Page 15 of Swallow

ASH

Brady had been a couple of hours from my home, so by the time I made it back to the bar, it was so late that dawn would be quickly approaching.

The neon sign above the front door cast a dull glow against the sidewalk. The streets were empty, but the promise of the morning rush was fast on the heels of that quietness. I parked the truck in the alley beside the bar, entered through the side door, and climbed the stairs to the apartment to see Evie.

I barely had time to knock before the door opened.

Evie was awake… because she’d been waiting for me.

Her eyes searched mine, looking for answers I didn’t want to burden her mind with. But she didn’t ask me anything yet. She held the door open wide, leaving space for me to enter.

When she closed the door behind me, I faced her, noticing her shoulders dropped as she took me in. Her hands fidgeted at her sides, like she was debating whether to reach for me.

Instead, she just whispered, “You went to see him, didn’t you? Brady?”

I nodded once. “He won’t be bothering you again.”

Her breath caught. Then, slowly, she let it out, relief flickering across her face before panic settled around her. “You didn’t?—”

“No, I didn't kill him. But if he comes after you, I will.”

She said nothing. She just stood there, looking stronger than when she’d first come to me. And I understood at that moment, she knew she had this—herself, her life… everything—under control.

And although I knew deep in my bones what this was between us, for the first time, I acknowledged to myself that she wasn’t just someone who I was protecting.

She was my future, and I’d do anything to make sure she knew that.

I reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She just barely leaned into the touch, and yet I felt my heart race and my stomach tighten.

“Thank you, Ash. Thank you for… saving my life.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “No, baby.You’vesavedmylife.”

11

EVIE

We had no plans today. Ash asked someone to cover the bar, and at first, we just… enjoyed each other’s company.

But as the time passed, our desire grew until we went to bed. Nothing else mattered but coming together as one.

The room spun as my arousal jumbled my thoughts and made my head hazy. I didn’t want to think about anything aside from right now with Ash.

His words he said throughout the day about owning me, claiming me... about not being with anyone else, played through my mind.

I was naked on the bed as Ash pulled and twisted my nipple, causing little zings of electricity throughout my whole body. It felt so good, and he knew just the right place to touch that lit me up. I’d never felt more out of control with my emotions or body than I did right now, and that made being with Ash even more exciting.

“Yes, Ash,” I moaned.

He growled low in his throat, leaned down, and sucked my nipple into his mouth.

“God,” I said, unable to stop myself from groaning.

When he let go of my nipple, I heard an audiblepop. Ash leaned back, and I knew I couldn’t take any more of this foreplay. And as I watched him, I felt like he was right there with me.

He grabbed his cock and leaned back farther, and all I could do was stare in erotic pleasure when he aligned himself with my pussy hole. I still couldn’t get over how big and long he was, so thick and leaking pre-cum.

“I’m so damn hard for you, baby.” He swallowed, still poised at my entrance. “You drive me crazy.” He ran that thick cockhead up and down my slit. “You see what you do to me?” He looked at his dick, causing me to do the same. “You see how fucking hard I am? This is all for you. Only for you.”

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