Page 19 of Ash (Dragon Riders MC 3)
She blushed. “Such a forward man, you are.”
I leaned down to her ear. “I know what I want, and when I do, I go after it. But not until you’re safe. You hear me?”
She sighed softly. “I do, yes.”
“Good girl.”
I kissed the shell of her ear and felt her press against my lips. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close to me as I let them linger against her warm skin just a few seconds longer. I settled my cheek on top of her head. She wrapped her arms around me, even though she couldn't fully embrace me. And as we stood there, with her head pressed against the bottom of my chest, I stroked my fingers through her hair.
“You’re going to be just fine with me, I promise,” I whispered.
And when she sniffled, it broke my fucking heart.8HannahI heard the bike engine rumble up to the house and I shot up from my chair. I charged up the stairs with my robe tied around me and quickly opened the oven. I timed it just right this time. Every day, for the past two weeks, Ash left before I got up and didn’t come home until around six or seven in the evening. Sometimes, he’d peek his head in during lunch, but other than that he was gone with the guys or traipsing around the Iron Horse. But this time, I timed dinner perfectly.
“What smells so good in here?” Ash asked.
I set dinner on the stove top. “It’s a one-pan bake kind of meal. You hungry?”
Ash lumbered into the kitchen. “Not really. Just thirsty.”
“Oh. Well. I made up some fresh lemonade. Would you like some?”
He opened the fridge. “Bottle of water is fine.”
I nodded slowly. “Well, you want me to bring you a plate of food in about an hour? When your hunger kicks in?”
He cracked open his water. “I’m good, but thanks.”
“I—uh—well—I mean, is there anything you’d like? There’s some ice cream in the—”
“I’m going to go clean up. We can talk afterwards.”
I sighed as I watched him disappear from the kitchen. He tipped his bottle of water up, draining it before he crumpled the plastic into his hand. He tossed it into a small trash can by the television set in the living room, then he slipped into his bedroom and closed the door. My shoulders slumped as I looked over at the pan of steaming hot food. I shook my head before I reached for a bowl, wondering what in the world I had done to make that man hate me. For the past two weeks, he’d been distant. He hadn’t touched me, kissed me, or held me close like he had. Hell, the man hadn’t made a move at all!
Maybe he wants me gone.
After shoveling food into the bowl and getting myself a covered glass of lemonade, I made my way back downstairs. If he didn’t want to eat, then I wasn’t going to wait for him to eat. I closed the door at the bottom of the stairs to give myself some privacy before I walked over and flopped onto the couch. I’d been living with him full-stop for two weeks, and part of me wondered if he was getting sick of me. Maybe I needed to go out and get a job. Make some money of my own so I could move out and get my own place. Maybe Ash felt cramped, especially for a loner like him.
“Why did he kiss me then?” I whispered to myself.
I turned on the television, but I couldn’t focus on it. I was much too distracted. Did I piss Ash off? Because I really didn’t want to do that. All I wanted was to get to know him a bit more. Be closer to him. I wanted to feel his massive arms around my waist and feel his lips pressed against my skin again. Did he not like it the first time?
“Maybe I stink,” I murmured.
I raised my arm and smelled myself just to make sure.
You’re doing it again.
I sighed as I stabbed my chicken, trying to block Ash from my mind. But every time he moved upstairs, it sounded like the damn roof was about to come down over my head. I couldn't fall into the same trap. I had to make sure I kept my head screwed on straight. The last thing I needed was to become obsessed with some man that didn’t even want me, especially during this time in my life. I needed to be focused on creating a new life for myself. I didn’t need to be playing house with some guy that happened to kiss me on my ear.
I snickered. “Not like he kissed you on the lips, Hannah.”
I turned around the idea of getting a job in my head. But I didn’t know enough about this town to know what kind of jobs were available. Part of that problem could be solved by me using the truck to get around. I didn’t feel like leaving the double-wide lately, though. Part of me was worried, but the other part of me was scared. I didn’t want to go out into town only for my ex to run into me. It was enough that my cousin had ridden into town just to spook the living hell out of me. I didn’t need to pile anymore on my plate.
