REPAYING WITH A LINGERING KISS

"Goodnight, Peter," Kai said. Tiffany fastened her pace, walking into the building. Kai watched her for a while, before following behind.

The elevator opened and Tiffany walked in, staring at him. Her eyes met his evenly, searching his gaze. Her chest rose and fell heavily. The elevator door was still open. Kai walked in, slowly. His gaze never left hers.

Kai got in. But Tiffany kept watching him stare at her with his hands buried inside his pocket. Kai took careful steps and her body shook as she gasped in a silent ragged breath.

Tiffany's heart pounded as she clutched her bag tighter, trying to keep her distance.

"Tiffany," Kai said softly. "You're holding your breath." He paused, staring at her. "Again." their eyes met. She slowly released her breath, hoping he hadn't noticed.

"I'm not," she lied.

Kai chuckled, low and knowing. "You always do when you're nervous. You know, Love... I love catching you like this."

"Don't," she snapped, turning to face him, but her voice wavered, and she jerked away slightly as his hands grazed her back, she swallowed, "We are–" She stopped, unable to finish.

"Divorced, princess?" he said, his dark eyes ranking her up and down, stepping closer. His gaze was intense. "We are. But we also had something real."

A flash of heat went through her. Tiffany hated how easily he still got to her.

"You can't just say things like that," she muttered. "You don't get to come back and—"

"And what?" he cut in. "Remind you of what we were? Of what we could still be?" Her heart shook at his words.

Tiffany shook her head, backing into the elevator wall. "It's not that simple," she whispered with feelings.

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Tiffany sucked in a sharp breath. Her heart slammed against her chest.

Her mind screamed at her to push him away. But her heart, her traitorous heart, wanted him closer. She attempted to move past him, but his hands snaked around her waist, pulling her to his body.

"Kai…" she whispered.

"Let's stay like this for a while, Love," Kai murmured, burying his head into her neck. Tiffany's muscles relaxed, but her heart roared.

After a moment of silence, Kai kissed her neck, causing her to jerk, but his arms held her in place. "I've missed you, Tiffany. I wasn't in my right mind when I had those divorce papers. I need every single piece of you. I need you by my side every night and morning?"

Tiffany took a deep breath, turning to meet his softened gaze.

"Are you going to deny that you don't want me as much as I want you?"

"And?" Tiffany asked, her eyes burning. "If I was that important to you, you shouldn't have discarded me like you did that night and then come back acting like I'm all you need when it was easy for you to get rid of me."

"Get rid of you? When have I ever done that? When I get rid of someone, they end up six feet under, Love. You're mine from the beginning. I need and want you as much as I need the freaking air, Love. I never want to lose you or stay without you. I'll roam the earth if I have to, to have you in my arms again."

Tiffany scoffed, "What do you know about love or marriage, did you think it is that simple?" she said, slipping out of his hold.

What was wrong with him? The way he stared at her felt so possessive, and it was like he could read her.

"You, Tiffany, I want to know about you; I'm losing my mind every damn minute," Kai answered, walking towards her.

With each step he took closer, Tiffany moved backwards until she backed up against the elevator wall, looking Kai in his eyes. "I want to know a lot that I never want to see another man know. Especially, how your heart races when I touch you. How you smile so brightly, how you look when you're asleep," his head dipped a bit. "Especially how lovely and gorgeous you look beneath me."

He breathed onto her neck. "How your pulse rises when I'm this close, it's nothing with another man, and you know that, Love."

Kai looked at Tiffany, her mouth parted, and her eyes shifted to him. "And how much you're dying to kiss me and rip my shirt off," he said, his finger trailing up her arms.

His large warm hands took the tip of her chin, caressing her gently. He rested on her cheek. His thumb grazed her skin. She leaned into his touch before she could stop herself. "I'm not going to force you, just give me a chance to prove myself to you. A chance to pursue you, it doesn't have to be marriage. I promise we can go slow, as slow as you want."

Tiffany didn't answer, stunned by a rare silence, completely dazzled by his reply. A faint pink spread over her cheekbones. He had a way of leaving her speechless.

"You don't have to marry me. Tiffany, please..." His gaze softened.

His hands slowly wrapped around her back. Tiffany inhaled, stepping closer, she reached out her hands, caressing his cheek. Her eyes danced around him when she heard his ragged intake of breath.

Kai's eyes searched hers. "Please. I want to be yours. Let me be yours."

Never did she expect Kai Winson would use the word, 'please'

Tiffany's pulse raced. Kai's breath fanned against her cheek, his lips barely grazing her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

"Love, I'm all yours." Their eyes held each other in a silent battle. His dark gaze cut into her soul. "Please make me yours," he whispered, his head dipping lower, his lips now ghosting over hers. "Kiss me, love. Please, I need you to kiss me back to life like you always do."

That was it. That was all it took for Tiffany to snap. The urge to kiss him, just as he wanted. The will to obey him.

A deep, needy moan escaped her as she crashed her lips into his, the world around them vanishing in an instant. The kiss was fierce; they both held each other with deep hunger. Kai groaned into her mouth, his hands tangling in her hair, pulling her closer as if he couldn't get enough.

Her fingers worked blindly at his shirt, yanking at the buttons until they popped, scattering onto the floor. Kai chuckled against her lips, a wicked sound, but he didn't stop her. His hands roamed down her back, gripping her waist and pressing her firmly against him, heat surging through them.

Tiffany's bag slipped from her shoulder as she melted into him, her body moulding to his, and her hands fisted in his shirt, desperate, as though letting go would mean falling apart.

The elevator dinged.

The sound barely registered as Kai's lips trailed down her neck, his teeth grazing her sensitive skin just below her ear. Tiffany's breath rose, her head tipping back. It felt so good, surrendering to touch.

"Tiffany?" A familiar voice sent ice straight through her veins.

She tore herself away from Kai, her lips swollen, her breathing ragged, just a few seconds and she was a mess. Tiffany turned to find Naomi standing by her apartment door, her jaw nearly hitting the floor.

Kai let out a low, frustrated groan, his forehead dropping onto Tiffany's shoulder as he exhaled sharply. Tiffany blinked.