ultraviolence // kai anderson

loyal

    "Honey?" My husband's voice calls out for me from the front door. Shit, he's not supposed to be home for at least another two hours. My heart drops and anxiety actually makes my vision blur. What will I say?

    "Yeah?" I close my dresser drawer and shove the dress under the covers on my side of the bed. I hear footsteps approaching in the hall, then the bedroom door opens. Gregory has his small briefcase in one hand and holds onto the doorknob with the other, clearly puzzled.

    "What are you doing?" He asks with a curious smile. "I thought you were at Lacey's for a few days?"

    "I am," I stammer, my stomach in knots. "I mean, I will be. I'm going back."

    He seems to be accepting my answer as he steps in and begins loosening his tie. "What are you doing here?"

    "I... bled through my pants," I lie as he sits on the bed to kick his shoes off. I pray that he doesn't feel the lump of my dress. "I just came to grab new pair."

    "Didn't you bring pajamas?"

    "Yes, but, she wants the three of us to go to this Silent Book Club thing she's been to a few times. Can't wear pajamas to that." The lies are coming easier now-- though Lacey truly has been trying to drag Addison and I to this book club.

    "Oh," he mumbles as he gets his last shirt button undone. "She didn't have something you could throw on?"

    Christ, what's with the third degree? I want to ask. Instead, I say, "Probably, but I didn't wanna risk ruining anything of hers too." Before he can ask one more damn thing, I change the subject. "What are you doing home so early?"

    "Some pipe burst a few towns over and it's affecting the office," he informs me. "No running water means everyone goes home."

    "That's nice," I open a drawer and grab a random pair of jeans I haven't worn in years as a decoy. "For you anyway, not the water pipe people."

    "Right," he smiles and tosses his shirt right next to the hamper. I don't dare ridicule him this time, hoping to get out of here as soon as possible. "Well luckily we still have water here, so I'm gonna hop in the shower." He gives me a peck on the forehead and I force a smile. "Have fun at your book club thing. See you... day after tomorrow?"

    "See you then," I promise with a smile. The second he's out of the room, I grab the dress from under the blanket and check my phone for the time. Somehow, I'm still on schedule.

//

    I'm gladdened when it's Kai who opens the door this time instead of Dakota or anyone else. His face lights up concisely at the sight of me, which leaves me flattered. I'm suddenly aware how much skin is showing: I've got on a white, black, and pink plaid mini skirt -- this one definitely counts as mini -- and a blush colored, satin tank top. As I step inside, I bring a few locks of hair over one shoulder nervously, and Kai watches my every movement as I do so.

    His calculating eyes are running over every inch of me as we stand less than 3 feet apart in his living room, and my face is heating at the proximity.

    "Are the others downstairs?"

    He merely shakes his head no.

    I look to the basement doorway for a moment then return my gaze to Kai. "Are they late?"

    "I told them to be here 30 minutes later than what I told you," he admits, his voice low and proud.

    I inhale deep and slow, imagining all the forbidden things we could do in half an hour. One minute I fear he can feel the desperation radiating off of me, and the next I pray that he does.