Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Kash
It’s been two days since I’ve seen Mila, and I’m starting to go crazy.
I may or may not have wrapped her panties around my fist and jerked off, thinking it would help, that it would somehow curb the craving I have for her.
Instead, it had the opposite effect. It just made me want more.
It made me want her. Badly. I can still feel her in my arms and remember the way she smelled lying next to me, and it makes me hard as steel.
I need her like the earth needs the sun and moon. One is not complete without the other.
I was hoping that by now I’d have made some progress, and I think I’m actually considering just kidnapping her.
I can’t stand being away from her. I find myself wondering if she’s having a good day.
Whether or not she’s eaten. (She probably hasn’t.) I need to know if she’s thinking of me, like I’m thinking of her.
Sure, her apartment is homey inside, but she deserves more.
“Hold on, Mila. What do you mean, it flooded?” I hear Cora’s voice from across the break room. I’m almost done for the night; meanwhile, she and Atlas are having dinner back here like it’s just another day—which I guess for them it is, minus the construction zone out front.
Trying not to let my giddiness show, I look toward Atlas. “What’s going on?”
“Hell if I know, but it’s something with Mila.” He shrugs.
I’d be mad at his nonchalance if I didn’t know him better. He cares for Cora’s friends, but only because they’re her friends.
“We’ll figure something out, Mila. I promise. Yeah, call me back.” Putting her phone back on the table, Cora looks at Atlas then me.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
“Apparently Mila’s kitchen is destroyed in her apartment.”
“What? How?” I ask, even though I know exactly how.
“Evidently, she spent some time at her parents’ house, and when she got back to her apartment a bit ago, her whole floor was soaked. Something about a pipe under the sink leaking all over the place.”
“Can I do anything to help?” Atlas asks, like the good fiancé he is.
“I don’t know. She’s not going to be able to stay there. She got a callback from her dad’s plumber and had to go. I feel so bad for her.”
“Can she stay with her parents?” Atlas asks.
Shit. I didn’t think of that.
“No. They just started some home projects and have active construction areas throughout the house. Plus, Mila wouldn’t want to bother them. Her and Mara are super independent.”
“Can she stay with Mara?”
“Ha. No. That’s not going to happen. I don’t know how they work with each other sometimes,” Cora admits. “Maybe she can stay with us?” She glances at Atlas, waiting for his response.
Atlas stands, grabbing the plate from her, then shoots me a look. “We’re deep in wedding planning, pretty girl. Why doesn’t she stay with Kash? He’s at my old place, and it has that extra bedroom. I used it for storage mostly, but she could stay there, right, Kash?”
That sly bastard. I may kiss him.
Composing my features, I look at Cora’s unsure face. “I wouldn’t mind. The room is mostly empty now that Atty moved all his stuff to your place anyway.” I shrug, feigning nonchalance when really, I want to pump my fist in the air.
“I don’t know, Kash.” Cora bites her lip. “Are you sure it wouldn’t cramp your... style?”
Oh, hell no. The only way my style is getting cramped is if Mila isn’t in my apartment, walking around in replicas of the little red number I stole.
“I’m cool with it if you think she’ll go for it. I have the space, and you know I’m here a lot.”
Atlas pulls Cora into his arms, kissing the top of her head.
“See, Firefly? Problem solved. Mila can stay with this dummy here for a bit until her place is fixed. Why don’t you call her, and we can get her moved in this weekend?
Kash is free Saturday night. Right, brother? ” He gives me a pointed look.
“Yep. Totally free for Mila. I mean, to help Mila. It sucks about her place, though,” I attempt to recover. I can’t appear too excited, or Cora might throw a wrench in this. “It’ll be fine, Care Bear. Don’t worry about it. Focus on the wedding. We like a good party around here.”
Looking between the two of us, she considers it. “I mean, it does have the extra bathroom, right?”
Damn it. I forgot about that. There goes easy shower peeping. I swear I’m not a pervert or a threat to the public, only to Mila’s self-restraint. Plans are already forming in my brain.
“Yep,” I confirm.
“Okay. I’ll set it up. Thanks, guys. You make life so much easier sometimes.” She kisses Atlas’ cheek and then walks past me, back toward the front.
Turning toward Atlas, I’m fully prepared for the smirk on his face. “Not a word.”
“What would I possibly say, Kash?”
“Nothing. Not a damn word because we both know you moved into Cora’s place all on your own and had a key to it from the beginning. You can stow those high-and-mighty judgments.”
“No judgments here, brother, but are you sure? This can’t be just a fling.”
Choosing not to be offended, I say the only thing I know will get through to him. “As sure as you are about Cora.”
Atlas gives me a serious look as he thinks it over, then nods. “Okay. In that case, how can I help?”
Now I don’t fight the smile that cuts across my face. Oh, Sunshine, you have no idea what’s coming for you. She’s shown amazing restraint so far, but once she’s with me twenty-four seven, all bets are off. I won’t stop until that girl is my wife.
“How do you feel about returning a certain favor, brother?”
I take in the way his face falls and smile. This is going to be so good. It feels like Christmas morning came again.