Then he frowned. “She’s taking me to a costume party for Halloween.”
Letting out an unhappy huff, he rested his arms across his knees. Jessie smiled softly at seeing his displeasure, then felt guilty that he wasn’t looking forward to his date. She wanted him to be with April. She had to keep reminding herself of that. “I hate dressing up,” he muttered.
Jessie smiled wider; she hated dressing up, too. Sitting on the very edge of the bed, as far away from him as she could, she shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll have fun. What is she making you wear?” It soured Jessie’s stomach that she was assuring him he’d have a good time on his date, right after they’d almost kissed. Again.
Kai smirked. “You’re going to laugh.” Jessie bit her lip to make sure she didn’t smile; she only half-succeeded. She was so glad that he was the one being subjected to this and not her. Kai smiled at her attempt to not show her amusement, then frowned. “She’s dressing me up as a pirate.” With a dramatic groan, he let his head thump against the headboard. “She wants to be a slutty bar wench, and she seems to think I’ll look good as Captain Jack.” He ruefully shook his head.
Jessie smiled, then frowned. Kai would definitely look good as a pirate, but April… Jessie had seen her dress for Halloween before, and she was going to look unbelievable. She felt her eyes begin to sting as she realized that this time tomorrow night, those lips that had been so tantalizingly close to hers, would most likely be all over April’s. She swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat. They should be all over April. They should be as far from her as possible.
Seeing her expression, Kai whispered, “Jessie, I’m sorry about…” He indicated the space beside him, where she’d been sitting. Not having any words, Jessie nodded. Clearing his throat, Kai awkwardly adjusted his position. “Do you want to finish the movie?” His eyes were asking her to say yes and no.
Jessie let out a slow exhale. She did want to stay. More than anything she wanted to crawl into his lap and cuddle with him. She wanted his warmth wrapped around her, making her feel safe and cherished, but she also wanted his body all over hers. She wanted them tangled together in intimate ways that they just couldn’t be. She wanted him to arouse her. She wanted him inside of her. Then she wanted him to release his lust and desire deep within her. It sickened her how badly she wanted it. Biting her lip, Jessie shook her head. She couldn’t stay here any longer.
“I think I should go,” she whispered.