From Hate Flourishes Love (Editing)

A New Chapter

🅩🅐🅝🅓🅔🅡

I step of shower, water dripping down my neck as I dry my hair. I reach another towel, dry off, and knot it low around my waist.

Pausing at my reflection, I realize that I need a shave. I look awfully scruffy. Kai is back. I should look handsome. I want him to look at me and remember exactly what's his.

I know I should be patient. I know he's healing. But I can't stop every single nerve in me from aching for him.

I want him.

"Kai." I groan his name, rough and loud, wishing he could hear my desperation.

Just as I brood over sailing solo, I catch Kai's reflection behind me. We hold eye contact through the mirror for a while, before he blushes and steps back.

"Where do you think you're going?" I grab his wrist, and pin him against the vanity.

"Work with your dad ..." he answers nervously. "I left my phone in here. I came to grab it. I'm late."

I lean one hand on the sink, pressing against him, and trail the other under his shirt.

My lips brush his neck before I bite his ear gently, making him tilt closer, pulling him into my hear.

"You're not making it to work today," I whisper, but my tone leaves no room for argument.

"Zander," Kai shivers against me.

I tilt his chin up with my thumb, my fingers settling along the column of his neck, and press a kiss down to his collar.

Kai traces over the veins along my abs with his knuckles.

I grin against his skin, pressing a kiss to the rest of his bare shoulder just as his shirt falls away.

"Zander," Kai whispers, his hand lingering on my arm. "I actually have to go to work. I like working in lab and I —,"

I stop listening to him, distracted as I loosen the belt at his waist and help him step free of his clothes.

"Shut up about work," I guide his arms around my neck and lift him on top of the vanity.

I search a drawer, and find a half-empty bottle of lube.

I'm ready as I kiss him, lifting him back into my arms as I guide him onto me.

"Zander," Kai gasps. "It hurts."

"I know ..." I whisper. "It's been a while. Just breathe."

My hand steadies the small of his back as I press into him.

"Zander," Kai whimpers against my collar.

"You're okay," I tell him. "I've got you."

I tip his face upward with my shoulder, and his eyes flicker over my face.

"Good," I praise him. "Look at me."

I slide my hand under his tights, and raise him off my hips and back down.