Page 93 of Hero Worship

I nodded.

“Ash, you can stay there and hold his hand if you want. Or you can step out. Some partners get weirded out by watching. Last thing I want is to have to call an ambulance if you pass out.”

“I’m staying right here,” Ash said, taking my hand.

“All rightie. Hold still.”

It took a lot longer than I thought it would, but surprisingly, the most uncomfortable part was actually the little tube he had to insert to get the placement right. After that, it was exactly as Eli described. One good pinch and done. There was barely even any blood. I was almost disappointed considering how worked up I’d gotten over it.

“There we go,” Ketchup said with professional satisfaction. “Perfect placement. Want to see?”

I nodded, and he handed me a mirror. When I shifted to look, my breath caught. The black titanium curved perfectly, looking both delicate and somehow deadly. Like me. In fact, the piercing looked so at home there, I almost wondered how I’d ever lived up until that moment without it.

“Beautiful,” Ash said and stroked a hand through my hair.

As Ketchup went over the aftercare instructions one final time, I looked up at Ash. The look in his eyes as he stared at his newest mark of ownership was going to make the waiting worth it.

This was just the beginning of our forever.

It was late afternoon when we left Cherry Bombz and my panties were tucked into Ash’s pocket. I wouldn’t normally go commando in public, especially in a skirt, but my bits were still sensitive, and I didn’t want to ruin the lace panties. Every step made me acutely aware of the brand new jewelry. It felt like my weight had shifted somehow, like I’d been floating my whole life and now… Now I’d found the ground.

“You okay?” he asked softly as he helped me into the passenger seat of his SUV.

“Better than ever,” I breathed, and I meant it.

He smiled, one of those rare genuine smiles that transformed his whole face, a smile he only ever shared with me. His fingers traced down my jaw with infinite tenderness before he leaned in to kiss me. “Let’s go home.”

I blinked. He’d said home. Not his place. Not back to Liar’s Corner. He’d called his house a lot of things over the past few months, but nevermyhome. “Ash…”

“Home,” he repeated firmly. “Where your expensive lotions clutter my bathroom and get in the way of me shaving every morning, and where I’m always tripping over those heels you like to wear. Where I get to wake up every morning for the rest of my life to find the person I love hogging all the covers.” His thumb traced over my bottom lip. “Where there’s a very special diamond ring waiting in that antique jewelry box on my dresser.”

I gave him a coy smile. “How did you know I knew?”

“Baby, you’ve been practically vibrating with excitement for two weeks. I knew something was up, but I didn’t know what until you confirmed it just now.”

“Dammit,” I muttered, leaning forward to grip his shirt with both hands. “I walked right into your trap, didn’t I?”

“Sure did.” He pressed another kiss to my lips before we parted, and he closed my door for me. “You know,” he said as he climbed in on the driver’s side, “patience isn’t exactly your strong suit, is it, Xander? That’s going to make the next few weeks a hell of a lot of fun.” He flashed me a devilish grin.

I shifted in my seat, throwing a pout his way. “You’re going to torture me, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yes. Absolutely. Just because you’re not supposed to touch yourself for six weeks doesn’t mean I’m not going to take full advantage of that tight ass every chance I get. And then, when you’re all healed up… I think I’m going to take some timeoff. Stay in for a whole week and take you apart again and again and again.”

“Promises, promises,” I teased.

“And I always keep my promises.” He squeezed my thigh before starting the car. “Especially to you.”

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