Page 132 of Cruel Pleasures

“I’m not clean. I’m covered in blood.”

“Then shower. There’s another towel.”

Incapable of thinking up a different excuse, I concede her point for a quick shower.

When I step into the bathroom, Imani’s curling up on the bed to rest while she waits on me. Steam fills up the space as I twist the water onto the highest level and then step under the bulleted spray.

The shower provides some semblance of clarity.

As blood and grime wash away and I shake my wet hair out of my eyes, I’m able to regain perspective. So far, I’ve failed at keeping to the principles I’ve lived by. Whenever Imani is involved, I’ve let myself take liberties.

I’ve stepped in and interfered where I shouldn’t. I’ve spent copious amounts of time surveilling and watching over her when my focus should’ve been the job I was hired to do. The most damning truth of all is how I’ve broken my promise to Asami.

I let myself feel sexual pleasure more than once. I let Imani suck my member and swallow my release.

If the moment hadn’t come to an end, I probably would’ve done more.

My mind ventures into lust-riddled thoughts about her beautiful naked body arched in pleasure. I could practically see myself between her thighs giving her what she so desperately needed as she cried and begged for it.

The water begins losing its heat when I glance down and realize I’ve gone hard.

Scowling, I rush to twist off the shower knobs and grab the last available clean towel. Returning to the bedroom, I’m expecting to find Imani passed out. She was so exhausted, she had drifted off earlier in the bath.

Instead, she’s wide awake. She’s waiting for me.

“Imani,” I start but then trail off, taken aback.

She steps toward me, a gleam in her dark eyes. “Be with me, Ryu.”

“I am with you. I stayed?—”

Imani leans up on tiptoe and presses her mouth to mine. Her hand’s fallen to the towel banded around my waist. Mine covers hers to pry it away… at first.

Until the softness of her mouth makes me forget to. It makes me lose all sense of anything but how she feels pressed up against me.

It’s that easy. Losing all control.

My hands come up to cup her face. Natural instincts take the lead for the first real kiss I’ve experienced in a decade. Imani’s lips feel like no other. Soft, supple, and instantly addictive, I question how I’ve gone so long resisting her.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to again.

The energy changes between us. The moment shifts as our kiss heats up, driven by a slow-burning passion.

Imani moans and tilts her head back for my tongue to trace a pattern along her jaw and throat. My mouth sucks at the sensitive expanse of skin and forces a deep shudder out of her. She’s clinging to me, her nails scraping along the bulge of my forearms as though she can’t possibly stand on her own.

“Ryu,” she puffs out. “Please… please just fuck me. I want you to take me. Take my mind off everything.”

I want it too.

Beyond want, it’s a need that comes on so strong, I’m suddenly lightheaded. I’m dizzied by the raging arousal that slams into me and makes me pluck her off her feet. I carry her in my arms and then fling her onto the bed.

Her eyes widen in surprise at how rough I am.

But she barely has time to react any more than that. I’m already on her, pinning her down, forcing her thighs apart, prying her nightgown off.

Her mouth drops open as I push two fingers into her and then bury my face in the crook of her throat. I’m back to sucking her warm skin. Licking and biting any inch I can.

My fingers glide in and out of her wet pussy. Slow at first, until I build up to a faster pace. Then I’m pumping them into her, delighting in how she twists and turns under me.