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Someone is obviously excited to be pressed against me early in the morning. When I shift, a moan rumbles against my back.
“Ash,” I whisper. “I should go.”
He lowers his head, kissing the side of my neck, and goose bumps pebble my skin. His hand splays on my stomach and I can feel heat seep through my sweater. I’m hyper-aware of his every twitch behind me, the weight of his arm over my waist, his breath on my neck. He smells of spice and musky boy. It’s a heady cocktail that hits straight to my core, making me ache for his touch.
His hand slips under the hem of my sweater and strokes my bare skin, sending a huge tremor through me. Oh yes, that feels so good. But then his long fingers drift lower, sliding into my leggings, under my panties.
I grab his hand. It’s the one with the IV needle. “Stop, Ash. You’ll pull the IV out. Doesn’t it hurt?”
He kisses my neck and doesn’t answer.
“I should go,” I say, my voice breathless. “The nurse will be here to check on you any minute now.”
“I don’t care.”
He nuzzles my ear and his hand slides lower, pressing into my seam, spreading me open. I can only pant and rock into his touch as he strokes me, long, sure thrusts that send electric shocks up my spine and liquefy my bones. My hips roll and pleasure crests incredibly fast, wiping out reason.
“Oh god.” I moan, my body moving of its own accord, seeking a release to the mounting pressure inside me. “Ash...”
“So sweet,” he murmurs, scraping his teeth on my skin. “So hot. I’ve only ever wanted you.”
I gasp and shudder, white-hot pleasure shooting through me, the great wave breaking over me and carrying me away.
As I come down, I find myself on my back, in the circle of his arms. His ice-blue eyes are staring down at me, and his lips are tilted in a half-smile.
“I’ve wanted to be like this with you ever since I kissed you in high school,” he says. “Hell, even before that. You’re mine, Auds. And I’m yours for all time, if you want me.”
I let his words wash over me, healing old wounds and fears, taking away the last of the sadness and bitterness festering inside me. I smile as he tells me again he loves me, and I believe him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Asher
Audrey drifts back to sleep in my arms. Holding her feels so damn good. And the way she writhed under my hands, the sounds of pleasure she made... Tensing. Then trusting me to catch her as she came apart.
Telling me she loves me. That she’ll be with me. That she’ll help me. I close my eyes. Too much to take in. All this joy, after the sorrow of finding out my dad was dead, the fear of running for my life, and the anger at Tyler for showing up and expecting me to just follow his lead as I had when I was a kid.
I need time to digest everything, sort it out, decide how I feel. Right now my head buzzes as if I have a fucking hurricane trapped inside my skull.
The nurse comes all too soon, followed by Zane. I try to keep my hold on Audrey, because dammit I don’t want to let go, but she blinks sleepy eyes at me, smiles, and extricates herself from my arms.
Zane’s eyes are big as saucers, going from Audrey to me and back. Then a corner of his mouth tugs up and he winks at me. “It was about time, fucker.”
Bastard.
“Hey, I... um.” Audrey blushes and ducks her head. She looks so cute. “I’ll be back later, okay?”
I struggle to sit up and I watch her leave, fighting rising panic.
Jesus, Ash. She’ll be back. No reason why I should feel so cold without her in my arms. She’s come back before. I have to trust her.
Zane shakes his head, the half-smile still in place.
“You said something about a social worker?” I let the male nurse manhandle me to check the stitches on my side and lower back. “Is she coming by today?”
“No.” Zane rubs the back of his neck. “About that. It won’t be necessary.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
