“There’s nothing to say. She’s a nice girl, but she’s not for me.”

“She’s not? Does that mean you know who is?” Haven asked.

“Haven, you know that the ball is in Ashleigh’s court.”

Haven sighed. “I wish you two would just sort it out. Richard clearly isn’t any competition. Do what you have to do, Luke. Make her feel special. If she’s the one for you, she needs to know that. Take action.”

It was good advice. Advice I’d already followed. I just needed Ashleigh to understand we had nothing to hide, that she had nothing to be afraid of. She could trust me.

My phone buzzed.

Ashleigh: Hey.

Me: Hey yourself.

Ashleigh: Did you have a good night?

Me: It would have been better if I’d been able to touch you openly.

Ashleigh: I appreciate your patience.

Me: I’m not sure how long it will last. You’re too beautiful to resist and you’re mine now. You know you are.

Ashleigh: I am.

Me: Glad you agree.

Ashleigh. I miss you.

Me: Already?

Ashleigh: Already. How about dating starts tomorrow night. Come round when you leave?

I grinned. There was nowhere I’d rather be than with Ashleigh, and she couldn’t resist what there was between us anymore than I could. Who was she trying to kid?

Luke

I’d left Haven and Jake’s as soon as I’d finished my beer. Maybe it was obvious why I left so soon after Ashleigh, but it was hard to give a shit.

I pressed my forehead to Ashleigh’s door, willing myself inside. My heartbeat quickened as I heard her unlock the door.

I’d stopped at a late-night supermarket and picked up chocolate and a small bouquet of flowers. As she opened the door, I held them out to her.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Well, flowers and chocolates are what you bring for dates, aren’t they?”

“You are ridiculous.” She grinned. “Thank you.”

“As long as you’re into ridiculous, that’s fine by me.”

She put her arms around my neck and held my gaze. “I’m very into ridiculous.”

It was so good to have her in my arms—evidence that she was mine and not some other man’s. My head knew Richard wasn’t a threat, but that didn’t stop it feeling like a dagger to my stomach every time she talked about him—particularly when she’d said he’d suggested she move in with him. I’d only managed to get my cool back just in time.

I couldn’t hold back any longer. I’d waited all night. I crashed my lips into hers, enveloping myself around her. Her moans muffled the sound of flowers and chocolates falling to the floor. She tasted delicious. I just couldn’t get enough of her. I wanted to devour her in every way. I couldn’t kiss her for long enough.

Everything she had to say was mesmerizing to me—all her little phrases, the way she talked with her fingers . . . Some people talked with their hands, but Ashleigh punctuated almost every sentence with a movement of her fingers. I’d never noticed before.

I started to walk her backward, lost patience and pushed her up against the wall.

“Richard is never touching you again.” I circled her waist and pulled her top from her skirt—I needed to feel her skin. “If you’re moving in with someone, you’re moving in with me.” I brushed my hands up her bare back. “Jesus, you were braless all evening. Fuck.” I’d suspected as much. My hands roamed to her chest, just to make sure. Double fuck, her nipples tightened under my touch, and she shuddered. I couldn’t help but groan against her mouth. Blood rushed to my cock, and I had to get closer, had to see them. I fiddled with the buttons on her shirt, but my fingers weren’t working. Something close to panic washed over me. I needed her naked. While I’d been fixating on her chest, Ashleigh had managed to undo my shirt completely. In desperation, I pulled at the fabric of her blouse, then tugged, sending the buttons flying and spilling out her amazing tits.

“These are my reason for living. Right here.” My eyes focused on her chest.

Ashleigh messed with my fly. She wanted me naked as much as I wanted her. My dick twitched at the thought. I kicked off my jeans and shrugged off my open shirt.

I took a step back so I could take her in. Naked from the waist up, she looked at me, her hair disheveled, mouth swollen and red from my kisses. She was a goddess. Fuck, I was a lucky guy. How could she not understand that I got how precious she was? She could trust me.

“I’m going to keep you up all night, and you’re not even going to remember Richard’s name when I’m done.” I reached under her skirt and pulled off her underwear in one swift movement. “I have to be inside you right now.” I would make it up to her later, but there wasn’t time for foreplay—my dick wouldn’t allow it. I grabbed her ass, lifting her up against the wall. She wrapped her legs around me.

“Please,” she breathed. “Please, I need you.”

It was exactly what I needed to hear. I plunged myself into her. It felt perfect. “It feels like forever since I’ve had you like this,” I whispered against her cheek. Even though we’d only been together this morning, it had been too long. She was so wet and ready, and I slid in and out with just the right amount of friction; it was as if I were made for her.

She tilted her head back against the wall, allowing me access to her perfectly smooth neck. I trailed my tongue up the soft column of skin, desperate to taste her. Every part of her was so delicious.

“Luke, it’s so deep.”

I could do nothing but growl in response as I started to thrust into her. I knew I was being rough, but I couldn’t hold back. Seeing her pushed up the wall by my hips, her body yielding to mine, was exactly what I needed. “You’re so fucking beautiful, so fucking perfect. I love this feeling of being buried so deep inside you, Ashleigh.”

She grasped at my shoulders, then chest. I didn’t understand what she wanted until she brought her eyes to mine.

They were wild. For me.

Needy. For me.

Feelings of relief and power swept through me.

This was the Ashleigh who was new to me. Naked Ashleigh. Panting and moaning Ashleigh. She was new but sexy and oh-so-sweet. Delicious. Mine.

I couldn’t believe I’d spent two decades fucking around being friends, letting guys like Richard have a shot with her. I could have been making her happy; I could have had hours buried in her. I needed to make up for all that wasted time.

“We’re not friends, Ashleigh; do you know that? Not anymore. We’re more than that. You’re mine. Every part of you. The sooner you get used to that, the better.” I sank deeper into her, pulling out and sharply pushing back in.

“Oh God.” Her lips parted, and she looked straight at me as she spasmed around me. I watched her orgasm pass through every atom of her. I loved the sounds she made as she came, the heavy breaths, the gasps, the half words. I needed to memorize each one of them. Nothing had ever sounded so sexy.

I wanted to tell her there would never be anyone else. She was my future, my forever. She was exactly what I’d been looking for, but never known I was searching for. But I held back, concerned she would feel it was too soon, that she’d think it was a reaction to my break up with Emma. I knew this had nothing to do with anything other than what I felt for Ashleigh. With Emma, I’d cherished our independence from each other. With Ashleigh, I never wanted to be without her, not for a second. I’d never realized I could feel that way. Ashleigh had awoken it in me.

Love had been hiding in plain sight all along.

Ashleigh

I slumped forward, wrapping my arms around Luke, the afterglow of my orgasm fluttering away down my limbs.

Luke’s thrusting became shallower. I could tell he was holding himself back, allowing me to recover before chasing his own release.