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“If it makes you feel any better, I almost hit him in the parking lot.” “Open hand or fist?” “Fist.” “Yeah,” she purrs, leaning in to sniff his neck. “That does make me feel good.”
The minute she lurched out of her chair, he knew he loved her.
His chest aches when she looks at him that way.
“You are that person for me,” he says softly. “And you don’t have to wear pearl earrings.”
He is a beautiful man, and she is never getting over him.
“But you know what I would take?” Ash grins. Her attention dips to the waist of his boxers. “Rough, wild sex?” “Later.” He stills her hand when she reaches out to cop a feel.
“You can do that?” “For you, I did,” he says seriously.
“Now’s your chance,” she teases. “Three days left to murder me.” The mention of the end of the trip kills the light in his eyes. A muscle works in his jaw. Then he husks, “How about I kiss you instead?”
He’s evil. The way he makes her want him.
“Tell me what you want in life,” he whispers, kissing her hair, her temple, her throat.
“Your weirdo dreams are my absolute favorite. And you are my absolute favorite weirdo.”
“Ash,” he breathes.
“What if I told you…I want to live in a lighthouse with you?” “I’d say…” Emotions swell and bubble in her throat. “Maybe I’ll let you.”
“Cold hands.” Nathaniel gathers her hands in his and brings them to his chest protectively. She steps into him, slipping her thigh between his. “Colder heart.” “But I have warm lips. Very, very warm lips.”
“Ash.” His voice is intense, velvet.
She’s the woman he’s going to marry. And not someday. Soon.
This is one of those fleeting moments where she drops her guard. He craves them.
How has he lived without her his entire fucking life?
Feral, mean, his.
It was inevitable. Falling in love with Ash.
She owns him completely.
“Right now, I don’t give a fuck about a single human in existence but you.” He won’t let her do this. Push him away. Her smile’s wobbly. “Then can you bring your shoulder closer so I can cry on it?” “Absolutely.”
“One thing about me? I’m gonna make everything about my trauma.”
“Do you know how you make me feel? How you make others feel? Someone has you in their corner, they’re fucking lucky. You are fierce and you are loyal and you are extremely, extremely mean. And I’m glad to be on the receiving end of all your assholes.”
“I want you more than I can stand it.”
I love you, Nathaniel thinks.
God, just the man’s hand is an entire love language.
“I’m going to die if I don’t touch you,” he rasps.
His lips melt against hers, like a sugar dissolving, a sugar she can’t get enough of, a sugar that’s good for her, never bad.
“I love this bikini,” he husks almost reverently. “Yellow’s my new favorite color.”
“You’re perfect,” Nathaniel whispers against her skin. “You’re perfect for me.”
“I could stay like this forever,” he rasps. “With you.”
“My morbid little beauty.”
It’s slow. Claiming. Meant to be. Just like them.
A bright orange butterfly flitters in the air. Vines and flowers and lush vegetation make it a paradise. And still, Nathaniel has the best view in the world. Ash.
“Truth,” Ash says, glancing over her shoulder at him. “Give it to me.” “Last meal. What would it be?” He hurries to catch up. Grabs her hand. “You and a cloth napkin.”
She is mean and feral, and fuck it if he doesn’t love it. Fuck if he doesn’t love her.
“Just let me have my misery.” He opens his arms. “Come be miserable over here.”
“I think…I think your life is like a spark running down a fuse. And when it fizzles out, we’re just…done. Blackness.”
“I want you to be warm and safe and most importantly…be mine. Be mine, Ash.”
“Ashabelle.” Her voice wobbles. Her eyes sting. “My real name is Ashabelle.” “Ashabelle,” he echoes, his tone full of amazement.
“It’s you. Crispy outside, chewy center.” He palms her cheek, tucking a lock of wild, salty-sea-waved hair behind her ear. “Tough. Mean. Beautiful. I love it.” He kisses her brow. “Every single part of you is perfect.”
A weird laugh pops out of her mouth. The unhinged kind.
“Good girl,” he whispers. “Good fucking girl.”
“Nathaniel.” “What?” “Tell me, even dying, am I still an absolute fox?”
“Ashabelle Keller, you are without a doubt the most stubborn, morbid, mean woman I’ve ever met.”
“But you’re also a beautiful, brilliant pain in the ass. My pain in the ass. You make this bullshit world better.”
He chuckles. That’s his girl.
She laughs. The sound is the most incredible thing he’s ever heard.
He looks down at her hand curled in his. His mean, beautiful girl.
