I don’t tell her I haven’t taken a real day off for as long as I’ve created the company. I don’t tell her that I’ve never once put anything other than my family ahead of my business.
“So, I was a bitch the last time we talked, and I need to apologize for that. My sister, and all her therapist insight, pointed out how much I haven’t been considering your feelings in my decision-making.I’ve been very focused on where I go from here and not really realizing that I like this pit stop I’ve made. I like—no, I love—my job. I love what I do, and I have so many thoughts on how to grow the company. And it all came to a head when I thought about this not being my plan. This isn’t what I intended when I moved home.
“It scared me that making the choice to stay in Bluebell Falls would be short-lived. I was scared that in a few months, a few years, I would feel trapped and break both our hearts, and I couldn’t do that to you. Everything I’ve done lately is purely based on fear. Keeping us a secret was a protection of sorts. I didn’t want everyone’s opinions to infiltrate what we had created with each other. I didn’t want them convincing you I wasn’t worth it. I handled things fucking terribly.” She lets out a self-deprecating laugh as she brushes a single tear from her eye.
“And now?” I ask softly, not wanting to break this confession.
She sits up and straddles my hips, looking deep into my eyes.
“Now, I want to make it up to you.”
“Ains—”
“Let me finish. I want to show you that I don’t care about the gossip mill. The only thing that matters is how we feel about each other.”
“And how do we feel about each other?” I ask tentatively.
“Well, you told me you loved me, and I am hoping that still rings true because I love you too.” She sucks in a breath, waiting for my response.
I sit completely still, shocked as hell at her words. Apparently, an extra night at her sister’s gave her all the clarity she needed, and I’m running full-force ahead with it.
“I love you so fucking much,” I breathe before gripping her hips and yanking her closer to me. Our lips clash in a mash of tongues and teeth.
Everything else can wait. All the details and plans can take a back seat. Right now, I need to feel my woman. I need to feel her love as I bleed mine into her.
Chapter 36
Ainsley
Relief like I’ve never felt before courses through me. Ledger got creative and found a way to be here for me, no matter what, and I couldn’t be more thankful. His steadfast love for me is proving to be exactly what I need right now.
Although, grinding on him might be showing him a little of that gratitude.
“One day without you was too much. Let’s not do that again,” he says against my neck. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, tears coming to my eyes because of how I’ve treated him. I need to show him I’m in this and probably need to grovel like Larkin said.
“Don’t apologize, just be with me here. Now.” He rocks my hips against his already hard cock, and a whimper breaks free from me.
Ledger has this power over me. He sneaks in behind my defenses and loves me even when I’m adamant I don’t need it. Even when I haven’t shown him the same.
That changes today.
“Thank you for being here,” I say as drag my hands down his chest and abs. Reaching for the hem of his shirt, I start lifting it up and over his head. He reluctantly takes his hands off my hips and lets me strip him of his shirt.
I lean back and admire his muscles from the physical labor he does daily, the muscles that are hard-earned. The patch of hair on his chesttrails down his stomach into his happy trail. It hits me hard that this man is all mine, and my favorite thing about him isn’t his body or his job. It’s his heart and just how hard he loves those he cares about.
“Hey,” he murmurs, drawing me out of my thoughts. “You okay?”
“So good.” I smile and then yank my tank top up and over my head before throwing it across the room.
Before he can say anything else, I slide off his legs and down to the floor, kneeling in front of him. I unbutton his shorts as he lifts his hips to let me pull those and his boxer briefs off too.
“Seems a little unfair that I’m naked and you still have bottoms on,” he says.
“I think you’ll find this very fair,” I tell him before wrapping my hand around his cock and pumping him leisurely before leaning forward and licking the pearl of pre-cum off his tip.
“Jesus,” he mutters.
I feel a surge of power in my veins, knowing I can reduce Ledger to a puddle of pleasure. I circle my tongue around his tip a few times before wrapping my lips around him and sliding down as far as I can. His hips arch up, pushing further into my mouth, and I groan at the feeling of him filling me.
