RELEASE TOUR: This Means War by Kai Phoenix (Excerpt)

RELEASE TOUR- This Means War by Kai Phoenix

Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell. Don’t Fall In Love.

Length: 30,000 words
Series:standalone
Prior Reading: n/a
Genre: contemporary
Tropes: Best friends/rivals to lovers
Trigger/Content Warnings: no warnings, but note that this is not a spicy romance 

Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell. Don’t Fall In Love.

Luis and Rafael are spies with a rivalry as old as their bond. Both have spent years competing to climb the ranks through sheer determination and a relentless drive to one-up each other at every turn. Beneath their playful jabs is a simmering undeniable attraction neither can ignore.

When Monica, a brilliant and equally closeted UN negotiator, steps into their world, everything changes. She’s everything they should want—ambitious, smart, and effortlessly captivating. As Luis and Rafael start working together to protect her, their rivalry begins to shift, uncovering deeper feelings that risk exposing their carefully guarded secrets.

Caught in a tangled web of desire and rivalry, Luis and Rafael must confront the lines between love, and loyalty. With every glance, every touch, the lines between them blur.

In this spy romance, loyalty, love, and truth are put to the ultimate test.

EXCERPT:

“You know,” I said, picking up my trash and walking over to the kitchen. “This could be fun. A little friendly competition. May the best man win.”  

Rafael eyed me like I was the only thing in his house worth focusing on. “And what happens when you lose?”  

“Lose?” I repeated, feigning shock. “Come on, Rafael. You think your tongue can win over a diplomat?”  

He didn’t answer, but the look he gave me was enough to let me know I’d hit a nerve.  

“Relax,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “It’s not like I’m going to sabotage you or anything. This is just a game.”  

“A game,” he repeated, his voice dripping with machismo.  

“We’ve both been single for far too long,” I said, grinning. “Maybe all we needed was some motivation.”  

“All games need rules,” he said slowly, “so let’s settle it the old-fashioned way.”  

I raised an eyebrow. “What, you want to arm wrestle or something?”  

“Not exactly,” he said, gesturing toward another room where I knew a set of weights and a punching bag sat. “Let’s see if you even can keep up with me in the first place.”  

The muscles in Rafael’s shoulders flexed as he tugged off his shirt, revealing his lean and defined torso. My fingers itched for the familiar cool of a beer bottle, and I was unable to even force myself to look away. I wasn’t supposed to be this drawn to him. Not now. Not like this.  

Instead, I merely scoffed, shaking my head. “You can’t be serious.”  

“Dead serious,” he said, his tone challenging. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”  

I hesitated for a moment, then rolled my eyes. I didn’t work out enough anyway. “Fine. But don’t cry when I beat you.”  

We squared off in a gym that was outfitted enough to have been shared by the whole apartment building. The workout started simple enough—push-ups, pull-ups, basic strength exercises—but it quickly escalated.  

“Is that all you’ve got?” Rafael taunted as I struggled to finish my last set of weights.  

I had learned to dress more casually when coming over since this exact sort of thing had happened before. But that didn’t mean I was in proper gym clothes, as even my casual clothes were more restrictive.  

“No one enjoys it when you get cocky,” I shot back, wiping the sweat from my brow.  

The final round was sparring, and that’s when things got interesting. Rafael threw the first punch—a quick jab that I barely managed to dodge.  

“Even half-naked, you’re too slow,” I said, smirking as I countered with a hook that grazed his shoulder.  

He didn’t respond, but the look in his eyes said everything. This wasn’t just about Monica anymore. Though it probably never was.

https://getbook.at/TMWTour

about the author:

Kai Phoenix is the author This Means War that explores the tangled web of love, rivalry, and self-discovery. Inspired by spy thrillers and heartfelt romantic comedies, they craft stories brimming with beauty, danger, and unforgettable banter. With a knack for blending tension and desire, Kai delivers emotionally rich romances where laughter and longing collide in ways that leave readers swooning.

—

Instagram (and newsletter sign up): @gayromcommunism