Chapter 12
Twelve
Ashton
Earlier that morning…
The morning light barely streams in, but Nova is awake. Her fingers glide across my skin, making my heart flutter and my cock stir.
“Morning,” she whispers, and her mouth is next to my ear, her breath sending shivers across my body in waves. I pull her above me, loving the feeling of her body nestled against mine.
“You’re up early.” I fight a yawn. “Why are we up early?” I ask. There’s no early morning practice. I’ll head to the gym later in the afternoon with the guys.
She straddles my waist, her fingers dance across my chest, but her eyes are on my skin.
I lift her chin, wanting to know what’s got her frazzled.
I know Nova well enough to see that she didn’t sleep well if she’s up at this hour. Something is troubling her.
“I’m worried about Harper.”
Harper.
That wasn’t exactly what I was expecting to hear from her lips.
Nova climbs off my body, lying beside me, her fingers on my arm. “She told me about the creepy guy at the grocery store.”
I exhale through my nose.
We made Liam swear not to tell Nova, but no one could keep Harper from saying anything.
“It’s Dante, isn’t it?” Nova asks.
Do I lie to Nova? Tell her it’s Dante, to protect her and Harper from a harsher truth?
“You know I can’t talk about the job.” I pull Nova against me, my arms wrapping around her body, and she drapes a leg over mine.
“Sometimes I hate that you work for him.”
“Dante?” I guess.
Nova nods.
It’s not a conversation that we’ve ever shared before.
“I didn’t know that,” I say, unsure how to feel. It’s not a surprise to her, I’ve been working for Dante for months, long before the two of us first hooked up.
“I just, I wish we could be something other than our parents.” Nova sighs and sits up in bed, pulling the covers around herself.
She’s naked, and while I’d rather see all of her, I’ll settle for a glimpse here and there.
I follow her motions, sitting up with her, grabbing a pillow and using it against the wall for support. “We’re not our parents. And even if we were, are Moreno and Paige so terrible?” I ask, wondering what she thinks of her family.
Unlike Luca, who despises Dante, I never got that same feeling from Nova regarding her parents.
“Mom is wonderful. My father, on the other hand, he can be a bit of an ass.” Nova is blunt and pulls her knees up to her chest. “I know I’m lucky. I have everything anyone could ever want—a house, clothing, food, my tuition paid for, but it’s all blood money.”
“Blood money?” I smile. “Dante isn’t the worst monster out there. He’s just a man.”
“A man who kills people for a living.” Nova is well aware of the chain of command; he may be the mafia boss, but he doesn’t typically get his hands dirty.
She wraps her arms around her legs, her chin resting on her knees.
“I just wish we could get away from all of it.” She turns her head, staring at me. “I’m worried about Harper and Zeke. Whoever that man was, threats like that, they don’t just disappear unless they’re meant to scare. Dante doesn’t just scare people.”
I purse my lips, and her gaze tightens.
“What is it?” Nova asks, her hand reaching out for mine. “You’re keeping a secret. I see it in that look on your face.”
I hate how easily she’s learned to read me.
“It’s nothing.”
She sighs and lies back down, stretching out beneath the covers, pulling the blankets up around herself. Nova rolls onto her side, facing away from me.
“You’re mad.” Her body language screams that she’s pissed at me, but her silence is what bothers me more.
Nova emits a heavy sigh and rolls around to face me. “I wish you’d trust me to tell me the truth. If Harper is in danger, I want to help.”
“I don’t want you getting hurt.” I pull her against me, wanting to touch her, caress her, prove to her that I do care about her, above all else.
“I can look after myself. I carry a stun gun and pepper spray with me, and I know how to use a gun.”
I roll Nova onto her back, guiding her legs apart with my knee, and she bites down on her bottom lip, smiling up at me.
“You don’t get to use sex to avoid the conversation.”
“So then, let’s talk,” I whisper against her neck. I drop featherlight kisses across her skin.
Her breathing becomes heavier and more pronounced as I trail a path down and across her breasts.
“I’m glad you know how to stay safe.” I run my tongue over her nipple, and her body arches into my touch.
“Ashton,” she moans, and her fingers tangle in my hair.
I love it when she touches me. Her fingers send tingles through my body. “I just want to protect you.” My kisses move down and across her stomach, and I feel her sharp intake of breath.
“Be honest with me.” Nova struggles to keep her eyes open.
“Always.” I wish it were that simple. I’m not lying to her, just keeping dangerous secrets from her.
I’m protecting her.
Protecting the family.
I descend farther on her body and tease her with my breath between her thighs.
“Ashton,” her voice comes out desperate, and the smile grows on my face. I love hearing that sound, listening to her both needy and eager for me.
I silence all further thoughts from her mind as I drag my tongue over her pussy and she’s moaning and quivering, her fingers tangling in the bedsheets.
I love the sounds she makes, the pleas and moans that spill from her lips.
She’s never quiet, at least not anymore.
Her moans make my cock rock hard, and I crave the yearning to fuck her. But not yet.
It’s about her pleasure.
I let my tongue tease her folds, and she whimpers. The sound is pure heaven.
My tongue darts out around her little pink pearl, listening to each moan and feeling her body tremble as she grows closer.
Her skin is flushed, her breathing thicker, and she struggles to keep her eyes open.
My fingers slide inside her pussy, and her back arches off the mattress.
“You taste so fucking good,” I moan and love the reaction it entices.
Her insides clench down onto my fingers as I tease her and thrust, stretching her, until I find that sweet spot and repeat the gesture as her eyes slam shut.
Oh yeah, she’s fucking close.
“Fuck, Ashton!”
Pride beams inside of me, knowing that I can make her come.
Her back arches off the mattress, and it takes everything inside of me to keep watching.
Desire mounts within me, wanting to pin her down and fuck her, because my cock is pulsating, but I resist the urge.
Her body trembles, and the moan that courses through her is pure bliss as she chases the orgasm.
I can’t stop smiling, my fingers and lips grazing over every inch of skin as I climb back up her body, marking her with my lips. I can’t get enough of her.
She’s mine.
I’m hers.
The rest of the world doesn’t matter, so long as we’re together.
Her eyes lazily open, a smile tugging at the corners. “I may actually be able to fall asleep.”
Her soft mumble is sweet, but I have other ideas if she’s still up for it.
“Fall asleep?” I tease, whining at her. “Come on, it’s my turn.” I’d let her sleep if that’s what she needs, but I always love the banter and what it leads to with her.
“You didn’t let me finish my sentence. I may be able to fall asleep after two or three more rounds.” She grins and pounces on me, making me the happiest man alive.
My fingers rake over her back, watching as Nova sleeps beside me.
We’ve spent the past several hours curled in bed together, not that there was much sleeping involved.
I love summer.
No school. No classes. Just fun.
She pulls the covers up over her head as the afternoon light pours in through the curtains.
“Sleep, babe.” I drop a kiss on her shoulder.
I dozed off for a few minutes after our early morning bedroom festivities, but I skipped breakfast and lunch. We were too busy wrapped up in each other.
I’m famished.
Nova has a habit of burning up all of my calories and then some.
I slip out of bed, get dressed and quietly head out of Nova’s bedroom. At least we don’t have to hide our relationship anymore. I’m glad Luca found out. Not that it couldn’t have been smoother or anything, because being worried about him chopping off my dick while sleeping was a real fear unlocked.
We’re over it.
At least he’s over it.
I slip into the kitchen, glancing in the fridge for something I can eat before dinner.
My stomach grumbles, and little Zeke comes toddling in, wrapping his arms around my legs, holding on tight before leaning back.
The kid would do well in acrobatics. I’ve seen him climb Luca like a jungle gym.
“Hey, kiddo.” I ruffle his hair and then grab some lunchmeat from the fridge. I make myself a sandwich, and Zeke points at the turkey breast.
“Turkey tunnel.” Zeke points again when I don’t give him anything fast enough.
Harper approaches from around the corner of the kitchen and grabs Zeke, lifting him into her arms. “You’re getting too big for this.”
“Turkey tunnel,” he repeats and points at my sandwich.
“Can I give him one?” I ask, checking with Harper.
“Sure.”
I grab a slice of turkey and roll it up, offering Zeke a turkey tunnel. He grabs it from my hands and chomps down with a grin. The kid loves bread if it’s a roll or toast, but try to put meat on his sandwich and he sounds like he’s being murdered.
I watch from the counter, taking a bite of my sandwich, and my stomach grumbles, like I’m not feeding it fast enough.
“Where’s Nova?” Harper puts Zeke down the minute he begins squirming in her arms.
As much as he likes to be carried, he prefers to have free rein over the house.
“Taking a nap.”
Zeke tears out of the kitchen, running around like a little maniac. The kid has tons of energy. “I’m going to take him for a walk and meet Kensley at the park. I’ll catch you later.”
My eyes widen, and I quickly finish the last of my lunch, shoving it into my mouth and chewing quickly as I follow to grab my shoes.
“I’ll come with you.”
“You want to go with us on a walk?” Harper eyes me skeptically.