And I watched him right back.

He was immovable, a pillar of solidarity and strength. An unwavering truth clung to him, the air of safety and certainty. A worthiness of trust.

I trusted him. He had nothing to gain by deceiving me.

I didn’t even think him capable of deceit.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, from the very depths of my heart. Because that moment of truth was upon me, and I wouldn’t waste it.

“For what?” he asked honestly. As if everything he gave wasn’t a gift and privilege.

“For this. For everything.”

He reached for my hand, that tilted smile on his face as he pulled me into his chest, wrapped me in his arms.

“I told you I was an excellent distraction,” he said.

“You did,” I agreed on a gentle laugh.

“Next time you need a rebound, I’m your guy.”

“And what if I don’t need another rebound?”

Something shifted behind his eyes, but the rest of him maintained that cavalier air he always had about him. “Then I’d say whoever locked you down was a lucky guy. You’re going to make somebody really happy one day, Lila. And I’m glad you picked me for your rebound. It’s been fun while it lasted.”

My admission died in my throat. “It has,” I admitted with a thin smile to cover the sting of those words.

You knew this was temporary. Deep down you knew. Let it be what it is. Because he’ll never want more, not from you.

“Kiss me,” I commanded gently, wanting nothing more than to hide, to seal away my wishes, to kiss them goodbye.

And with the brush of his fingers on my cheek, he did.

Acute was the pain, fading into a dull ache in my ribs, the word rebound a barb that struck me mercilessly.

Because who would help me get over Kash when he was gone?

Deeper we kissed, and I only hoped he attributed my desperation to desire, not the loss of what I’d wished for—that we could be more.

But if this was all I could have, I’d take it.

I’d take whatever I could get.

When the kiss slowed, then stopped, he leaned back. A curious, amused look colored his face. “You okay?” he asked.

And there was nothing to do but smile and lie.

17

Sex Palace

KASH

“Come with me,” I said, snagging her hand to tow her toward the shop.

She laughed, trotting behind me. “Where are we going?”

“There’s something I want to show you,” was all I said, and she took the hint that I wanted it to be as much of a surprise as possible.