Page 73 of Witchy Woman

I press a kiss to Ash’s neck. “I do enjoy being spoiled by the Cedar men.”

“I’ve created a monster. And speaking of.” He shifts. “I have to get your presents.”

I lift a little so he can stand and rustle around under the tree. He places four bags in my lap, winding his arm around my shoulders. “No particular order.”

“You didn’t need to get me this many,” I insist. Despite loving gifts and shopping, I don’t want him to feel obligated. I can shop for myself just fine.

He glares at me until I giggle and pick up the first one.

Tearing through the tissue paper, I finally reach a small box. I pop the lid, and inside—on a bed of silk—lies a pair of ruby-red teardrop earrings.

“Rubies signify courage and passion,” he says as I softly touch them. “It just makes sense that red is your favorite color.”

I sniffle. “You’re getting rather smug about knowing all these little factoids about me.”

He lifts my chin with a finger, forcing me to show him how his gift affected me. The tears threatening to spill onto my cheeks. “Not smug. Proud. I am the luckiest man on this fucking earth.”

He may be the luckiest man, but I’m the luckiest woman. Period.

I blink away the emotions, glaring at him playfully. “Don’t tell anyone I cried.”

“My lips are sealed.”

Chapter 32

Is This A Sexy Gift?

At the end of it all, Ash really did spoil the crap out of me. And that’s not even mentioning the gift we are now on the way home to see.

Home.

I almost gasp aloud. When did I start thinking about his house as home? When did I start thinking of Ash himself as home?

Bellemews from the back seat. I’m slightly convinced she’s a mind reader.

The wooden miniature of her that he crafted sits in my open palm. One of my Christmas gifts, and something Belle spent a little too much time staring at. If this thing connects my mind to hers and allows her to read my thoughts, I’m chucking it in a river.

Shemews again.

Sus.

“Home sweet home,” he says when we pull in front of his house to my arched eyebrow. This totem better not connect all three of our minds.

We dropped his dad off on the way and I can honestly say it was nice being around him.

Birch—or Call Me Dad If You Want—has that quintessential dad energy, despite said energy flagging. The chemo may be a lot, but you can tell the man doesn’t let it hold him back. I don’t fully understand everything he’s going through, and it feels nosey as hell to ask. Look at me being polite for once and trying to respect boundaries.

We love the self-growth.

I let Ash lift me out of the truck, sliding me down his body as he puts me down. I don’t think I’ll ever be sick of him or how he feels.

I think if it were up to Ash, we’d spend literally every second ravishing each other. Maybe more.

My nose nuzzles against his as I press a soft kiss to his lips. It’s all very domestic and sweet.

“You’ll need to close your eyes,” he says as we enter his home. Belle very quickly finds the plushy bed Ash bought for her and commences her favorite activity.

Ignoring us.