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“No, and you can let him know he doesn’t have to haul his equipment. I’ll have one here.”
She scans my face before doubling over and bursting into giggles. Just like last night, with her body vibrating against mine, I go hard as steel.
The next twelve hours until I can get her under me again are going to suck.
•—•—•—•—•
I curl in behind her, laying an arm across her chest and kissing the back of her head. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”
“Owww, please be gentle,” she whines.
“You sore?”
“Everywhere.”
“You should have taken me up on my offer for a hot bath at my place.”
She flinches, hissing lightly as she rolls into me. “Why aren’t you at your place?”
“Because you’re here.”
“I figured you’d go home.”
“Not without you.”
“You missed the game?”
“I streamed the first half on my phone.”
Her sleepy eyes go soft, and she gives me her version of sweet before she nuzzles into my neck. “I’m glad you stayed.”
Her words score through me as I lightly run my hand up and down her back. Yesterday’s events roll through my head. As expected, the office was full when we arrived, everyone eager to see the woman who landed Miller Kendrick. I was right. After Saturday night when mom got wind of Ashlyn, she wasted no time fueling the office gossip. My last-minute request to meet with Andi spread like wildfire. I suspect that was my dad’s big mouth. So, it was no surprise that Mom showed up with bags of pastries as if it was a typical Monday morning ritual.
What should have been a quick meeting turned into a revolving door of people ‘stopping in’ my office with bogus excuses. I finally had to lock my door to cover the basics of Andi’s involvement without interruptions. I thought the attention would push Ashlyn, but she took it all in stride, even suggesting a tour of the building so everyone could get their fill of ‘the woman who caught the playboy’s eye’. I let it go until we walked into the breakroom full of people enjoying Mom’s treats. Right there, I tugged Ashlyn to me and kissed her with the audience, whispering the word ‘playboy’ against her lips before pulling away to let her know how I felt about her description.
Surprisingly, she didn’t flinch, even though she pinched the shit out of my side. By the time we got back here, a crew was working. Her smile was wide and loaded with girly excitement when I handed her the goggles and told her to change because she was first with the sledgehammer.
Another thing I learned about Ashlyn is she is an exceptional student. She listened, absorbing every instruction, and had no problem with manual labor. Not one complaint, never as she hammered, tore apart, and hauled trash away. At the end of the day, she was covered in dust and grime, but her smile was still beaming.
At seven, Andi called with a few updates, and I took the call on the patio. This was my first mistake. By the time I came back in, Ashlyn was lying in bed, freshly showered, and fast asleep. Waking her up proved useless. My second mistake was not picking her up and driving to my house. Because when I crawled in behind her after my shower, I realized her bed was shit. She whimpered when I folded her to me but didn’t wake.
“Princess, we have to get up.”
“Don’t you ever sleep?”
“Every night.”
“Is it normal that even my toes are aching?” she purrs into my neck.
“The way you went at it yesterday, not surprising.”
“I know now why you’re so built. This construction gig is no joke. Manual labor is hard.”
“Yeah, it is, but baby, I go to the gym four times a week.”
“I don’t know how.”
I chuckle, sliding my hand to her ass and squeezing. “Your bed sucks. We’re moving to mine tonight.”
“Mmhmm.” She’s drifting off again.
I hate to do it, but I haul us both up, getting a wail from her. “What are you doing?”
“Getting up to make you coffee, and then we have to get some food. Fucking peanut butter toast isn’t my meal this morning.”
She inches back, blinking a few times until her eyes are clear. “You had peanut butter toast for dinner?”
“That’s all you have.”
So many things pass over her face before she glides her hand over my chest and cups my chin. “You missed the game, had no food, and hated my bed, yet you stayed.”
It’s a statement, and I stay quiet while she processes. She may be finally getting it.
“I may be handicapped with aches and pain, but I’ll go get us breakfast after you help me out of bed.”
I cuddle her gently in my arms, moving slowly as I swing my legs off the bed and stand. She gasps, her eyes dropping low.
“You’re naked, and…”
“And hard, baby. You can say it. Better get used to it.”
