A burning mistake

DELANCEY

“Stop playing around, Kaius.”

“Playing?” He smirked, leaning closer. I stifled a gasp, my heart hammering against my chest. “It’s not my fault you don’t remember anything.”

Maybe I didn’t. But he was making it too obvious that it was a lie. And even if I did anything like he said, I was under the influence of alcohol.

“What if you’re right?” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “That still makes you a pervert for taking advantage of my drunken state.”

His eyes darkened, but it wasn’t with anger. He pushed his body forward, moving his hands to touch my chin.

“I’d like to get you drunk again. I love watching you act when you’re tipsy and—‘

“—You’re impossible.” I clenched my teeth, scoffing. “Do I look like one of your little girls? Or like the girl you kissed last night, wearing a skimpy skirt that exposed her butt cheeks?”

Fuck. I shouldn’t have said that. Now, he’d think that I actually wanted him and secretly watched him the entire night.

His lips curled into a gentle smile, and he hummed lightly.

“So, you saw that.”

I tutted, averting my gaze. “No.”

“Tell me something, Lacey.” His fingers traced my jawline, forcing me to face him. “Why did you kiss that guy?”

Honestly, I had no idea at all. I remembered trying to make him back off. But he was persistent and funny and said something that made me laugh.

So… I went with the flow.

I frowned. “How’s that any of your business?”

Kaius’s gaze lingered on my lips. My knees weakened before I could stop them.

“Trust me,” he said. “It is.”

I shuddered. “Stay away from me.”

I wanted to push him away, to leave, to scream—but the words stuck in my throat.

I wanted… something I didn’t even want to admit.

Kaius stepped closer. My back hit the edge of the bed. The sweater he’d given me yesterday smelled like him, and it made everything more dangerous.

My teeth clenched as he leaned down, his face inches from mine.

“Do you even know what you do to me?” he asked, voice low and husky. “Do you know how hard it is to look at you and not—”

I couldn’t breathe.

“—Stop,” I whispered, trying to shove him back, but his fingers caught my chin, tilting my face so I had no choice but to meet his gaze… again.

The air conditioner was an icy blast in that space, but with Kaius’s face only an inch away from mine, beads of sweat broke out on my forehead.

“Stop?” He brushed his lips against mine briefly, making me hold my breath for a moment. “I wish I could.”

My body trembled. “Whatever happened last night… It was a mistake. I—I’m sorry for leading you on and… and trying—‘

His lips met mine again before I could complete the words. I sucked in a breath, shut my eyes, and just felt his lips—soft and succulent—on mine.

It wasn’t something brief. It lingered, slow at first, until it gradually increased its pace. He took my tongue in his mouth, and I tasted the fresh mint he’d consumed.

My heart hammered in my chest. As badly as I wanted to push him off, I didn’t.

I should have pushed him away.

Instead, I stood there, wanting something I refused to name.

“Kaius…”

I pushed him off roughly, panting after breaking free from the kiss. My lips throbbed, my chest heaved uncontrollably, and I suddenly felt too shy to hold eye contact with him.

“Lacey.”

“Stop calling me that,” I warned calmly, forcing my eyes to glance at him. “You don’t get to do whatever you want with me. And… don’t ever try to kiss me again.”

I said that with a harsh voice, but my body betrayed me by wanting that again. He stood rigid, fingers raking through his messy, damp hair.

“I’m sorry.” He stepped back, hands lifting slightly, as if forcing distance between us. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

I nodded, wiping my lips with the back of my palms. His scent was all over me now, and I could still taste the mint in my mouth.

A brief pause ensued for the next two minutes. We stole glances at each other, with nobody saying a word.

Heavy silence stretched between us, and I blanked out for seconds. Until he spoke up.

“I don’t regret doing this,” he whispered. “I’ve always wanted to kiss you, Lacey.”

My chest tightened. “This… This is wrong, and you know it.”

“So what am I supposed to do?” His voice dropped even lower, nearly a growl. “Pretend I don’t want you?” He stepped closer, making me take another step back. “Lacey, you’ve been on my mind since I saw you in that nightclub.”

I arched my brows, exhaling sharply. It was too much to take in, and I didn’t even know how to react anymore.

I buckled my knees and walked, brushing my shoulders against his roughly while heading towards the door.

He rushed behind me, hands trying to grab me, but I ran. Slamming the door shut behind me, I only heard his voice call out to me.

“Lacey, wait!”

I ran straight into my room, locking myself in before tossing the keys on the table. I’d almost lost myself and my dignity in his arms.

I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing myself.

My lips were swollen. My breaths were irregular. His presence still clung to me like a bruise I couldn’t see.

My eyes brimmed with tears, already staining the corners.

I wanted to hate him. I wanted to scream at him for making me feel… so confused, mad, and attracted at the same time.

But I couldn’t.

Because I already wanted him.

Staring at my reflection, my fingers gripped the edges of his sweater I had on. I bunched the sweater over my thighs and further above my waist, exposing my panties.

It was the lacy black pair with little bows, one of the favorite sets my ex had bought me.

I held the bunched sweater in my left hand, and my body answered before my mind could stop it.

I squeezed my eyes shut, breath breaking as his name burned on my tongue.

I felt a wet spot. While Kaius’s fingers were caressing my skin, my body was slowly reacting.

“Fuck…” I moaned.

He had that much effect on me. And after tasting his lips, I realized that I wanted more of him.

My mind wandered off to where it had no business being. It raked through imaginations, settling against his pants, pushing through the fabric, and guessing his length beneath.

Goodness. Fuck, Delancey.

I knew I was damned, and I hated how much I wanted to go back.

I wasn’t losing control—wanting him was the mistake.

But knowing I wouldn’t stop myself next time was worse.