Page 106 of Power of Shadow

Meanwhile, I gently massage shampoo into her soft hair. “Little Killer?”

She begins with a sigh. “He wanted to convince me to give us a chance and go out with him. He tried to convince me how perfect we are for each other.”

My fingers pause. My reaction is harsher than it should be. “What the fuck?”

Ash turns in my arms and adds quickly, “It’s nothing. I told him there would never be a future like that for us.”

“Stop saying ‘it’s nothing’ about everything that happened today. It’s all important. It’s important to me.” I bite my cheek, but it doesn’t stop me from being harsh.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“But it’s true,” Ash says, leaning down and kissing the corner of my mouth. Then she does the same on the other side. It’s not the right time, but my cock twitches. I’m hard as hell, and I’m really trying to ignore it. “Now you’re going to tell me what’s going on with Zoe and Eli?”

There’s nothing better than mentioning those two at a moment like this. “Eli found out that Zoe is responsible for the files she stole from my father’s computer.”

Ash’s eyes catch mine. “Oh, that,” she gasps.

“Yes, that. Don’t you think that’s pretty important? My father went crazy and ordered us to find the culprit. Eli killed a man for your sister because someone’s head had to roll.”

“What?” Ash’s wide eyes dart around my face. “I know Zoe made a mistake. She— Jesus. She doesn’t know who your father is, Ryker. She has no idea.”

“Shhh.” I pull Ash’s naked body close. “It’s okay now. Eli took care of everything.”

“But how? Why?”

The corners of my mouth rise. “If I had to guess, I’d say we both have a soft spot for the Monroe sisters, even though Eli keeps those things to himself.”

Ash’s eyes widen a second time and blinks several times. “But they—they fight all the time.”

“A bit like us in the early days,” I comment. “Which doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about her. He couldn’t find his place when he discovered the truth. We didn’t even know Zoe was a little computer genius. When Eli found out—I guess that was the moment he was sold.”

Ash’s light chuckle fills the shower stall.

“And you just say that? It doesn’t bother you? This whole situation with the files?”

“I had questions, but they don’t bother me. Now I know she’s your backup, just like I have Eli and Theo. I’m just worried it might put you in danger.”

I take her body wash and pour it onto the loofah. The scent of green tea reaches my nose. Delicious. Just like my Ash.

I’m washing her body when she asks another question. “Has anything else happened? Any progress on my father’s case?”

“No. We don’t have anything yet,” I respond, and Ash looks at me in that strange way.

It’s not the first time she’s done this. She presses her lips together and says nothing more.

There’s something else she’s not telling me. I can feel it inside. But I don’t press her right now. It has to wait.

I have secrets of my own that I should tell her about. It’s just not the right time to lay out all my cards.

I’m rinsing the soap off her body when Ash grabs my hand and moves it down her stomach. I stare at it, mesmerized, imagining that at least a trace of my hand would remain. Nothing like that happens.

Her skin is so soft, tempting.

My eyes close for a moment when she guides me straight to her lower lips. It’s not the first time I’ve touched her there, but every time I do, I feel like a virgin. I slide my index finger out, feeling the warmth of her swollen clit.

Just like my breathing, my pulse instantly quickens, and my cock twitches.

“Ash, this isn’t a good idea in your state,” I pant with a moan that escapes my lips of its own accord.