10. Truth Over Easy
Chapter 10
Truth Over Easy
Ori
“D
o you forgive me?” he asks.
I release a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a sated moan as Ash rolls off me and pulls me to him.
“I don’t know. Your idea of a tour sucks.”
I speak the truth. After freezing my ass off on the ride to Ash’s farmhouse, I wanted to make a beeline for the wood stove to thaw out.
Ash had a different idea. No sooner had we walked inside than he scooped me into his arms and carried me to his bedroom.
I will say this for the man—despite losing all articles of clothing, he certainly warmed me up quickly. And maybe, just maybe, I didn’t mind too much.
“You’ll get the full tour in the morning—greenhouses, grounds, everything.”
“Ooh, well, that changes things.”
“So, I’m forgiven?” he presses.
“I suppose I’ll let it slide. This time.”
“Lucky me.” He shoots me a lazy grin, his arms warm around me.
It should be enough, but a niggling voice in the back of my mind urges caution—to fight the urge to move full steam ahead into love with this man.
“You are lucky, so don’t you forget it.” Propping my chin on his chest, I trace the outline of one of his many tattoos, his muscles flexing beneath my fingers. “You really didn’t sleep with her?”
Ash’s eyes widen at my segue. “Are you asking me about another woman five seconds after I was inside you?”
“Why not? Seems as good a time as any.” I deliver a light smack to his chest at his guffaw, fully aware I appear needy and ridiculous.
Hey, I still need answers.
“Well?”
Another snort escapes his lips as he grabs me close and seizes my mouth in a fierce kiss. “What am I going to do with you?”
Apparently, not answer me.
With an exasperated huff, I turn away from him, shooting a petulant pout over my shoulder for effect. “Fine. Don’t tell me.”
But he’s on me immediately, his hands becoming more presumptuous by the second as his lips nuzzle my shoulder.
The man has memorized every sensitive spot on my body, no doubt a testament not only to his sexual prowess but to his dogged determination to deliver multiple orgasms every time.
Trust me, he succeeds.
Ash links our fingers together before pulling me into a bear hug, his hard chest firm against my back.
“You’re a problem, Ori. Remember what I told you after our first night together? How you played in my brain on an endless loop? It’s only gotten worse the longer we spend together. My addiction to you has grown exponentially, and I don’t think there’s any help for me.”
Turning in his arms, I reward his answer with a hungry kiss, my tongue dancing along the roof of his mouth while my hands glide along the planes of his stomach, trailing downward to brush against his cock.
“I should have warned you. Once I sink my claws into you, there’s no turning back.”
“Now you tell me,” Ash murmurs, his voice a husky whisper.
It’s not a direct answer, but it’s an answer, nonetheless. I realize emotional intimacy is terrifying for Ash, and we have to baby-step our way along this journey.
At least we’re on the same path.
Besides, even if he partook in extracurricular affairs this past month, we turned over a new leaf tonight—although I pray, I’m keeping the man sexually satisfied.
I sure seem to be.
“Couldn’t give you a chance to escape,” I purr as I wrap my hand around his shaft, dancing my thumb across the sensitive tip.
Ash’s eyes drop closed as he bucks against my hand. “If this, right here, is prison, lock me up and throw away the key.”
“You and your fabulous responses tonight. Maybe I should reward you for such exemplary behavior.”
“I love where this is heading.”
“I bet you do.”
Ash, like every other man on the planet, loves getting head. Lucky for him, I love his cock, and I especially love the way I own him when I drop to my knees and take him in my mouth.
But when I sit up, determined to take my man on a ride, he grasps my arms and rolls me onto my back.
He drifts his hand between my thighs, and I bite back a moan, my pussy still tingling from the last round.
“You’re so fucking wet. So ready for me again.”
I grind against his hand as he curves his fingers to stroke me from the inside. “Ash?—”
Ash grasps both my wrists in one hand and holds them above my head, locking me in place. “Let it all go. I want everyone to hear how good I’m making you feel.”
He’s relentless, his thumb circling my clit while his fingers continue to work me open.
Ash’s gaze never shifts from my face, his eyes locked on me as I fall apart beneath him.
I fist the pillow, the only thing within reach, and hiss as the overpowering emotions rip through me.
“Fuck, fuck.” It’s all I can manage as I writhe against his hand, my muscles squeezing around him as I desperately seek my release.
“That’s right. That’s my good girl,” Ash murmurs, a ravenous hunger awash in his face as he frees my hands.
I blink my eyes closed, but he twists his fingers in my hair, urging them open. “Eyes on me. Watch me claim what’s mine.”
Ash spreads my legs, the warmth of his body overpowering me as he buries himself deep inside. A keening cry escapes my lips, the sound raw and unrestrained.
His gaze holds me captive as he moves slowly, each thrust deliberate, coaxing me closer to the edge. “Nothing feels as good as you, Oriana.”
I tighten around him, drawing him deeper, knowing damn well he’s barely holding on.
“You say I’m yours? Show me. Claim every inch of me.”
“You’re driving me insane,” he growls, his movements growing desperate, almost frantic, as he slams into me again and again. “I can’t wait to take you raw. I’ll come so deep inside you, you’ll never fucking recover.”
The words hit me like a spark to kindling, igniting every nerve. His stare anchors me, unrelenting, pulling me under as my body tightens, the tension snapping like a cord.
And then I’m gone. My body convulses, every inch of me trembling as wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me.
Ash wraps his hands around my hips, his thrusts hard and unyielding as he chases his own release.
He lets out a rough shout, collapsing against me as his breathing comes in ragged bursts against my ear.
I drag my tongue along his sweat-slick skin, letting my fingers trace lazy patterns along his scalp as his breathing evens out.
Ash props himself on his forearms, his skin gleaming in the dim light. He presses his forehead to mine, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Every time with you is better than the last. How the hell do you do that to me?”
“Simple.” I smile, pressing a soft kiss to his mouth. “I’m magic, remember?”
“Yes, you are.”
“Want to take a shower?”
He nods, a flicker of tenderness crossing his face. “Sure, but give me a second to just look at you. You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
His words knock the air out of me more than any dirty line ever could. Sure, his filthy talk turns me on, but moments like this, when he lets his guard down and shows me exactly how he feels, these are the ones I’ll replay in my head for days.
Tracing my fingers along his beard, I steal another kiss. “Lucky for you, I’m all yours.”
“Damn lucky, all right.”
I’m awake before Ash, but that’s nothing new. The early morning light streams through the window, and despite the frigid temperatures outside, there’s nothing as beautiful as a winter sunrise blazing across the sky. The vibrant streaks of orange and pink bathe everything in a rosy hue.
Or maybe that’s just the look of love.
After a few minutes admiring Mother Nature’s handiwork, I pull on my clothes and drop a kiss on Ash’s cheek. “I’m off in search of coffee.”
“Okay,” he murmurs, his face buried in the pillow. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
I’m halfway to the door when he calls to me. “Hold up a second. Braden is home.”
My stance stiffens, wondering if, despite everything, I’m still a secret to the outside world.
“So?”
“Don’t go downstairs naked,” he grunts. “That gorgeous body is for my eyes only.”
“Not a problem. In fact, I might steal a few more layers before the morning is out.” Chuckling, I walk downstairs, following the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to the kitchen.
I wave to Braden as I walk into the room, nodding toward the coffeepot. “Is that?—?”
“From the store? You bet.” Braden slides a mug of coffee across the counter to me. “I made a full pot, since I knew you were here.”
Oh. My. God.
We didn’t see Braden when we arrived last night, so if he knew I was here, it’s because he heard us.
My cheeks flame as I try to hide my face behind the coffee mug. “Did we keep you up?”
Braden chuckles. “You weren’t quiet.”
I set the coffee aside and bury my face in my hands. “Oh, God. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I just figured you’d need the fix this morning, and I know you love your coffee.”
“How did you know it was me and not some other woman?”
Braden cocks his head, a slow grin spreading across his features. “Ash never brings anyone here, except for you.”
His blunt admission damn near brings me to tears, which would no doubt confuse the younger Hammond brother. But he doesn’t realize how much my heart needed the validation that I’m different. Special.
“It’s about time, too,” Braden continues. “Ash kept saying he wanted to bring you out here, but your apartment is so much closer to the shop.”
“Two minutes up the road, which is nice when it’s single digits outside.”
“I didn’t see your truck.”
“No,” I laugh, taking another sip of coffee. “Ash insisted we had to get his bike home safely before the storm. Figures he’d choose the coldest night of the year to take me on a moonlit ride.”
“We love our ladies.”
“Only if they’re carved from steel.”
“Touché,” Braden replies, clinking his mug against mine. He straightens and peers toward the doorway, no doubt waiting for Ash to make an appearance. “Are you two okay?”
“I think we’re better than okay. We had a bit of a breakthrough last night, which is far superior to the breakdowns we experienced earlier in the day.”
Braden leans on the counter, tapping his fingers against the ceramic surface. His green eyes lock on mine, serious now. “He really cares about you, Ori. I know he sucks at showing it sometimes, but trust me, he does.”
“Now you tell me. Where were you yesterday when I was a hot mess, thinking he slept with Casey?”
“Right next door, as usual.” He shrugs, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “But don’t worry. Nothing happened there. It’s not Ash’s style.”
I sputter my coffee, sure I heard him wrong. “Juggling multiple women isn’t Ash’s style? Since when?”
“When Ash gets serious about someone, it’s like blinders go on. Nothing else matters.”
I wrap my fingers around the mug, considering his words. “I thought he didn’t get serious. Ever.”
“Not in a long damn time, but you seem to have changed his mind.”
Have I, though?
Despite stepping forward, Ash remains wary about the concept of love. All I know is some woman broke his heart and did a bang-up job of it.
How do you help someone trust in love again when they’ve already decided it’s a losing game?
“What are you two talking about?” Ash asks as he strolls into the kitchen and grabs a mug of coffee, pausing to drop a kiss on my forehead.
I give him a nonchalant shrug. “You. Obviously.”
“Shit. Here I thought it would be a good morning.”
Braden laughs and motions toward the door. “I’m heading into the shop. I have a custom piece later this morning. You two behave.”
“No promises,” I giggle, swatting at Ash when he slides his hands under my shirt to squeeze my boobs.
“Be nice, mister, or I won’t make you breakfast.”
“Just appreciating the chef,” he teases, grinning as I swat him away. “Although far be it from me to stop you from taking over the kitchen.”
“I can teach you how to cook, you know.”
Sadly, although half Italian, the man could burn water.
Come to think of it, he likely has.
The further away he stays from the oven, the better off we all are.
“How about you cook, and I’ll clean up afterward?” Ash offers.
“Deal.” I grab some eggs from the fridge and crack a few into a bowl.
“What were you two saying about me?”
Should have known the man wouldn’t let that statement lie.
“Why? Are you paranoid?”
“No, but I’m curious what shit my little brother was spouting.”
I set the eggs aside and hop onto the counter, swinging my legs slightly as I plant myself directly in front of Ash. “He said you were over-the-moon cuckoo for me.”
Okay, Braden didn’t exactly say that, but it’s a good opening, and it may be enough to convince Ash to talk about his past.
“I knew he was spouting shit.” Ash laughs at my look of mock horror, wrapping a hand around my nape to steal a soft kiss. “I like you okay, Ori. You’ll do.”
I fan myself, shooting him a side-eye. “Who says romance is dead?”
Yes, I’m playing it off and volleying back banter, as is our norm. But I know Ash well enough to realize that his humor is simply a bandage for the pain.
How do I know? Because I’ve been there. After my dad walked out on my mom and me, I became a pro at pretending I didn’t care. If I could fool everyone else, maybe I’d convince myself too.
Still waiting on that one.
“You know I’m not a big believer in romance. It’s all superficial, surface-level bullshit. Don’t get me wrong—if you want flowers, I’ll get them for you. But I hate the idea that how I feel is measured by how big a bouquet I buy.”
I slide off the counter and dump the eggs into a pan. “I get that.”
But apparently, Ash doesn’t think I do. He steps closer, his face a mix of conflicting emotions. “You know I’ll get you flowers, Ori. I’ll get you whatever you want.”
“I can buy myself flowers, but I appreciate the sentiment.” I pause, letting the air between us grow thick before adding, “Although I do have one request.”
Ash stops in his tracks, his hands sliding into his hair as he exhales sharply. “I may live to regret this, but go ahead.”
I stop stirring the eggs and face him. “Tell me about her.”
Ash’s brow furrows. “Who?”
“You know who.”
His eyes scan the far wall, squinting in the morning light. “Casey? I told you, nothing happened between me and her.”
“Not Casey. The woman who changed your mind about love.”
“Shit.” He mutters the curse under his breath, pivoting away from me. “I don’t want to talk about her.”
But I’m not willing to let the subject drop. Not this time.
The first night, I barely knew the man and allowed his past to stay firmly corralled within the confines of his mind. But now, we’re an integral part of each other’s lives. This isn’t about prying—it’s about understanding him.
Most importantly, understanding if we have a fighting chance.
“It’s impossible for me to fight the ghost of her if I don’t even know what I’m up against.”
“It was a long time ago, Ori.”
I shake my head, pointing toward the floor. “No, she’s still very much here—in every day and every moment. Look at it this way: maybe if you tell me about her, I’ll understand why you hate intimacy and romance and the dreaded L word, and I’ll leave you alone about it.”
“Doubtful.” Ash scrubs a hand over his face, his jaw tight as if holding back words he’s not ready to say.
I reach out, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. “Always a chance. Come on, talk to me. You know I’m a good listener.”
Ash huffs out a sharp breath, his nostrils flaring. He doesn’t want to discuss this topic, but he realizes I need him to.
“Trust me, I don’t want the details of your sex life. Just a basic overview of the relationship.”
“Details of our sex life would be less painful to discuss.”
“Maybe for you .” I turn my attention back to cooking, flipping the eggs and bacon in the pan with practiced ease.
He encircles his arms around me, depositing a series of slow, shivery kisses along my throat.
It feels like heaven, but I know exactly what he’s doing.
I wiggle against his muscled form. “You’re stalling.”
“Damn straight.”
“Guess you’re not hungry then,” I reply as I turn to him, holding the plate of eggs and bacon just out of reach.
I raise the plate higher, smiling sweetly as his gaze narrows. He sighs, running a hand over his jaw as if genuinely debating whether tackling me for the food is worth it.
Finally, he relents and settles into a kitchen chair before holding out his hand. “Give me the damn plate, and I’ll tell you my tale of woe.”
Score one for the home team.
He snatches the plate, scarfing down a few bites. “You really are the most amazing cook.”
“Stalling,” I retort in a sing-song voice.
“You first. Who broke your heart the worst?”
“That’s easy—my father.” I swallow hard, the familiar ache rising in my chest. “He took an enormous piece of me with him when he left, and I didn’t know how to process the pain of his abandonment. My mom was no help—she didn’t understand it, either. So, I wore a mask every day, pretended I hated my father, and stumbled through life.”
The words spill out faster now, like they’ve been waiting too long to be spoken. “But when the one man who shouldn’t ever break your heart shatters it to bits, your view of men becomes skewed. I opted to create this incredible love story in my head with this unbelievable man. Of course, since it was a fairytale, no one ever came close.”
I duck my head, my fingers curling around the edge of the kitchen table. Admitting the next part feels like stepping into the light after years of hiding in the shadows. But if I want Ash to be real with me, I owe him the same courtesy.
“Until you. You’re the first man I want to open up and be vulnerable for.”
A muscle jumps in Ash’s jaw at my declaration—my brutal and beautiful admission. He runs a hand over his beard, his gaze fixed on some distant point as he processes my words.
“Damn.” His voice is low, gruff, but there’s a flicker of disbelief in his expression. “Thank you.”
I’m not sure what kind of response I expected, but that certainly wasn’t it.
To be fair, I never planned on spilling my guts this morning—I wanted Ash to spill his. But here I am, baring the parts of myself I swore I’d keep hidden.
With a shrug, I focus on my breakfast, certain I’ve said too much and overstepped the boundaries of our fragile new relationship. No doubt my admission might send Ash scurrying away—back to the arms of his waiting harem.
Sometimes, you need to stop while you’re ahead.
“You want some more?” I ask, rising from the table, eager to escape the awkwardness brewing in my stomach.
But Ash grabs my wrist, nodding toward the chair. “Stay.”
I sit down, facing him expectantly.
“It was eleven years ago. I’d hung out with all kinds of women, but I was so busy getting Black Lotus up and running that I didn’t have time for a relationship. Then I met Lucille, and within five minutes, I knew I wanted to spend my life with her.”
Okay, maybe this was a bad idea.
“That fast, huh?”
Ash nods, swigging his coffee. “It was immediate and powerful. She felt it too—or so she claimed. Everything in my life revolved around her—work, play, my present, my future. I wanted to marry her, but I didn’t have the cash for a ring, so I sold the bike my grandfather gave me.”
“Was he angry?”
Ash shakes his head, wincing as if the memory still stings. “He’d passed a year earlier. My dad and Braden wanted to kill me when they found out, but I didn’t care. I knew what I wanted—I wanted her.”
“Sounds like you were very devoted.”
“I was very stupid ,” Ash bites out. His fingers drum a sharp, uneven rhythm on the table. “I bought this big-ass ring, dropped to one knee, and asked her to marry me. That’s when she told me the truth.”
Oh boy, this is not looking good.
“She was married. Want to know the icing on this shit cake? I sold my grandfather’s bike to her fucking husband. He didn’t know about the affair, either—at least not at that point.”
I release a slow exhale, buying myself a few seconds. “Holy shit, Ash. That’s beyond messed up. I’m so sorry she did that to you.”
“The worst part? I never saw it coming. My friends and family warned me about her, said she wasn’t what she seemed. But I was blind to everything. I saw what I wanted to see—that she was perfect.”
“No one is perfect.”
“She wasn’t even close,” he snaps, his fingers stilling as he presses his palms flat against the table.
“What happened after that?”
“I told her I never wanted to see her again and chucked the ring over the side of the mountain.”
I clap my hand over my mouth. “You didn’t.”
Ash nods, his expression pained. “I did. I went from dumb to dumber in thirty seconds flat. So, I had no girl, no bike, no ring, and no money. I had to go to my father and tell him what happened.”
“What did he do?”
“He hugged me and wrote me a check to buy a used truck to get me around. He saw how broken I was. But it got worse. Her husband was one of the head guys in a local MC.”
“Christ.”
“I figured I’d end up riddled with bullet holes. It was just a matter of time. Then one night, I saw him in a local bar where I was drowning my sorrows. I didn’t say a word. Just got up and left. Figured this was it, you know? I planned to pull over and let him take his pound of flesh, but a drunk driver got to him first. Ran him off the road.”
I jerk upright. How can this story get any worse? “That’s terrible.”
“Part of me wanted to leave him there, just like the drunk driver did. But I couldn’t do that. I got most of the plate and called the cops. Waited with the guy—he was barely lucid. Told him he’d be okay, and that I wasn’t going anywhere.”
“Did he survive?”
Ash nods, fiddling with his fork. “He spent six weeks in the hospital and a few more months learning to walk again. But Trace is a tough son of a bitch. He fought back. One day, he knocked on my door, and I thought he was there to finish the job. He wasn’t. He handed me the keys to my bike and said he hoped he never saw me again. Then he thanked me for saving him and left.”
I’m not sure what kind of tale I thought Ash would have, but this story is the stuff of nightmares. Only for Ash, it’s his waking reality.
“Whatever happened to Lucille?”
Ash clears his throat. “She disappeared for a while. Popped back up a couple of years later at a tattoo convention.”
“She’s a tattoo artist, too?”
Ash nods. “Yep, a damn good one. Too bad she’s a heartless monster.”
“A lot of talented artists are terrible people. Were you angry when you saw her?”
“I don’t know what I was, Ori. I felt everything and nothing at the same time. Anger, rage, sadness, longing—everything. She insisted on taking me to dinner, and we talked. Mainly she did, apologizing and trying to explain her side. I told her it didn’t matter.”
“But it did.”
“I wasn’t going to let her know that. After falling for her, I swore I’d never allow another woman into my heart. In that way, you and I are exactly alike. The people we trusted the most betrayed us.”
But we’re not, Ash, because I’m willing to let you into mine.
Knowing what I do now, though, I realize it’s going to be a tougher road than I originally believed.
“So, that’s it? She apologized and walked away?”
“No. God, I wish.” Ash hesitates before answering, his voice quieter now. “We slept together after the breakup. Actually, we hooked up quite a few times over the last several years.”
I blink, absorbing the new information. Seems the woman still has her claws in him, which is not good news. “Huh.”
He shakes his head, as if regretting his admission. “I never told anyone that before. Lucille was this dirty secret because everyone I knew hated her.”
But you didn’t.
I skew my mouth to the side, at a loss for a response.
Ash reaches over and grabs my fingers. “I shouldn’t have said all that about us hooking up. I’m sorry.”
Waving my hand, I dismiss his concern—even though it gouges me like a dagger. “It’s okay. I get it. I was like that with a guy I dated. We were toxic together, but there was comfort in it. I knew his body. He knew mine.”
Ash waves his hand. “Nope. Stop talking.”
“About my ex?”
“No, about any former sexual partners. The thought of you being with another man drives me crazy.”
My eyes widen at his jealousy. “Why? It was ten years ago.”
“I don’t care. As far as I’m concerned, you were a virgin before I came along.”
“Too bad I can’t play that card,” I reply with a smirk.
“Trust me, I don’t want to talk about my past relationships, either.” He leans over, grasping my fingers. “Are we okay?”
It took so much courage for him to open up like that—to share the dark recesses of his soul.
And even though his admissions hurt to hear, mainly because Lucille got the version of him I’ll never have, I know he needs my reassurances that we, such as we are, are still on solid ground.
Besides, I asked. Don’t go digging in a litter box if you don’t want to find some shit.
And Ash is worth it, even if he believes he’s broken beyond repair. Maybe, by loving him and demanding nothing in return, he’ll come to realize that, too.
“Just so you know, if I ever meet this Lucille, I’m punching her in the mouth.”
A smile splits Ash’s face as he leans in to kiss me. “Thank you, my little warrior. Am I done spilling my guts now?”
I’m more than satisfied. He was brutal in his honesty, and now I understand the pain behind his eyes.
“Won’t stop me from trying to change your mind about love, though,” I reply, flashing him a teasing grin.
But the smile fades from Ash’s face as he looks away. “I don’t know, Ori. I’m pretty set in my ways on this one. The last thing I want is you expecting something I can’t give.”