“I definitely will!” Laney replies.
Once we’ve all finished our drinks, we decide to call it a night. I lace my fingers through Ash’s as we weave through the crowd and step out onto the sidewalk.
“I was going to leave my car here,” Ash says, glancing toward where her car is parked. “We planned to walk home.”
“I can drive everyone,” I offer, then turn to Laney. “Were you still planning on staying at Ash’s tonight?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
“How about we go back to our place?” I suggest, careful with my tone. “Ash could stay over too, if you’re okay with that.”
Laney shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Sure.”
I look at Ash. “What about you?”
She smiles. “Fine by me if we can stop by my place first so I can grab some stuff.”
“My things are there too,” Laney adds.
“Sounds good,” I say. “And I can drop Ivy and Wyatt home too.”
Thirty minutes later,I pull into the driveway. It’s been a long couple of days, and all I can think about is climbing into bed with Ash, holding her close and falling asleep with her in my arms.
Ash and Laney spent the entire ride back chatting about Ryan. I’m pretty sure I know the guy’s whole life story now. Where he works, what he drives, his favorite food, but honestly, I don’t mind. Seeing Laney this excited and watching her bond with Ash makes it all worth it.
Once we’re inside, Laney heads straight for the kitchen. Ash and I follow her in, and she grabs a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Night,” she says, giving us a small smile before disappearing upstairs.
Ash watches her go then turns to me, her eyes shining and a bright smile lighting up her face.
“Can you believe this is actually happening?” she says.
I chuckle, pulling her into my arms.
“Feels like it’s been a long time coming,”I reply before pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.
“Come on,”I murmur against her mouth.“Let’s go to bed. I’ve been counting down the days to fall asleep with you in my arms again.”
Her grin widens, and my chest tightens in that familiar way it always does around her. I’m hopelessly in love with this woman. And now that we finally have Laney’s and Ash’s brothers’ blessing, it feels like we can breathe. Like we can finally just be us without worrying about what everyone thinks.
Ten minutes later, we’re lying in bed. Ash is curled up in my arms, her head resting on my chest, and holding her like this reminds me just how much I’ve missed her this past week.
She tilts her head up to meet my gaze, and I smile before leaning down to kiss her. She lets out a soft moan as our mouths meet, her lips parting for me. I deepen the kiss, slowly easing her onto her back as I move over her.
Her hands slide up my chest, sending a ripple of heat through me. She’s in a tank and sleep shorts, and when I ease my hands beneath her top, my thumb finds her nipple. Her back arches, pressing against my hand, and I trail kisses from her lips to her jaw, then down the curve of her neck.
“This has to go,” I whisper, slipping her tank top up and over her head. As it falls to the floor, I press a kiss to her chest, my lips trailing over her skin until they find her breast. My tongue slowly circles her nipple, and her fingers thread through my hair, urging me gently downward.
When I reach the waistband of her sleep shorts, I take my time, sliding them down her legs along with her panties and letting them fall away. Usually, I’d tease her, take my time, and savor every inch of her, but not tonight.
Tonight, I just need to feel her.
I settle between her legs, kissing softly around the inside of her thigh, before dragging my tongue through her folds. Her hips lift off the bed as a low groan escapes her. My tongue worksher over until she’s squirming beneath me, her hands fisting the sheets. I slowly push two fingers inside her, curling them against her walls. Her thighs tremble around my head, her breath coming in sharp bursts. When I reach up and gently pinch her nipple, it sends her spiraling. She cries out, my name tumbling from her lips as she comes hard, her body arching beneath me.
“Jesus,” she mutters, almost incomprehensibly as she sinks back into the mattress.
I grin as I press a kiss on her clit before finding her mouth again. Her arms wrap around me, and she gasps as I gently push inside of her. My eyes hold hers as I slowly start to move. This feels like more than sex. It is more. It’s everything, just like she is, and I’ve never felt closer to her.
