Page 125 of Fated

His eyes widened in amusement. “Are you embarrassed?” He practically shouted, his grin widening as I peeked through my fingers, catching the playful sparkles in his eyes.

When I lowered my hands just enough to peek at him, he burst into laughter.

“Areya, watching you squirm and lose control to my body is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

I hesitated, but eventually, let my hands fall away. “I wasn’t … terrible?” My voice was small, and the vulnerability in the question made my cheeks burn again.

He chuckled, the sound low and warm, shaking his head as his eyes roamed over me. “Terrible?” He leaned in closer, his gaze smoldering. “You were a fucking goddess. And you better get used to it, because I plan on doing many, many unspeakable things to that beautiful body of yours.”

The sincere affection and promise in his words made something inside me melt, the embarrassment slowly replaced by a warmth that left me smiling despite myself.

“You’re adorable,” Ash muttered, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Adorable?” I scoffed, narrowing my eyes with playful indignation. “I thought I was a goddess.” Before he could respond, I shoved him back onto the bed, his laughter breaking free as I climbed on top of him, straddling his hips again. “So, which is it, Ash? Adorable or goddess?”

“Both,” he said without hesitation, his hands sliding up to rest on my thighs, his grin wicked. “But I prefer my goddess like this—on top of me, exactly where she belongs.”

I smiled, a flicker of confidence sparking under his heated gaze. But when his eyes roamed over me, taking in every inch of my bare body, his breath hitched. A flicker of heat crossed his face, and his expression softened into something almost reverent. “You’re an adorable goddess,” he murmured, his words sending a strange mix of warmth and amusement through me.

I snorted, unable to keep a straight face, and dropped my head, bursting into laughter. Ash joined in, his deep chuckle filling the room until we were both clutching at our stomachs.

“Oh my God, I’m terrible at this!” I admitted through my laughter, wiping at my eyes.

Ash leaned back casually, propping his hands behind his head, his grin still firmly in place as he watched me with an amused glint in his eye. “I beg to differ.”

I rolled my eyes, still chuckling as I tried to catch my breath. “Ash, you’re so sexy and smooth, and I’m just … me.”

“I love that you’re you,” he said simply, the sincerity in his voice cutting through the lingering laughter. His smile softened, so full of affection that my heart skipped a beat.

I huffed a small laugh and sighed, shaking my head. “I’m sorry.”

“Why would you be sorry?”

“For ruining the mood, I guess.” I said, biting my lip.

Ash’s grin grew wider, his eyes twinkling with humor.

“Ruining the mood? Areya, this is the most fun I’ve ever had in bed. It’s real. It’s just Ash and Areya. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

His words, spoken with so much warmth and adoration, stole the breath from my lungs.

I chewed on my lip even more, considering him, trying to absorb the fact that he allowed me to be my shy, awkward self, and still looked at me like that—like I was the only thing that mattered.

God, I was so in love with him.

Summoning a bit of confidence, I leaned forward, fingers fumbling as I attempted to unbutton the first button of his shirt. But the stupid thing wouldn’t come undone.

“What are you doing, Areya?” He watched me, clearly amused, stifling his mirth.

“I’m trying to take this stupid shirt off!” I muttered, biting down on my smile as I struggled with the button.

I didn’t give up, though, determined. Finally, the first button gave way, then the next, until his chest lay bare before me.

He shrugged off his shirt, tossing it somewhere with the rest of my clothes. My eyes widened as I took in the sight of him—his broad chest, the perfectly carved muscles of his abs.

“What am I supposed to do with all of that?” I motioned to his bare chest, half teasing, half awestruck.

His lips curved into a playful smirk.

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