Chapter 36 Aspen
ASPEN
“Aaaaaaayeeeeee!” Charlie shouted as he flung himself off the monkey bars.
I winced as he landed with a thud. “Lawson’s never going to let me watch Charlie again if I bring him back in a full-body cast.”
Grae laughed from her spot next to me on the bench. “My brother is raising three boys. Almost all of whom have been in a cast at one point or another. He knows there’s no stopping them.”
Cady let out a higher-pitched squeal as she flew off the monkey bars like Charlie.
Roan moved as if he were going to launch himself off the bench. I grabbed his arm to stop him, and he snapped his gaze in my direction. “I don’t think it’s safe.”
My insides went squishy in a way that only happened when Roan looked out for my girl. “She has to learn her limits.”
I glanced around the park for the tenth time, checking for any sign of reporters. There was nothing. I’d tucked Cady’s red hair up in a beanie, and I had mine woven tightly in a bun and covered with a ski cap.
Caden chuckled as he glanced at Roan. “I’m pretty sure you gave your parents daily heart attacks at that age.”
Roan just grunted in response, and I couldn’t hold back my smile.
“I’m pretty sure that means yes,” I said.
Grae grinned. “It’s impressive that you’re already becoming fluent in his grunts.”
I patted Roan’s chest. “It’d be hard to have a conversation otherwise.”
Grae burst out laughing.
Roan glared at both of us. “Stop ganging up on me.”
I bit back my giggle. “Come on, big man. You can take it.”
Roan leaned in close, whispering in my ear. “There’s gonna be punishment for that later.”
I shivered. “God, I hope so.”
He growled low, the sound washing over me.
Grae groaned, and I quickly looked up, following her line of sight. Katelyn was heading toward the park with two other moms, their daughters in tow.
“What?” Caden asked, confused.
Grae glanced at him. “Don’t you remember Katelyn from high school?”
Caden shuddered. “I think I tried to block out any memories of her. She’s ruthless.”
Katelyn’s gaze narrowed on the four of us as she sat on a nearby bench with her friends. She tossed her blond hair over her shoulder and began whispering to her cohorts.
I didn’t give a damn about her; I was worried about her daughter picking on Cady. Heather glared at Cady but then glanced in Roan’s direction, swallowing hard. Instead of starting anything, she tugged her friends toward the other side of the playground. I let out the breath I’d been holding.
Grae turned to me. “Did you let Roan threaten that little mean-girl-in-training? You knew I wanted to, but you wouldn’t let me.”
Caden choked on a laugh. “You want to go toe-to-toe with a six-year-old, Gigi?”
Grae let out a huff. “If she’s being mean to Cady, I do.”
“Roan might’ve taken Cady to dance one day and been his usual brooding self,” I told her.
Grae grinned at her brother and held out a hand for a high-five. Roan smacked her palm.
“You’re both incorrigible,” I muttered.
Katelyn’s voice raised. “She’s been lying to everyone for years. It’s shocking that Lawson even lets Charlie go with her.”
My molars ground together, but I ignored her.
Grae started to get up, but I grabbed her arm. “Don’t,” I whispered. “She’s not worth it.”
“She shouldn’t be allowed to spew her bullshit,” Grae growled.
“It’ll only make her do it more if you say something.”
Grae’s mouth pulled down in a frown, but she nodded.
“You know, that podcast said she might have lied about the whole thing,” Katelyn said louder. “Maybe she’s the one who did it.”
I glanced at Cady to see if she could hear Katelyn, but she was happily playing with Charlie, oblivious to it all.
Roan took my hand, squeezing it. “Want me to go over there?”
I shook my head. “No, let’s just ignore her.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Katelyn’s gaze narrow on our joined hands.
“It’s sad, really, Roan ending up with her.
He’s already been through so much. The whole experience must have twisted him, everyone thinking he was the murderer.
He’s clearly unstable now. He definitely shouldn’t be around children.
But it’s no surprise Aspen doesn’t care. She just sees dollar signs.”
Roan’s jaw went hard as granite. But it was more than that. There was defeat in his gaze. An acceptance that this was how some of this town would always see him.
I was on my feet before I could stop myself. Roan called my name, but I didn’t listen. I strode toward the three women on the bench.
Katelyn smiled triumphantly. “Aspen, how nice to see you.”
“Sadly, I can’t say the same. It’s funny the bullshit that streams out of your mouth because, really, the only person who’s sad here is you.
If you had a shred of decency, I’d actually feel bad for you.
I’ve tried to be kind, even in the face of your ugliness.
Tried to ignore you. But sometimes a bully needs to be hit with the cold, hard truth, and that’s what you are: a bully. ”
I sucked in a breath. “It’s truly pathetic that the only way you seem to feel good about yourself is by putting others down—good people who have done nothing to you.”
“He’s dangerous—”
“Don’t,” I snapped. “The only reason I haven’t broken that perfect nose is because I don’t want to scare the children in this park. But if you say one more word against Roan, I will find you, and I will rectify that.”
Katelyn’s jaw dropped.
I turned to her friends. “Think about who you spend time with. Who you let your children spend time with. Her cruelty is becoming known in this town. And I, for one, wouldn’t want to be associated with it.”
“You’re the one the people in this town should be worried about. You’re probably a murderer,” Katelyn spluttered.
The other two women shared a look and then glanced at Grae, Caden, and Roan. Whatever they saw there had them rethinking their life choices. They stood and motioned to their daughters.
Redness crept up Katelyn’s neck. “Rachel. Perrin,” she hissed. “Where the hell are you going?”
The one named Perrin turned around. “She’s right. You’ve always been a bit of a bitch, but it’s been on overload lately. I know you’re bitter about your ex leaving, but pull it together.”
Katelyn went completely slack-jawed. Then she turned furious eyes on me.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warned. “You’re only going to dig yourself a deeper hole. Pull your shit together and see if you can figure out how to be a decent human being.”
I felt a presence at my back, and Grae stepped up next to me. “She’s right. Think about your words real long and hard. I’ve picked up knife-throwing as a hobby and wouldn’t mind a new practice dummy.”
Katelyn snatched her purse off the bench and stood. “Come on, Heather. We need to leave. This park isn’t safe anymore.”
“Not for the likes of you,” Grae muttered.
I had to turn away. I worried if I kept watching Katelyn, I’d go after her and really break that perfect little nose. As I turned, I caught sight of Roan. I was expecting fury. Hurt even. Instead, I found his shoulders shaking as he laughed so hard that tears filled his eyes.
I gaped at him. “You’re laughing?”
He struggled to get composure. “You threatened to break her nose.”
“It only seems fair. You broke someone’s nose for me.”
Roan grinned, pulled me into his arms, and nuzzled my neck.
I breathed him in, letting his scent swirl around me. “I hate that people say this crap about you. Makes me livid when you’re the best person I’ve ever known.”
His arms tightened around me. “Tender Heart.” The nickname was a gruff utterance. “I don’t give a damn what they say. I give a damn what you say. And it seems like you’d go down into the fiery pits for me.”
I tipped my head back. “I’d follow you anywhere.”
“Please don’t make out right now,” Grae muttered. “I’m happy you two are together, but I don’t need to see that.”
Roan shot his sister a scowl.
Grae held up both hands. “Why don’t we take Cady and Charlie for a sleepover at our house?”
“You don’t have to do that,” I argued.
Caden wrapped an arm around Grae’s shoulders. “We’d be happy to.”
Grae sent him a soft smile. “Might be good practice.”
This time, Roan turned a gentle look on his sister. “Happy for you, G.”
“Don’t make me cry. My hormones are already going crazy,” Grae sniffed, smacking him. Then she turned to the playground. “Sleepover at my house!”
The kids cheered.
Roan brushed the hair out of my face. “Now what are we going to do with an entire house to ourselves?”
I pulled my robe tighter around myself as I stepped out of the bathroom and listened. I’d expected Roan to be on me the second we walked through the door, but he wasn’t. He’d taken the dog out. Made me a cup of tea. So, finally, I’d taken a shower. Now, I didn’t see or hear him anywhere.
Maybe he’d gone out to the barn. I couldn’t deny the hint of disappointment that flickered to life. But I ignored it and headed into my bedroom.
I came up short when my bare feet hit the carpet. Roan stood by the window, shirtless, in nothing but low-slung uniform pants. I nearly swallowed my tongue.
Slowly, he turned, his gaze heating as he scanned my body.
I didn’t miss the opportunity to drink him in. The wide expanses of muscle, the lightly tanned skin, that dusting of hair that teased his chest and then disappeared in a thin trail beneath the band of his pants.
“All clean, Tender Heart?”
Roan’s voice was liquid smoke and had my toes curling into the carpet as I forced my eyes to his face. “Yes.”
He moved toward me like an animal stalking its prey.
“I like this.” Roan’s fingers twisted in the fabric of my silk robe.
“It’s soft,” I explained, something he already knew.
“Not as soft as this.” Roan’s hand slipped beneath the fabric to tease the skin of my chest.
My breath hitched.
“Softer than silk. Like a flower petal.” His head dipped, and he ran his lips along the opening of my robe.
My fingers hooked into the waistband of his pants, needing something to keep me steady.
Roan’s hands moved to the tie at my waist. Slowly, he tugged it free, and my robe fell open. “So damn beautiful. More beautiful than I ever could’ve imagined.”
Heat pooled low. My nipples pebbled under his stare in the cool air.
Roan traced one peak with his finger. It tightened, seeking, searching for more of Roan’s touch.
“Do you trust me, Tender Heart?”
What a loaded question for someone like me. Someone who had been through battle after battle. Who had lost it all time and again.
But I breathed deeply and told him the truth. “Yes.”
Maybe that made me a fool. Maybe it made me the bravest woman in the world. But all I knew was that Roan had me, body and soul.
His eyes flared with blue heat, and his fingers found the tie. He pulled it free from the loops, draping it over his broad shoulder.
My brows scrunched, but not for long because then Roan was ridding me of the robe altogether. It fell to the floor, and he sucked in a breath. “I could stare at you forever.”
His finger trailed over my core, his eyes becoming hooded. “Already aching?”
“Yes.” It was as if Roan had me in some kind of truth haze.
“Let’s see what we can do about that.” His eyes flashed again. “On the bed.”
His voice took on a snap—a demand for control.
There was a rush of wetness between my legs.
I moved slowly toward the bed and lowered myself to sit.
Roan watched me as if I were the most riveting thing he’d ever seen. “Lie back.”
I bit my lip and did as instructed.
“Hands above your head.”
My breaths came quicker as the pressure between my thighs built. I lifted my arms.
Roan moved to one side of the bed, his eyes locking with mine. “You sure you trust me?”
“Always.”
The blue in his eyes swirled and changed. Turned heated, desperately needy, and maybe just a little bit in love.
Roan pulled the robe tie from his shoulder and secured my hands to the iron headboard. As he tugged the silk taut, my heart hammered against my ribs. Everything felt heightened.
He stared down at me. “Look how beautiful. Your back arched.” His finger traced the curve. “Your breasts on display for me to taste.” His lips closed around one bud, and he sucked hard.
A whimper left my lips. A zing of sensation shot from nipple to clit, and I pressed my thighs together.
“Need me?” he cooed.
“Yes,” I breathed.
Roan straightened in a flash and strode to the end of the bed, unbuttoning his fly. “I had plans to tease you. To make you wait. But I need to be inside you.”
There was a God in heaven.
He shucked his pants and prowled toward the bed. His hand ghosted up my thigh. “Ready for me?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but then Roan’s fingers slid inside me, and all that came out of my mouth was a mewl.
He grinned. “That’s my girl.”
My core clamped down at the words.
Roan cursed and slid his fingers free. “You’re playing with fire.”
A smile stretched my lips. “Not afraid to get burned.”
Roan’s eyes flashed, and he hooked my legs around his waist. A second later, he thrust inside. No warning, just taking. And, God, it was everything.
My eyes fluttered closed as I tried to absorb every sensation.
“Uh, uh, uh,” Roan chastised. “Don’t close your eyes. I want to see every ounce of pleasure you’re drowning in.”
I forced my lids open as Roan thrust deeper. My hands tugged at the bindings, wanting freedom to get to Roan. To feel him. But not being able to move made the rest of my body only feel more.
Roan angled his hips, taking me deeper. I whimpered but didn’t let my eyes close.
Roan’s hand slipped between us, his finger circling that bundle of nerves.
My hands held tightly to the belt, gripping it with all I had as he arched impossibly deeper. Then his finger pressed down.
There was no warning, no easing into things. I came with lights dancing across my vision and muscles jerking to attention.
Roan cursed as he emptied himself into me, and I took it all. Wave after wave of pleasure rolled through me until I simply collapsed, Roan on top of me.
I struggled to catch my breath. “I think you just gave me a stroke.”
Roan pulled back a fraction, a smile playing on his lips. “I’m taking that as a compliment.”
“Cocky,” I muttered.
“No.” He nuzzled my neck. “Just obsessed with your body. Going to make it my mission to learn every inch.”