AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERTEN
The next day and night passed without incident, which meant Ash should have been relieved. But something had shifted with Lily.
She’d grown distant.
They didn’t stop the night before, continuing on, so perhaps it was his exhaustion coloring his perception, but when they did break, she didn’t rush to his arms.
Nor did she speak much.
Had the way he’d killed Ox bothered her?
He’d only meant to save her. He’d have liked to ask her, but she’d been sequestered in the carriage with only brief breaks. And those short times they were together, they’d been surrounded by people. He cursed under his breath as he looked back at the carriage once again.
As the sun set on the second day, he was bone tired. He could see that Edge and Clubs were as well.
They barely needed to speak to agree that a stop for the night was necessary. The decision was confirmed by the fact that the moment they entered the common room of an inn, they saw a band of soldiers sitting together at a large table.
Edge had booked their rooms and began to hand out keys, so Ash took his key, deciding to delay sleep a little longer. “Take Lily to our room. I’m just going to chat with these gentlemen for a minute.”
Edge gave him a quick nod, his eyes showing his approval as he ushered the rest of the party up the stairs.
It didn’t take him long to broker a deal, most of the men were looking for extra work and extra pay on their way home. Satisfied that if those thieves attacked again, they’d be ready, Ash made his way upstairs. He half expected to find Lily already asleep, but when he entered the room, he found it dark and empty.
For a moment, his heart stopped in his chest.
Where had she gone? Had someone taken her?
But then the distinct sound of splashing came from behind the screen.
“Lily?”
“I’m just washing up,” she called. “You don’t have that soap, do you? I was able to get a bucket of hot water, and while I’d love a proper bath, some soap would really help.”
He reached into his bag, finding the soap and crossing to the screen, his hand going over the top. He felt her fingers, small and velvety, brush his as she took the cake from him.
What might she be wearing at this moment? What state of undress was she in?
His blood rushed low, heat filling his veins despite the exhaustion, and he found himself holding the air in his lungs. He let it out in a long gush as he heard her continue her toilet.
Christ.
Being this close to her might be the death of him.
He closed his eyes, imagining her naked. Not the most gentlemanly pursuit, he knew. But then again, who had ever accused him of being a real gentleman?
Her mother had been a mistress. He knew she’d never agree to be his. And he’d not take a wife, so there was little point in imagining.
But he did anyway.
He pictured her hair tumbling over him, her silky skin against his, her small waist encapsulated in his much larger hands…
He nearly growled with need as he shoved a hand through his hair. Neither of them knew the first thing about a successful relationship. Which meant any hope he might harbor was absurd. They were doomed to fail.
Then again…
They might actually understand one another.
What would she think if he told her about his father? Would she be sympathetic? Understand what he’d been through? Reassure him that he was fundamentally a person of value? Someone who could be loved?
