We pulled up outside La Tratoria. Every time I saw the place, it always amazed me with it elegance. “A special dinner for two?”

“Something like that.”

He hopped out of the car and opened my door before I had a chance to unbuckle myself. We walked into the restaurant hand in hand and it felt nice to be on the arm of a man who cherished me—who loved me. I felt strange just thinking it. The man holding my hand was in love . . . with me. The feeling of pride that swelled in my chest was like nothing I’d ever felt. It was a delicious sensation; one I knew I’d never tire of.

Bypassing the main dining room, I was confused. We’d eaten at the same table each time we’d dined there so, naturally, I assumed we’d be sitting there. I didn’t question him, just went where he led. When we came to a door in the back, Ashton opened it with a flourish. We stepped into the room and I froze.

My parents.

My parents.

Oh my God.

The air left my lungs in a whoosh, the hand not in Ashton’s now clasped over my mouth. My knees began to buckle and I felt him slide closer, knowing that if he hadn’t been holding me, there was no way I would still be on my feet. I hadn’t seen them in so long, yet it felt like yesterday. Mom’s hair was shorter, her eyes more tired, but she was still the same woman who’d blown on my cuts and grazes, talked to me about boys, and helped me curl my hair for prom. Dad was slightly grayer, but it suited him. He’d filled out a bit too. But his smile was exactly the same. I loved that smile nearly as much as I loved my dad.

Mom ran up to me crying, wrapping me in the tightest hug imaginable. The back of my throat burned as I tried to hold onto my emotions, but it was impossible and the tears fell down my cheeks. Ashton quietly stepped away, giving me a few minutes alone with my mother and father.

Mom leaned back to look me in the eye. “You were amazing tonight, Laney. We are so very proud of you.”

She pulled me in close again, her face tucked into my neck, and her arms around me were joined by Dad’s. “I’m so happy we got to see your first performance.”

“How?—when? Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here,” I squealed when I eventually moved out of their embrace, my head bouncing back and forth between the two of them.

Mom’s smile warmed me all the way to my toes. “Ashton called us and asked if we wanted to come.”

“But you guys can’t afford to come here for just a weekend. I’m thrilled you’re here, but you didn’t need to do that.”

“Don’t worry, babydoll, Ashton covered all our expenses.”

My hand flew to my chest. “He did?”

I searched the room for Ashton. I didn’t know if he’d come back, but I wanted him to know how thankful I was. Before my eyes could find him, Dad took hold of my shoulders and turned me to face him. “You’ve got yourself a good man there. I’m glad to see you so happy.”

“Ashton makes me happier than I’ve ever been.”

“That’s all we could ask for.”

A tap on my shoulder made me turn. “You were amazing,” Mrs. Hawes gushed.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Hawes.” She lifted her brows and waited. “Sorry, Faith.”

“That’s better.” She smiled. “I’m so excited to see it again next week.”

“You’re coming again?”

“Absolutely!”

Mr. Hawes stepped up behind his wife, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t try and deter her. She wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He wrapped me in a hug of his own. “You were excellent.”

“She was, wasn’t she?” Ashton slid his arm around my waist, pulling me tight to him. “The kitchen should be ready with dinner, if we want to take our seats.”

Everyone moved toward the dining room, but I held back. Not wanting to hold up dinner I didn’t speak. I just placed a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth and said, “Thank you . . . so much.”

And then I went to eat dinner with my family.

* * *

Dinner passed in a blur of wonderful conversation and celebration. It was more than I could have ever asked for, and I told Ashton as much on the drive home.

“I still can’t believe you flew my parents all the way out here.”

He lifted our linked hands to his lips. “Haven’t you figured out yet that I’ll do anything to make you happy.”

“It’s occurred to me once or twice.” I laughed.

“Keep up your cheek and I promise you’ll pay for it.”

“Oh really,” I said, trying to egg him on. Like he’d actually have enough self-control to hold back long enough to make me pay.”

The second we parked in the garage Ashton was out of the car, ripping open my door, picking me up, and throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I squirmed, but nothing helped.

“Put me down, Ashton.” I tried to sound stern but my giggles were a dead giveaway.

Still trying to wriggle my way down, I let out a sharp yelp when his hand connected with my ass. Liquid heat pooled at my core. All I could think about was him, pressed between my thighs. Twice more on our way up the stairs his hand landed on my ass. By the third time, I let the moan escape—one hundred percent positive Ashton knew what he was doing to me.

When we made it to the bedroom. Ashton let me slide down his body, and immediately after my feet touched the floor he gripped the hem of my dress and pulled it up and over my head. My underwear followed right behind. Then Ashton’s mouth was on mine, as he lowered me to the bed and all conscious thought left me. His right hand caressed up and down my side, eventually gliding up my arm to my wrist, holding it in place until something cool and leather wrapped around it.

Swiftly, and before I spoke a word, Ashton had my other arm up and closed the leather cuff around my wrist. “I told you teasing me wouldn’t be a good thing,” he said as his fingers tickled down my side, caressing over my breast until he pinched my nipple between his fingers. Sensation shot through my body, my lower half squirming on the bed.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I think you can move too much,” he whispered in my ear.

I had no idea what he was talking about. The idea of begging crossed my mind for one brief moment but the reality was, I wanted to see how it would play out. His hands continued their path down my chest and through my core. God, I needed his fingers to stay there longer. But they moved slowly down my thighs, capturing one of my ankles, his thumbs digging into the arch of my foot.

“Ashton,” I sighed.

That’s when I felt the cool leather again and heard the click as my ankle was attached to the bed and just like with my wrists, Ashton wasted no time cuffing my other ankle. I looked up. His eyes were hooded, his pupils dilated so wide that I could barely see what color his eyes were.

Lust.

“Oh, Elena. How fucking sexy you look spread-eagle on my bed.” His hands grazed down my exposed stomach. “Now I want to see how much you can handle.”

I trembled at his words and watched to see what he would do. Somehow, without me seeing, Ashton had managed to get a vibrator out onto the bed. The sound alone made the anticipation grow. “Please,” I begged.

“Oh don’t worry, it’s all for you.” His voice was husky as he touched the vibrator to my clit.

I’d never felt anything like it. Desire poured through me like wildfire. Within minutes I was crashing over the edge. “Oh God, don’t . . . don’t stop,” I managed to pant out.

“I don’t plan on it.”

The speed increased, making the vibrations come quicker and long before I expected it, my body built up again to that peak where it’s a choice: let the torture continue or fall off the cliff. This time when the explosion came, my vision grayed out and my body tightened almost to the point of pain.

As my body started to come down, I noticed my muscles tightening up again. Ashton had left the vibrator in place, except this time, he plunged two fingers into my wet heat, letting my body ride and clench them.