Page 63 of Fractured Mind

His expression doesn’t change, and his eyes keep searching mine. I put my hand in his, linking our fingers together, pulling him deeper into the house, but something feels off with him.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again,” Mom says when we reach her and Nana.

Ashton radiates tension. “You’re back,” he says icily.

“I’m here to make amends,” Mom replies, but it doesn’t seem to work because his eyes narrow.

I’m biting my lip, glancing between everyone, unsure what to say, but then it hits me. “Mom is staying here with me,” I say as I squeeze his hand. “I’m staying in Crown Village.”

He tilts his head back and momentarily closes his eyes, letting out a breath. When he opens his eyes, the worry is gone and his arm curves around my waist, bringing me tight to him, and he kisses the top of my head. My eyes prick with tears as I cuddle him back.

“I know you’re protective of her, and I can see you still love her. I’m not the enemy. I’m going to do right by her.”

“You ripped the most important person in my life away from me.” His tone has softened, but there’s still an edge to his voice. “For Mia’s and my mom’s sake, I hope you’ve changed.”

Sadness flashes across Mom’s face. “I’ve missed Jade. My drinking has made a mess of everything and hurt many people, but I’m sober now and thinking clearly. I could never go back now, knowing how much I lost.”

As Ashton and I make our way to my room, I turn back and pull him along the hallway. Following today’s conversations, I sense a weight lifted, as if everything in my life has been set right. When we enter my bedroom, I lift our linked arms and twirl myself around in a circle like a dancer, giggling.

Ashton pulls me into him, wrapping his arms securely around me. My face presses against his chest and my arms encircle his waist. He takes a deep breath, then the air kisses my shoulder as he exhales. I smile, knowing I’m where I’m supposed to be. For the first time since my accident, I finally feel whole. It’s like the scattered fragments of my life have settled into place, forming a complete picture. A genuine smile spreads across my face, a reflection of peace that’s been missing for so long.

Ashton inches back and lifts his hands to my face. He bends forward and his lips meet mine. In that one kiss, my world tilts and desire rises within me. When he slowly pulls away, myhands brush against his chest and then snake behind his head. I rake my fingers through his thick hair and guide him down again, bringing his lips back to mine, right where they belong.

He lets out a soft moan, and I feel it all the way to my core. He presses his body against mine, and we open our mouths to one another. His tongue massages mine, slowly at first. The passion between us builds as the kiss deepens into something else, and the air thickens around us. Our tongues are now frantic as they meet the tempo of need my body demands.

I drop my hands and grip the hem of his shirt. I pull it up. He pauses and pulls back, his eyes searching mine. There’s a war going on inside of him, so I answer his silent question by pulling his shirt up farther, exposing his toned abs. He helps by lifting it the rest of the way over his head before throwing it to the floor.

I love and trust him and want us to be together in every way. I clutch the bottom of my tank top and take it off. My cheeks heat when I see Ashton’s eyes are ablaze, soaking up every inch of my exposed skin. His hand fists by his side like he’s trying to hold himself back. I gulp audibly as I unclasp my bra and let it drop to the floor. He has seen me in bikinis, but not like this, not this exposed.

My breathing is out of control. Tension courses through me as I reach out to him. I explore his warm chest, and when I reach the top of his abs, they tighten as I run my fingertips over and down every one of them. When I reach his jeans, I tug on a loop, my half-lidded eyes meeting his. “I want this.” No, I need it, like I need my next breath.

He remains still for a moment, then unbuttons his jeans, drags the zipper down, and pulls them over his hips and down his legs, exposing himself to me. When we’re both naked, I make my way to the bed and lie on my back in the center, my breath short and shallow, my breasts rising and falling as I wait for him.

I bite my lip, wincing with insecurity, but all of that diminishes when lust swirls in the depth of his eyes. He moves toward me, his eyes never wavering as he glides up my body.

“I love you,” he says, placing a tender kiss on my lips that he holds longer than usual.

“I love you too.”

I move my legs apart to accommodate his hips as he lowers himself. He balances on his forearms and hovers above me. I smile, loving the pressure of his hard, warm body and our skin-to-skin contact. I’m aching for him, and on cue, he drifts down. As his lips surround my nipple and his tongue swirls around it, he steals my breath. I arch my back and press into him, needing more as everything low inside me is feeling swollen.

I’m panting when his mouth moves to my other nipple. My need is painful now, my mind and body screaming for him. Once he moves up, he presses his lips hard onto mine, and I kiss him back harder. I wind my arms around his back as he grinds his hips, fully aroused.

“I need to feel you,” he says huskily. He leans on one arm, freeing his other hand to drift between our bodies and graze my skin, which is so sensitive that his touch makes me shudder. His fingers reach my heat and begin moving up and down my wetness, teasing me. He circles my most sensitive spot, and I moan. When his finger slips carefully inside, he swears under his breath. “You’re so wet for me,” he gasps, his voice tight.

While his finger moves in and out, he places open-mouthed kisses on my neck. Pleasure is shooting through my body in every place he touches. Two fingers are now inside me, filling and stretching me. With an expert touch he teases my G-spot with careful, perfect motions. My pleasure is building and building with every stroke. Ashton watches me, but I squeeze my eyes shut when he swirls the pad of his thumb over my clit.

“Open your eyes,” he insists. “I want to see you when you come.”

“I...” Bliss rolls over me, drowning out my voice. My back arches, and when he adds pressure, every bit of me tenses, then explodes, as heat rips through me. I hear buzzing as wave after wave of bliss ripples throughout my body and I tremble.

When the bliss fades, I sag into the mattress and my mind comes back to earth. I tilt my head up and watch as he makes his way to his jeans. He pulls out a condom and rips it open with his teeth. I lick my lips as he sheaths himself.

I’m sated, but the hunger soon returns when he walks back to me. My eyes roam his muscled form, taking great pleasure in his masculine perfection. He’s a god.

He moves back on top. Electricity flows through my veins in eagerness. His hot, hard body hovers above me. Being underneath him like this is intoxicating.

His eyes burn with lust. I cup his stubbled face. He watches me intently, delving into my soul. Right now I want him to hold me, cherish me, like I matter to him.