Alexis had spent the entire shift pretending she wasn't thinking about him.
She was behind the counter at Ivy's boutique, folding clothes that didn't need folding, sipping cold coffee, and trying to convince herself she had time to figure her life out.
Kai wasn't part of that plan.
Germany was.
Freedom. A fresh start. Somewhere no one knew her name.
And yet..
Her heart was already betraying her. Every beat whispered him.
You're not supposed to fall for this.
He said it meant nothing.
She told herself the same thing.
Then the bell above the shop door chimed.
And there he was.
Dark pants. Black coat. Hair slightly wet from the rain. That usual unreadable look in his eyes. But tonight, something simmered beneath it.
Possession.
"Not now," she said under her breath, already flushed.
He didn't say a word.
Just held out his hand.
She blinked. "Are you seriously just..."
"I said I'd give you a tour," Kai said calmly.
"A tour?"
"Of my place."
"I'm working."
"You're done now."
And she was.
God help her, she was.
His "place" was not an apartment.
It was a mansion tucked behind a wrought-iron gate, down a street that didn't even show up on Google Maps.
Stone, tall windows, firelight flickering inside.
"Kai," she said slowly, stepping out of the car, eyes wide. "What is this?"
"My home."
"No, like… what century is this? Do you own the forest?"
He smirked. "Most of it."
He took her coat. Led her through velvet halls. Past portraits that stared too long. Past a room that smelled like old books and secrets.
She barely had time to admire the marble staircase before he pressed her against it.
"Where's the tour?" she whispered, breath already shaky.
"Starts upstairs," he murmured, kissing her neck.
"Liar."
He smirked again. "I didn't say it would be informative."
He lifted her like she weighed nothing, like desire defied gravity and carried her up the stairs, his mouth never leaving her skin.
In the bedroom, she expected silk sheets or blood-red drama.
Instead, it was quiet. Warm. The fireplace low. The bed king-sized and intimidating.
He tossed her on it.
She bounced once, blinking.
"Take your clothes off," he said, voice deep and dangerous.
She didn't argue.
By the time he joined her, shirt unbuttoned slow enough to ruin her, she was aching. Bare. Wanting.
He crawled over her, mouth dragging down her chest, his hands everywhere at once, palming, gripping, spreading her thighs wide like he had every right.
She gasped when he slid a finger inside her, slow, then harder.
"I should go," she whispered, almost dizzy.
"You're not going anywhere tonight."
"Kai..."
"Do you want me to stop?"
Silence.
She looked up at him, eyes full of something wild and uncertain.
"No."
Then he was inside her, no teasing, no pause. Just deep. Stretching her. Filling her in a way that had her clawing at the sheets.
He moved with intent this time.
Not reckless.
Not casual.
Like he needed her to remember this.
Every thrust.
Every groan.
Every bite of his name on her lips.
He fucked her until she forgot her own rules.
Until her cries echoed off high ceilings.
Until her body arched and shattered and begged for more.
He stayed inside her, panting, his hands planted firm beside her head, watching her fall apart with his cock still pulsing inside her.
When it was over, he didn't speak. He just pulled her close, spooned her tight, possessive and buried his face in her neck like he could breathe her in.
Alexis stared at the fire.
She couldn't remember what she'd been thinking about before he showed up.
Something about leaving.
Something about a plan.
She exhaled, soft.
And fell asleep in the arms of the vampire who was ruining her perfectly good escape.