DAISY

Riley's pleading eyes dart to me. Great. "Daisy?" She pouts.

"I—I don't know," I mumble.

"Please, Daisy, he looks horrifying." She begs, her eyes making it hard for me to refuse.

"That's a bit harsh," Kay chuckles at her words. If only he could stop being an asshole. "Didn't you say I look mildly rough?" He directs his question to his friend.

"I don't know, man, it's somehow getting worse."

"Will you do it?" Riley implores.

I might be standing, but I have no control over myself. Every organ in my body responds to a different emotion, but my heart is the worst; I can barely breathe from the intense pumping.

"Be nice and do a favor," Kay's rude words cut through me, though they aren't new. But it hurts, and I don't know why. Maybe because I thought he could change, but I am too optimistic about things that won't happen.

"KC?" Riley scolds him before turning to me. "You can use the extra bathroom; everything you might need is in the cabinet."

"Okay." I nod.

Not waiting for Kay, I scramble to the bathroom and busy myself before he joins me.

I gather everything necessary and pull a stool near the toilet.

"Hey?" He mutters, sinking onto the covered toilet.

"About earlier in the car, I should've paid more attention to the road," he begins as I apply a washcloth to the wounds.

"Please turn a little," I mumble, applying pressure.

"I shouldn't have acted that way at the café." His deep-set eyes linger on my face; I have to appear unaffected. "I can give you some money if you..."

"I don't want your money," I interrupt.

"I just want to help."

"Well, help yourself, Kaiser. I'm going to find a job soon."

"You can't; it's not safe."

So now he's playing father?

"It's not your problem," I snap.

"I just want to help, Daisy."

"What part of 'I do not want your help' do you not get? Stop interfering in my business. I didn't ask you to brawl with Caden. Stop digging into what isn't your concern." I remonstrate.

"He's trying to hurt you."

I scoff and sarcastically ask, "Do you mean something you've been doing?"

He exhales before starting. "Look, I have no idea..."

"Then stay with no idea and let me fight my own battles."

Angrily, I apply antibiotics to the injuries, not caring about the pain I'm sure I'm causing, though he doesn't seem affected. His eyes continue tracking my expressions.

"I've hired more security," he says, pulling irritation from me.

"Oh my God. Kaiser, what's your point? You want to break me? Good, you've succeeded. Congratulations. What else do you want from me? I'm drained. A disgraceful title branded on my forehead? Is that what you want?"

"Not at all. Let me make it up to you; that's all I'm asking." He pleads.

"I don't want you to make it up to me." I retort, my voice not quite how I want it as I finish closing the minor cuts with a bandage.

"Daisy." His eyes are limpid and awake, desperate for reasons I do not understand.

I swallow and announce, "We're done; you can go now."

"Listen."

Well, he's not leaving, so I stand and turn for the door. "Or I'll go," I mumble just as his fingers circle around my wrist, his frame blocking my way as he towers over me. "Move, Kaiser." I exhale in and out.

A weird shudder strikes through me, caused by his closeness and his original scent.

I close my eyes and swallow twice before meeting his bright emerald green eyes.

Instinctively, my eyes drop to his busted lips; they're slightly twitching as if struggling with words. Even with everything he's done to me, not to mention he almost risked my life earlier, I desperately want to kiss him. I feel disgusted with myself; I wish I were better than this.

I cannot look at him. I glue my eyes to his chest, my mouth slightly open and my hands tightly balled. Every nerve in my body is active at this moment.

"Please... Riley could come in."

"Look at me," he commands, his voice rich yet despondent.

His fingers tenderly brush through my hair and push it behind my ear, revealing more of my face.

"I want to go out; please move," I murmur unease, not looking at his gorgeous face.

"Look at me and tell me you want me to move, and I will," he dares, my heart beating hard against my chest. I'm sure he can hear my shaky breath. "Daisy?"

I finally muster up the courage to look up, but when I do, I can't respond.

His eyes are filled with something stronger than I've ever seen. His heavy breath blows against my face.

I lose the memory of speaking, struck by the desire in those intense eyes.

I don't know what happens next, but I feel his lips attach to mine, and I let him. I feel his hand hold my nape, and I let him. He shoves his tongue in my mouth, and I most certainly let him. I savor his taste as if it's the last food I'll ever have.

He winces when I nibble on his lip, reminding me of our situation. I shouldn't be kissing him. I've finished cleaning his injuries; I should leave before my body makes me do something crazy.

It takes everything in me to vocalize my next words when I pull away, his eyes intensifying in mine. "Move... away," I croak, my vision blurry from tears.

His eyes hold mine for a moment, unspoken words passing between us.

After what feels like a minute, he swallows and steps to the side, granting me enough space to escape this torture.