Chapter 27

The sun was at it's highest when Ana woke up the next day. Her head throbbed lightly and she couldn't recollect how she got back to her room. A smile crept up to her face as she remembered falling asleep in Khai's arms. She bit her lip, suddenly worried. This was the second night in a row that she fell asleep on him. She wondered if he must be annoyed.

Turning to her bedside table, she stretched to reach for her phone when she saw a bottle of water and a pill placed on it. She groaned when she noticed the time on her phone. She only had thirty minutes left to be ready for training. Unlocking it, she saw a message from Khai.

'Hydrate and take that pill for your hangover. We still need to train today.'

She smiled as she did what he told her. Then, she got up to take a shower. She was still dressed in her clothes from the club and her hair was a complete mess. Hoping she didn't look like this when Khai brought her back last night, she slowly stepped under the water.

While the hot shower helped, Ana still felt listless and a faint headache still lingered as she trudged into the closet to get dressed. Not wanting to miss any excuse to spend time with Khai, she hurried to the dining hall to grab a banana before training.

Khai was making his way up to meet Ana when he saw her running out of the women's dormitories. As if expecting her to run into him, he stood in her path and caught her as she collided with him. Ana looked up, her face blanched in shock as she tried to make sense of what just happened.

"Haven't you hurt yourself enough Ana? Why won't look ahead when you run?" He held her arms and mildly shook her.

She blinked at his reproof before replying between catching her breath. "I was… going to grab…the dining hall."

"Breathe Ana. You haven't eaten yet, have you?

She mouthed a small 'no', as he straightened her. Sighing, Khai took her hand in his and lead her toward the main building. "Let's get you some lunch."

"I can train. I just need to grab a banana." Ana looked at him furtively.

"We won't train today, let's go on a hike instead. A light workout will do you better after last night."

Ana brightened up at his words. Holding his hand, she bashfully made her way to the dining hall.

"Eat light for now. We'll pack some food to eat after the hike."

They each grabbed a bowl and Ana filled hers with a salad made from kale, apples and chickpeas. Khai got himself a hearty chicken salad and some juices for Ana and himself. She quickly gulped down her food and proceeded to drink the juice Khai got for her.

"How is your hand doing?" He noticed she was now using her fork with her right hand.

She still felt a light pain when she tried to make a fist, but she stretched her hand once in a while just to make sure it didn't grow stiff. She bent her fingertips to touch the base of her fingers, as if to make a claw and smiled up at him. "Almost healed! I told you, it's just a minor inconvenience now."

Khai's lips pressed into a thin line, but said nothing more. Finishing his share of the food, he picked up her bowl and glass to discard them.

"I need to grab some things from my room, why don't you pick out something we can snack on. I'll be back soon, wait for me outside the main building when you're done." With that, Khai marched out of the dining hall, disappearing from her view.

Ana grabbed two boxes and filled them with pineapples and strawberries. She also bagged a few slices of focaccia and a two bottles of water before making her way out of the main building. Khai met her down the stairs and took the bag from her.

"Where are we hiking?" She asked him when she noticed them making their way toward the parking lot.

"There's a place I found while sparring with Austin a few weeks ago. It's a short hike don't worry."

On reaching the parking lot, he held open the door to his SUV as Ana took the passenger seat. When he moved to strap her seatbelt, she quietly inhaled her favorite scent of white musk and cedar. Something stirred between her thighs and her face suddenly turned beet red.

"You okay?" Khai asked, noticing flushed cheeks.

Nodding aggressively, she looked away and started to fumble with the car stereo. Nearly twenty minutes into the drive, he stopped the car and parked outside the entrance to a narrow trail in the forest.

Khai opened the trunk, pulled out a backpack and walked her to the mud path on the trail.

As they proceeded further, they found themselves surrounded by tall trees with leaves of all shades of green rustling in the breeze. Ana was struck by the vibrant colors of the flowers and the lush greenery that surrounded her. The crisp air and smell of wet mud completely healed her headache, making her feel more invigorated as they hiked.

She saw hardwood trees, leafy shrubs and tall grasses, each with its own unique beauty. Khai waited patiently as she stopped to smell the orchids, bromeliads and other exotic flowers, occasionally picking a few to decorate her hair with them. The greenery was so thick that sunlight barely filtered through, creating a cool and shaded environment.

A distant sound of rushing water got louder as they ventured deeper into the forest and Ana's feet picked up pace when she realized they were close to a waterfall. The trail was mostly flat, but there were a few inclines that required a bit of a climb. Khai held her hand through the inclines, lending her the support she needed to get through the climb without much effort.

When the waterfalls finally came to view, Ana was awestruck by the sight. The falls cascaded down a rocky cliff in a spectacular display of beauty. The water was a crystal clear blue-green color, reflecting the sunlight and creating a mesmerizing effect. They flowed with such force that a mist that surrounded the falls, creating a rainbow in the sunlight. The water plunged into a deep pool below producing a ripple effect in the transparent pool.

Khai's eyes peered at Ana who was busy admiring the scenery around them. Her thick long black hair flowed down her back in a sleek braid. Colorful flowers adorned the braid, making her look like she was a goddess one should worship. Small wisps of hair touched her cheeks that were flushed and glowing with a light sweat from hiking the trail. Her pink lips fell slightly open as she took in the views around her.

When she looked up at him with her hazel gold eyes, she noticed an intense passion briefly flash through his eyes. His voice sounded strangely choked as he urged her to keep walking.

"We'll rest just past these falls, over there."

He lead her to a large cave entrance by the waterfalls where he dropped his bag. Unable to get enough of the view, Ana turned her back to him and continued to stare at the water gushing down into the turquoise pool.

When she turned around, she saw him seated on a thick blanket, snacking on the food he laid out for them. Her lips curved into a soft smile as he motioned for her to join him.

Like he did a few nights ago on top of the chapel, he sat her down between his legs and wrapped his arms around her. Ana adjusted herself so she could still look outside the cave, and leaned her back against one of his bent thighs. He handed her the box of fruit that she silently snacked on as she stared at the scenery outside the cave.

Feeling his gaze still lingering on her, she slowly looked up to his face. A small gasp escaped her lips as she saw the intense desire in his eyes.

"You're so beautiful Ana. I can't seem to look away." He whispered, as his thumb rubbed the juices from her moist lips.

Ana's hand moved on it's own to caress his beautiful tan face as she leaned closer to his lips.

Feeling like his heart might stop, Khai nudged Ana's head toward him and their lips connected into a kiss.

Delicious sparks coursed through every cell in Khai's body. As she returned his kiss, he pulled her impossibly closer to him, their foreheads now touching. He gently stroked her ear and his hand moved to tuck away the strands of her hair that now caressed his cheeks.

Ana tightened her grip on his arms and let out a soft moan. His tongue licked her lips relentlessly and she tried to etch every movement of this kiss into her memory. Passion overcame Khai when she lightly sucked his bottom lip successfully stirring a hurricane in his heart. He bit her lip softly and she immediately opened her mouth.

His sweet tongue, which held a subtle taste of strawberries, slipped into her mouth hungrily exploring her as if he was unable to hold himself back anymore. Incomprehensible exhilaration thrilled through them as they devoured each other.

A fervent need to bury herself into him overcame Ana. She clutched his hair and tugged gently. Khai's heart shuddered in response and he pushed deeper into the kiss, as if he was consuming her very soul.

Afraid that her heart might burst, Ana slowly inched a fraction away from him. His ragged breaths brushed her lips as she met his eyes.

Intoxicated by her velvet soft lips, Khai stared at her in a half trance. "Come here." He said in a hoarse voice, as he pulled her closer, tightening his arms around her and drowning her in another long passionate kiss.