“So, what are we creating?” I gesture to the waiting canvas.
“Whatever the hell we want.” He smiles, grabbing a paintbrush. Dipping it into yellow paint, he hands it to me. “Ladies first.”
Walking over to the canvas, I start with small brush strokes. I have no idea what I’m doing, and no doubt it’s showing.
“Why are you painting?” Kash moves to stand next to me. He has his poncho on, goggles resting on his head. It’s not fair that he still looks attractive in them.
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
“Not exactly. You fling it.”
“Fling what?”
“The paint. At the canvas. It’s calledSplatter & Shatterfor a reason, Sweet Girl. You take the paintbrush”—he grabs my arm in his, pulling it backward lightly, then sends it forward just as fast, hurling paint at the wall— “and you fling the paint. Just like that.”
“Won’t that make a giant mess?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Kash grabs his brush, dipping it into a light green paint. “What’s life without a little mess, Sunshine?” Throwing the paint at the wall, I watch as it hits the canvas and splatters into a circular blob, sending streaks out from the impact.
His eyes find mine, and I decide to give it a real try. Grabbing orange paint next, I dip the brush and pull my arm back. Letting my hand fly forward, I watch as it sails across the room and hits the canvas in the center, making a cluster of lines.
“Good job. Keep going,” he encourages.
“Does it matter if I mix them?” I find myself not wanting to disappoint him.
Kash spins to look at me. “We’re throwing paint at the wall; I don’t think it matters if you mix the colors.” He laughs.
Setting his brush down, he comes to my station. Without saying a word, he dips his finger in the red paint and lifts it for me to see. “Let’s test your knowledge, Mila. I’ll reward you for every answer you get right.”
I don’t even bother disguising the crack my voice makes. “Test? Reward?”
“Of course. We have to reward good behavior. Now,” He rubs his finger across my cheek, smearing the cold paint. “What does red and blue make?” he asks, dipping his finger into the blue paint next, repeating the process.
His touch is gentle as he swirls the two colors together.
Clearing my throat, I meet his eager gaze. “Brown?”
Smiling, he shakes his head. “Try again.”
“Green?”
“Mila...” His tone is playful, but I can hear the warning in his voice.
“Purple,” I murmur.
“Perfect.” He uses the hand on my cheek to hold me in place as his lips crash into mine.This is what it’s like to be devoured.His mouth slants, kissing me hard as he steals the breath from my lungs. I drop my brush and lean into his embrace. Standing on the tips of my toes, I rise so I can reach him better. Without missing a beat, Kash picks me up and walks toward the wall. When I tighten my legs around his waist, he groans loudly. Even through the denim, I can feel how hard he is already.
Using his hips to hold me in place, he pulls back, quickly nipping my lip. “Next question.” He dips his finger into the cup of red paint, then runs it down the side of my neck. “What do red and—” He pauses. Choosing another color, he follows the same path as before. “— yellow make?”
Fire. Taking a deep breath, I try to ignore the heat flooding my body, but it’s so hard. His kisses make me feel lightheaded, and I don’t want to give up this feeling. Not now, not ever. He’s winning this game more than I am.
Kash’s paint covered hand rests on my neck, his thumb keeping my chin in place. Leaning into his touch, I tilt my head closer to his, making him meet me halfway. When his lips are a breath away from mine, I close the distance and kiss him.
His responding moan spurs me on, and I stroke my tongue against his lips, asking for more. Not bothering to cover my whimper, I move against his hard body. He doesn’t leave me wanting. Kash tightens his hold and glides his tongue against mine, stroking it.
Moving my hands from around his neck, I attempt to thread my fingers into his hair but realize he has it tightly tied. Kash quickly yanks the tie from it, then lowers his head to kiss me again.
Pulling back slightly, I stop him. “Kash?” I whisper.
