I worry my lip between my teeth.
Jase loosens my lip. “Don’t be afraid to tell me the truth, Ash. I can handle it. I see the way you look at him too.”
“I have feelings for him,” I truthfully admit. “And I feel even closer to Ares now. I feel very…protective of him. I’m worried what all the revelations are doing to him.”
“Do you want to know what I think?” he asks, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“Always.”
His wide smile turns my insides to mush. “I think you love him too.”
“It’s too soon to say, Jase. I’m not sure how deep it goes.”
“I think there was an instant connection between you, but you both fought it. I don’t think it’s been soon at all. I think it’s been a gradual buildup. All that bickering and flirting was foreplay.” He waggles his brows, and his grin expands.
“Why are you okay with this? You hate him?”
“Hate is a very strong word. I don’thatehim, Ash. He irritates me and pisses me off. Mainly because of the way he was with you, and we need to get to the bottom of his animosity for Chad. But he’s growing on me. Like mold.” He winks, and I bark out a laugh. His expression turns tender as he cups one of my cheeks. “Hearing what you just said helps a lot. He cares about you, and he looked after you when we deserted you. He gets major brownie points for that. And for holding back. For giving you space and letting your needs dictate the pace. I know how hard it is to be around you and not want to nail you to the nearest flat surface.”
I burst out laughing again, placing my hands on his chest and marveling at how amazing he is. “God, I love you for so many things, but this is so selfless, Jase. I’m not sure I’m worthy of you.”
He pulls my face to his for a loving kiss. “Stop stealing all my lines.” He eases back, cradling my face and staring at me like I’m the only person who exists on the planet. “It’s always about you, Ash. And it will continue to be so. Whatever you need or want, you got it.”
“You really mean it? You would let Ares be with me even after we’re married?”
“Absolutely.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “If that’s what you need.” He cocks his head to one side, and his lips curve at the corners. “Of course, I’ll have to have a chat with him. Let him know he’s dead if he ever hurts you.”
I roll my eyes. “I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We’re not even a thing, and Ares said he won’t share. If he won’t change his mind, that’s that.”
“He’ll change his mind.” His tone resonates with confidence I don’t feel. “He’s already on the same wavelength as me and Chad when it comes to you. It’ll be easier than he thinks.”
My skepticism still shows on my face.
“I see you don’t believe me.” His hand traces a path down over my arm, brushing against the side of my breast, along the dip at my waist, and around the curve of my hip. “You underestimate your allure. I’m not just talking about your rocking body.” His fingers sweep back and forth across my hipbone, reviving my snoozing libido. “You’re intelligent, kind, sweet, funny, and when you love someone, you love them with your whole heart. Once someone comes into your orbit, it’s impossible for them to walk away.”
“Jase,” I croak as tears pool in my eyes. “You’re going to turn me into an egomaniac if you keep this up.”
“Never, baby.” He pulls me into his chest and bundles me into his arms. The steady thrumming of his heart under my ear is soothing. “I speak only the truth.” He tips my chin up. “Thank you for giving me another chance.”
“Thank you for risking so much to protect me and keep me safe.”
We kiss for a few minutes, neither of us in a hurry. His minty breath confirms he must have gotten up at some point before me and brushed his teeth. When we break apart, we stare at one another with shared intensity lingering in the space between us. “You’re my world, and I’m going to give that to you.”
I palm his face. “You make everything seem better even when it’s not.”
“You do that for me too.” His tongue darts out, wetting his lips. “I want to ask you one final thing before we need to get up.”
“You can ask me anything. I’m an open book.”
“What about Chad?”
I gulp over the messy ball of emotion clogging my throat. “I want to make things right with him, but I don’t know if we can get past everything. And we don’t know what state he’ll be in when we get him back.” Anger surges to the surface. “That woman needs to die,” I hiss, clenching my hands at Jase’s sides.
“Agreed. And we still need to deal with that bitch Anita too.”
“I’d actually forgotten about her, but yes, she needs to be dealt with too.”
“Leave Anita to Ares and me, and when Cleo Carter’s time comes, you and Chad can handle it.”
