“Yeah.” I take the cloth from her and set it on the table.
She drops to her heels, squatting at my feet, her hands on my thighs. “That patch—I’m going to be the reason you lose it, aren’t I?”
Her eyes get glassy.
I stroke her cheek with my thumb, hating to see her upset. “Don’t worry about it.”
“How can I not? After everything you’ve done for me, it’s not fair you lose what you want most.”
“Come here.” I pull her onto my lap, and brush my thumb over the tear track on her cheek. “What happens to me has nothing to do with anything you did. I made my choices, and I don’t regret them.” I press my forehead to hers. She lifts her face and presses her lips above my brow.
I close my eyes and tighten my arms around her. Her supple, young body feels like heaven in my arms, and I want nothing more than to carry her to the bed and sink into her. I can’t. I won’t. But I can’t resist gliding my palm over the bare skin of her arm, hooking my fingers in the strap of her tank and bra, and dragging them down until her breast pops into view.
I devour it with my eyes, and cup its weight. Her skin is unbelievably soft and smooth. Her nipple stands erect, and she arches her back, thrusting it forward, begging for my mouth. I don’t deny either of us, and dip my head to latch onto the tender nub.
She sucks in her breath and I roll my tongue around it. I lave it and drag my teeth over it, then suck hard and she writhes in my arms, clutching my head, and holding me tight.
“Oh, God, that feels good.”
I continue lavishing attention on it, my hands roaming over her curves. She’s still in just her panties, and I’ve never wanted to rip a scrap of lace off a woman as badly as I want to right now. I stroke my palm over the junction of her thighs, and then slip my thumb under the edge of lace, strumming the pad over the seam of her pussy. She’s warm and wet and I seek out that shy little clit that makes her jump in my arms. I tighten my hold and make a circular motion.
She rocks against me.
“You like that, baby?”
“Umm hmm.” She moans, clutching my neck, burying her face in my throat. I tighten my hold on her, and keep stroking until she’s panting. Then I slip a finger inside her, never letting up on her clit.
“Rock against me. Fuck my hand. Don’t stop until you get off. I want to see you come.”
My words must embarrass her because she buries her face deeper, but she does what I tell her and that makes my ego soar.
“Good girl.” My voice comes out gravelly with need.
Another rush of wetness coats me at the words of praise I give her.
“You want to be my good girl, don’t you, Kami?” My inner caveman is raging now. She nods, and I pull back to stare at her, ordering, “Look at me.”
She meets my burning gaze with her shy one.
“I want to see your eyes when you come. Don’t be shy. Not with me, baby.”
A few more strokes and I curl my finger, finding that magic spot inside her and work it until she’s in a frenzy, gasping and clutching and rocking against me. “That’s right, sweetheart. Don’t stop.”
I can tell she’s close, because she sucks in a breath and holds it, rocking against my hand frantically. I press harder on her g-spot and tickle her clit and she flies over the edge, yelling out. I kiss her then, furiously, muffling her scream and bringing her gently back down to earth until she’s a puddle of mush in my arms. I carry her to the bed and lay her on it. I lean over her and kiss her gently, and pull back to search her eyes. “Much as I want you, I’m not going to fuck you. This is just temporary for you, and you deserve better than me.”
She opens her mouth to protest, but I stop her. “Hush. This is the way its gotta be.”
I straighten and look down at her lithe young body spread out on my bed and kick myself for being ten kinds of fool. But my words were true. I know it, even if she doesn’t.
“Get some sleep.” Without another word, I walk out, closing the door behind me. Then I go find that bottle of Jack and take it out to the yard. I stay out there until sunset, and I’m sure I won’t do something stupid. When the air starts to chill with dew, I finally drag myself to my feet and find the couch, throwing an arm over my face, and trying to scrub from my brain the sight of Kami’s face when she reached orgasm.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Saint—
Monday morning I sit at a picnic table in front of the smoothie shop waiting for Ruin. I’ve got my shades on so he doesn’t notice the black eye and bruised cheek. I snuck out this morning, totally avoiding Kami, and I feel like a pussy for doing it. Finally, I hear the Harley coming down the road. Ruin slows and rolls his bike onto the lot, then backs it into a spot and joins me.
“What’s up?” I stare up at him.
He grabs my smoothie and sucks down half of it, still standing.
“What the shit, man? Get your own.”
He grins, pulling out his phone. “Give me your account info.”
“Why?”
“Cause I’ve got two hundred grand to transfer into it.”
My brows lift. “Say what?”
“Its your portion for the work you did on camera with Asia. People are lovin’ it. I tell you, man, we’re making a killing with this shit. Wish I’d thought of it sooner.”
I rattle the account number off, and he taps on his screen as I drag a hand down my jaw thinking about that video. Last thing I need is that shit ever getting back to Kami.
“There. Done. Should be pending to your account now. Check it.”
I pull out my phone and verify, staring down at all those zeros. Christ, I’ve never had this much money in my entire life.
“Don’t go tryin’ to spend it yet. An amount that large, your Bank’s probably gonna put a two-week hold on it.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“When do you want me to schedule you again?” Ruin talks as he scrolls through his phone checking messages or maybe his calendar. “We need to get some more of that shit. You and Asia had some hot chemistry on camera.”
“Not sure I want to do anymore.” I pull my shades off.
“What? You’re fucking kidding me, right?” His eyes flick up to me, and he notices the black eye and the bruising on my cheek. “What the fuck happened to you?”
“You talk to Sly?”
“No. Why?”
“Sit down. I got something to tell you.” He swings his leg over the bench and sits, and I spill the entire story. It’s bad enough I kept it from Sly; I don’t want to keep it from Ruin. And now that the cat’s out of the bag, he needs to hear it from me.
“You stupid motherfucker.” He slams his palm on the wood planking.
Pretty much the response I expected.
“You’re lucky he let you off so easy. I was your sponsor I wouldn’t have. You’re lucky I don’t knock the fuck out of you right now.”
I nod.
“I do not need this bullshit right now.”
What the hell do I say to that?
He blows out a frustrated breath and drags a hand down his face. “Motherfucking hell. Okay, look. I’ll talk to him. See if I can smooth any of this over.”