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Chapter Twelve

Kasha ‘Kash’ DeLuca

The house felt too still. No toys on the floor, no Jet pulling at my leg begging for snacks, no Jace walking around smiling at whatever was in his phone. Just the soft hum of the fridge and the occasional creak of the wood as the house settled.

Jet was with my parents for the night, and Jace was spending the weekend with Keenan and Mama Sanders. I should’ve been taking advantage of the peace, but I couldn’t relax. Not after what went down at the mall.

I moved through the kitchen, throwing shrimp in the skillet and seasoning like I was mad at it.

Cooking usually helped calm me down, but tonight, all it did was keep my hands busy while my thoughts raced.

I couldn’t get out my way of the way she walked up on Mel like she didn’t know better.

Like she belonged in that space. Mel was ready to put hands on her, and Nic was two seconds from backing her up.

Even Sophi looked like she was about to throw hands, and Sophi don’t even fight.

That girl knew exactly who Mel was. She didn’t just accidentally recognize her.

The part that really got under my skin? Shayna talking about the kids being siblings.

That wasn’t just messy, that was calculated.

And Mel, strong as she is, looked like that statement cracked something open in her chest.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I plated my food, shrimp, and creamy grits, simple but comforting and sat down at the table, but my appetite was trash.

I picked at the food, then pushed it away and took my wineglass to the bathroom.

A hot shower usually worked out the stress better than anything else.

I stood under the water until my fingers pruned, and my head cleared just enough to breathe.

Still didn’t mean I wasn’t tight, though.

I stepped out of the shower, steam trailing behind me.

The towel clung to my damp skin as I wrapped it around myself, water still glistening on my shoulders.

I grabbed my lotion and started rubbing it into my legs, already thinking about whether I had enough energy left to eat the food I cooked or if it was about to go straight into the fridge.

I was mid-thigh when I heard the bedroom door open behind me.

A familiar presence filling the room before I even turned around.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Jackson staring at me like I was his last meal.

He didn’t say a word at first. Just stood there, watching me.

“You good?” he finally asked.

I kept rubbing my legs and looked up at him through the mirror. “I’m fine.”

He stepped in closer, resting his hands on my waist from behind, his grip gentle but steady. “That answer don’t match the energy in this room, mama.”

I didn’t say anything right away. Just let the silence stretch long enough for him to feel the weight of it.

“What’s going on?” he asked again, softer this time.

I turned, facing him fully now, arms crossed over the towel. “Some girl walked up to Mel saying their kids were siblings.”

The look on his face said it all. “You knew?”

He didn’t move or didn’t blink, just exhaled and rubbed his hand down his face.

“Yeah,” he said low. “I knew. I ain’t know she was gone pop up like that, though.”

“Unbelievable,” I muttered, stepping back.

“Listen… he didn’t cheat on Mel. This was from before he went to prison. Back when he was still messing with that girl. He didn’t know about the kid until she showed up and dropped that shit on him.”

“That doesn’t matter, Jackson. Y’all helped him keep this from her… from us. This ain’t some street shit y’all tryna keep us safe from. This is a whole damn child!” I was pissed off that this was happening and I know if he knew, then Buck’s ass did, too.

“I wasn’t covering for nobody,” he said, stepping closer, tone firm but not raised. “I told him to tell her. Day one. I don’t believe in lying to your woman, and you know that.”

“You still lied by omission,” I shot back. “You had me walking around smiling in Mel’s face, knowing there was some shit out there brewing.”

Jackson pinched the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t want you mad at me for something I didn’t do.”

“Well, congratulations, nigga,” I snapped. “I’m mad, anyway.”

“I’m not gone make excuses. You’re right to feel how you feel. But I’m not the enemy here, Kash. I don’t lie to you. I never will. And if I could go back and change how that shit played out, I would. I should’ve told you. I just didn’t want this between us.”

I sighed, the towel slipping slightly as I crossed my arms again. “Just don’t do that shit again. We promised not to keep secrets from each other.”

Jackson stepped closer and kissed my temple. “You right, baby. I’m sorry. Aight?” His hands slipped lower, fingers tugging at the edge of the towel. “Now you gone let me make it up to you?”

Before I could respond, his mouth found my neck, peppering kisses as he whispered, “Turn around.”

He pressed up behind me, chest to my back, hands on my hips. “You still mad?”

“Mhmm.”

He kissed down my spine. “Good.”

He bent me over the dresser, one hand gripping my ass, the other sliding between my thighs.

“You wet already, Kash,” he muttered.

He dropped his sweats just enough to free himself, then slammed into me in one hard thrust that had me gripping the dresser for dear life.

“Fuck!” I gasped.

He gripped my hair, yanking my head back, his lips brushing my ear.

“You don’t get to walk around with that attitude and not think I won’t fuck it out you,” he growled.

I felt my first orgasm brewing, and I almost lost my damn mind.

“I feel that shit, Kash. Let it go.” He smacked my ass hard, the sound echoing in the room.

His thrusts were punishing, deep, dragging my soul out with every stroke. I cried out, and he grunted low, picking up the pace until the dresser legs scraped the floor.

“Jackson—”

“Wassup, mama?”

I pushed back against him, meeting every stroke. “Don’t stop.”

“I’ain planned on it.” He bent over me, sliding his hand around to rub my clit in tight, perfect circles. “You feel that shit? That’s mine.”

“All yours,” I moaned, clenching around him.

“That’s right. Let it go.”

I came with a scream that would’ve had Jet waking up if he was home. My knees buckled, but he caught me, still grinding into me slow, milking every second.

He pulled out, flipped me around, and lifted me onto the dresser, slipping back inside with no break.

“Fuck, Kash…”

His mouth was on mine, devouring every sound I made. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper.

“You still mad?” he breathed against my lips. “Hmm?”

“No,” I whispered.

“I’ain here you.”

“No… shit. I-I’m not mad anymore.”

He grunted and slammed into me repeatedly until he came with a loud growl, head dropping to my shoulder.

He kissed my collarbone. “You forgive me?”

I smirked, brushing my fingers through his curls. “You asking me that after fuckin’ me the way you just did?”

He chuckled. “Just making sure.”

He pulled out gently, grabbed a towel, and cleaned me up before carrying me to bed.

We curled under the sheets, my head on his chest, his hand tracing my arm.

“I’m sorry, for real, baby. I’ain mean to keep that shit from you. I just wanted to stay out the shit?” he admitted.

“I believe you. Just don’t let happen again.”

“It won’t.” he promised.