His arms loop around my lower back and secure me against him. “What do you need from me?”
I stiffen in surprise—although it’s not unpleasant. “How do you mean?”
He releases me, and lowers himself onto the chair, then pats his lap, indicating I should sit there. I do, without hesitation.
“I want to give you what you need, but not be overbearing,” he says, and his embrace feels like the safest place I’ve ever been. “Just tell me what that is. If it’s food or help, I’m there. If you turn into a horn-dog again, I’ll satisfy you as many times as it takes. But if space is what you need, I’m good with that too. You just tell me, and I’ll make it happen.”
That’s when I know I love him again. If I ever stopped at all. He’s taken what I told him about our past to heart and wants to move on in a healthy way.
I am here for it.
“Right now, I need another kiss.”
A slow smile claims his mouth. “Anything you need.”
Seth
Twenty-four hours after Ashlin tells me she’s pregnant with our child, it still hasn’t sunk in. Every part of me wants to grab her and hide her away, safe from the world, but I resist, even when it means getting out of bed at my usual time, kissing her on the cheek, and leaving. I know she’ll be going to her own job, and she won’t thank me for getting overprotective. Still, all of my instincts tell me that not having her nearby is wrong. All day, it eats at me that she’s out there at work, while I’m here and anything could happen. By the time I can finally go home, my muscles are tense with the need to hold her.
She’s a grown woman, I remind myself.A tough, smart, too-good-for-you woman, and she needs you to keep your shit together.
But when I leap out of the car at her house and she flings the door open, races down the path and hurls herself into my arms as though we haven’t seen each other for months rather than hours, it’s the best sensation ever. I hug her tighter and breathe in her delicate floral scent.
“I missed you,” I say.
Our mouths crash together, and she practically climbs me. Hand cupping her ass, I stumble toward the house, determined not to put on any more of a show for the neighbors than we already have. Inside, we make love in a twist of limbs and desperation. Afterward, she runs her hand up and down my chest while we catch our breath. Catching her fingers, I bring them to my lips and kiss each one, lingering on the one that used to wear my ring. If I get my way, she’ll be wearing it again soon. I’ll hold off on asking for a while though. Wait until we’re properly re-established. I don’t want to push her into anything she’s not ready for, and scare her away.
My phone rings, and I curse.
“You should get that,” Ashlin says. “Might be important.”
“Important enough to interrupt this?” I chuckle and run the back of my knuckles along her cheekbone. “Unlikely.”
“Go on.” She gives me a little push. “Get it.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re going to be stubborn. Got it.” Reaching over, I grab the phone from the nightstand and check the screen, then frown.Leo Delaney. What the hell is he calling for? Leo is a fighter who trains at another gym. We’ve traveled in the same circles for years, but while we’re friendly, I wouldn’t say we’re friends. I glance at Ashlin. I don’t want to leave the magical bubble we’ve created for ourselves, but I’d better see what he wants.
“I’ve got to take this.” I shuffle over to sit on the edge of the bed as I answer. “Leo, what’s up?”
“You been listening to the grapevine today?” he asks in a Californian drawl I recognize well.
“Can’t say I have.” I scratch my chin. “Something happen?”
He whistles low. “You could say that. There’s been a major drug bust at my gym. A bunch of guys were arrested, including Stan and Karson.”
“Whoa.” I stand up and pace the length of the room. Stan is the coach at Leo’s gym, City Fight Center, and Karson is one of his two golden boys, with Leo being the other. While it doesn’t surprise me that Karson is wrapped up in drugs, I’d never have expected Stan to be involved. “Sounds serious. What are you doing about it?” If I know Leo, he’ll already have an exit plan. He’s not the kind of guy who wants to be associated with cheaters.
“I’ve gathered a few fighters I know are clean. We’d like to move to Crown. You got room for us?”
Fuck. Leo is abandoning ship, and taking his friends with him. Knowing him like I do, I can guess who a couple of them are, and I’d be stupid not to welcome them with open arms.
“Always got room for you, man. Do you have stuff you need to store?”
“Only a few bits and pieces.”
“Can you meet me at the gym in half an hour?” I glance at Ashlin, who’s watching me with interest, not the slightest bit self-conscious in her nakedness. Exactly how I like her. Fuck, I wish I didn’t have to leave.
“That’d be awesome. Thanks. I appreciate it.”
