Page 11

CASHMERE

I cut my shopping into an eighth when Ro said that I had better be back at the reserve in an hour.

I ran out of the shop so fast you'd think I stole everything in the bag to ensure I had enough time for the forty-minute drive back to Dorado Beach.

I know I had kept the secret from him, but the last thing I wanted to do was test him about it now that he knew.

He would be on my ass so fast that I wouldn't even be able to make it off the island.

The truck slowed to a stop, and I stepped out to pick up KJ from the seat.

I struggled to throw him across my shoulder and carry his dead weight into the suite along with the bags of clothing and toys.

Walking through the door, I laid him down on the bed, took off his little sneakers, and kissed his head.

I took a couple of deep breaths as I watched the time pass.

I finally had put one beast to sleep, and now I was about to wake up another.

When Ro stood in front of me in that shop and I looked into his eyes, I could see that it took everything in him to give me KJ.

But I knew he did it because he didn't want to hurt me.

That was the exact reason why I had excused every red flag about that man despite them waving like women in a pageant.

Kairo was so quick to anger, except when it came to me.

With me, he was kind, understanding, and passionate.

He was considerate of his words and apologetic if he offended me.

Then, he would mosey into the street and shoot at someone or beat them into a vegetative state.

"I'm here." My phone scared me as I looked down and saw that Kairo had told me he had arrived at the reserve. I texted him the suite number while waiting for him to come to the door. My breathing hitched because I didn't know what the outcome of the conversation would be.

He knocked twice, and I opened the door and allowed him to come in. He looked around before the door closed behind him.

"Where's Kash?" He asked no sooner than he crossed the threshold.

"In the room, he fell asleep. It's his nap time." I said quietly. He walked to the room and peeked his head in to be sure that I hadn't dropped KJ off anywhere.

He nodded as he followed me into the living room and sat across from me. I could see how his temples flexed, that he was fighting back some emotion.

"Why the fuck would you keep him away from me?" He grilled me.

"I didn't know that I was pregnant at first. I moved away, tried to rebuild, and found out.

I was supposed to let you know, but I just felt like doing that would have me right back in the middle of what I had just escaped from.

I was resentful; I felt like loving you caused me to lose everything I had.

I was mad at myself for even crossing the line in the first place.

It was a lot. And I know that doesn't make it right, but it's true.

I'm sorry." I said honestly as tears rolled down my face.

He looked up at me and didn't speak right away.

"You told him I was at school?" He scoffed.

"I made sure he knew you, Ro. He knows so much about you. I gave him the best answer I knew."

"Yeah, that sounds good, but it's not the same.

I still remember my pops took me everywhere with him.

Nigga would throw me up on his neck and go on with his day.

Pictures ain't the same. He needed that time.

That shit matters." His voice croaked as he spoke.

We had spent so many nights talking about how much he missed his dad since his dad had gone to prison.

"You're right, I'm sorry." I apologized again. I would never argue that I was right because I knew I was dead wrong. But somehow, I just let it go too far.

"I'm sorry I fucked up your career," he said lowly.

After the inside cameras showed Kairo walking through the restaurant and Hanovich found out that Ro was behind the attack, he made it his business to have me investigated by internal affairs.

Once Kairo and I were linked together, the state of Indiana quietly disbarred me.

I was grateful that the validity of my cases had never been called into question and no charges were brought against me for lying, but it still cut deep that I wasn't able to do what I loved.

"Don't be; I would lose it all again if it meant that I got to be KJ's mother.

" The tears flowed freely as I thought about the blessing that lay just one room away.

I had spent my entire life wanting to be a mother and was blessed with a child at the age of 41.

It was surreal, but it was the best feeling ever.

"What's his full name?" He sat back in the chair and looked at me with fire in his eyes.

"He has your middle and last name. Kash Jamil Carter. K-a-s-h."

"I have to spend time with him; I don't want to miss another day of his life."

"Are you still in Indiana?" I questioned.

"No, I needed a fresh start. I'm in Miami," He answered.

"Florida? That's a far distance. And I already know that you're going to tell me to move.

But I can't just pick up and move again.

I'm just barely getting established in Kentucky.

" I reasoned. When he didn't respond, I knew that I may as well have been talking to the wall.

He came over from the couch that he was sitting on and sat beside me. He turned my face towards him.

"When I told you that I got you forever, I meant that shit. You don't think I already lost enough time?" His eyes searched mine before I let mine fall to my lap. He touched my chin again and made me look at him once more.

“Hmm?” He demanded.

I breathed out a deep sigh. I had prioritized KJ in every aspect of his little life, except allowing him to bond with his father. It was about time I prioritized that, too.

"Okay, Kairo," I said barely above a whisper. Even though he had gotten the answers he desired, his touch still lingered on my chin.

"I love you, Cashmere," he said as he leaned down to kiss me. It took me by surprise, but I welcomed it as I grabbed the back of his head and moaned into his mouth. We kissed for what felt like an hour as our mouths became reacquainted with one another.

Once he broke the kiss, he trailed kisses down my neck as he sucked on it passionately.

"Kairo, your wife," I whispered as I snapped out of my trance and pushed him back. I may have been scandalous for sleeping with my client, but I didn't need the karma of being with someone's husband.

"Damn girl ain't my wife," He chuckled as he pulled me back to him and kissed me again.

Easing me backward, his hand snaked up the shirt that I was wearing and pinched my nipple.

Years later, this man still has the same effect on me that he's had since I walked into the deposition room four years ago.

Breaking the kiss, he sat up, rolled down the tights I wore, and positioned himself back at my center.

Kairo was the last man that I had been intimate with.

With pregnancy, raising a kid, and trying to find myself again, I barely had the energy to say "hi" to a man.

He kissed me again; this time, I stopped him. I could feel his dick as hard as a rock between us as he looked down at me in confusion.

"What's wrong, Cash?" He asked as he peppered kisses over my face.

"I love you too, Kairo," I said as he broke into a smile. He parted my lower lips and slid his dick up and down my opening. I moaned lowly in anticipation of what was to come.

"I love to hear you say that shit, my baby; say it on this dick." He growled. As soon as his head penetrated me, we moaned in unison.

"Gah damn Cash, I love how wet you get for me baby," he said as he slid the full length of himself inside of me.

"I missed you, Ro," I admitted. He took one of my legs and threw it over his shoulder, and used a finger to massage my clit, all while continuing to stroke me at a steady pace.

“You did?”

"Mmmhm," I moaned. It was the only thing that I could get out. My back was arching, and my eyes were rolling in the back of my head before I could process what was even happening.

"Yeah, you missed me. I can feel it." He said as he looked down at the magic happening between our bodies.

"Shit, Kairo!" I cried. Resisting the urge to scream. We had both been trying to be as quiet as possible, but it was getting harder by the second.

"You love me, Cashmere?" He asked.

"Yes!" I was on the verge of release, and I knew it would be intense.

"I don't believe you. Tell me you love me." The finger slightly tracing my pearl had now picked up its pace.

"I love you, Ro," I whimpered as his strokes got deeper, slower, more passionate.

He let my leg fall as he closed the space between us and kissed me again.

His hand applied slight pressure to my neck as he fucked me through an orgasm.

The feeling was so intense that it felt like a levy breaking.

As if the way he bit my lip and tightened his grip on my neck weren't an indication that he was releasing as well, I could feel his dick pulsating inside of me, filling me with evidence of our effect on each other.

He lay on me, and I wrapped my arms around him.

At this point, it was deeper than just catching our breaths after sex.

This was for all the missed moments; it was all the things we had tried to suppress over the years.

I was his safe place. And he was my rainbow.

He showed up after the storm he had just caused and gave me the most beautiful promise of peace.

"Cashmere Elise Savage?" He said from his position on my chest.

"Yes?" I answered with my eyes closed, rubbing his hair.

He sat up and looked me in my eyes. "I need you, and I need my son. Will you marry me?"