Page 66 of Power of Shadow

I’m pretty sure that after how the evening went, there’s no way Ash will want to spend any time alone with me in the near future.

Who could blame her?

After all, we invaded her sanctuary, imprisoned her sister, and threatened Zoe with a gun. The fact that I’d gave Ash orgasm a few minutes earlier didn’t help my case at all.

But as I waited for her in her bedroom, something stirred inside me. Logic went out the window, and I acted on instinct.

I hadn’t planned on kissing her, caressing her, or other things. Everything went to hell the moment my lips touched her skin. I was lost forever.

Threatening Zoe wasn’t part of the plan either. That was all Eli.

Ash and Zoe Monroe are a mystery in many ways. Eli’s frustrated by the unfillable voids in their life that online information cannot bridge. They’re a challenge that tempts him. So, as soon as he heard about my plan to surprise Ash, he tweaked it a bit.

You could say he invited himself in. And then Theo joined in too. And there we were.

But I didn’t stop him for one reason only.

After Zoe hits Eli, he doesn’t stop smiling like he’s possessed.

Ash is beaming with pride. Her eyes shine like crazy. Looking at her, I’m constantly semi-hard. Even when I let her go, we remain in the same orbit, still not too far apart.

An hour after Zoe’s release, the boys have to go back to Feather. Eli, being Eli, doesn’t let up and whispers something in Zoe’s ear before leaving. As soon as he turns his back, she rewards him with a glass that flies right past his head. Eli retaliates with loud laughter.

Theo leaves with a more somber expression than usual. It surprises me a little, but my brother has been like this since his teenage years. He has his own shit to deal with, as we all do, but his confrontation with the past is fast approaching. I can feel it.

After they leave, I grab Ash’s hand and pull her toward the exit. As we pass, I wink at Zoe and tell her I’ll bring her back soon. Maybe I will, but I keep that to myself.

As quickly as possible, I lead her out of the apartment. Surprisingly, Ash doesn’t resist, doesn’t break free when I take her away for myself.

Self-doubt, which is strange for me, flashes through my mind. I don’t want her to be with me just because it will keep me away from Zoe. I’m not blind, and I notice how much she wants to protect her little sister. I crush my doubts in the bud because, selfishly, I have no intention of letting that stop me.

The night is slowly ending as we arrive at Big Sur in my navy blue Audi R8. Ash doesn’t say a word the entire way, just watches the world outside the window. Every now and then, she glances in my direction and almost immediately turns her head away.

Elley Duhé’s song “Middle of the Night” flows from the player. The song fits so well, it almost makes me smile.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glance at the woman who, without even realizing it, is turning my life upside down.

Hell, I want to know every thought that absorbs her so much. I want to know everything about her, want to learn the most interesting lesson from her.

Patience, my mind reminds me.

I turn off the main road onto a less traveled one. We slow down a bit, but we still leave a cloud of dust behind us. After a moment, we’re almost at the edge of the cliff. I park and turn off the lights.

For a moment, I gaze at the tranquil water, its surface extending to the horizon. It calms me down. In this one place in the world, I allow myself to be without a mask, vulnerable.

“Where are we?” Ash whispers, and my eyes meet hers. She attempts to display her typical lack of interest, but a glint is in her green irises. The seemingly insignificant gesture of turning the silver ring on her thumb tells me she’s nervous.

“This is my place, Ash,” I start. “A place I escape to to catch my breath, get away from the world, think.”

“And what’s there to think about? We should end this game and this evening. Let’s part ways here and now, and go our separate ways.”

My breath catches in my lungs, and I feel like my heart stops for a moment. I can’t hear it beating, can’t feel it pumping blood through my veins. Something strange clenches my insides in an iron grip.

What are you doing to me?

Ash looks away from me, and it hurts more than I can admit. I grab her chin and turn her toward me. I let down my defenses and allow her to see the real me.

Even if just for a moment...