Katherine’s chest tightened as she caught Kimi’s intense stare. Her pulse quickened, the air between them thick with apprehension. Sensing her discomfort, he backed off, his expression shifting to one of regret.

  “I’m sorry for overstepping, Katherine. Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to upset you. I should go.” He paused, composed himself, and added, “I’ve also finished the wiretap order request. I’ll send it to you shortly. Good night.”

  Kimi’s hasty retreat pricked at Katherine’s conscience. It felt strange, this urge of wanting him to stay, to reciprocate the comfort he’d offered her just moments before. Without thinking, she reached out, her fingers wrapping around his wrist.

  “Don’t go.”

  Kimi stopped mid-turn, glancing at her small hand encircling his wrist. Then, he lifted his gaze to meet her wide, guileless eyes. “May I?”

  She inclined her head, a subtle movement that felt like a leap. Kimi’s features brightened, and the tension in his posture eased slightly. He gently lifted her chin, his thumb brushing against her skin, his touch scorching. Leaning in, he pressed a light kiss against her lips, pulling back briefly to gauge her reaction. Then, he cupped her cheeks, and their lips met again. This time, he went deeper, an unspoken hunger igniting.

  Her lips were luscious and inviting, and Kimi found himself lost in the intoxicating sensation. He coaxed her trembling mouth apart, his tongue slipping in, seeking hers. They explored each other with a fervor that grew increasingly urgent, a dance of need and desire.

  Her fingers moved to tuck behind his neck as Kimi’s wandered to the small of her back, drawing her closer. The warmth radiating from their bodies wrapped around them, a cocoon of heat and electric energy. Katherine felt an unfamiliar stirring in her lower abdomen, a thrill that coursed through her like wildfire.

  The soft, breathy moans escaping her throat emboldened Kimi. His palms tightened around her hips, and Katherine faintly felt the bulge in his pants against her body. Then, his lips trailed from her mouth to her ear, his voice a hoarse whisper.

  “Katherine, I want you.”

  His bold declaration sent a jolt through her, clarity slicing through the haze of passion. She pulled back, elbowing him away.

  “Slow down, Kimi! You’re pushing it!”

  He stumbled, momentarily bewildered.

  “I’m sorry, Katherine. I got ahead of myself,” his speech faltered, anxiety flickering in his eyes. “Please don’t be mad.”

  Katherine inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

  “Look, I know it’s 2022, but I’m not a one-and-done kinda girl. We just met, and we’ve barely started working on this case. There’s no way I’d let a moment of recklessness complicate things.”

  Kimi’s jaw tightened; her anger was palpable. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, his voice cracking slightly.

  “Katherine, you’ve misunderstood me. I’m not into one-night stands either. As I said, I’m very decisive. If you’re willing, we could skip the dating process entirely and go straight to the courthouse tomorrow to apply for our marriage license. That’s what I want... I want to marry you.”

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  He sighed, frustration darkening his expression. “It’s not an excuse, but I’m clueless about all of this. If you give us a chance, I’ll let you wear the pants in our relationship. If you say ‘jump,’ I’ll ask ‘how high?’ But the premise is that we’re exclusive.”

  She listened, her mind a swirl of confusion. What does he see in me? Why is he so relentless? Am I really that irresistible?

  After what seemed like an eternity, she finally broke the silence, her internal struggle seemingly resolved. “Are you going to let me decide everything?”

  Kimi nodded, his posture firm but earnest. “Absolutely! I’ll ask before I do anything, and I won’t proceed without your approval.”

  Katherine broke into a satisfied smile, her heart inexplicably warmed. “Alright, we’ll give it a shot. But I reserve the right to call it off at any time, for any reason. Deal?”

  Kimi was over the moon. “Yes, Katherine! I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy!”

  Katherine felt a surge of uncertainty while Kimi stood there, an air of triumph enveloping him, as if he’d just conquered the most challenging case of his life.

  Suddenly, she stifled a yawn, stretching her arms overhead. “It’s late; time to crash,” she murmured, exhaustion lacing her words. “I’m getting some clean sheets from my brother’s room; don’t think there’re any in mine. You should go, Kimi.”

  Before she could step away, Kimi had a flash of inspiration, his proposal spilling out like a flowing river. “Hey, how about this: come over to my place for the night. I’ve got a California King, plenty of room for you to roll around in! No funny business, I swear. I just want to sleep close to my new squeeze.”

  Katherine’s breath caught, momentarily taken aback by his eagerness. She wanted to protest, but he jumped in again, his excitement almost childlike.

  “Oh, and the chef could whip up breakfast tomorrow morning. That way, we can wake up a little later and enjoy the day together.”

  He barely paused before another idea popped into his head. “Since it’ll be our first official day as a couple, I’ll take the day off! We can go to your office together and submit the wiretap order. Then, we can drop off Seven’s stuff… And if you have time,” his tone softened, “we could pay our respects to your parents.”

  His last suggestion hit her like a tsunami. Kimi’s thoughtfulness touched her deeply, but as he quickly dove into a stream of new ideas, the moment slipped away, pulling her back to the present.

  “Or, if you’d rather not,” Kimi added, shifting his feet, “I can stay here. It’s a bit snug, but I don’t mind sharing your twin bed.”

  Katherine blinked, her fatigue threatening to overwhelm her. She wasn’t in the mood for a debate, not over something as trivial as where to sleep. A part of her, though, was moved by how seriously Kimi was taking this relationship—how much he wanted to be a part of her life.

  “I’m too tired to argue,” she muttered, a sleepy smirk curling her lips. “Let me grab my clothes from the dryer and my brother’s backpack, and we can leave.”

  Kimi’s face lit up like fireworks while Katherine was speechless. How was it possible to be this happy about something so basic?

  Fifteen minutes later, both cars took off, Katherine following behind Kimi as they made their way to The Cliffs. He pulled up to the gate, rolling his window down to exchange a few quiet words with the guard, granting Katherine unimpeded access.

  They parked their cars in the 22-car garage by the west wing. Kimi stepped out and guided Katherine inside, his hand wrapped around hers as he led her through the dimly lit hallway.

  “It’s late,” he said softly. “I’ll give you a tour another day.”

  Once they reached his room, Kimi showed her to the ensuite.

  “You go first,” he offered. Katherine nodded gratefully and slipped inside to brush her teeth and wash her feet. As soon as she returned to the bedroom, she collapsed onto the plush bed, her body surrendering to the long day’s weight.

  The sheets were luxurious, enveloping her like a cloud. By the time Kimi joined her, she had already drifted off to sleep, her breath steady and slow.

  He paused at the edge of the bed, watching her for a moment, and a sense of contentment settled over him. He dove under the covers, careful not to disturb her, and lay close—close enough to feel her warmth, but not so close as to intrude on her space.

  As he breathed in her scent, something warm blossomed in his chest. “G’night, Katherine,” he whispered.

  Within moments, he, too, had drifted into sleep, eager to meet her in La-La Land.