King of Pride (Kings of Sin, #2)(37)
He gave an elegant shrug. “Seems fair.”
I plucked another dart from the box and narrowed my eyes at the wall. I can do this. How hard could hitting one teeny, tiny balloon be?
I took a deep breath, aimed, threw…and watched as the dart thudded on the ground without touching a single inch of wood, canvas, or latex.
Dammit. My shoulders slumped. Not even close.
“I’m starting to think you’re missing on purpose,” Kai said, sounding amused.
I scowled. “Not all of us are gifted with…” My voice trailed off when he stepped behind me, close enough my hair brushed his chest. My heartbeat wavered. “What are you doing?”
“Teaching you how to throw so we don’t end the night with a twelve-zero score.” The crisp breeze of his voice skimmed my neck. “Landslide victories are hardly victories at all.”
The studio was so large it carried a chill despite the overworked radiator in the corner, but Kai’s body heat drove every ounce of it away. “This isn’t a competition.”
“Everything’s a competition.” Kai placed his hands on my hips and angled my body so I stood diagonally to the wall. “This is the standard stance. It makes it easier to position your center of gravity and aim.” He reached next to us for a dart and slid it into my hand, closing his palm over it so he could guide my arm up. My back pressed against his front and sent tingles of excruciating awareness down my spine. “You don’t want to grip the dart too tightly. Too much pressure will disrupt its balance…”
I usually tuned out technical explanations, but to my surprise, Kai’s calm, steady instruction clicked after a while. Maybe it was the accent. It made everything better.
“Ready?” The word grazed the sensitive spot above my ear.
Goose bumps peppered my arms. I nodded.
Kai removed his hand from mine but kept a light touch on my back while I drew my right hand back, aimed, and fired.
Close…
Closer…
Bright blue paint burst from a balloon and spilled over an empty canvas.
I stared at it, my brain too stunned to register what happened.
Did I just…
“Oh my God,” I breathed. The first prickles of realization appeared in my stomach. “I did it. I did it!”
I squealed, jubilation overtaking my shock. Without thinking, I turned and threw my arms around Kai’s neck, my chest bursting with pride. Landing a dart throw was a small accomplishment, but it felt bigger somehow. It was proof that, with a little guidance and support, I could achieve the seemingly impossible.
It wasn’t much, but after so many failures and blocked paths, I’d take any encouragement I could get.
“Careful, or we’re going to be the ones covered in paint.” Kai laughed. His hands came up around my waist, steadying me. I’d almost knocked us to the ground in my excitement. “So what’s the question?”
“Hmm?” I asked, still high from my victory. Even surrounded by acrylic, he smelled good.
Whatever he paid for his “signature scent,” it was worth it.
“The question you want to ask me now that you hit the target,” he prompted.
Right. My teeth sank into my bottom lip. I was torn between instant gratification and taking my time to come up with something good. Asking him about his fears or most embarrassing moment seemed like a missed opportunity to dig deeper.
“Can I save the question for later?”
“That goes against the rules you set out earlier.”
“They weren’t rules, they were guidelines. Besides…” I flashed an impish smile. “Rules are meant to be broken.”
“Why am I not surprised to hear you say that?” Kai sighed. “Fine. One question of your choosing, to be determined at a later date.”
“Thank you.” I beamed. “See? Not everything is black and white. There’s hope for you yet.”
“Good to know. I was getting worried,” he said dryly.
My arms were still around his neck, his hands still on my waist. My initial burst of excitement had faded, and my breaths slowed to match his.
Our smiles gradually faded as a spark of something other than amusement came to life in his eyes.
The air settled around us, thick with electricity, and I felt a heady pull to stand on my tiptoes and— A loud humming chased the sparks away. Kai and I jerked our heads toward the corner, where the blond artist/yogi was meditating on the floor. I’d completely forgotten he was there.
He wasn’t paying attention to us, but the spell had shattered.
We dropped our arms from each other and stepped back. Awkwardness rushed to fill the new space between us.
“Well,” Kai said stiffly, his cheekbones tinted with a dull brick-red. “This was an enjoyable if unexpected end to the evening. Thank you for the…enlightening experience. Shall I call a car to bring us both home?”
My brows dipped. “What do you mean, bring us home?”
“It’s past midnight. I assume you’re tired.”
Most parties didn’t start until midnight in New York, and I was anything but tired.
Kai was giving both of us an easy out.
If I were smart, I’d take it, but the thought of going home to an empty apartment filled me with trepidation. I loved Monty, but I couldn’t exactly converse with a snake.