Toni looked between us, eyes narrowing. “What’s going on?”
When I slid out of the seat, her eyes widened.
“Son of a bitch.”
Looking from the ring I held in my hand to her face, I said, “That wasn’t exactly the reaction I was hoping for.”
Isadora started to giggle and I shot her a dark look before focusing back on Toni.
“I’ve been waiting on this until today was done. I wanted to close that chapter before starting a new one.”
Her lips parted, eyes wide.
“A new one that will be all about us. Together. Will you marry me?”
Thick lashes fell down, shielding her eyes. Then she launched herself at me.
I had to close my fist around the ring to keep from dropping it as I caught her and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tight. “Is that a yes?”
“That’s a hell yes.”
Chapter 15
Toni
The house was quiet around us.
I hadn’t officially moved in, but I'd been staying here more and more over the last couple months. Isadora had been staying here less and less. She'd confided in me that she was trying to get Ash used to her absence a little at a time.
Tonight she was staying with Colton, so when Ash and I slipped inside the house, Ash turned to me and pressed me back against the door even as it was still closing. His mouth came down over mine, but when he tried to tug open the buttons on my blouse, I caught his hands.
“I’m not sure Doug’s heart can handle this.”
“He’s not here.” Ash bit my lower lip. “I gave everybody the day off. And then told them all to get the hell out.”
He licked the spot where he’d bitten me before he slid his mouth down along my jawline and began to move lower, his hand returning to the buttons of my shirt and freeing each one.
This time, I didn’t try to stop him.
When he had my blouse completely open, I started to move to help him, but he stopped me. Keeping his eyes on my face, he stripped me completely naked as I stood there. By the time he was done, I wore nothing but the ring he’d slid onto my finger just a few hours ago.
A ring I still couldn't believe I was wearing.
His lips danced across the flat plane of my belly, and then down until he was flicking his tongue through my curls. When he found my clit, I whimpered and cupped the back of his head.
“I can’t stand up too long if you do that.”
“Don’t worry.” He shot me a dark, hungry look. “If you fall, I’ll catch you.”
I groaned and dropped my head back against the door, giving over control to him. Ash stiffened his tongue and began to thrust it inside me. A few seconds later, I was crying out his name. He gripped my hips, holding me in place until I came, and then he scooped me up into his arms and carried me into the nearby living room.
When he stretched me out by the fireplace, I gasped. Something buttery soft was against my skin and I looked down at the blanket spread out beneath me. I looked around. There was a bucket of wine chilling. Roses.
As I pushed up onto my elbows and watched, Ash picked up something from the edge of the blanket. He pushed a button, and I gasped as a fire roared to life.
“Wow. Way to go, Casanova. Firelight, wine and roses. You’re going to get me thinking I’ll get this all the time once we’re married.”
Ash went to his knees and crawled to me.
“And now you’re on your knees for me.” I grinned at him.
“I told you once before, you’re the only woman I'll ever go to my knees for.” He hovered over me on all fours, leaning down to brush his lips against mine. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Curling my arms around his neck, I tugged him down closer.
He came, but only for a moment, giving me another quick, teasing kiss.
When he pulled away, he went up on his knees and stripped away his shirt. Eyes on his chest, I didn’t notice the cloth he’d pulled from his pocket until he brought it up in front of him.
“I asked you this once before.” His voice was soft. “And I'm hoping that, now, the answer can be different. Do you trust me?”
My chest tightened as I caught my breath. I knew what he was asking, what it meant. We'd been dealing with communication and with trust, both in and out of the bedroom. I'd given him control in ways I'd never done before, had sex in ways I'd never dreamed.
But I hadn't let him blindfold me.
My eyes met his. “I trust you.”
His entire face lit up and my heart skipped a beat. He leaned down over me and fastened the blindfold in place. My pulse fluttered. I held my breath, wondering what he had in mind.
I heard a pop.
“Open your mouth,” he said softly.
I did and he pressed something to my lips – a wineglass.
“A toast, Toni. To the rest of our lives.”
I sipped the wine and the sweet red rolled down my throat.
“Like?”
I nodded.
“Let me know when you want more.”
“I get to ask for things tonight?” We were still working out the rules when it came to how this dynamic worked.
He cupped my face and lifted my mouth until I felt his lips brush against mine. “You can ask me for anything any night.”
Another deep kiss and I felt like I was going to melt. He eased me back onto the blanket. A moment later, I gasped when something velvety soft stroked down the outer curve of my breast.
Then came the scent.
The rose.
He stroked the petals along my breast, down across my belly, across the curls.
“Spread your legs,” he said.
I did, whimpering in need.
He teased me lightly, giving me only the barest hint of a touch with the petals before stroking my leg from the crease of my thigh all the way down to my ankle before switching over and doing the same to my opposite leg, but going from bottom to top this time.
I found myself lifting my hips when it drew close again.
Ash chuckled softly and cupped me between the thighs. “Want more?”
“What do you think?”
He slid a finger inside me. I would have clamped my thighs around his hand if he hadn’t pressed down on my right knee and stopped me.
“I think you’re lovely.”
He twisted his wrist and curled his fingers inside me. My back arched and I cried out. Then he stroked his thumb over my clit, and I came hard and fast.
By the time I came down, he was naked and I could feel his body hovering over mine.
“Now,” Ash breathed against my lips.
I didn’t have the air to answer, but it didn't matter. It wasn’t like I was going to argue. Grabbing onto his shoulders, I arched up to meet him. We came together, bodies sliding together with a perfection that made me moan. My nails dug into his back as I rocked against him. It was as if every cell in my body was on fire, every nerve blazing. I'd never been so aware of him as I was at that moment.
He twisted his hand in my hair and pulled my head back. He kissed me, his hunger matching mine.
“Tell me you love me,” he said against my lips.
I didn’t say it. I whimpered it.
He slammed into me harder and I was shaking from the force of the climax building inside, as he demanded it from me again.
“Tell me you love me.”
My hand found its way into his hair and I fisted it, pulling it until he growled. I held him in place until I could put my mouth against his ear.