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Chapter Twenty-Seven
When Ashton returnsto the party, Fletcher isn’t behind him. My heart aches for the Danes. It’s not good what Monica did. I’ll never be able to excuse it, and at the same time, how confusing it must be for your deepest regret to have brought about one of your deepest loves.
Ashton and I wait until everyone is too drunk to notice us leaving together. I say goodbye to my mom without drawing attention to myself, and Ashton gives his dad the kind of hug he doesn’t now understand. Then he gives his mom the kind she terriblyneeds.
We head back to my place, and straight after taking off our shoes, pad silently upstairs, knowing without words; we are both spent. Every sinew of my body is exhausted from a couple of days of pure adrenaline and emotion. By the expression on Ashton’s face as he drops his overnight bag by my bedroom door, wanders deeper into my room, and lets his huge frame fall mindlessly on the bed, he’s just as done.
I head into the bathroom to brush my teeth, and when I open the medicine cabinet, I dream about how his razor and Cool Water cologne would look in here. He still hasn’t found a place in the Canyon. There’s not much available in such a small town at any given time.
“You can keep some things here if you want. If it’s easier for you since you only have a little bit of time home whenever you’re back. It saves you from running back and forth to Moon Ridge.”
He waits a beat. Was my offer too forward? Maybe he’s still thinking we should lie low a little?
Finally, he says, “I was hoping you’d ask me to move in.”
My heart flutters, and I gaze at my delighted face in the mirror, but my words are still full of sass. “Don’t you know it’s rude to invite yourself?”
“Don’t ask. Don’t get.”
I’m doing a silent happy dance when he adds, “I’ll find us someplace perfect at some point, Joey. Somewhere that we can make our own.”
I head back into the bedroom and enjoy his long body sprawled out facedown on my bed. If Ashton and I move somewhere else, this place might end up empty. The thought saddens me. I know my dad would have wanted it to be full of joy and laughter and even wild, boisterous arguments. “I’d be happy to live here if you would. I mean, it’s a big house with plenty of room for…”Too early to mentionthe five kids I always thought we’d have?“…for a big tall lug like you.”
He laughs into the pillow.
I breathe in his body on my bed, on his belly, all strong frame and thick thighs and tight buns on my duvet, and it’s the first time in two days I find a thoughtless, natural smile on my face again. He’s here now. With me. Just like I’ve always dreamed. He’s motionless, and I wonder how long it will take him to fall asleep tonight, if I should leave him be.
“Are you staring at my ass, Joey?” His voice is muffled in the pillow.
I giggle. “How did you guess?”
“Because you’ve always been a pervert.” He pats the bed next to him. “Get yours right here.”
I shove my jeans down and peel off my top, because Ashton is right about one thing, I do have a bit of a perverted streak, and the man seems a bit too tired to be disrobing me—nothing like giving him a head start.
When he rolls onto his side, his eyes brighten at the sight of my bare skin. “You want to play, do you?”
I shrug, as if bashful. I’m not. Of course, I want this sexy man stuffed inside me. I’ve been dying to finish what we started in the laundry room.
He tips his chin, all cocky like he was in high school. “Get naked, Hunter.”
“You’re going to make me doallthe work?”
He smooths a hand over my bare tummy and darts his tongue over his bottom lip. “Show me what’s on offer.”
I unclip my bra and toss it to the floor. “What about these?” I roll my nipple between my fingers, and it’s meant to entice him, but instantly I’m the one heavy below.
He takes off his shirt, and those pecs are making me lose it.
“What else you got?” he asks, pushing himself up to sit against my headboard. “Take off those panties. Show me how you like to be touched.”
I hold my breast in my hand and circle my nipple, teasing him. “I need motivation.”
His nostrils flare at the sight of it. “Oh yeah?” He shoves down his pants, boxers along with them, and tosses them to the floor. His erection stands thick and long , and he grabs it pumping it a few times. “This any good?”
“Exactly what I had in mind.” I climb up his long legs.
“Show me first, Joey. I leave tomorrow and I need to see you.” He jerks himself methodically. “I want to see what you do to yourself when I’m not here.”
