Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

26. Finally

Chapter 26

Finally

W hen I open my eyes the next morning, I first notice the absence of sunlight. Ominous clouds cover the sky. Last night’s storm isn’t over yet.

A humming presence makes me pull the cover up to my mouth, and my eyes shoot wide open as soon as a delicious smell tickles my nose.

Coffee.

Smoked wood.

And citrus.

What a strange scent… It reminds me of someone I know.

Someone who can’t be here because that would be preposterous. Wild. But fate has me in a twisted trap.

A soft, deep voice shatters the quiet. “Hey, cutie pie, you awake yet?”

Please be real!

My fingers twitch in the sheets, my sternum dips in shock, and my heart stops. “Kai, baby?”

Oh, god! Oh, god! I kick my feet in the sheets, smiling until it hurts from hope. Because if not, I must run.

“I fucking hope you’re not calling anyone else that,” Kai answers with a mocking tone.

Happiness burst into me with enough power to light up the darkest corners of my heart and fill them with pure, unadulterated joy.

“Kai!”

In his disheveled glory, Kai stands before me, and damn, ultrasexygerous is not enough for that man. The emotions written on his face are impossible to decipher. He looks tired, with dark circles under his eyes and gaunt cheeks from lack of sleep. Kai looks like he’s been on the run for a century. The weight of last night comes crashing down on me as we lock eyes.

I’m struck speechless.

“Fuck, I missed you,” he stammers.

“I thought you were dead,” I manage to whisper. “Bleeding out in some back alley.”

He takes a hesitant step forward, his eyes never leaving mine. “I… I’m sorry, cutie… They were closing in and… The red-truck men caught me.” Uncertainty paints his face a darker shade.

His words hang in the air, mingling with salt and the tequila scent from last night.

My muscles tighten; adrenaline courses through me as I stand.

“Did anyone follow you here?”

Why am I not kissing him?

“No.” Kai takes another step closer, his eyes filled with unspoken emotions. “Is it a mistake for me to be here?”

I’m not sure he’s real.

Memories flood back: stolen kisses, whispered promises, the way he held me so tight I thought I’d break.

Why am I hesitating instead of embracing him?

His hand reaches out, fingertips brushing my cheek. Sparks ignite where we touch. “I never… Fuck, I’m stupid… I thought you wanted me to come home to you,” he whispers.

I search his face for any hint of deceit but find none.

My heart races, warring with my head. Trust issues slam into my ribcage. But Kai never pretended to be something he wasn’t. He showed me his truth, even when it wasn’t to his advantage.

Eyes watering, I nuzzle his chest. My fingers curl on the hem of his dirty T-shirt, and my pulse slows. “Kai…”

“Marianne, please,” he breathes. “I can’t do this without you. Just tell me.”

I’m overwhelmed, my blood pumping at full speed. Kai’s pupils are dilated to a point I’ve never seen in anyone. The sun has disappeared, and I’m frozen in place. He’s not smiling; he’s searching my eyes.

Everything in me softens as his mouth falls on mine, lightly at first. A gentle kiss that brushes my upper lip then pulls away.

I gasp. Oh, god, he’s really here!

Another kiss.

“You still want me?” he murmurs on my lips.

The pain of the emotions I’ve felt this week hits me at once, and I let out a moan. “Yes,” I reply before pushing my tongue into his mouth.

I cling to him like a buoy, my fingers folding on his jaw to ravish his mouth as he groans. I can’t believe what’s happening. Kai is kissing me like a madman, and his breathing is getting unstable. My head spins with excitement.

“Did you miss me?” he whispers in between breaths, eyes closed.

The familiar scent of cedar and citrus, with the heat radiating from his body, brings a fizzy warmth to my stomach.

“No, not at all,” I reply, storming his mouth again.

“I don’t want to know how you’re going to greet me when you do.”

His hands grip me tightly, and the kiss becomes intense, hungry, and impatient.

“That could be dangerous,” I say, biting his upper lip.

Kai’s lips leave mine to trail hot kisses along my jaw and neck. His breath warms my skin, making me shiver despite the heat building between us.

“You don’t know how much I needed you to come back,” I murmur.

I can hardly breathe, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. Relief, joy, and an underlying fear blend in a chaotic dance within me.

“Goddamn, Marianne,” he rasps into my ear. “I’ll always come back to us.”

Aw…

My nose is crushed against his chest, my hands on his strong back.

The anaconda-Kai hug.

I sigh with happiness before I even realize what I’m doing. I rest my head in the crook of his neck and close my eyes, lost in his warmth, scent, and strength.

As I relax in his arms, every muscle in his body releases its tension. I had almost forgotten about the “Kai effect,” how being with him could make me forget all my worries and fears for just a moment.

“Last night, you scared the living shit out of me. How are you feeling?”

I want you. “I’m good.” I was so scared you were Eric.

“Good?” Kai grabs my shoulders and pushes me just enough to scan my expression.

“Yeah,” I mumble, trying to mask the flood of emotions surfacing. He tilts his head, eyes narrowing as if decoding a cryptic message in my gaze.

I’m ashamed of how scared I was.

Kai’s thumb strokes my shoulder, creating a soothing rhythm. “You’re lying,” he says, his voice a blend of concern and frustration.

My defenses crumble. “I thought you were dead or… not real.” It’s a whisper, barely audible, but the weight in my words hangs heavy between us.

He extends his arms in a cross. “I’m alive and here .”

I take two steps back to assess his state. Not only do the dark circles under his eyes scream “on the run,” but worry is hidden in his right cheek twitch and how his fingers close on my arms. The dirt smudges on his T-shirt and dusty hair tell me about at least one night spent outside in the street.

Nurse mode activated.

“Oh, god.” I cradle his face. “On a scale of one to five, how tired are you right now?”

Kai pouts. “About a thousand.”

“Cuts? Scratches? Gunshot?”

He shakes his head and chuckles. “No, love. I’m all right. I just couldn’t sleep last night. I was so hungry, I ate all the crab legs left.”

“That’s all right.” I guide Kai toward the tiny bathroom, my hand firm on the small of his back. “Come on, you need a shower and sleep.”

He hesitates but doesn’t resist, his body swaying slightly as exhaustion draws him down.

I point to the toilet seat. “Sit,” I order, and he does.

His eyes never leave mine as I rummage through the closet and pull out a clean towel and washcloth.

He watches me curiously, like he’s memorizing every movement. “You always take care of me.” His voice quivers with fatigue and admiration.

I give him a professional nurse smile. “I can’t say you’re the best patient.”

I ignore the rising heat in my cheeks, focusing instead on turning on the shower. But as my foot taps on the shower mat, Kai squints. He glares at the floor, then crouches and lifts the mat, revealing a latch hidden beneath.

His gaze flicks to mine. “An escape trap?” he asks, a muscle in his neck tensing.

I nod, incapable of answering with words.

“And there’s a secret exit through the kitchen cabinets,” he says matter-of-factly.

I nod again, confirming his suspicions.

“The name on the electricity bill says M. Ramirez. Your mother’s name.”

Oh. He saw that.

I should’ve told him. “My second one, too.”

Kai stands up straight and analyzes me with a peculiar gleam in the back of his stare.

“Why do you have a safe house?” he asks, but as soon as he’s done talking, all his muscles stiffen, and his right eyelid twitches.

Because of Eric.

“Are you mad?” I ask in a small voice.

He looks mad.

A faint smile replaces the tension in his mouth. “Not mad at you .”

I chew on my bottom lip, contemplating whether to unravel the layers of my escape plan from my ex-boyfriend or let Kai put the pieces together.

He grunts. “You planned on moving here. Escaping the shit worm and building a new life.”

A relieved sigh escapes my nose. “I thought about it.”

But Kai’s tired and covered in dirt and dried blood. This isn’t going to cut it for this conversation. I need my man to be sharp to talk about Eric drugging me for three and a half years because Kai might go on a rampage over this. But given our current situation—in hiding—I’ll postpone the inevitable by staying quiet.

I take a deep breath, my fingers gripping the washcloth. “Can we focus on getting you clean first?”

His eyes soften, and he nods, but a flicker of guilt shadows tired eyes. “Okay. I’ll behave.”

He stands and steps toward me, his movements slow and deliberate. My fingers fumble slightly as they reach for the hem of his T-shirt, pulling it over his head. A gasp escapes me when bruises and scrapes reveal themselves on his torso.

Kai stands before me, vulnerable and exposed, but his gaze is unflinching. His trust in me is implicit and unwavering.

But my fingers shake. My gaze is fixated on the marks etched into his skin. I step closer, running my fingers over one irregular mark just below his collarbone. His breath catches at the contact, an involuntary shudder rippling through him.

“It’s okay,” he whispers, his gruff tone contradicting the vulnerability.

I deeply respect his strength and tenacity to survive in a world hell-bent on breaking him.

“Nothing about this is okay, baby.” My voice, soft yet steady, holds a promise of understanding. I lean in, pressing a tender kiss to the bruise beneath my fingers.

His breath hitches, and his eyes water. “Please,” he whispers. “Do that again.”

I trail my lips to another scrape, imprinting it with gentle kisses.

Kai’s eyelids flutter, his skin waking in goosebumps, and he sighs in happiness. I kiss another one, on a soft skin patch above his left clavicle. A sharp exhale tells me I found this criminal’s sweet spot.

“Get clean and sleep for a few hours. Then, I’ll kiss them all away.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. Would you like it?”

He hesitates for three heartbeats. “Fuck yes.”

I guide Kai into the shower, a protective instinct taking over. The warm water cascades over his body, washing away the grime of the streets and revealing more of the man underneath. Water turns to a reddish brown as it swirls around the drain. The sight tugs at something deep inside me.

My man is hurt and tired.

Maybe it’s my wild side like Nina said, but maybe it’s something darker. Because the sight of an exhausted, battered Kai makes my blood boil, and a murderous incline builds in my guts.

Kai leans against the tiled wall, eyes shut, letting the water cleanse him. I take a washcloth and gently scrub his back, feeling each ridge and muscle tense under my touch. He hums—a low, satisfied sound that reverberates through him and into my hands.

“You’re worth every goddamn mark,” he murmurs.

Heart squeezing, eyes floating in high tide, my hands work methodically, cleaning each wound, each scar, until all that’s left is the raw beauty of him.

Kai’s breathing steadies, a strange tranquility settling into his frame. As the last remnants of dirt disappear, I turn off the shower and drape a towel over his broad shoulders. His eyelids are heavy. I help him out of the shower and guide him to bed, supporting his weight.

“I’m sorry, Bonsa?,” I tell the fluffy blue bear that’s been keeping Kai’s place.

Kai’s cheeks move like he wants to smirk, but he collapses onto the mattress with a groan of relief, sinking into the soft embrace of the sheets. I pull the covers, tucking him in like a precious secret.

His eyes flutter open. “Stay.” A subtle tug at my hand. “I’ve been having nightmares.”

I can’t resist him. Slipping under the covers beside Kai, I wrap my arms around his battered form, his heartbeat slowing against my chest. We’ll end up on the run no matter what choices we make. I sealed my fate the second I decided to take him back under the rain. And I kept him—Seven—alive. Six won’t let me breathe after saving his unruly son’s life… twice.

Did his contact, Rory, have a role in this?

The murderous thoughts won’t leave me alone. For once, I understand the appeal of violence. Kai’s breathing steadies and deepens, a counterpoint to the wicked thoughts waking inside me.

“Are they still alive?” I hear myself ask.

“No one will ever survive pulling me away from you, love.”

I press my lips to his forehead. “Good.” Inhaling the scent of clean skin and homicidal relief, I ask, “Rory?”

A sleepy murmur answers me. “In hiding.”

My fingers thread in his wet hair, and I massage his scalp. “Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”

The darkest hour of the night creeps in.

Did we sleep all day?

I lie awake in bed, my heart burdened with unease as I watch Kai tossing and turning, muttering in his sleep. His face contorts with pain, pulling at my heartstrings. I reach out to stroke his hair, hoping to ease some of his internal strife. Pulling him closer, I hold him against my chest, enjoying the rhythm of his heartbeat against mine. At this moment, all that matters is consoling him through whatever nightmare has captured him. My voice instinctively begins a soft lullaby, filling the quiet room with its calming melody. As I listen to his rapid heartbeat echoing mine, reassuring whispers find their way into his ear: “It’s okay; it’s just a bad dream.”

He jumps up, gasping for breath, begging me to stop singing.

“No… embrace the chaos in your head,” I reassure, hugging him tighter. He needs this—needs me—to help him navigate through the turmoil inside his head.

So, I hold on even tighter, letting my voice infiltrate deep inside until tears well up in his eyes. He makes no sound as they silently roll down his cheeks, reflecting his sorrow.

I can’t bear watching him suffer like this. And as I hold him in my arms, the depth of my feelings grows stronger with every passing moment.

Eventually, Kai’s sobs subside, and he pulls away, but our hands remain intertwined for comfort against his pain. “Thank you,” he whispers with a trembling voice.

I can only nod, accepting the situation because any words prove insufficient at this point, so I simply hold him close, hoping my silent presence provides some solace.

After a while, Kai interrupts the silence with a soft call of my name. “Marianne?”

I respond with a gentle hum, continuing my gentle caress through his hair.

Kai snuggles tightly on my side. “Keep me close to you.”

And I will, for as long as he needs me on this journey because my support is all I can offer now. “Sure.”