Page 82 of A Little More Hope

Turning slowly in a full circle, I scanned the airy open space. The white shaker kitchen built by Cam with the marbled quartz countertops was Ash’s pride and joy. He loved to sit at the island on his maple bar chairs while watching me cook, and I loved him being there. His eyes tracking me as I moved around prepping and cooking our food made my stomach do somersaults every single time.

Behind me, against the wall in the dining area was the hutch, also built by Cam from the shiplap we’d saved when demolishing the wall between the kitchen and the living area. An old farmhouse table he’d found in a junkyard sat in front of that. Ash had sanded and waxed the top and painted the legs in the same color as the walls. My guy definitely liked to coordinate his furniture.

My guy.

That would never get old.

On the wall hung a piece of art I’d commissioned from Flynn. The driftwood sculpture, made from bleached wood we’d found along the beach, was stunningly beautiful, and Ash adored it. The fact he had multiple pieces in his home made by his closest friends made him extremely happy.

After completing my 360 degree tour, my gaze went back to Ash, who silently regarded me. His fitted lemon-yellow T-shirt, navy shorts, and flip-flops were sexy as hell, and he looked good enough to eat. “Perfect indeed,” I agreed, smiling as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Be serious,” he admonished me as I closed the small distance between us and wrapped my arms around his waist, needing his body next to mine.

“I am,” I said, pressing my lips lightly to his. “Never more so.”

He squirmed some under my intense scrutiny before kissing me lightly on the lips. “Incorrigible,” he sighed but I ignored him, deepening the kiss until he became relaxed and pliant in my arms, exactly the way I liked him. The smallest of gestures or touches always affected him so deeply, and I vowed to keep on doing them, to watch the contented look appear on his face each and every time.

I’d barely slid my hands down the outside of his shorts and over his butt when there was a knock on the front door followed by the sound of it opening and Ethan’s shout of hello greeting us. I let out a soft “Nuh-uh,” as Ash tried to pull free of my embrace, ever conscious of how new all this was for me and probably not wanting to make me feel awkward in front of my friends. I keenly disabused him of the notion by hauling him firmly against my side where he belonged.

Ethan and Nate hadn’t entered the living area after a minute or so, and I was about to go find them when a long whistle came from one of the first-floor bedrooms along with a muffled, “Fancy schmancy.”

“What’s he doing?” Ash asked.

“Evaluating,” I answered as they eventually strolled into the room.

“You sure you don’t want to sell the place, Ash?” Ethan asked. “I’d give you top dollar for it.”

“Hey,” I protested. “Our home is not for sale.”

He grinned and raised his hands. “Just checking.”

Nate came around Ethan and over to pull me in for a hug. “Ignore him. He never thinks about anything apart from making a quick buck,” he said, releasing me and moving on to hug Ash.

Ethan’s gaze moved to stare hungrily at Nate’s ass. “I’m thinking about something else right now,” he drawled, smiling wickedly at the blush creeping up his boyfriend’s cheeks.

“Behave,” he reprimanded, though his voice held no censure.

“I am,” Ethan said innocently as Nate returned to stand beside his man. Ethan automatically slipped his arm around his waist, holding him close and kissing him on the temple.

My brain still failed to compute how relaxed and at ease he’d become since meeting Nate. I wondered if my friends saw the same type of changes in me and then had to chuckle at my own stupidity, as I was absolutely sure they had.

Meeting Ash had changed my life in so many ways in the last few months I didn’t recognize myself anymore, and I couldn’t be more grateful. After Lindsay cheated and the trauma of being attacked, I’d been drowning, floundering in deep water trying to come to terms with what’d happened. Ash had saved me. Hauled me out of the waters and safely back onto dry land. I owed everything to the man at my side, the one I proudly got to call my partner.

Well, fingers crossed, more than my partner after tonight.

Looking at Ash, our eyes connecting, a deep abiding love filled me. I copied Ethan and slipped my arm around his waist and pulled him in close, his body melding to mine. He was all I’d ever wanted in a life partner and a lover. He’d seen the darkest parts of me and brought out the light. He’d learned every single one of my faults, yet he wanted to be with me anyway, and I wouldn’t change my life with him for all the world.

Leaning in close, my nose nuzzling his ear I breathed him in. “I love you.”

Ash

Three little words.

How they turned my whole world upside down and inside out every time he uttered them had me permanently stumped.

I had never contemplated in the slightest that I’d have this. The sheer contentment whenever Mason held me in his arms was like nothing I’d ever experienced, even though I’d longed for exactly this my whole life. He soothed me, made me feel safe and secure but most of all, he made me feel loved.

Me.

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