It took me a long minute to figure out the question wasn’t a dream.
Because Ashton repeated it. ‘Do you still have feelings for him?’
Ashton’s chest rumbled overhead.
I blinked, trying to focus. ‘Who’s that?’
His grip on me loosened just a bit. ‘A nobody.’
My lagging brain finally caught up to the night’s events and landed on a question I probably should have asked ten minutes ago: ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Where? This is my car. We’re going home.’
‘At the bar.’ I fumbled for my phone.
‘What do you need?’ He dug it out of my handbag for me.
‘To check. For a bug. I didn’t tell you I was at that bar.’ I didn’t even know I was going to be at that bar.
‘I didn’t bug your phone.’ A pause. ‘Though, now that you mention it... Cassian texted me. Sent me a photo of you and Yvaine and... Rhys.’
‘I wasn’t with Rhys.’ I frowned.
‘I know.’ His voice softened. ‘It’s just... seeing him there...’
‘Look,’ he said after a beat, ‘I’m not trying to control you. It’s just, Rhys is married, and with all the mess surrounding him right now, if anyone sees you two together... it could get complicated.’
‘I’m not with him,’ I said again, hating the idea.
I shifted in Ashton’s arms, trying to pull myself up to eye level.
That failed, so I yanked him down instead.
‘Okay, I think I remember who Rhys Granger is now.’
‘Gum on my shoe. Can’t get rid of him everywhere I go. Keeps popping up.’
‘I like that answer.’
I yawned. ‘He wants a refund, you know.’ This content belongs to NoveI-Fire.ɴet
‘On the wedding. Catherine’s not who she claims to be, so he doesn’t want her anymore. He wants a re, re—’ I snapped my fingers. ‘I forgot the word. A return. Yes, a return.’
Ashton’s fingers, still massaging my temple, stopped.
‘He wants a return? To the old status quo? To... you?’
Rolling my eyes took too much effort when drunk, so I settled for a derisive snort, which came out like a piggie grunt.
‘Do you wish the same thing?’
‘Wish what thing?’ I lost track of the conversation.
‘Getting back together with Rhys.’
‘Why do you keep bringing him up?’ I made a face.
‘Because he keeps showing up in your life, and I’m afraid you...’ He muttered something I didn’t catch.
‘What?’ I tickled his chin. He was staring out the window. ‘Are you mad?’
‘Your jaw says otherwise.’
‘I’m not mad. Not at you.’
‘H’mm.’ After a beat, I said, ‘Ash.’
I looped an arm around the back of his neck, pulled him close, and planted a loud smack on his lips. ‘Mwah! There. Don’t be mad.’
Then I released him. Job done.
He did something. The backseat divider clicked into place.
Then he was back. In my face. Lips on mine.
It was immediate. It was forceful.
It was sucking all the air right out of my lungs.
I couldn’t breathe except by borrowing the air from him.
He shared. Generously.
Ashton kissed me like he had things to say but mere words wouldn’t suffice.
I kissed back like I understood.
My tongue tingled, this time not from alcohol.
I pushed him back, panting. ‘No.’
His lips were still parted, eyes glazed over with lust, but his hands caressing my waist stilled. ‘Sorry, I—’
I took a moment to catch my breath. ‘No, I don’t have feelings for him.’
Then I added, ‘Your question. Earlier. You asked if I still have feelings for him. The answer’s no.’
For a second, everything was still.
Then, with a quiet exhale, he murmured, ‘Mira.’
The way he said my name made my ears tingle.
I flopped back down onto his lap like a limp rag. ‘For Rhys Granger, you know. I don’t have feelings for Rhys Granger.’
He chuckled, chest rumbling. ‘I know, Mira. I get it now.’
‘I have feelings. Just not for him.’
‘H’mm.’ He nodded, patting my hand like he was soothing a toddler.
‘I have feelings for you.’ I licked my lips, savouring the aftertaste of that kiss. ‘For you. Ashton Laurent.’
‘Yes, that’s my name.’ His voice had gone low.
‘I have feelings, and those feelings are for you, Ashton Laurent,’ I summarised.
‘I hear you. Loud and clear.’ He leaned in again, but I pushed his face away.
‘No oxygen,’ I said. ‘Do it later.’
He laughed and straightened. ‘All right.’
Ashton carried me into the house.
The driver might have been watching, but I no longer cared.
Who wanted to walk on their own two legs when they could be carried everywhere?
My head was still swimming, but the room wasn’t double anymore.
Ashton laid me down on the bed.
I sighed into the soft mattress.
‘Shower?’ he asked. ‘Or dinner? Rest? I’ll ask Carmen to make you something. Soup, maybe.’
‘No soup, or no shower?’
‘No nothing.’ I kicked off the blanket he’d just tucked over me. ‘Hot.’
‘Do you want some water?’ He brought me a glass.
He fetched another glass.
‘Still thirsty?’ He frowned. ‘What kind of drink did you order at that bar?’
‘Drink, yes, I want.’
‘No. I can get you more plain water.’
‘Plain.’ I wrinkled my nose. ‘Bland. Meh.’
‘Or sparkling. Or lemonade?’
‘I know!’ I snapped my fingers. ‘I want...’
I yanked him to me and kissed him. ‘You.’