“So, Bean’s not your real brother?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“And you love him?” A tone of resignation filled his voice.
“I do,” she said with a vigorous nod. “I love him very much.”
“I see.” Ash’s voice dropped to a whisper.
He pulled her into his lap, despite her protests. Strong arms enfolded her, encasing her in steel.
The plane jerked to a stop, and a few seconds later, the cockpit door popped open. “We’ve arrived,” their pilot announced.
“I arranged a car to pick us up,” Ash said to the pilot. “Can you see if it’s here?”
Hydraulics whirred as the stairs unfolded and lowered to the ground.
Ash’s arm cinched around her shoulders. He kissed the top of her head. “Why were you engaged to Spencer if you love Bean?” The raw edge of disappointment clouded his voice, disturbing the rich tonal notes.
A pained acceptance pronounced itself, and she realized her mistake.
She pushed off his chest to stare into his eyes. “I love Bean very much.” She made certain to speak slowly, ensuring Ash understood and wouldn’t miss what she was saying. “I love Bean, as my brother. He’s my family. Not my?—”
“Damn, you’re exhausting.” He laughed.
“Exhausting? You seriously didn’t just say that. I spilled my guts out to you.”
“Yes, you did.”
“And you think it’s funny?”
He’d better have a reason for the laugh, or she was going to kick his ass.
He placed her palms on his chest. “Not by a long shot. I’m going to take you out of this plane, tuck you into my bed, and sleep all night long, curled up next to you. In the morning, we’re going to have breakfast in bed. Then, I’m going to show you how a man loves a woman, erasing the bad memories and replacing them with something new.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Babe, I might be many things, but two things I know for sure.”
“What is that?”
“I rock it onstage like there’s no tomorrow. And I’m going to rock your world.”
“It’s not so easy. You can’t wipe away a lifetime of abuse with a simple fuck.”
He laughed. “Lucky for you, there’s nothing simple about the way I fuck. Besides, I love a challenge. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m sure as shit not letting you run away.”
His intensity terrified her almost as much as it exhilarated her. She didn’t relish being Ash’s project, but for him, she was willing to give it a try.
When the two of them collided, the world seemed to fall into place.
She pushed against his chest. “We’re going to have to buy clothes before we hit the hotel.”
He winked. “True, but I’m paying from here on out.”
She laughed at his pathetic attempt to take control. “Oh no, Rock star. We’re still splitting the bills.”
His eyes rolled. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
