Curate, connect, and discover
Kai saw red.
One second, he was watching Pia put on a damn show, her every move calculated to get under his skin. The next, some guy was pulling her in, pressing his lips against hers like he had any damn right.
Before he even processed it, Kai was moving. He wasn’t the type to make a scene—well, not really—but this? This was a fucking joke. His fist connected with the guy’s jaw in a clean, sharp punch, sending him stumbling back. The music didn’t even drown out the collective gasps around them, but Kai didn’t care. His knuckles ached, his pulse hammered in his ears, and his sharp gaze cut to Pia before she could react.
“Enough.” His voice was low, firm, leaving no room for argument.
Without hesitation, he grabbed her wrist, his grip possessive but not painful, and pulled her through the sea of bodies. He didn’t stop until the cool night air hit them, the bass from inside now a distant thrum behind the slam of the door.
He finally let go of her hand, dragging a rough hand through his dark hair as he took a deep breath, trying to rein himself in. His knuckles stung, but he didn’t care. He turned to face her, his stormy eyes locking onto hers with a mixture of frustration, heat, and something deeper he wasn’t ready to name.
“You wanna play games? Fine. But don’t expect me to just stand there while some asshole puts his hands on you like that.” His voice was rough, his usual teasing edge nowhere to be found.
He stepped closer, towering over her slightly, his jaw clenched. “Tell me you didn’t want me to do that,” he challenged, searching her expression, daring her to lie.
to say that pia had never experienced this kind of tension was an understatement. the level in which they were meticulously taking a step ahead before the other caught up to them. she didn't really want to dance, especially with this guy but at the same time was she going to let kai have the satisfaction of knowing that he was getting to her? oh, absolutely not.
she rolled her hips, shifting her body so she was now facing away from him as she shifted in a way she was sure was going to get a physical reaction from her dance partner any second now. she effortlessly moved so she was all the way down to the floor and then glided her way back up, extending her long legs to standing as she wrapped her arms around the male's neck.
she was aware what he was doing, and if she would let her guard down and the true emotions spill out it would show she was quite irritated in that moment. the fact that this girl in his grip was so gorgeous, and peppy, and obviously completely intoxicated by him. did she wish it was her? of course she did.
she knew this wasn't very healthy behaviour, acting in this way of one upping another. and yet she couldn't stop herself so she shifted her head to whisper into this guys ear and he began pressing kisses to her neck as he tucked her hair behind her ear.
for a moment she could pretend it was kai, and block out the rest of the world but her eyes bounced back to him with this glitter in her orbs like she was trying to prove something and bit her lip. this guy was obviously feeling ballsy and pulled her in for a kiss, admitedly his lips didn't taste like the ghost of a cigarette and liquor but she welcomed it for the purpose of this game.