TWO
Ash
I followed her on heavy footsteps right out the doors of the bar and into the cool night.
I couldn’t let her get away, not after everything.
“The view from behind is killer, Freckles, but I’d rather see those pretty eyes.” I’d like to see a helluva lot more of her too, but that was gonna take some time.
“You’re an arrogant asshole, Ash Ford. Has anyone ever told you that?” She spun and faced me, heat rising to her cheeks and little breaths heaving her chest. Hell, she was hot when she was angry.
“Once or twice.” I stepped closer, catching both of her elbows in my palms and giving her no choice but to listen to me. “Come back in and have a drink with me.”
“I don’t think I could stand to spend an hour with you.” The way that indignant flicker lit in her eyes made my dick pound. I had not expected her fire, and I hadn't expected how hot under the collar it would make me.
I thrust a hand into my pocket, fingering the small pouch that was tucked there.
“Well, you're a girl who likes a challenge, right?” I caught her chin with my thumb and turned her gaze to mine.
Electricity pulsed between us, the only thing running through my head that I wanted her under me, in my bed, right fucking now.
She rolled her eyes.
“Forget a drink. I’ve got a proposition for you.”
Her eyes shot wide, lips parting with a small puff of air. I wanted to sink my teeth into those pillowy lips and kiss her while I sank my dick deep inside her body.
“I don’t think I’m the kind of girl you’re looking for,” she shot back, yanking her chin away.
I laughed, pushing a hand through the hair at the back of her neck and pulling her to within kissing distance of my lips. “You’re exactly the girl I’m looking for. You are the kind of girl every red-blooded man is looking for. You are the girl I have been dreaming about my whole life.”
I felt the shudder course through her body. I yanked that body close to me and whispered in her ear, trying to speak clearly and enunciate every word so she would fully understand I meant business. Three long years of craving her touch, needing her scent… It was enough to drive a man crazy. The second I saw her, I knew it was her. My Tinsley, my girl. “Wonder how you’ll shiver when you’re underneath me.”
One tooth dented the pillow of her bottom lip. My other hand tightened at her hip before taking a slow drive up the contours of her body. The nip of her waist, the full roundness of her tit, soft curves for miles, just made for a man like me to appreciate.
“Give me thirty days.”
“W-what?” Her eyes darkened. “Thirty days?”
“Thirty days with me.” I slid the pad of my thumb down her cheekbone. “In my home. In my bed. Thirty days of pleasure and being worshiped like the queen you are. And after, if you want to walk away, you can walk away. But, Tinsley, I won’t take no for an answer.” I also knew I wouldn’t let her walk away. I would move heaven and earth, cut off a damn limb just to make sure this woman stayed in my bed and in my arms forever.
Her eyes scrunched closed as thoughts whirred behind her pretty dark eyes.
I hoped I hadn’t offended her. That hadn’t been my plan at all.
My fingers worked circles around the little bag in my pocket, worrying the anxiety away.
“What’s in this arrangement for me?” she finally replied.
My chest nearly cracked open at the thought of thirty days, just me and her. I couldn't believe she was actually considering it. I’d known it was a wild idea, but fuck, I’d just spent six years in the desert; nothing seemed too wild anymore.
“I'll make it worth your while,” I urged, running my lips along her hairline. “Freckles. I can give you anything your heart desires.” I didn’t wait for her reaction, pressing my lips against hers and probing with my tongue. I tried to control the urge to let loose. I had to take it slowly with her. She was inexperienced, that was written all over her face, and hell if that hadn't added to the mystery of her. “I know everything about you, Tinsley Abernathy. And I know every fiber of your body is begging to say yes right now.”
Her big, beautiful eyes widened, causing my cock to begin a slow throb behind my zipper. If she didn’t say yes, I didn’t know what the hell I’d do.
“So, let me get this straight.” She pulled away from me, eyes glued to mine. “I promise to live with you for thirty days, and you get whatever you want…sexual favors…” She looked so fucking cute when she was angry.
A hearty laugh bellowed from my chest. “I can’t believe you just called what I’m going to do to you sexual favors.” I pulled her back into my arms again, chest-to-chest.
Her chin tilted up. “What would you call it, then?”
“Listen, Freckles, there’s no easy way to explain it. You’ve just got to know I’ve been in the desert for six long fucking years. Outside of the communication you and I had…well…” I shoved a hand through my hair. “It gets lonely. A man forgets how to act around a pretty woman. Tinsley, the second I saw you, all nerves and wild eyes, my whole body knew. Those letters kept me going, all your dreams became mine. The only thing I thought about back there was how much I wanted to kiss these beautiful lips. When I caught you, I wasn’t just playing with you, sweetheart. I was nervous too. It’s not every day that a man has an opportunity to touch the most beautiful woman in the world.” I dragged one finger down the soft curve of her neck. A shiver raced through her, goose bumps erupting at my touch. She was so sensitive. Christ, I couldn’t stop thinking about her, hair spread out on my pillow, body soft and open, welcoming me. “Don’t want to scare you away, but if I learned anything being in a war zone, it’s that every second of life you’re given is precious. Made a vow I wouldn’t waste a single one when I got back."
Something shimmered behind her eyes then. “I-I—” she stammered, swiping at a tear in the corner of her eye. “I can’t believe we finally get to meet.”
My heart cracked then, and for the first time in a very long time, light seeped into the dark, empty space.
“Thought about you every time I went out on a mission. I saw shit I never want to see again. You kept me alive out there, Freckles.” I averted my eyes, remembering the poverty, the pain, the violence, and the death I’d borne witness to. “First person I wanted to see when I was back on US soil was you. I wanted you to remind me there was still beauty and goodness in a world that suffers with so much fucking pain. You forget out there. And you, my beautiful girl, were my reminder.”
Her eyes fluttered, something soft shining behind them. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you it was me.”
“It’s okay. I will always know it’s you. No one has to tell me. Was gonna let you make the first move until it looked like you weren’t.” A smile cracked her lips with my words.
“I think you should know…” She tucked a lock of dark hair behind one ear. “I’m not really…experienced. At all.”
A bolt of lightning cracked open my rib cage at her words. What the hell did she mean, she wasn't experienced? She couldn't possibly be a virgin, could she? The idea of no other man ever having touched her made me feel good. Why the fuck did that make me feel so good? I liked the idea of being the only man who would know her, knowing that no one had ever touched what was made to be mine.
I quirked my head her way, framing my palms around her creamy throat and guiding us both against the brick wall of the building. “Don’t tell me that means—” I swallowed the words in my throat “—what I think it means.”
She nodded, eyes falling to my feet.
“Jesus, Freckles.” I sucked in a quick breath, pressing my forehead to hers so our lips were just barely touching.
I just wanted to fucking take from her.
Steal her innocence, tie her to my bed, and fuck her every day for the next century. I’d never get enough of this woman, and I hadn’t even had a taste yet.
“I’m gonna ruin you in the best possible way,” I finally murmured before latching on to her lips. I stroked the seam with my tongue before plunging it past the soft flesh and tasting her. I was eating her mouth, deft sweeps of my tongue caressing every delicate corner. She tasted like honey. Slow, sweet, sticky honey that coated my soul. I’d been talking to this woman for the last thirty-six months of my life, some of the hardest times I’d ever been through, and now she was here in my arms, molded to me.
If I had my way, she’d stay molded to me just like this for the rest of forever
Something raw and urgent swelled inside me, a need to protect her, take care of her, give her all the things she wanted. I wanted to be that man for her.
“So when does this thirty days start?” she breathed against my lips, panting from the kiss I’d stolen.
The corner of my mouth slid into a grin, my eyes cutting across the arch of her cheekbones, the full pout of her lips. “Now.”