Page 116 of Play It Sinful

Eventually, Ashley and I returned to the party and found out the mastermind behind the picture frame trap was Zoey. She figured that, on the off-chance either of us was being stupid about getting back together right away, we needed a reminder of how much we loved each other. Gia and Blair helped curate the pictures. The one from the art gallery was taken by Ryder. I didn’t see that coming, especially after he screwed the team over when he quit in the middle of the Frozen Four.

Everyone has gone home, but I linger. I don’t expect to spend the night, but I’m hoping Ashley will ask me to stay. She’s still on the couch, and I’m helping her roommates clean up the place. Fiona comes over holding a trash bag.

“I’ll take that,” I say.

“Thanks. It’s the last one.”

“All right. I’ll be right back.” I veer for the back door.

“You’re not going to put on a coat?” Ashley asks from the couch.

“Nah, I’ll be back in a sec.”

I rush outside, and even though the temperature has dropped and it’s snowing, I don’t mind the cold. The temperature inside the house is a couple degrees too warm for me. I should have taken off my sweater.

When I get back inside, Fiona, Kerrie, and Lauren aren’t in the living room with Ashley anymore.

“Where are the girls?” I ask.

“In their rooms.” Ashley gets up and tries to cover a yawn with her hand.

“You must be exhausted. I should head out.”

Her eyes turn round. “You’re not spending the night?”

I grin, relieved. “I was waiting to be invited.”

She holds out her hand. “Come.”

My heart is pounding. I can hardly believe I’m here with Ashley and that I can love her as much as I want. Holding hands, we head to her room. She locks the door behind her, and then I freeze for a second. I’ve fantasized about this moment for so long, even though I shouldn’t have, that now that it’s here, I don’t know what to do.

“Alone at last.” She smiles.

“Yes.” I cup her cheek. “Finally.”

She covers my hand with hers. “Your hand is shaking.”

“I know. I’m fucking nervous. Can’t you tell?”

“I’m nervous too.” She moves my hand and places it over her chest. “Feel how fast my heart is beating.”

I chuckle. “I don’t remember us being this nervous our first time.”

She smiles. “No. But we were pretty drunk then.”

“Thank God for alcohol.” I step into her space and frame her face between my hands. “I missed you so damn much, Ash.” I kiss her lips softly, but when she sighs against my mouth, all the pent-up desire of years erupts from the pit of my stomach and spreads through my veins at the speed of light. It takes every ounce of self-control I possess to keep the pace slow.

“I want you so much, babe,” I kiss the corner of her mouth, then the column of her neck.

“Not as much as I want you.” She lifts her chin, granting me better access to the hollow of her throat.

I pull the fabric of her sweater down and run my tongue over her collarbone, making her moan softly. I step back quickly. “Did I hurt you?”

“What? No.”

“I shouldn’t be doing this. Fractured ribs are no picnic, and the last thing I want is to delay your recovery.”

“The doctor said no sudden movements. That’s all.”

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