Pushing back the covers, I flexed my toes to stretch out the muscles before hopping out of bed. I grabbed one of Ash’s huge T-shirts and pulled it over my head with a smile on my face. Iknew exactly what seeing me in his shirt would do to him, so I didn’t bother with any underwear.
After quickly brushing my teeth and combing my hair, I went in search of my man. I found him standing at the kitchen counter, knife in hand, and a pile of vegetables lined up beside him. When he saw me, he smiled, then his nostrils flared as his gaze trailed down my body. “I don’t remember saying you could wear my shirt.”
I stopped beside him and cocked my hip out to the side. “What are you going to do about it?”
Suddenly he grabbed my hips and hoisted me into the air. Tomatoes and onions rolled into the sink as he shoved them out of the way before setting my ass on the counter. I hissed out a breath when the cold quartz touched my naked flesh.
Ash stepped between my legs. Firm hands gripped my thighs as he pushed my knees wider. “Naughty girl,” he growled as he shoved my T-shirt up, exposing my naked body.
“I like to think of it as being helpful.” I batted my eyelashes at him.
He trailed his hand down my stomach. “I’m changing the menu.” He pulled my ass to the edge of the counter as he dropped to his knees in front of me. “I’m having you for breakfast,” he growled.
I arched my back and shifted to give him a better angle.
The front door slammed, and I dimly registered Beth’s voice saying, “Take your shoes off,” a moment before a little voice yelled. “Uncle Ash, we’re here.”
“Oh my God,” I bolted upright and shoved my shirt back down at the same time Ash jumped up. His eyes wide, and I’m sure my face mirrored the horror I saw reflected on his.
I had barely jumped off the counter when Brady rounded the corner
“Hi, Uncle Ash,” Brady said
“Ugh, hi, buddy, I didn’t know you were coming over.” Ash ran a hand through his hair as if he expected it to be messed up.
“Mom said she had to talk to you.”
Beth rounded the corner with Charity in her arms and pulled up short when she saw me standing there. Her eyes widened in a look of shock that quickly morphed into hurt, then anger, all in the space of a heartbeat.
“I can’t fucking believe you,” she snarled.
“Mommy, you said a bad word,” Brady shrieked.
“Let’s go. We’re leaving.” Beth held out her hand toward her son.
“Nooo,” the little boy whined, “we just got here. You said I could play with Walter.”
“It’s not up for discussion, Brady. We’re leaving.”
“Beth, come on,” Ash tried to cajole his sister, but I knew from the look on her face it wouldn’t work. She was pissed, but more than that, she was hurt.
She pointed a finger at her brother. “Don’t talk to me.” She spun and glared and me. “And you. You piece of—”
“Beth,” Ash growled and nodded his head toward her son.
She looked at one child, then the other, and turned on her heel and stomped toward the front door.
“Beth,” Ash called.
I put my hand on his arm to stop him from going after her. “Let me go. It’s me she’s mad at.”
“You want me to come with you?” he asked. “We both made this decision. You shouldn’t have to face her alone.”
“No, it needs to be me.”
I quickly made my way after her. She glared at me through the back window as she strapped Charity into her car seat.
“Beth,” I stopped at the edge of the car.
