And I let him teach me the lesson as he saw fit.

His arms caged me, fingers in my soaked hair, lips on mine. I swallowed his breath, felt the thump of his heart through the drum of his chest. His body waved, and I rode that wave, every crest, every deepening of pressure, every speed of rhythm bringing me closer.

I broke the kiss, turning my face to the sky, hanging on to him like an anchor in a storm. But he was the storm, unbridled in my arms, raw and wild and beautiful. His focus was a devouring of me, a feasting for him, the delivery of my pleasure too great for him to contain. And that consuming pleasure he felt consumed me. He surged in me, and overcome, I surged in answer. And we were both capsized.

We came together, a cry from my lips and a rumbling groan from deep in his chest, our bodies riding those waves until they were slaked, slowing at the shore.

His lips were buried in my neck, kissing sweetly, slowly. But I needed those lips on mine so I could say what I needed without words. So I could explain the depth of my gratitude and appreciation for every second with him in the best way I knew.

I turned, angling for him, and he granted me what I wished, just as I’d known he would. I held his face, kissed him with all my heart, hoped he understood.

When our lips finally slowed, he broke the kiss, backing away to smile down at me. His big hand smoothed my hair.

“Did I earn my answer?” he asked, his voice gruff but the rest of him smooth as a river stone.

“You were right. You are an excellent distraction.”

He laughed, wrapping me up in his arms to twist us to our sides. “Like I told you once before—you tell me when and where to be, and I’ll be there. Ready and at your service.”

“So, tomorrow?”

Another laugh, this one deeper, truer. “Tonight. Tomorrow. Next week. I’m here for you, Lila.”

The way he’d said it twisted my chest, that familiar longing. The want to find someone who would always be there for me. But I smoothed that twist and smiled at my salvation.

“Tomorrow. But next time, it’s on Egyptian cotton.”

“What?” he asked teasingly, brushing a lock of hair from my cheek. “Cement and dirt aren’t your thing? Never woulda guessed.”

“I’m just full of surprises, Kash Bennet.”

“Oh, I never doubted that for a second,” he said with a smile before kissing every last worry away.

12

Absolutely Filthy

KASH

“Let me help you with that.”

I stepped into Lila, taking her skirt’s zipper from her hands, pressing a kiss to the curve of her naked shoulder. When she was fastened, my hands slid to her hips, and she turned around.