Page 22 of Beneath the Midnight Sky
“No, it’s fine, angel. I’m happy you love it. I want you to feel comfortable here.”
She stared at me for a moment before nodding slightly and following me up the front steps. I opened the front door and let her walk inside before me, trying my best to see it as she would.
I didn’t have any art on the walls like she did, or even colors in my decorating. Payton had been telling me for years that it needed awoman’s touch, but I think that was just her trying to decorate my place with my credit card. Aspen walked in and looked around the living room and up toward the windows.
“I love the windows. I bet it’s beautiful when everything is covered in snow.” A small smile tilted on her lips.
“Do you like the snow?”
She shrugged. “We didn’t get a lot of it in Vegas, obviously. I think it may have happened twice in my entire life, and it was more as if it fell from the sky and then disappeared before hitting the ground.” She shook her head. “The first real snow I experienced was right after I moved here. Thankfully, Ivy helped me out because I was basically a lost puppy. I don’t think I hate it, but I also don’t believe I love it. More so, just…fascinated by itfrom an artistic standpoint. These windows would be the perfect set-up for painting . That’s all.”
She walked around the couches and ran her hand along the mantelpiece I’d made myself. It was solid wood crafted from one of the oak trees around my house.
“I made that,” I said as she looked it over. That inner caveman was screaming again, needing her to know I was capable of—I don’t even fucking know what. Just that I could do things, which sounded stupid even in my head. I cleared my throat, suddenly nervous. “Do you want some water or anything?”
A soft giggle slipped from her lips, and for some reason, it had my cock twitching. Everything about her did. She was staring out my windows and picturing herself painting here. She was admiring my home. The home I wanted her to stay in forever. I could picture her sitting on the floor of the living room, surrounded by paint and a large canvas, making art for our home. Her belly, round with our baby—I had to stop.
I cleared my throat and walked toward the kitchen. “I’m going to grab us some water. Make yourself comfortable, little angel.”
“Okay, cowboy. Thank you,” she replied, a smile still on her face. I don’t think she’d stopped smiling since she walked in. Fuck, I needed to breathe before I tied her to the bed and didn’t let her leave.
I grabbed two glasses and quickly filled them with ice water. I took a sip from mine, instantly wishing it was something stronger. I knew why I was anxious, but I wish it would fuck off right now. I could freak out about this later, not with her out there looking like the angel I’d nicknamed her. I should be comforting her, taking her to my bathroom, running a bubble bath, and pouring her wine.
I jumped slightly when a small pair of arms slid around my waist from behind.
“Talk to me, Rowan. I can hear you thinking from the living room.” Her voice was so soft and comforting, and the feeling of her arms around my waist made me want to scoop her up and keep her here forever. But I didn’t say any of that, no. I let out a slow breath and thought about what advice my mother offered me earlier today. I knew she’d remind me to be the man she raised—to be honest with this woman.
“I, um…I’ve never had a woman here before,” I finally said.
Aspen came around the side of me, leaning her back against the countertop to stare up at me, curiosity clear in her eyes. “Explain.”
I ran a hand over my jaw before placing my palms back on the countertop. “Aside from my mother and sister, no other woman has set foot in this house. This is my space, ya know? My spot to just exist away from the chaos and life outside of these walls.”
She tilted her head to the side, contemplating my words, I’d guess.
“So…what? You normally go to their house?” she asked, her tone innocent and not accusing at all.
“Their house”—I cleared my throat—“the bar bathroom, my truck, their car…” I trailed off when she started nodding her head.
“Yeah, I think I get the point. You didn’t want to bring your wild escapades back here.” She was smiling, and the small twinkle in her eyes showed just how funny she found this conversation. “Tell me, Rowan, why am I here?” she asked, her voice taking a more sensual tone.
I cleared my throat, a faint blush creeping up my neck and cheeks.Fuck, this woman.I turned to lean my hip against the counter, so I was facing her.
“Because this is where I wanted you,” I replied, looking down into her stunningly bright cerulean colored eyes.
She bit her bottom lip, staring up at me before she reached forward to slowly start unbuckling my belt. “Well, that’s good to hear.” She pulled the belt from my jeans and set it on the counter beside my hand. “For later.”
“What exactly would we need that for, my little angel?” I asked, my voice taking on a deeper quality than it typically did.
She looked up at me and smiled. “Oh come on, cowboy. I’m sure you can figure it out.” She took a single step back and pulled her shirt off. Next were her shoes, then her leggings, leaving her in a matching white cotton thong and bra. Her dark hair was down around her shoulders, begging to be pulled.
“Fuck, Aspen. You really are a dream,” I muttered.
“Your dream, cowboy?” she questioned, her eyes wide and her breathing slightly picked up.
I nodded, at a loss for words over the sight of her. I knew what she was doing. She was trying to get me out of my head, and I wasn’t anywhere close to upset about it. I knew I was being ridiculous, and I needed to just breathe. But right now? At this moment? It was just us, together.
“On your knees, little angel. Hands behind your back,” I told her. As she dropped to the wooden floor, I thought about getting a towel for her knees, but decided against it. I wanted to see how far I could push her. How much she’d enjoy. I picked up my belt from the counter and walked behind her. She was on her knees, hands behind her back, and I wrapped the belt tightly around her wrists. “Is that okay?”
