“How long have you known him?”
“We met at group therapy when we were eighteen. I was seeing a therapist, but he also ran a group session for people who were suffering with various types of PTSD. He thought it would be good for me to join his group. Jude was also a patient at the group session. We got to talking and just clicked. He was the one who got me into parkour.”
“What about MMA?”
“That was me. I wanted to be able to”—his eyes skim away from me—“defend myself and the people I care about. Jude came along with me and found that he liked it, too.”
“You’re a team.” I smile softly.
“Yeah.” His eyes find mine again. “He’s a good friend.”
I don’t ask why Jude was in therapy because it’s none of my business. I’m just glad that Kas has him in his life.
He’s silent for a moment, and then he says in a quiet voice, “I was afraid…for you to see me. I thought, if you saw the real me…then you wouldn’t want me.”
I press my hand to his face. “I really like the real you. It was Kas-hole that I wasn’t so keen on.”
He gives me a look of shock. I fight to hold back my laughter.
The next thing I know, I’m flat on my back, and Kas is between my legs with his hands on my stomach, tickling me.
“No! Stop!” I squeal, trying but failing to wriggle out of his hold. “I’m really ticklish!” I gasp.
“Yeah, I can see that.”
He tickles me again, and I scream.
“Stop!” I’m panting for air because I’m laughing so hard.
And he’s laughing. The sound is beautiful, and it’s weaving itself around my thudding heart.
“I’m sorry!”
He pauses and looks up at me.
“I said, I’m sorry,” I pant.
“For?” He hovers a threatening hand over my stomach.
“For calling you Kas-hole.” I can’t help but grin when I say the name.
His smile mirrors mine. “You’re not really sorry, are you?”
Pressing my lips together, sealing my smile, I shake my head.
His eyes glitter with mischief.
In a flash, my arms are pinned at my sides, and his mouth is on my stomach.
Then, the bastard blows a raspberry.
“Argh!” I scream with laughter. “I’m sorry! I’ll never call you Kas-hole again!”
But, as soon as I say the name, the raspberry assault gets worse.
“Stop! I’ll pee myself!” I laugh, tears in my eyes.
I’m wriggling, trying to get free, but he’s so bloody strong.
“Okay!” I gasp. “I yield! I’ll never say the K-hole word again, I swear!”
He stops and lifts his head. “You yield?”
Something dark and dirty flashes in his eyes, making my belly flip. And that’s when I feel something long and hard pressing up against my leg.
He’s hard for me again.
“I yield,” I whisper breathily.
“So, that means you’re mine to do what I want with.”
I hold his eyes. Biting my lip, I nod my head.
He grazes his teeth over his lower lip. I shift restlessly.
“What do you want to do with me?” I ask on a hot whisper.
He moves lower, keeping my hands pinned by my sides, and he doesn’t answer with words. He answers by means of his tongue, pressing it against me, making me cry out in pleasure.
Thirty-Three
I can hear buzzing. For a moment, I think I’m back in prison, hearing the morning buzz that came right before my cell door would open, giving me that momentary freedom. The buzzing stops, but the click never comes.
And then I register the warm, hard body pressed against my back.
Kas.
Memories of last night flood my mind.
We had sex. Lots of sex. Insatiable, crazy, hot sex until we passed out in each other’s arms.
And, now, I’m here with his chest pressed up against my back. His legs tangled with mine. His arm slung around my waist. His hand possessively pressed against my stomach.
A smile lifts my lips. Happiness that I never thought I would ever feel spreads through me.
Then, I hear the buzzing again.
What is that?
Reluctantly, I move, turning in Kas’s arms, rousing him slightly. He lets out a sleepy groan as he rolls onto his back, pulling his arm from me.
I see his phone flashing and vibrating on the nightstand. I peer over a little further to see who’s calling. The display reads, Gate.
Gate?
It takes me a good few seconds to realize that it’s not someone called Gate, but that it’s actually someone buzzing at the main gates of the house.
Duh.
Instead of waking him, I decide to answer the call. I reach over and sweep up his phone. Pressing Accept, I say, “Hello?”
“Daisy, is that you? It’s Toby. I’m here for our appointment.”
Uh…Toby? Appointment!
Holy shit!
He rescheduled our appointment last week because he couldn’t make our usual day.
My probation officer is here. And I’m naked and in bed with Kas.
I’m so done for.
“Yes.” The word comes out sounding strangled. I clear my throat. “I’ll-I’ll buzz you in. Just give me a sex—I mean, sec! Give me a second.” I hang up the phone. “Kas!” I shake him.
His eyes flick open, startled and wide-awake. “Wha—”
“Toby is here for my appointment.”
He’s blinking rapidly, as though trying to process this information. I try not to get caught up on how adorable he looks in this moment with his hair all disheveled and this cute furrow of confusion on his brow.