Page 38 of Freaks Of Nature

“It’s good to be young, girl. Go for it, and enjoy the ride,” she says, stacking two dirty plates and turning toward thekitchen. “Every inch of it,” she adds with a wink over her shoulder.

I jostle my head and laugh as she disappears. If she only knew he comes as a package deal.

Scratch that.

She’d probably encourage that even more. Double the fun and all.

I’m not so sure, though. Can I really commit to both of them? They’re brothers, and the last thing I want to do is drive a wedge between them. I couldn’t live with myself if I broke their bond.

But maybe if we’re all on the same page…

God, this is insane. The old me would’ve been appalled by the idea, but I wanted to break out of that shell, didn’t I? That’s why I left.

I drop my shoulders on a sharp exhale. Laura is right. I should grab the bull by its horns and ride him, or however that saying goes.

—

I’m surprised when I find Ash in the alley on foot and not with his bike. But he said he wanted to talk, and that would be hard with helmets on, I guess. Plus, walking gives him more time to spend with me.

“You know, I can always pick you up out front. We don’t have to make it look like we’re sneaking around.” He’s wearing a white graphic tee and blue jeans, standing at the bottom of the stairs that lead down to the alley. Leaning backinto the rail, hands in his pockets, he’s looking up through the rogue, dark blonde strands of his hair.

He gives me a crooked smile.

“Nah, it’s alright. I’d be leaving out the back anyway.” I take the two steps down, and he straightens from his lean, immediately towering over me again.

“Hi,” I say hoarsely, staring up at him.

His grin stretches, and I can’t fucking help the heat creeping into my cheeks under his attention.

“Hi,” he echoes, mimicking my tone.

The brief silence that wraps around us is charged with longing. The skin at the back of my neck prickles, and I can almost feel his hand there, threading through my hair as I imagine him kissing me.

Ash shifts first. “Thank you for hearing me out,” he says, kicking off into a leisurely stroll which I match beside him. “I didn’t want you thinking Mason and I do this on the regular. The tricking women, I mean.”

Well, doesn’t that make me feel special.

“But you’ve shared before?”

“Yeah,” he admits, running a hand through his hair. “But usually they are fully aware of the situation.”

“And give their consent, I presume,” I throw in as a side note.

“Yeah,that!” he huffs embarrassed. “Definitely that!”

I turn my eyes forward pensively while keeping pace. I believe Ash’s sincerity. Even Mason doesn’t strike me as a serial rapist. He’s good at persuasion, though. His method isall handsno talk.

Although thereistongue involved.

“Believe me, I know my brother’s ways are questionable,” Ash goes on. “He gets off on pushing boundaries; including his own. And I’m not saying I don’t like a good challenge, but I prefer things a little more…subtle,” he adds in a suggestive note.

Ash’s approach of wooing me is a lot less aggressive. He’s sweet in his own way. But Mason is right. I can’t pretend that his manner of pursuit is not affecting me. He knows more than he should about me. More than I admit to myself.

“It’s hard for people to get past his armor,” Ash explains. “He doesn’t date.”

“And you do?” I arch a brow, side eyeing him.

He shrugs. “Off and on. Nothing that lasted more than two months. The excitement fades after the conquest.”