Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 116254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Kai inclined his head and returned his smile. “Not going to lie, that had me very relieved.”
Breck held his gaze, his thoughts suddenly many. “You’re sure you’re okay being in the public eye? Things might get crazy. I can’t guarantee shit won’t get dicey sometimes.”
Kai quieted and averted his eyes. He seemed wary. And then Breck remembered; Kai’s ex was a Big Apple model, high-profile just like Breck. And because of said high-profile status, their relationship had failed.
Thing was, it wouldn’t be like that with them.
“Hey,” Breck murmured. “I’m not like Ryan. You know this, right? The thing I want most, my number one wish, is to build a future with you. Yeah, I wanna play basketball, but that’s secondary. You understand that, right? If I ever had to choose, Kai… I’d always choose you.”
Kai met his gaze and slowly smiled, and damn if those stars weren’t back in his midnight eyes. “You are nothing like Ryan. I’ve seen into your heart, and I know it’s true.”
Breck grinned and pulled him in close for a kiss. Tender lips, so warm and soft. And, God, Kai’s heavenly scent. Like evergreens in the autumn sun. Like happiness. Like home. He could bask in his affections forever. And after the last month, who fucking knew, he just might try. After Hawaii, he’d barely seen Kai at all, so busy with basketball stuff.
Which reminds me… He’d be busy again this weekend, moving all his shit out of the frat house and into Ned’s brand-new apartment.
Sighing, he eased back and forced a smile. “Soooo… Feel like helping me cart my stuff over to Ned’s this Saturday?”
Kai stilled, and then his expression turned pensive. A moment later, his eyes took on a sexy little gleam. Removing the mug from Breck’s hand, he set their drinks on the table, then turned and threaded all ten fingers through all of Breck’s until their palms pressed flush. “Yes.” He smiled. “I’ll help move… on one condition.”
Breck eyed him curiously. “Go on.”
“We move your stuff to my place”—his smile widened—“instead of Ned’s.”
Breck blinked. And then his jaw went slack. “You want me to… Wait… You want me to move in with you?”
“I do.” Those stars in his eyes gleamed brighter.
Breck’s heart thudded. Was it too soon to take this step? Ironically, in some backward kind of way, it didn’t feel soon enough. Like he should’ve moved in months ago when, instead of constantly dodging Kai, he should’ve been embracing their connection.
Searching Kai’s face, he rasped, “Are you sure? I tend to make you crazy.”
Kai’s gorgeous lips twitched. “If you misbehave, I’ve got plenty of rope.”
Breck’s insides lit like the noonday sun. “Then yes,” he laughed. “Although, your incentive to be good is no incentive at all.”
Kai beamed and pulled him close for another kiss. Another slow and smoldering dance of lips and tongue.
Breck thrummed, teeming with pure elation. Long moments later, he eased back and smiled broadly. “A guaranteed two years in your Zen-den haven. And then possibly four more depending on how things go. Who knows, maybe I’ll get an extension on my contract or something.”
Kai palmed his cheek, his gaze firmly locked on Breck’s mouth. Unhurriedly, he slowly thumbed Breck’s bottom lip. “Either way is fine. When you go, I’ll go with you.”
Breck’s heart tripped. “You’d… leave your amazing home?”
Kai shrugged. “I could rent it out. There’s always options.”
Whoa. What Kai just offered was huge, considering he’d taken this very same gamble with Ryan, and lost. That he was confident enough to try again spoke epic wonders. Kai would risk his heart like that. Again. For him.
Breck’s utter bewilderment must’ve been clear on his face.
“Really?” Kai laughed. “So hard to imagine?” He let go of Breck’s hand to pull up on the sleeve of Breck’s white printed tee, regarding with a smile the modification Breck had done to his Kappa tattoo. The big blocky K still remained, but other elements were added. Like the red cherry blossoms positioned all around. Or the pint-sized version of Kai’s own eastern dragon winding up its left side. The best part though, were the letters he’d had added just to the right of that K. A lowercase ‘a’ and ‘i’ in dark, sleek script. The name of his lover, inspiration, and friend. Kai read his name on a murmur, quietly tracing their lines.
Breck regarded him, swearing he sounded just a little bit humbled.
Kai lifted his gaze and met Breck’s eyes, his expression sincere. “Clearly, you’re willing to commit. I’m merely offering the same. Wherever the universe deems best to take us, I’ll gladly go.”
Breck’s insides melted. “I love you, Kai. You’ve stolen my heart.”
Kai grinned and pulled him close again for another kiss. “I love you, too.”
Bliss. Breck smiled against his lips. Dream contract with the NBA, and now a lifetime to look forward to with Kai? Forget being King of the Court, he was The Happiest Man Alive.