Page 58 of Midnight Secrets

It was strange that this place felt more like home than my actual home did. In the week I’d been here, I had discovered a new side to myself. Ash had taken me shopping when I complained the kitchen lacked utensils and pushed the trolley around without commenting on all the stuff I put in. He would be glad of it tonight, especially since I was pouring his coffee in a thermal travel mug.

Ash prowled into the kitchen, his hair a mess since he’d actually just crawled out of bed. I held his mug out and his eyebrows shot up. “I guess some of that stuff does come in useful.”

“It all comes in useful. I’ve seen you using some of the other items as well.”

His lips twitched, but he never commented.

I stepped forward, dragging him toward me by the pockets of his hooded top. “Make sure you come home in one piece.”

“Or?”

“Or I will turn into one of those terrible nagging women.”

He pressed a soft kiss on my lips that melted my heart. “I’ll do my best.” He tugged the ears of my bear panties as he stepped back, shaking his head as he grinned at them.

“And, Ash?” He turned at the door to stare at me. “My injection means we can stop using condoms when you get back.”

His mouth dropped open and his eyes dropped to my crotch. “Fuck me, now I have to go and meet the guys with a fucking erection.” He disappeared out the door and I could barely breathe. What if something happened to him?

Even though it was the middle of the night, there was no way I would be able to sleep now, so I decided to work on the last of my designs. The jewellery show was in a few days and all my chains had been delivered to put on my designs. Most of them were already on velvet busts that Ash ordered so I could sort through everything and make sure they sat right.

I pulled on yoga pants and a T-shirt and started to work on the last batch, only looking up when light started to creep in through the window. Ash hadn’t returned home and worry gnawed deep at my stomach. Standing in the shower with the water pounding down on me, a startling realisation struck me.

I was in love with Ash.

I didn’t just like him, or desire him, I loved him. The idea of a life without Ash in was too painful to even consider. Even though he constantly tried to push me away, I didn’t want to leave him because I instinctively knew I belonged beside him.

The clock moved slowly, taunting me with the time. Where was he?

To keep myself busy, I reverted to what I normally did in times of stress. I went to the kitchen and began to bake. First, I put the shortbread base for the caramel squares in. Then, I made several different cookie doughs that I rolled into logs, covered in clingfilm, and put in the freezer. The caramel came next to set before I lathered it in melted chocolate.

For lunch, I whipped up pancake batter and put bacon on to grill. It was one of the comfort default foods I reverted to because it was one of the first things Madison taught me to cook.

Francis stole a piece of crispy bacon on his way past to the gym, leaving me to my baking. He knew better than to ask what was wrong. We’d been together a long time and knew each other’s moods.

I was lost in my own thoughts as I tossed the last pancake, and screamed when cold hands landed on the warm skin of my stomach. “Miss me?” Ash’s deep, husky voice sounded in my ear.

I squealed and spun in his arms. “Are you okay?” I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and climbing his tall frame until my legs were around his waist.

He laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“I was so worried,” I whispered in his ear. “In my head, I had so many bad thoughts about you being injured or killed.” I clung to him because suddenly I couldn’t let him go.

“Everything’s sorted,” Ash replied. “Zee has Cas at the hospital to get checked over and the threat has been neutralised.”

I didn’t even want to think what that meant. All that mattered was that he was home and safe.

“Are you making pancakes?” Ash asked, manoeuvring around the kitchen while still holding me. “Is that caramel squares?” He went straight to them and lifted one. “Hmmm. These are great, the caramel is soft and chewy. Take a bite.”

The tray bake appeared in front of my mouth. I’d been so sick with worry that I hadn’t been able to eat earlier, so I bit the corner and chewed. My stomach almost cramped when I swallowed it.

“Let’s grab something to eat. I’m shattered.” Ash set me on my feet and shoved the rest of the caramel square into his mouth and licked the chocolate from his fingers.

I piled a huge stack of pancakes on his plate with bacon beside it. The maple syrup I’d bought was in the cupboard. I left a plate for Francis and carried a pot of tea into the conservatory at the back of the house. After all the darkness, I really needed to surround myself in light.

Ash chatted about the upcoming show since the initial display needed delivered today. “Jay will bring some of the trackers around later for your pieces.”

I finally looked up from my pancakes. “What happened last night?”

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