“Morning,” she greeted shyly, which made me narrow my eyes as she wrapped her arms around my waist.
Eliza chimed in behind me. “Hi.”
Ash’s leaned away, and her eyes flashed from mine to Eliza’s and back to mine before she replied with a cold, “Hi.”
Oh hell.
Eliza didn’t catch the frigid air in the least. “We met once a while back. I’m Till’s wife, Eliza. It’s so nice to meet you again.” She tossed out a warm grin that did nothing to stifle Ash’s passive-aggressive chill.
“Yeah, I remember when we met.” Ash grinned, something so fake that I almost believed it.
Almost.
I stepped in front of her. “Hey, can I talk to you for a second?”
“Of course, baby,” she answered sweetly, but it was clear that talking was very low on Ash’s agenda.
Her hands glided up my chest and over my shoulders. Standing on her tiptoes, she gave me a sensual and completely indecent kiss. I took it, even knowing Eliza was watching, but only because I could tell exactly what Ash was doing.
And.
I.
Fucking.
Loved.
It.
Begrudgingly, I broke the kiss just before her hands slid down to my ass. “Excuse us for a minute, Eliza.” I turned my attention back to Ash. “Bedroom,” I ordered.
Eliza giggled and wiped her hands on the towel hanging from the stove. “I actually have to go. I just wanted to drop off the food. The potatoes will be ready in fifteen minutes. Eat them while they’re hot. Quarry’s the main event tonight, so it will probably be after nine before dinner.” She walked over to Ash, who was still possessively clinging to my waist. “You have no idea how happy I am that you’re back.” She squeezed her arm. “I’ll save you a seat at the fight?”
Ash was glowering, but when she caught me watching her, she quickly covered it. “Yeah. Um. Sure,” she replied.
“Okay, see you guys tonight,” Eliza called out when she got to the door.
No sooner had the door shut behind her than Ash’s shoulders fell in relief.
“Up,” I barked, causing her head to tip back to look at me.
“Huh?”
“Put your ass on my counter so we can have this conversation eye to eye.”
“What conversation?”
“Up,” I repeated, and with the exception of a huff, she didn’t argue.
Jumping, she pushed herself onto the counter.
I settled between her legs and spread my crutches wide enough to wrap her legs around my hips. “You don’t like Eliza?”
“She’s fine,” she chirped.
“Bullshit.” I crushed my mouth to hers.
Fisting the front of my shirt, she pulled me even closer as she glided her tongue against mine. I shifted her to the edge of the counter until my cock found her denim-covered core.
“You have no fucking idea how hard I got watching you claim me,” I mumbled into her mouth, rolling my hips against hers.
She leaned away to talk. “If I’m going to try with you, then Eliza—”
I shifted my weight to one side then caught the back of her head, forcing her mouth against mine. Her hands roamed my chest.
“Changed my mind. We’re not trying. We’re doing.”
She smiled and reached down to the button on her jeans. “I won’t argue.”
“No. I’m talking about us. This time yesterday, you were running from me, and not five minutes ago, you were ready to mount me in the middle of the kitchen just so Eliza knew that I was yours.”
“You are mine,” she added defensively.
I smirked. “It’s good to know we agree. Which is exactly why we’re doing instead of trying.”
She gently stroked my cock. “Whatever. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
I swayed out of her reach. “Too bad. I gave you last night. Now, you’re talking to me.”
“Oh God.” She started to shift off the counter.
I blocked her. “Hear me out.”
“I don’t want to hear you out! Not about her. I’m sorry. I know she’s your family and all, but part of the reason I left in the first place is because I’ll never be Eliza. Never.”
“You are absolutely right.”
Her mouth gaped open in shock.
“I was a fucking fool when I told you I was in love with Eliza. And not because it broke us up. I was a fool because it was a load of shit.” Using her chin, I tipped back her head, forcing her gaze to lock with mine. “I was never in love with her—at least, not in the way I thought. But it wasn’t until I fell for you that I realized that.”