“Fuck.” Could I believe her? Trust that she wouldn’t betray me again? Was Kade right that this was about money and I’d be made a fucking fool? No, I shook my head. Beth and Ben needed financial help, but I was probably the last person they’d want it from, at least in Ben’s case.
So maybe Hunter was right. I was letting my hurt feelings get in the way of my happiness. Could I live the rest of my life like this? Visit with my daughter instead of having her live with me? If I let Beth go, would she find someone else?
Anger and jealousy blasted through me. It would be bad enough to have another man as a father figure to Hannah, but the idea of another man touching Beth, making more babies with Beth, that was unbearable.
I scraped my hands over my face. Then I got out of bed and strode to the room I’d put Beth in. The room was quiet, and she was likely sleeping. I nearly went back to my own room. Maybe it was better to wait until morning and see if I was in the same mindset then.
But I found myself knocking on her door.
“Yes?” her voice was soft.
I opened the door. “It’s Ash.”
“Is everything okay?” She sat up in bed, her long hair flowing in long sexy waves around her shoulders.
“No.”
“What’s wrong?”
I held out my hand. “Come with me.”
She took my hand and I led her out of the room. “Where are we going?” she asked as she looked up the hall toward Hannah’s room.
“Down here.” I pulled her to my room and shut the door, leaning my hand on it as I looked down at her.
Her blue eyes gazed up at me questionably, but I thought I saw hope in them too.
“You hurt me, Beth.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.” She looked down. I was beginning to feel like an asshole for always reminding her what her betrayal did to me.
I put my finger under her chin, lifting it so she could look at me again. “But I can’t fucking stop loving you.”
Her breath hitched.
“My head says I’d be an idiot to put myself in a position to be hurt by you again.”
She sniffed.
“But my heart says I’d be a fool to let you go.”
Her eyes widened and again I saw hope.
“Everything I ever wanted is under my roof right now. It’s right here.”
She nodded.
“The question is, am I brave enough to take the risk?”
“I hope you are, Ash.” She leaned a little closer to me, her scent filling my head, making the ache to have her more severe. “I won’t ever betray you again. Never. Ever. If you give me a chance, I’ll prove my love for you every day.”
I studied her eyes, wanting to see the truth of her words.
“I love you, Ash. I always have. I always will no matter what you decide right now.”
My head still told me that this could be dangerous, but my heart told it to shut the fuck up. I dipped my head and kissed her, lightly at first, so I could feel her soften against me.
I poked the button on the door handle to lock the door. Then I scooped her up. “Just so we’re clear, you’re moving in here. You and Hannah. You’re both mine.”
Her smile was so bright, it made me wish I’d come around sooner. “Yes.”
“You can give Ben the townhome or sell it…whatever you want.”
“Ben can have it.” She kissed me then. “I want to show you how much I love you, Ash. Can I?”
I lay her on the bed. “What do you have in mind?”
Her eyes raked over my body, and my dick, already thickening, was now at full tilt. “I want to touch you and love you until you come so hard you see stars.”
I ran my fingers through her hair as I gripped her head. “Well, if you insist.”
I rolled us so I was on my back. We quickly got naked, and it was all I could do to keep from rolling her back under me and fucking her like there was no tomorrow. But instead, I gave her free rein over my body, and holy hell, she didn’t disappoint.
She kissed my breath away. She sucked on my nipples, which I’d never thought were particularly sensitive, and yet, she had my dick pulsing with need. Then her mouth was on my cock, sucking, licking, and I thought I was in heaven. When she started massaging my balls, I knew I was about to spill my load.
“Beth,” I gasped trying to push her away. “I’m going to come.”
“That’s the point,” she said.
“I want to be inside you.” I reached over to the bedside table and pulled out a condom, handing to her.
“Someday I want to do this again without one of these,” she said as she tore it open.