Page 20 of Finding Shelter
Kash cupped Ledger’s face between his hands. Like always, his piercing stare left Ledger feeling like they were alone in the world. “I love you.”
Kash had said those words in anger and pleading but never so point-blank. His eyes said everything. He expected to hear them back. Kash needed to know how Ledger felt.
“I absolutely love you too.” An embarrassed snort escaped Ledger. “You have no idea how badly I want togo back and finish the job. I’m so fucking in love with you. How dare he touch you?”
Kash captured his mouth in a scorching kiss, stopping the rage before it built again. He fought like hell to get Ledger out of his soaked clothes. While he had left his phone on the couch, his wallet hadn’t dodged a shower. Ledger didn’t give a shit about the ruined leather. He didn’t care if every article of clothing was useless after tearing at them to make them go away. Everything inside him was a mess. Valon still didn’t know about them, and Ledger was so in this relationship. He wanted a full life with Kash. Ledger couldn’t lose this. He had never felt so close and strongly about anyone. Ledger wasn’t scared about losing Kash. He already knew he wouldn’t let that happen, andhe had no idea what keeping this would do to the rest of his life. Ledger still wanted to go finish the job with Ry. Finding out Ry had tried to touch Kash in any way was a fire in his gut.
Ledger couldn’t take it.
He dove his fingers into Kash’s hair, forcing Kash to hold his stare. “You’re mine. You’ve always been mine. Don’t you ever let anyone make you feel any other way again.”
Kash looked aroused as hell. Sexy as fuck. “Same. Anyone touches you and they’re dead.”
The moment their bare skin finally met, Ledger wanted to cry. This was his man. His other half. If they never left this shower, Ledger would live the happiest of lives.
They came together hard. Their tongues clashed and fought for dominance. Ledger’s back hit the wall, and his feet left the floor. He had no clue what Kash found to use as lube, and they definitely didn’t have a condom. There was no stopping this. They were too close to insanity.
When Kash shoved his way inside, Ledger gasped for air. Everything went still. Their gazes met. They didn’t look away as Kash rolled his hips and took Ledger. Fuck, everything he did felt amazing. Kash knew how to play his body. As much as he wanted to savor the moment, his emotions were too high. He strained as much as he could, trying to take what he wanted. Kash lifted and lowered, fucking him hard. Kash sucked his neck and moaned. Ledger babbledwith no clue what he said. He was pretty sure he begged for the dick.
Kash suddenly changed angles and hit the right spot. Cries reverberated from the walls as Ledger raced toward the edge.
“I fucking love you. I need to watch you come. Give it to me, sexy.”
Ledger blew. He sucked air and gave no shits about how he looked. He was in the clouds. Kash moaned as he pumped inside Ledger. His thrusts slowed, and the air changed. Their mouths met again. Ledger’s eyes burned at the power of the moment. They were forever, and it wouldn’t be easy, but it would definitely be worth it.
Chapter Nine
Noonecouldpossiblyknow how much Kash hated leaving a sleeping Ledger behind. But Ajax had a job for Kash and Kash had to do what he had to do. This was life. Kash still worried Ledger would get sick of this at some point. He knew he was good. There was no danger on the horizon. Prince Noir had his back. He had complete faith in that, but what Ledger thought mattered. As those thoughts took hold, Kash pulledinto the parking lot of the first grocery store he came to on his way home. His feet moved faster than necessary. Kash’s heart raced. Panic pressed on his brain. Ledger couldn’t give up on him. While Kash had lived his entire life having no one in his corner, Ledger had always been there until Kash had disappeared to save Ledger from him. Now Ledger was actually his, and he couldn’t go back to an empty life. Kash just couldn’t.
He headed straight for the flowers and grabbed the prettiest bouquet he saw. They didn’t feel like enough. He eyed the balloons. None of them fit his purpose. His mind raced to think of what else he could do. He spotted a sign that marked the candy aisle. As he moved that way, he saw an end cap with sundae toppings. A smile stretched Kash’s lips.Yeah. That was what he needed. He froze. Damn. He needed a cart or something. Kash backtracked and found a hand basket. He had to stack everything carefully inside, but he found every ingredient he could possibly need.
As he put the bags in the SUV, the hot fudge caught his attention. He froze. The past swept over him, unearthing a long-forgotten memory.
“I can’t believe how much stuff you bought. Surely, this many toppings will make the ice cream inedible.”
Ledger focused on Kash with a smile that made his breath catch. That had been happening all too often. Kash’s chest hurt. He shouldn’t beg the universe for the things that would neverbe, but here he was.
“You haven’t had my famous sundae yet. I promise you’ll love it.”
Kash shrugged. “I’ve only had the hot fudge sundae at that carhop joint next to work. It probably won’t take much to impress me.” Plus, Kash always loved everything Ledger made for him.
Ledger stared at him in silence long enough he wished he hadn’t admitted to that. Before Kash could ask him to forget he said anything, Ledger shook his head. “We definitely have to fix that. I promise it won’t be inedible. The secret ingredient is love.” He winked. It got harder for Kash to breathe.
“Yeah. I’d eat that.”
They held each other’s stare. Neither of them looked away, but they also didn’t show an ounce of emotion.
The microwave dinged. “Shit. I forgot to stop this to check it every fifteen seconds.” He grabbed a potholder and pulled the jar from the microwave. The glass container slipped from the slick glove and shattered on the floor, sending hot glass and lava-temperature fudge flying. Ledger jumped backward, narrowly escaping the splatter.
Kash flew into action. He threw his arm out in front of Ledger, physically pushing Ledger away from the mess. “I’ve got this. Don’t move. I don’t want you to cut your feet.” Once he was certain Ledger wouldn’t move, Kash rushed to put on his shoes. After stomping into his work boots, he grabbed the broom. Kash immediately set to work, making sure not a single sliver of glass stayedbehind. He glanced up and found Ledger watching him with an expression Kash didn’t understand.
With his elbows braced on the countertop, Ledger rolled a glass container between his hands. When Kash caught him staring, Ledger held up the jar. “It’s a good thing I bought two.” They burst into laughter. Kash had no idea why, but—as always with Ledger—he was having a great time. He never wanted the night to end.
Kash still felt the same way every day with Ledger. He couldn’tlet that end.
Ledger stood inside the refrigerator door and zoned out. He wanted something, but he didn’t know what. There was a craving he couldn’t place. Kash was gone, and Ledger felt aimless. Maybe if he ate something sweet, he would be satisfied. Something just felt off.
The back door opened, and Kash came through the door. He toed off his shoes. Ledger eyed the gorgeous bouquet of various flowers and bags of grocerieshooked on his arm. Kash kept his gaze locked on his feet.
