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“I gave my blessing,” he smiles, which is a rare occurrence.
“Props, man,” I tell him doing a half hug and a handshake.I have mad respect for a man that faced another to ask permission about the one he cares about.I haven’t seen much going on between them, but before everything that happened, I could sense the sexual tension between them.At least they wouldn’t go behind Rowan’s back.
“Anyone need a beer?”I ask.
“Nah, I’m good.Thanks.”
Inside, I grab a beer and back out into the cool air.I need it after working up a sweat with Astera.I smile at the thought of her ass pink from the smack I gave her.
When I look up, Astera is rushing toward us.
“What is it?”I ask.
“Claire.She is demanding to leave.She wants to go home, but I don’t want her to be alone.Astera’s eyes start to water.
Hayden steps up.“Let me take her.I’ll look after her.
She looks to Rowan, and he offers a slight nod.
“Okay.”
She rushes back to Claire, and it isn’t long before they appear again.Astera pulls Claire in to hug her tight.“I love you.I’ll call you in the morning, okay?”
Claire looks down at the ground and nods.No one knows what to do or say to her as she leaves with Hayden.The pain in her eyes is unmistakable.
Rowan silently disappears into the house.
Once they are in the SUV, Astera steps off the porch and lets out a deep breath.“I wish I could take her pain away.”
I pull her back against my chest and wrap my arms around her from behind.“I know you do.”I plant a kiss on top of her head.
She grabs my beer and downs the rest of it as we watch the SUV disappear into the distance.
“Hayden will look after her,” I say to console her.
“I know.Maybe I should have gone with them.I should have done more.”
“Babe, you did all you could for her.Now it’s up to her to come out of this on her own and at her own pace.”
We stand for a few moments letting the silence fall around us, and I whisper in her ear, “Come shower with me.”
“I got in the shower with Claire,” she tells me s she links her hand in mine.
“You did?”
“Yeah.I had to take her clothes off for her, and I stripped down to my bra and underwear and got in to wash her.She was so numb to everything, it was haunting.”
“Well, you can call her or go see her in the morning.”
“Yeah.”She offers a tight smile.
We enter the bathroom, and I bend down to press my head on hers and look into her eyes.“Now, let me take care of you tonight.”
She smiles wide and sucks in her lower lip.“Okay.”
We take turns stripping off each other’s clothing until we are naked.With the shower already started, I step in and offer her my hand so she doesn’t slip.
Letting the water cascade over me, I bring Astera forward and cradle her face in my hands.“Tell me you want me.”
