Asher (Ashes & Embers 6)

“I missed you,” she says with half-closed eyes, her voice raspy with emotion. “I’ll never forget you or leave you again. Ever. Never. I promise.”

I press my forehead against hers, take a deep breath, swallowing her words. “I know that, baby.”

Later, when my wife is curled up in my arms in a love burrito, I feel like, at last, the ever-present weight has been lifted off my chest. I finally heard the words I’ve needed to hear to put my heart and mind to rest.

Epilogue

Five years later

“Wow, look at that view, baby,” Asher says as we gaze out over the four hundred acres of land. A small river runs through it, and the sound of the water is soothing.

I can’t wait to listen to it from our bedroom window.

“Right here,” he stomps his boot on the ground, “is where our front door is going to be. Is that wild or what?”

Excitement bubbles inside me as I take in the beautiful location surrounding us. The sunsets are going to be amazing from up here. It’s peaceful, serene, and quiet. I’m already daydreaming about how we’ll sit out in the backyard, or on our new balcony, and watch for cloud formations.

“Kenzi and Tor’s house will be right there, Storm’s house there, Talon’s house over there, Rayne’s will be there, then Lukas’s somewhere over there.” He points over to the left of where we’re standing. “Vandal’s will be way out there, Mikah’s house over there. My parents will be over there.”

The proud look on his face makes my heart burst with love for him. He’s envisioning it all right now in his head—I can see the wheels churning—but next week, it’ll start becoming a reality. The Valentine family compound. It’s been a lifelong dream of his to have his entire family living all together. His first sketch of it was in the memory box. By some miracle, his entire family is on board with it and are contributing financially. Each house will have approximately two acres of its own land. We’ll be moving here as our primary residence, as will Kenzi and Tor, most of Asher’s brothers, and their parents, while the others will be using the new houses here as alternate homes until they’re ready to move here permanently.

In addition to our private homes and yards, we’re also including central, shared features like a tennis court, a gym, a playground, a music studio, a skate park, several guest cabins, a small golf course with carts for us to zoom around to one another’s houses, a central grilling and bonfire area with tables, a pool, and a clubhouse.

Yeah, it’s a little crazy and over the top, but I think it’s going to be amazing to have everyone living so close. Our children will grow up together. There’s enough room for additional houses to be built as the kids grow up.

“Ransom, bring the puppy over here. We’re going to walk down by the river,” Asher says to our toddler, who’s meandering around with our six-month-old golden retriever puppy, picking up sticks.

Asher puts his arm around me as we wait for our son to catch up with us. Ransom is a miniature version of his father. Shaggy dark hair, big expressive eyes, impossibly long eyelashes, an adorable, crooked smile. He’s a funny, happy, caring little boy who can’t keep his hands off Asher’s guitar. I think we’ve got ourselves a future rock star.

I peek up at my husband and hug him tighter. He takes my breath away. Long hair blowing in the wind. That sexy smile. Dark, soulful eyes. Muscular, inked arms straining the fabric of his T-shirt. Those lips that kiss everything better.

He’s everything.

Sexiest man in rock.

Amazing father.

Bestest friend and brother.

Loving husband.

My world.

There’s not a man on this earth that I could’ve trusted my past, my present, and my future with more than Asher Valentine. He protected my heart, my memories, our marriage, and my life fiercely. He never gave up—even when the odds were stacked against us.

Catching me staring at him, he grins and moves his hand down past my hip to squeeze my ass affectionately.

“You fallin’ in love with me again, baby?” he teases, leaning down to press his lips against mine.

“Always,” I whisper.

“Good. I love you twice,” he murmurs against my lips.

Now and forever.