“You named him?” He leaned back to gape at Ash. “Next he’ll show up with his tiny suitcases, asking which room is his. You’re just digging yourself deeper with this guy.”
“Nope. I made it clear it’s just dinner and that’s it,” Ash huffed like he was proud of putting his foot down with a raccoon. “Told him I wasn’t committing to anything but food.”
Danny stared up at him then burst out laughing as he imagined Ash towering over the small animal, giving it a stern lecture while feeding it.
When he imagined Ash supplying tiny utensils and a napkin, Danny lost it. It was the kind of laugh that had tears blurring his vision and a stitch working its way into his side.
“You gave him a small table and chair, admit it.” Danny could barely get the words out, trying to remember the last time he’d laughed this hard.
“There you are,” Ash murmured, smiling softly. “You’re beautiful when you’re not hiding.”
Sobering, Danny glanced away. Compliments were nothing more than a tactic to get what you wanted or a way to disarm before a strike. The only time they felt safe was when Isaac gave them.
They didn’t feel deceptive coming from Ash, but that didn’t mean Danny knew how to accept them.
“Don’t be embarrassed, honey bear.” Ash kissed his forehead, his lips warm and lingering. “You ready to hit the road?”
The change of subject was exactly what Danny needed to escape the awkwardness of the situation.
“Are we heading back to town or finishing our ride?” Without thinking, Danny lifted his head when Ash grabbed the helmet, like he’d been riding for years instead one day.
“Gentleman’s choice. You’re calling the shots, sweetheart.” Ash secured the straps, but he lifted the visor so Danny could clearly see him.
“What do you want to do?” Being the one to decide wasn’t something Danny was used to. Brad had always made the decisions, from what they ate for dinner to where they were going for entertainment. He even chose what Danny wore, like picking out an outfit was a complicated task.
But he knew why Brad insisted. He hated the way Danny dressed, the way he styled his hair, the chains, the eyeliner. Pretty much despised everything about Danny except sex, but even in bed, Brad called the shots.
It was like having a puppet master, strings deeply embedded inside his soul.
Ash’s fingers stilled, his gaze holding Danny’s. “I want to spend time with you. It doesn’t matter what we do or where we go. As long as I get to be with you, I’m happy.”
This had to be a dream. If it was, Danny wanted to sleep forever, never returning to the empty reality he only existed in. In this reality with Ash, it felt warm, vibrant, and alive.
“I like being with you too.” Danny slowly exhaled. “A lot. You…you make me feel…like rainbows are exploding inside my stomach.”
That wasn’t what Danny was about to say. He’d meant to say that Ash made him feel nice. Now all he could think about was Skittles going off like live mines in his gut.
“Exploding rainbows?” Ash’s grin was playful, his thumb softly brushing over Danny’s bottom lip. “Is that better than flapping butterflies?”
“I have no idea where that came from. Mama Lou must’ve spiked my food with hot sauce. I’m having ghost pepper hallucinations.”
“You’re not allowed to take it back.” Ash gently tugged on the chin strap. “It’s the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Danny snorted. “You are so weird.”
Yet, he was preening on the inside. Even if Ash was bullshitting him, Danny was so starved that he ate it up and was greedy for more.
“Maybe, but I stand by what I said. Keep talking dirty to me and we’ll need an entire chocolate cream pie.” Ash winked, making heat spread like wildfire across Danny’s face and ears. What did that even mean? Did he want Danny to feed him an entire pie or… He wasn’t sure what else you could do with it besides eat it.
As if he was a mind reader, Ash growled close to Danny’s ear, “I’d slowly lick the chocolate from the most addictive parts of your body.”
A gasp escaped, leaving Danny’s lips slightly parted. He found it hard to breathe as he thought of Ash doing the filthiest things to him.
He was so not ready for this lumberjack. Ash was either short-circuiting his brain all the time or… No, he was just short-circuiting his brain. The guy had the same exact effect on him whether Danny felt safe or vulnerable. But unlike before, when he was forced to adapt, with Ash, Danny didn’t need to rush. So far, Ash had been patient, not once becoming irritated or moody. But it wasn’t just his temperament. Danny felt it somewhere deep that Ash meant everything he said.
And that’s what thrilled and terrified him.
“Third choice?” Ash murmured, puffs of warm air tickling Danny’s cheek. “My place. Just giving you options to consider.”
