Page 21 of Ashes’ Addiction

“Not at all. But it is overwhelming. I’ve been alone for so long.”

Ashes frowned. “I thought your folks died a couple of years ago.”

“They did. Well, my adoptive parents did, and don’t get me wrong, they were great, but they were older. They did their best and I’m forever grateful for everything they did for me. I’m not sure I would have made it through high school, much less started college without them, but I miss them.” She turned away, as if she was looking across the room but all she saw was the mess inside her head.

“You’re not alone anymore. Never again, Tiny Warrior. If you agree, you’ll never be alone like that again.”

He lifted their joined hands so he could kiss the back of hers. “But there’s no rush. If you’re not ready, that’s okay. Take your time and be sure.”

She turned back and watched him for a moment. A million questions ran through her head, but in the end only a few things stood out. Ashes had pulled her out of that hole. Ashes wanted her. Ashes made her feel safe. Add in that he heated her blood to the point she could barely think, and that was all she needed to know.

Miranda leaned in, closing the distance between them, not that there had been much to begin with. Unable to resist the urge, not that she tried, she rolled her hips, grinding her clit against the rough hardness between them.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. But I’m not going to fuck you for the first time in a chair. I’m going to take you to bed and we’re going to do this right.”

Miranda wasn’t convinced things hadn’t been right there in the chair but if he wanted to give her more, she wouldn’t complain.

“We’ll talk about kids later and whether or not we want to risk it or prevent them. For now, we’ll be safe.” Ashes laid her on the bed, then opened a drawer on the nightstand next to where he’d slept the night before and pulled out an unopened box of condoms. He tossed them on the bed next to her, then shrugged out of his cut, folded it, and set it aside before he stripped out of his t-shirt and dropped it where he stood.

Miranda lifted her hips and shimmied them as she shoved her leggings down off her hips, not caring that she took her underwear with them. She wanted him and the faster they got there, the happier she would be.

“Slow down.” Ashes stepped next to the bed and put a hand on her belly, stopping her as she worked the tight pants down past her ass.

“I want this,” Miranda said, meeting his gaze.

“I can tell, but don’t rush, we’ll get there. And it will be more fun if you let me take those off.”

She quirked one brow but relaxed against the bed, content to let him do the work if that’s what he wanted. Instead, she lay back and eyed him, taking in the tattoos he revealed.

“Do they mean something?” she asked, leaning up enough to trail one finger along the edge of one of his tattoos.

“Most of them. A couple were a dare or a drunken decision. They are part of why I don’t drink anymore.”

Miranda tilted her head to one side. “You don’t drink? How have I missed that?”

“You haven’t been here all that long yet, Tiny Warrior. There are a lot of things you don’t know. You’ll figure it out in time.” He lay beside her on the bed, propping his head up on one hand so he could look at her while they talked. “This, though, what’s between us? I think it’s something.” Ashes smoothed one hand gently over her belly. He paused then looked up at her eyes again. “I’m holding onto myself with a thread, baby. I want you, bad, and I have since I first saw you.”

Miranda wanted to scoff. There was no way he wanted her when she’d been so filthy and bedraggled, but this wasn’t the time to argue with him. She didn’t want to spoil the mood, so she let it slide. She rolled to face him, then cupped his cheek with one hand.

“You’ve got me. What do you want to do with me now that you have me?” She looked at him through her lashes, hoping he would tell her what he wanted.

“What I want to do and what I’m going to do are two different things, but only because we’ll have time to cover all our bases later. First, though, I want to see how you taste.” He leaned in, covering her mouth with his as he pushed her onto her back and moving over her. His mouth teased and tasted her while he skimmed one hand down her side. His every touch enflamed her senses until all she cared about was his touch.

Chapter Nineteen

Ashes couldn’t believe his luck. Not only had he managed to find the most beautiful woman he’d ever known, both inside and out, but she wanted him. She wanted to be his, permanently.

He had never been interested in force. At least not when it came to women. Now that he had Miranda in his arms, the last thing he wanted was to try to make her do anything she didn’t want to. But she wanted him and that he could give her. But he was going to do it right. To show his Tiny Warrior how much she meant to him, even after such a short time.

Ashes trailed his lips along the edge of her jaw. Miranda tilted her head back, giving him more room. He used the edge of his teeth to nip her skin, giving her just the slightest bite of pain before he soothed away the sting with his lips and trailed down along her body. Her hands on him, sliding over his back, gripping his arms, pulling at him, as if she needed him closer.

He could understand that. He wanted to be closer to her too, and he knew just the way to get there, at least physically. The emotional part would grow with time, and while he could tell she cared, he couldn’t know if what she felt was anything near the possessiveness he felt for her, the fierce need to make sure she was happy and safe. He might never know, but as long as she was here with him and happy to be in his arms, he’d take it.

Teasing his hands along her body, he found his Tiny Warrior had sensitive nipples. She arched her back as he flicked one back and forth with his tongue. She arched her back and cried out when he pulled it into his mouth and sucked. Her fingers were buried in his hair pulling him closer.

“You’ve done this before, right?” he asked, releasing her nipple and working his way down her body.