The rain tap, contrary to Windows, which Liora had for a long time, had vanished inside. Kael crouched on the balcony, the cool air soaking into his skin, despite the fact that it wasn't the rain that made him shiver; it was her. The image of her trembling lips, the ambiguous eyes, and the way she embraced his personal touch before fleeing played back endlessly in her brain.
Every nerve in his body screamed for more.
He's trying to distract himself, pouring another glass of wine, leaning back on the sofa, and scrolling mindlessly on the telephone. But nothing's working yet. Every idea, every flicker of his genius, was directed back at Liora. He could smell her vanilla shampoo and feel her delicate grip on his body trembling.
And then… a knock.
Kael froze. His pulse spiked. It was past midnight. Who else could it be?
He set the glass down and went to the door, the sound of which was louder than the rain outside. She was standing there when he opened it.
Liora stood in the hall, wrapped in a light cardigan beyond her nightdress, hair still damp. She's looking nervous, lips pressing together, fingers writhing on the sleeve. Her eyes flickered back to him, wide and uncertain, but still brimming with what had caused Kael's blood burn.
"Liora," Kael said softly, leaning against the frame. "Couldn't sleep?"
She slightly shakes her head. "The storm's too loud. And I... " Her words dragged away as her eyes flickered in order to see his personal bare chest—Kael possessed to leave his shirt undone after the lavish. He is about to be undone by the blooming that rises in her cheek.
'And you?'Kael said softly, walking nearer, lowering his voice, rumbling through the narrow passageway.
"I didn't want to be alone," she admitted, barely a whisper.
Kael's managed to get one more point. The temptation was insurmountable, her artlessness covered in every move, but beneath it lay a hunger that she could not even sense. He's opening the door wider. " Approach to. 'It's not about the money. '.
Before she goes in, she hesitates for a pulse. The door slammed shut, trapping those who were united in the dim, warm freshness inside. The rain outside drowned out by the sound of her breathing, even and quick, a sign of her agitation.
Kael took her to the sofa. " Sit," he says softly, grasping his own hand at the slightest part of her back. The contact was brief, but she stiffened as if the electricity had flowed through her. She's sitting, snatching the cufflinks.
"Would you like something? Tea… or maybe another sip of wine?"
Her lips curved faintly. "Maybe just… a sip."
Kael pours, hands her a glass, and sits close enough to touch her knees. He took a sip slowly, his gaze lowered, he avoided his own eyes, but he could see the flower on her neck, the trembling in her hands.
Leaning slightly, he let his voice fall. "You know, Liora, when you were running into the former, I thought you were trying to flee. 'It's not about the money. '.
Her eyes widened, flicking up to his. "I wasn't… I just—"
"You've only been thymine unprepared," he said, his personal beam slow, teasing her. "but you're coming for support. 'It's not about the money. '.
Her breath caught. "I… I don't know why."
Kael's going to go further; he's going to brush a hair strand out of his scalp. "I'll do it myself," he whispered. Her fingers are still hanging, and her jaw is gently dragged. She shuddered beneath his touch, yet Thymine did not withdraw.
There was a heavy stillness in the room, a charge. Kael's eyes were locked on her lips, soft, separate, trembling. He drew nearer, near enough so that he could feel the heat of her breath mingling with his.
Her eyelashes were flapping. She's frozen, caught in the gap between insignificance and curiosity, fear and longing. Kael hesitated; he's given her the choice. 'Let me finish,' he whispered.
But she didn't.
Alternatively, he exhaled softly, his lips shaking, and Kael closed the space around him. Her lips were brushing hers, light, probationary, a question rather than a claim. The wine taste lingers in her mouth, sweet and intoxicating.
Liora's pant was against him softly; her body strained, then melted so that he could intensify the kiss. His grip on her cheek, his thumb on her skin, his grip on her thigh, light strain, nothing more, but enough to make her tremble.
When he pulled back, her eyes were wide, lips parted, chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Kael…" she whispered, voice trembling, torn between guilt and desire.
"Yes?" he murmured, his thumb still brushing her cheek.
"I shouldn't…"
"Whatever you do, " he counters, his personal voice minimal and inauspicious. He leans closer again, lips squeezing the ear. "And you've been lusting for it. 'It's not about the money. '.
Her body shuddered violently, and she trembled close to the fabric of the cardigan, as if she were holding together. "the present is... An enormous. 'It's not about the money. '.
Kael smirked, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. "It's only the beginning."
She stood suddenly, setting the glass down with shaking hands. "I should go."
Kael's going to rise and move around, but he's not going to block her way. "You're going to travel if you have to, " he says softly, burning eyes in his head. "but you'll think about that kiss all night. And when you come back, we'll have a pause here 'thymine pause '. 'It's not about the money. '.
Her lips fell, and a soft sound came out of her, half protest, half confession. She turned back to the door, scraping the knob. She glanced back at him once more, eyes wide, cheeks rosy, lips still red from the kiss.
The door shut.
Kael exhaled aggressively, desire rising in his intestine. He knew she was coming backwards. It was only the beginning when he tasted the taste in her lip. And he'd take her back when he got it.