Pretty Hot (The Pretty Trilogy Book 1) (8 page)

Kai’s expression relaxes, his gaze distracted by the path of a huge SUV as it draws to a stop in front. The heap of drunk on the ground behind me stops muttering, instead beginning a loud and tuneless rendition of
All My Exes live in Texas
. I’m not sure this moment could get any more surreal.

Stopping mid-chorus, Matt slurs, ‘Katie, you wanna be one of my exes? You’re real cute.’

I smile weakly and shrug. ‘What an offer. And they say chivalry is dead.’

‘Is that where I’m going wrong? You want coats over puddles and gents making a leg?’ To finish, he flourishes a small bow, albeit mockingly.

‘Who doesn’t like a bit of man-leg?’ I retort, managing to fill my mouth with dumb again as he glances down at his pant covered limbs.
Is there some kind of exponential relationship between this man and my IQ?

‘So that’s it?’ His expression is stern but for the twinkle in his eyes. ‘I prevent you from falling, save life and limb, yet I can’t even convince you to have a coffee with me? What must I do?’

‘Offer to sleep in the wet-spot.’

‘Niamh!’ I almost swallow my tongue, shock quickly giving way to laughter at her loudly whispered interjection.

‘What? That’s a bit of gallantry right there, if you ask me. Did you say you were taking Kate for coffee? Might be an idea to sober her up.’

‘I’ll have you drunk I’m not, I mean—’

With a raised brow, Kai folds his arms across his broad chest. ‘I don’t think I’ll have much luck with either.’ He sighs for further effect. ‘I’m beginning to think she doesn’t like me.’

‘Nah, she’s just a scaredy cat.’ Niamh turns her attention to a now groaning Matt. ‘Muntered,’ she mutters, walking away. ‘He’ll have a savage bad head tomorrow.’

‘That’s not true,’ I say quietly. ‘And I’m not drunk.’

‘No, not drunk, but are you scared, little cat?’ His eyes glint in the ambient light, warming my insides like a good glug of red. Not that I need another. But, seriously, I’m not drunk. Or a cat, but I don’t feel the need to point that out to him right now.

‘Look,’ he continues, ‘my car is here. Why don’t your friends take it? It can come back for you afterwards, give us a chance to have a drink? A coffee? Just a chat?’

‘It’s very late.’ Even I can hear the distinct lack of resolve in my words. I bite the inside of my cheeks to stop my embryonic smile. Not drunk, but still, as my nan used to say,
drink in, wits out.

Unfolding his arms, he slides them into his pant pockets with a sly smile. ‘Was that your resolve I just heard cracking?’

‘Probably just my artificial knee.’ He laughs loudly at this, which is startling but I end up laughing myself. ‘What, you don’t believe me?’

‘You forget, we’ve been up close and personal.’ My smile falters. Surely I would’ve remembered something like that? ‘Some memories aren’t easily forgotten. That ladder and, if you don’t mind me saying so, your exquisite behind.’

‘Stop!’ And by my tone I surely mean
please, do go on
.

He shrugs indolently but doesn’t answer, at least not verbally. He just stares intently, like he’s assessing, or imagining doing . . . things.

‘Who’s got a dodgy knee?’

A curious mixture of relief and disappointment takes over as Niamh joins us, arm through Rob’s for an introduction. Talk turns to various plans for the weekend as I zone out, unable to stop myself from surreptitiously studying Kai. The man is seriously hot. Sex on legs. So lean and large. Masculine. But it’s more than that, he has a presence, the kind I imagine holds a room. The kind I imagine demands dirty, raspy things in the bedroom, things I, I mean, a girl, would immediately do. My eyes are drawn to his strong shoulders and down his arms, one elegant hand still concealed in the depths of a pocket, so close to his—

Minutely shaking my head, I refocus on the conversation, becoming aware that things have moved on.

‘Grand, so the car will come back for Kate.’ Niamh opens the SUV’s passenger door as both the driver and hotel doorman bundle Matt in through the other side. ‘Call you tomorrow,’ she says over her shoulder, turning back to peer into the cavernous interior.

‘Hang on, what?’

‘Your man has sorted it.’ She draws me into her arms. ‘And you can thank me later,’ then she whispers-sings, ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!’

Potentially, this leaves a whole world of stuff I can do but probably wouldn’t even consider, not that I get a chance to point this out as she releases me and quickly clambers in. I don’t have the power of speech for a reply, as it turns out, or wit, as I find myself on the pavement, the presence of Kai burning by my side as the car’s rear lights fade into the night.

‘Coffee?’ The word sounds low and suggestive.

‘Caffeine keeps me awake.’ His response is non-verbal and as subtle as a confetti canon. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say the two of you planned this.’

Laughing, he takes my reluctant hand into his as he slips the doorman a folded monetary note of thanks, almost by sleight of hand. ‘Anyone ever tell you you’re cute when you scowl?’

‘I’m
so
pleased you’re entertained.’

‘Funnily enough, like a cat with a pretty toy.’

I shiver quite suddenly even though I’m the opposite of cold in the heavy evening air.

In the lobby’s cool expanse, Kai pauses at the bank of shining elevators.

‘Upstairs, I think. Do you mind?’ His face is open and earnest.
A little too earnest, I think. Shock must register on my own as he begins to smile. ‘Of course, if you’re uncomfortable, we could just have a drink in the bar.’

‘Of course not, upstairs is fine,’ I reply, trying for nonchalance and falling short. But I have my big-girl knickers on. Not literally, thankfully, just . . . mentally, and not that I plan on taking them off. No, definitely keeping them on. I think
.
Maybe
. Probably. ‘You don’t look like you bite,’ I continue flippantly.

‘No,’ he answers as the doors chime. ‘Not unless you ask. Very
nicely.’

Sobriety falls like a veil, my stomach clenching somewhere between eagerness and, I think, fright. But there’s little opportunity to over-think or analyse.

He wants me.

I want him.

And I’m going to his room.

Chapter Nine

There should be a moment right about now where recognition truly sinks in. Apart from this being illegal in the UAE, or at least immoral, I don’t go into hotel rooms with guys I barely know.

My fingers get that static-jump thing brushing against Kai’s as we step into the empty elevator. He swipes a card against the panel and it begins to rise. I’d say I’m numb, but that’s not strictly true as my heart thumps loudly in the pit of my stomach. At least I think it’s my heart. Anyway, something’s definitely thrumming away down there.

The journey upward is almost a prelude, the air electrified with an anticipation so thick I think it almost visible, curling around the small space. As the doors chime open, we’re almost immediately in a room. On second glance, it’s a suite and a pretty swanky one at that. Tasteful in understated creams and bronzes, it’s a very modern interpretation of Arabesque, dotted with plush fabrics, teakwood and cushions of gold. At least it’s not a room where I’m immediately greeted by the bed. I think.

But it’s okay. I’m calmer, as Niamh’s words float into my head.
Be who I want to be.
I pause, still at the threshold.
Do what—or who—I want to do.

Kai turns as I hesitate.

‘Wait.’ I hold up my hand at an additional, risen thought. ‘What is it you actually do?’ His brows pull together, his eyes intent on mine, slipping to my mouth and back again super quick. ‘For work, I mean. Are you . . . do you work at the school?’

His eyes light with understanding. ‘I’m a lawyer,’ he answers without missing a beat. ‘Corporate. I didn’t like to correct you in front of your friend the other day.’

Breathing again, I follow him in.

He drops the key-card to a nearby table, shrugging off his jacket as I wander into the room. I wonder if there’s a protocol I should be following, rather than feeling like the late-comer to an aerobics class, a beat behind where I should be and blundering through the steps. I’m drawn to the doors leading to a terrace, the expanse of glass framing a view of the
Burj al Arab as it shines in the distance like a
garish sail
in the night sky.

I wrap my arms around my torso for support, or maybe to stop myself from reaching out.

‘It’s lovely,’ I say over my shoulder. ‘The view, I mean.’

‘Yes, it is,’ he agrees lowering himself into a chair. ‘Stunning.’
But it’s me he’s staring at, eyes burning with an intensity that somehow echoes my dream. I touch my lip, recalling how I’d bitten it and wonder if he can hear the beat of my heart. God, I want him. Want to throw myself at him, kiss his pillow-soft lips. Instead, I force myself to turn back to the view.

‘Is there something wrong?’

‘Just a touch of déjà vu.’ I address the pane of glass, afraid he might see the erotic slideshow playing in my head. With a deep inhale, I turn to face him, smiling in what I hope is an enigmatic way.
Who am I kidding? I’m probably drooling like a loon.

‘I’m sure I would have remembered if you’d been here before.’ His words are low and loaded as he almost lounges in the chair. One foot propped on the opposite knee, he radiates a kind of dark-eyed confidence. With a sudden disconcertion, I begin to wonder at which point I became an obvious lay. In the classroom? Outside just now? I can’t imagine he gets many rejections.

He stands with a languid sort of grace, holding out his hand. ‘Shall we?’

A tiny jolt of panic bursts in my chest and I begin to stammer some kind of justification for
no
.

‘You really don’t think much of me, do you?’ Amusement colours his face as surely as embarrassment shades mine. ‘Shall we . . . have that drink?’ He laughs quietly, indicating an oriental looking chest set against the wall, cluttered with bottles.

‘Yeah, sure,’ I say with a casual shrug, though I’m kidding no one. Skin burning, I push my hair behind my ears and follow behind, glad that the soft lighting will hide the depth of my blush.

‘You’re sure you wouldn’t prefer coffee? You know, you’re no good to me
absolutely
drunk.’

I stop in my tracks, hand suspended mid-air.

‘I’m joking,’ he says with a soft chuckle, his hands now warm on my shoulders. He stares down at me, eyes twinkling with mirth, even as his mouth maintains a serious line. ‘Wine, definitely. Drink certainly makes you more . . . cooperative.’

‘Is that your seduction plan?’ My voice sounds quite strangled as his hands burn my shoulders.
Maybe he’s going to kiss me
. Instead, his hands slide away as he turns to the chest holding the drinks.

‘Do you think I need one?’ His tone is even as he lifts a wine bottle in question.

I nod my head to the drink. The first question goes unanswered, but I think we both know. Any more questions like these and I’ll snap the bottle from his hand and chug it from the neck.

‘Well?’

‘Sorry?’ I counter, playing dumb.

‘Do you need seducing?’

‘Are you always this direct?’ I use my serious teacher’s voice, not that it seems to have any effect as he addresses the bottles.

‘Usually. And in the quest for full disclosure, I have a confession to make.’ He pours the blood red liquid into the bowl of a glass. ‘I
am
a lawyer, but it’s not quite that simple.’ His face is unreadable as he places the glass in my hand.

‘Oh,’ I reply, disconcerted for the second time in as many minutes.
I’m an assuming ass. Awesome.
Of course, I have an idea where this is leading and my stomach tightens unpleasantly.

‘The school, Al Mishael, belongs to my family, more specifically my mother. It’s named for her. I was on my way to a meeting with the principal on her behalf when I saw you in your classroom. Quite an event in an otherwise dull day.’ The corner of his mouth quirks, rendering him further all kinds of sexy.

But, crap. I am
in my boss’s hotel suite.
Casting couch, anyone?
We each raise a glass to our lips, Kai pausing. Naturally, I take a large gulp.

‘Strictly speaking, you shouldn’t be here on so many levels. But I’m glad that you are. You and that ladder . . . ’ With a small shake of his head, he fixes his gaze on the glass as he turns the stem. ‘Drink. Please,’ he says, eyes returning to mine. ‘Then maybe say something.’

I take another sip, then raise the glass again for a larger swallow, trying to arrange my thoughts and features behind the bowl.

‘My being here could get you into trouble?’ It wasn’t something that had occurred to me, more the other way around.

‘It could be complicated for me, certainly. I’m on the board and you are an employee, a new employee.’ Placing his barely touched drink back on the cabinet, he steps toward me, taking the glass from my passive hand. ‘There are other things to consider, but as for trouble, it’s a little too late now.’

Heat fills his gaze as he brushes a wayward lock of hair from my face. My breath hitches and for a moment I forget to exhale. When my breath finally hits the air, I know I won’t weigh up the consequences of what’s to follow. I’ll allow myself this moment. For once in my life, I’m going to do what I want, do
who
I desperately want. I’ll leave sensible Kate in the distance and regrets for tomorrow morning.
When I roll out of his bed.

‘Thank fuck for wobbling ladders.’ Kai’s voice is low and throaty as he slides one hand into my hair, eyes briefly resting on my mouth. My lips are parched and tingling and my tongue darts out to wet the bottom one, wordlessly willing him to close the space. As his thumb barely brushes the moisture away, I almost levitate closer.

‘Though, if I remember rightly,’ he murmurs, pinning me with his dark, dilated gaze, ‘all I really wanted to do was place my teeth
here
.’