Page 40 of Pulse
Chapter 14
Ren
Ash was waiting at the door when I pressed the buzzer on the gate.
I couldn’t help but take in his impressive body as I walked up the path, my entire being squirming under his scrutiny. His hair was damp, water beaded against his skin and despite myself, my gaze dropped to the collar of his black T-shirt where the very top of his tattoo peeked out from underneath the fabric. Even when he was down and out, Ash always had this imposing presence about him that commanded attention.
“Hey,” he said, his green eyes travelling the length of my body.
“Hey.” Old feelings stirred beneath the surface, but I squashed them back down.
He stood back so I could come inside and I stepped into the foyer, hugging my arms around my middle.
“We can go upstairs,” he said, closing the door. “We’ll be alone up there.”
The thought of being alone with Ash Fuller sent shivers into all the right places, but unfortunately it was the wrong time. I didn’t reply; I just let him lead me up the stairs to his bedroom, to his man cave, like a lamb to the slaughter.
I closed the door behind me as Ash sat heavily on the edge of the bed. He looked tired, totally strung out, but alert.
I sat on the bed next to him, careful to leave enough space between us. The air seemed to zap with electricity and a lot of different things that had been left undone and unsaid.
“I’m sorry about the other day.” He shoved his hand through his hair. “I didn’t expect…”
I brushed my fingers against my lips, the memory of his hungry kiss still burned into my skin. “Neither did I.”
“I shouldn’t have-” His head dropped into his hands. “I keep fucking up.”
“I was the one who got into bed with you,” I said. “Violet told me you were on some pretty strong meds.”
“Stop trying to make excuses for me.”
Fear and something close to regret flashed through his eyes and I swallowed hard. His sister had been raped and I’d almost suffered the same fate. To Ash, this was the same thing.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “You can’t compare yourself to that asshole. This was different. We never-”
“Ren-”
“I wanted it,” I interrupted. “I wanted more than a kiss...”
He began to reach out for me, but dropped his hand thinking better of it.
“I never wanted you to see me like this,” he said.
“Did you think it would change my opinion of you?”
He snorted.
“I’m so fucking angry with you,” I said. “You left me…you said…”
“I left to protect you,” he snapped. “I sacrificed-” He clamped his mouth shut and glanced away.
“If you had of explained-”
