Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Mila
Acouple of hours have passed by the time I decide to go home.
I shouldn’t be thinking of Kash’s place as home, but it comes too easy.
It’s just temporary. I wasn’t sure where to go or what to do at first, being by myself and all, but then I remembered there was a new bookstore that opened and I couldn’t pass up the chance to browse the shelves.
Mara never wants to look at books of any kind, and Cora has unlimited access to them at the library.
There’s something satisfying about giving a book a new home, and now thanks to me, there are three new books that have found their forever home.
I push the key into the lock and let myself into my temporary home.
I hear the TV playing in the living room and find Kash sitting on the couch.
His hair is in its typical bun, and I wonder again what it looks like when it’s down.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him wear it loose.
I’m about to sneak past when his voice calls out, “Did you have fun, Sweetheart?”
Standing from the couch, Kash tosses a book on the coffee table, then turns to greet me.
Son of a bitch.
If I thought Kash was sexy in his boxers, tattoos and muscles on display, I need to work on my imagination. Just when I think he can’t be any more attractive, he somehow manages to get the upper hand.
Kash stands in front of me in a short-sleeved, light blue shirt and gray joggers. Even though the way the shirt stretches across his chest and muscles makes me want to whimper, it’s not that detail that makes me question my resolve and want to say, “fuck it.”
He has glasses. The man has glasses. God, life is unfair. With his hair pulled back, tattoos and dark-framed glasses on, Kash looks like some type of bad-boy professor or something.
“Did you have fun, Sweetheart?” he asks again, this time with a stupid grin on his face.
I guess that means he caught me gawking. God, I’m weak. “Yeah.” I clear my throat. “It was nice.”
“That’s good. I missed you.” He gathers me in his arms, hugging me tightly. Kash has to bend down a bit to fully hug me, but I don’t hate the way it feels. He smells amazing, like fresh laundry and citrus.
When he kisses my cheek, I melt into his embrace. His muscular frame holds me tightly, but it doesn’t feel suffocating. Instead, it feels amazing. It makes me feel safe. Wanted. It feels right.
Shit. Nope. I can’t go there. Pulling back, I take a step out of his embrace. “I didn’t know you wear glasses.”
“Yeah. I wear contacts most of the day, unless I have a longer session planned, but when I’m home, it’s usually my frames. No biggie.”
Yeah, sure. No biggie. “Right, well I’m going to head to bed. Goodnight.” I try to rush past him, but his arm snakes out, stopping me.
“Wait. Why don’t we watch a movie? It’s not that late yet. I’ll make popcorn.”
Looking between him and the TV, I pause to consider his offer. I’m not exactly tired, but I’m a bit nervous. Can I trust myself around him?
“It’ll be fun,” Kash continues. “I’ll even make kettle corn. That’s your favorite, right?”
It is my favorite, but I don’t know how he knows that. I'm fully aware this is probably a bad idea, but I find myself nodding my head. “Alright. One movie. I just need to change real quick.” There’s no way I’m watching a movie in jeans.
“Perfect. Get changed, and I’ll get us snacks.” He winks, walking out toward the kitchen.
Rushing back to my room, I momentarily freeze. I swear I can smell his cologne in my space, but that’s crazy, right? I doubt Kash would actually come in here when I’m gone. Grabbing my oldest sweats and a ratty T-shirt, I quickly change and head back out.
Kash is already sitting on the couch, blanket in his lap along with the remote. On the table are the promised snacks and some bottles of water.
“You ready for me?”
Narrowing my eyes at him, he laughs. “Cute, Casanova.”
God, I hope I don’t regret this.