Page 86 of Bleeding Hearts

“Over here,” I yell from the couch.

“Is that a kitten?” He looks at me and the kitten with wide eyes as he comes to stand in front of us.

“Meet my new baby.” I smile. “And since you’re my boyfriend, it makes him your baby too.”

He looks at me, amused.

“Congratulations, Daddy.” I add.

“Ignoring how much I loved hearing you call me that,” he says, and I roll my eyes.

“Oh, and his name is Gordon Meowsy.”

“Of course it is.” He laughs. “When? How? Where? I have so many questions.” He lifts my legs, sitting next to me on the couch and placing them on top of him.

Gordon eyes him with curiosity, deciding whether he likes him or not. I already know he will though.

“I found him outside the apartment, and he was so sweet he came right up to me, Ash. I couldn’t just leave him there, so I took him to the vet, and they said he’s perfect and now I have a kitten. Well, we have a kitten.” I smile. “Oh, but I don’t have kitten food, or toys, or treats, or a litter box and litter. So could you go get all of that for me, pretty please?” I beg him.

Gordon crawls over onto his lap and lies down. He looks up at him, meowing, and Asher caves, reaching down and petting his small head.

“Well, you lucked out, Gordon Meowsy. You’ve got the best mom in the world.” He smiles over at me. He lifts him up, putting him back in my lap. “I’ll be back with supplies soon.” He leans down, kissing me on the lips before walking toward the door.

“Hey, Ash?” I call out.

“Yeah, baby?”

“I know I ask a lot of you sometimes, so just thank you. For everything. I love you,” I say sincerely.

“Demi, don’t you know by now that you could ask me for anything in the world and I’d find a way to give it to you? You don’t ever have to thank me for wanting to make you happy. I love you more.” He smiles at me softly before walking out the door to go get kitten supplies.

Emotion flares through my chest at his words. This is what real, unconditional love feels like.

Growing up, my parents would tell me they loved me. They’d act like I was the light of their lives, only for my father to hit me behind closed doors while my mother stood by and watched.

If I asked for a single thing, something as simple as being excused from dinner early to study, I had to make sure to load on the thank-yous. One was never enough.

My father had to feel as though I was eternally grateful to him for allowing me to leave the table.

Asher doesn’t need my thanks though. He’s not looking for praise or a pat on the back. He’s just loving me and, in doing so, doing everything he can to make me happy. The same way I would do anything for him.

“I think we’re the lucky ones, Gordon. Your daddy is pretty amazing.” I look down at the furball. He meows up at me in agreement, and I take it as a sign.

Asher Gray is meant to be part of my life, our lives, and I’m never letting him go.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

Demi

“Hey, big brother.” I peek my head into Kaden’s room at Blackheart Ink, where he’s cleaning up his tattooing station now.

“Hey, Dem,” Kaden says, looking over at me while he keeps cleaning. “How are you doing? Here to see Ash?”

“I’m doing fantastic, thank you for asking.” I smile, walking over and plopping down on his stool, sitting next to his computer. “And I’m going to stop in and see him after you, then I’m going to steal your wife from upstairs and make her go get dinner with me before taking her to meet Gordon Meowsy.”

“Of course.” He chuckles under his breath. “How’s the kitten doing?”

“Your nephew is doing amazing. I mean, he’s a little bit crazy. I had to hide all the cords in my house because he likes to eat them, and also, he thinks the family room chairs are his own personal scratching boards. Oh, and he thinks bedtime is playtime, so we’re working on knowing the difference.”

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