This is one of my favorite chapters in Holland, My Heart. I love the way Kai reacts to Holland.  

After our exhausting run, we race up all twenty-one flights to our apartment. This woman might actually be the death of me. But I have to admit it feels amazing to run together. I love her athleticism. I cannot wait to test that amazing endurance in bed. Cold shower, Ipu. “I’ll use the kids’ shower,” I say as I fill a water bottle from the fridge door and turn to hand it to her.

“What did you say?” Her grin is blinding. I can’t remember. I have to play it back in my head. Oh. I said that out loud, huh. “The kids’ shower...” I repeat. The next thing I know, she launches herself at me. She wraps her legs around my waist, and I am granite hard before my brain catches up with our bodies.

“You’ve already” kiss “started” kiss kiss “thinking of it” kiss kiss “as the kids’” kiss “room” she rubs that hot body all over me. She is sweaty and salty under my lips and I fucking love it.

“I guess I have,” I say, smiling and kissing her at the same time.

“Kai,” she says in that tone I know means she is going to test my patience. I want this woman so fucking much. I’m starting to think with the wrong head.

“Holland, my heart.” I try to engage my big brain. “Honey.” I take a deep breath of her skin. “We’ve got to go, sugar,” I remind us both. She freezes. Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry to pull the plug on you like that, I silently send her. What I say out loud is, “We have an appointment.” She slides down my body like she’s melting.

“Yeah, of course, I know,” she says. “Sorry.”

“Hey.” I grab her hand before she can walk away. “Never apologize for your affection. I’m sorry we always have such crappy timing.” I wink at her and put a loving hand on her jaw.

“I’m pretty sure,” she says, running her hand over my chest, then down my abs, then over the length of my erection through my shorts, “that our timing is going to be great someday.” She dances her eyebrows at me, turns on her heel, and marches out of the kitchen. I pour her entire bottle of ice-cold water over my head.