Page 38 of Midnight Secrets

He gripped the counter on either side of me. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I tried to keep you safe from me, but I don’t seem to have any control when it comes to you.”

I pressed my forehead into his chest and closed my eyes. His spicy aftershave intoxicated me. “What do you want me to bake for you?”

“I’ve always loved caramel squares.” His chin rested on top of my head and I sank into his strength. “Some people call them millionaire’s shortbread, but my gran always called them caramel squares. She made them with chewy caramel that oozed when you squeezed them.”

“I can’t promise that they’ll taste like your gran’s, but I’ll do my best.” He never asked for anything. He’d helped me last time I was in London, bought me a queen’s ransom in jewels without letting me pay for them, and had created a special place for me in his home. Tray bakes were the least I could do.

“What do you want to drink?” Ash asked, stepping back and leaving me bereft. “Wine?”

“Is it bad to admit that I don’t like wine?” I replied.

He stopped and stared at me before a smile curved his full, sensual lips. “The daughter of Lucas Black, who owns wineries, doesn’t like wine?”

I shrugged. “I drink it because it’s expected, but I’m not a fan.”

His grin turned positively wicked.

“No.” I pointed my finger at him. “If you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.”

“Beer?”

“Yep. Nothing too dark.”

He wandered into the utility area shaking his head and chuckling.

I grew up surrounded by vineyards, and was taught what excellent characteristics for wine were. My nose was impeccable when Papa took me to taste new blends. All of those were facts, but I’d never liked the taste of wine. It would be sacrilege to utter those words in front of Papa.

Ash handed me a bottle of beer, that grin still fixed on his face. “For years, I’ve heard of how good you are at determining quality wines. You were the perfect socialite who could host a party.” His grin spread again. “Does your papa know you at all?”

That was the sad part of this tale. He spent so many years trying to keep us as his little girls that we’d grown into women that he didn’t know. “Sometimes. He knows I like Disney and to this day still buys me princess stuff for my birthday.”

Amusement burned in his eyes as he stepped between my legs again. “Minnie Mouse certainly has her attractions.”

“You corrupted her,” I said, taking a sip of my beer.

“Did she come with you?”

I deliberately mistook his question. “I think so, she was soaking when I took her off that morning.”

His expression froze before his hand gripped my chin to stare dangerously into my eyes. “I should stay away from you.”

I set my beer down before my hands slipped into the waistband of his jeans above his ass to tug him tight into me. “Technically we’re living together.”

“What the fuck am I doing?” he asked and glared up at the ceiling.

My legs ensnared his and I continued to stare at him until he gave me his attention. “No one ever needs to know unless we want them to. This is our relationship, Ash. Please don’t give up on me.”

“Bad things happen around me.”

“Trust me, Ash.” I turned my head to kiss his wrist. “I need you.”

His eyes darkened to that shade that I remembered from that morning in my room. His fingers tilted my head and his lips slammed into mine. I wanted to scream in victory. There was no way I was leaving London without claiming Ash. He ground his hips against mine and I moaned into his mouth. The tips of my nails dug into the flesh of his ass and he groaned, his hand moving to grip my hair. It hurt the way he pulled it, but I didn’t care anymore. For weeks, I’d craved him until the throbbing between my legs was painful.

“You’re driving me insane,” he muttered in a husky tone against my lips.

My sanity had already left the building and was currently hiding under my blankets back in Tuscany. Both my sisters were virgins like myself, but Catarina had taught us the art of blowjobs with the aid of a banana. Her hymen was intact but Catarina had lost her other virginities long ago.

When we came up for air, I slipped off the counter until my feet hit the floor, and kept going until I sank to my knees. Ash watched me with his mouth open and his hand clenched at his side. He never said a word when I unbuttoned his jeans and pulled his zip down. His cock was thick and long and fought its way out of his boxers to get to me.

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