Page 113 of Trusting Skulls

“Our bed?” I whisper.

“Is that okay?”

I’m not going to cry. Not this time.

“I think it is.”

Ash doesn’t miss a beat. He doesn’t make it awkward that all this time he talked about us living together, I never believed him. How could I? It’s better than anything I could have ever imagined.

“Whenever you’re ready. There’s no hurry. I’d never push you to move out of JD’s.”

I roll over and stare at the ceiling. “I’m still so scared.”

He props himself on an elbow, leaning over me. His fingers trail over my collarbone as he chooses his words carefully. “You’ll never be alone ever again, Lexie. I promise you.”

We spend the rest of the day looking around the property.

“Someday we’ll have a bigger house, but for now, we’re going to make this tiny one our home,” he tells me as we give it one final look before pulling out of the dirt driveway.

When we get back to JD’s, it’s time to hold up my end of the deal. I show him the story I’m writing for Willow.

The notebook trembles in his hand, and a tear rolls down his cheek. He swipes it away, and I almost feel bad for making him so emotional.

“She’s going to love this, Lex. Really.” He chuckles as he reads the last page. “So, Lucy finally realizes all of the other bugs are her family even though none of them look like her.”

“Yep.”

He chuckles, wiping his eyes again. “Lucy sounds like someone I know.”

I reach over and take his hand in mine. “She’s a lucky little bug.”

“Okay, stop. I can’t take much more.” He gives my hand a squeeze and then rounds the truck to help me out. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” I say on a sigh. “I’ll see you then.”

He pushes me back, his arm resting on the truck above my head. It makes a million butterflies take flight in my tummy.

“Promise you’ll dream of me,” he whispers before leaning in and kissing me.

His tongue slides across mine, and a longing settles deep in my core. I’ve fought against the idea of Ash being mine for so long, worried I wasn’t good enough. But now that I’ve let go of the resistance, the thought of being with him flows through my body, filling every nook and cranny. My lungs, my mind, even my very soul wants to mold itself to him.

Slowly, over the course of time, he’s forged his way to my heart without me even noticing. Ash has chipped away at my shame little by little, until he found the entrance.

He smiles against my lips before pulling away.

“How could I not dream of you after that?” I tease as he walks me up to the door.

“It’s about time,” JD says, making us both jump.

My cheeks heat in embarrassment. “Shit, we didn’t see you there.”

“Obviously.”

Ash laughs loudly, gives me a quick peck on the cheek before jogging to his truck. “I’ll be back for you in the morning.”

JD waves him away, grumbling as he helps me inside. “It’s a good thing he brought you home when he did. I was about to send the club out to look for you.”

I know he’s joking because I was at the club president’s house most of the afternoon.

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