Page 30 of Ash

I grinned, then swatted her ass, making her hiss from the sting on her tender flesh. It made me hard as fuck, so I hurried out to our bedroom, knowing we both needed to get ready for the day.

I walked into the large closet I’d thought was overkill when I bought the house but now was glad I had it when I sawNora’s reaction. After yanking on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, I shrugged on my cut and swaggered back into the bedroom.

Nora was staring at the bed, frowning.

“What’s up, baby girl?”

“Well…um, I brought my uniform last night because I knew I had to work today.”

“Good thinking. So what’s got your pretty face lookin’ like you swallowed a lemon, darlin’?”

As expected, a smile broke out on her face when I tossed out my Texas accent.

“You have to talk to my mom like that, Eli,” she told me in a fit of giggles. “It will kill her that the smooth-talking, rich son of a Texas senator isn’t everything she wants you to be.”

I chuckled, then circled her waist with my arm and drew her back against my chest so I could place little kisses on her neck and shoulder while inhaling her delicious scent.

“Back up, baby girl. What were you thinkin’ about when I came out of the closet?”

“Just that I should have thought to bring more clothes. I’m not ready to go home and face my mom.”

I turned her around slowly and cupped her face in my palms. “First, you don’t have to go home until you’re ready. Is that clear? Second, you need anything, I’ll buy it for you,” I told her, giving her a look that shut her up when she opened her mouth to argue. “Get used to me spoiling you, baby girl. I intend to give you everything.”

Her face had gone soft, and she went up on her tiptoes to give me a sweet kiss. “I don’t need anything but you, Eli.”

I brushed my mouth over hers before releasing her and walking over to my dresser to grab my keys and wallet. “Get dressed, baby girl. Gonna make you some breakfast.”

The French toast was almost done when she padded into the kitchen. I stretched out my arm, and she walked straight to me so I could hold her close while I flipped the bread.

“Your kitchen is amazing,” she said with a blissful sigh. I glanced down to see her looking around with a dreamy expression.

“Glad you like it, baby girl. But feel free to change anything you want.” I had to let her go to scoop the toast out of the pan and put it on plates, so I didn’t notice her stunned expression until I’d set them on the table and turned around.

“What?”

Nora blinked a few times, then brushed her hair over her shoulder and licked her lips.

“Baby girl,” I growled. “You will never make it to work if you keep licking your lips like that. You know it turns me the fuck on.”

She swallowed hard and squeezed her thighs together, making me groan. I forced myself to turn away and grab the butter and syrup.

“You want me to make changes?” she asked softly when I stepped out of the walk-in pantry.

“Of course,” I replied without thinking as I set the syrup on the table.

“To your house?”

Her tone was oddly insistent, so I turned around and looked at her, crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s your house, too, baby girl. So do whatever you want with it.”

She stared at me with her mouth open and her blue eyes round as saucers. “D-d-did…did you just ask me to move in with you?” she sputtered.

I laughed, and she glared at me. “No, baby girl. I’m not asking.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders drooped, and she looked sad and confused at the same time.

“C’mere, Nora,” I ordered, holding out my hand.

She cautiously walked toward me, and when she was close enough, I reached out and grabbed her shirt, yanking her up against me. “Wasn’t asking because it’s a done deal, baby girl. Youaremoving in with me.”

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