Yeah, a bold statement.
The look in his eyes softened, but he still looked unconvinced. Guarded.
Maybe he really thought this day might never come. Maybe he’d prepared himself for that possibility.
Maybe he didn’t trust me after all we’d been through. The ups and downs and the waiting, never knowing how this was gonna play out.
If I was ever gonna man up.
I didn’t blame him.
In reality, it would take more than a romantic public gesture to prove my commitment. This was just the first step.
“What is it you want?” I asked him. “We can do this however you want, Ashley.”
“However I want?” He shook his head. “What is ityouwant, Matt?”
“I want you.” I looked at Danica, trying to infuse the words with everything I’d felt for so long. “Both of you.”
“Then take it already,” Ash said. “And if you’re gonna do this, do it right.”
“Huh?” I searched his face, trying to understand what he wanted. I just wanted to know what he wanted. Whatever it was, I’d give it.
“Kiss the lady first, for fuck’s sake.”
Oh.
Not a problem.
I met Danica’s gaze. I took her face in my hands, and I felt her soften into me. Her eyes held mine as I stroked my thumbs over her cheeks.
“You ready for this?” I asked her.
“Matt,” she said, her eyes softening, “I’ve been ready for this for a long, long time.”
So I pushed her up against the wall, pressing my body against hers, just like I did to Ash at that castle, but gently. I leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were so fucking soft, I groaned.
She opened her mouth for me and I slid my tongue inside, heat sweeping through me as we pressed together and she clung to me. Sparks rippled all through my body. Desire knotted at the base of my spine.
I could’ve kissed her like this, just let myself get lost in her soft mouth, all fucking night. I was almost trembling, my breathing uneven, I wanted this so bad. But I tried to go slow, hold back, take it easy.
I could feel Ash’s warmth, his body close to mine as he shifted closer to us. I wanted to kiss him, too, but I couldn’t tear myself away from what I was experiencing. I wanted them both, like I’d never wanted anyone or any fucking thing.
I kept kissing Danica, long and deep, my head swimming with the delirium, as time swept by. I felt drunk, and I’d barely finished a single glass of champagne.
When I came up for air, I could practically see the stars shining in her soft blue eyes. She was breathless, clinging to my jacket. She didn’t let go as I reached around the back of Ash’s neck and pulled his face to mine.
This time, he didn’t stop me.
His mouth met mine as we crashed together. Hungry, impatient, driven by the long months we’d all waited for this. And all the longing and waiting and even the fear just evaporated, like we were always meant to end up like this.
Time didn’t matter.
This was the only truth.
His mouth dominated mine, almost angrily, but then I took over, and he let me. I savored his soft lips, the rasp of his shaved skin against mine. I wondered if he could taste his wife on my tongue. My heart hammered in my chest, pumping adrenaline through my body as my head swam.
When I finally drew back to look into his eyes, make sure this was all okay with him—because if it wasn’t, I was gonna fucking die on the spot—his pupils were blown. But he smirked at me, even as his chest rose and fell with deep, heavy breaths; cocky and still a little pissed at me, probably. “Took you long enough.”
