Page 160 of Chasing Sparks

But it’s not that simple.

He’s not my man.

Not anymore.

And if I’m honest—really and brutally honest—he never was.

That was never an occupation Asher Hammond wanted.

At least, not with me.

No amount of kisses, however public or reassuring, are going to change the fact that the woman he once adored is carrying his baby.

Oh yeah, and so am I.

See? Once again, I’m relegated to second place. The runner-up. Or, as I lovingly call it, breadfruit.

I groan, realizing a split second too late that the sound needed to stay in my mouth.

Ash’s gaze widens. “Not the reaction I hoped for.”

“Sorry. It’s not you. It’s … life.”

He strokes the hair from my face, his fingers gentle against my skin. “Are you okay?”

For a man as big and burly as Ash, he’s also the king of the gentle caress.

Shrugging off the malaise, I force a smile and hope it doesn’t border on maniacal. Let’s get real—my psyche has lived through the wringer these last few weeks. “Absolutely. Just a bit sleepy. And wondering what we’re doing outside the bedroom.”

He winks at me before pulling me close and pressing that gorgeous mouth to mine once more.

“Anything you’d like,” he murmurs against my lips, his hands sliding to my ass and pulling me flush against him.

I stiffen, my hands flying up to push him away, but he doesn’t budge. If anything, his grip tightens—a silent reminder that, in his eyes, I belong to him.

Do I want to cave to his ministrations? Of course. But that’s not the point.

I don’t share my lovers or my loves.

“Ash, stop,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

His lips linger for one last moment before he finally pulls back. His eyes search mine, and I see the hint of frustration living there.

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly, stepping back with a sigh. He hesitates, like there’s something more he wants to say, but opens the door and motions toward the bed sitting in the center of the room. “I thought you might want to say hello to Merlin.”

For the first time since I arrived, a genuine laugh bubbles from my throat. I bound to the bed, leaping next to the bundle of fluff snuggled on the blanket. “Merlin, you lazy, fat cat.”

The black cat awakens and gives me a sleepy yawn, reaching out a paw to coax me into more pets.

Like he even has to ask.

Ash sprawls across the bed on the opposite side of Merlin, resting his head in his hand. But his gaze never wavers from me.

At this point, it’s unnerving.

It’s more than the man undressing me with his eyes. It’s like he’s trying to peer straight into my soul.

“Such a spoiled boy,” I murmur, rubbing Merlin’s stomach. “I’ve missed him.”

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