Page 52 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter Fifty

Lexie

M y heart is hammering in my chest as Ash and I walk through his tiny home. It’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. I crawl over the bed in the loft to look out the windows. “Oh, you can see the stream from up here,” I squeal.

He laughs and plops down beside me. “Isn’t it perfect? We can watch the sun rise every morning from right here in our bed.”

My head turns slowly, and I stare at the side of his face. This incredibly handsome, honorable man just said our bed.

This is real. Ash is mine … this house …

All those questions he asked me as we sat waiting for help on that mountain weren’t just ramblings to keep my mind occupied. He was listening to every answer and taking note, all the while I was worrying that he was thinking the worst of me for getting us into a bad situation.

Maybe my thoughts have been lying to me.

He notices I’m not looking at the view, and his eyes lock on mine.

“Our bed?” I whisper.

“Is that okay?”

I’m not going to cry. Not this time.

“I think it is.”

Ash doesn’t miss a beat. He doesn’t make it awkward that all this time he talked about us living together, I never believed him. How could I? It’s better than anything I could have ever imagined.

“Whenever you’re ready. There’s no hurry. I’d never push you to move out of JD’s.”

I roll over and stare at the ceiling. “I’m still so scared.”

He props himself on an elbow, leaning over me. His fingers trail over my collarbone as he chooses his words carefully. “You’ll never be alone ever again, Lexie. I promise you.”

We spend the rest of the day looking around the property.

“Someday we’ll have a bigger house, but for now, we’re going to make this tiny one our home,” he tells me as we give it one final look before pulling out of the dirt driveway.

When we get back to JD’s, it’s time to hold up my end of the deal. I show him the story I’m writing for Willow.

The notebook trembles in his hand, and a tear rolls down his cheek. He swipes it away, and I almost feel bad for making him so emotional.

“She’s going to love this, Lex. Really.” He chuckles as he reads the last page. “So, Lucy finally realizes all of the other bugs are her family even though none of them look like her.”

“Yep.”

He chuckles, wiping his eyes again. “Lucy sounds like someone I know.”

I reach over and take his hand in mine. “She’s a lucky little bug.”

“Okay, stop. I can’t take much more.” He gives my hand a squeeze and then rounds the truck to help me out. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” I say on a sigh. “I’ll see you then.”

He pushes me back, his arm resting on the truck above my head. It makes a million butterflies take flight in my tummy.

“Promise you’ll dream of me,” he whispers before leaning in and kissing me.

His tongue slides across mine, and a longing settles deep in my core.

I’ve fought against the idea of Ash being mine for so long, worried I wasn’t good enough.

But now that I’ve let go of the resistance, the thought of being with him flows through my body, filling every nook and cranny.

My lungs, my mind, even my very soul wants to mold itself to him.

Slowly, over the course of time, he’s forged his way to my heart without me even noticing. Ash has chipped away at my shame little by little, until he found the entrance.

He smiles against my lips before pulling away.

“How could I not dream of you after that?” I tease as he walks me up to the door.

“It’s about time,” JD says, making us both jump.

My cheeks heat in embarrassment. “Shit, we didn’t see you there.”

“Obviously.”

Ash laughs loudly, gives me a quick peck on the cheek before jogging to his truck. “I’ll be back for you in the morning.”

JD waves him away, grumbling as he helps me inside. “It’s a good thing he brought you home when he did. I was about to send the club out to look for you.”

I know he’s joking because I was at the club president’s house most of the afternoon.

“It was such a good day,” I tell him.

“I’m glad.” He leads me to the table. “Elizabeth saved you some supper.”

“Oh, she didn’t have to …”

I stop myself at the look on his face. “She headed over to Rachel’s with Jesse. They’re finalizing their plans for Willow’s baby shower.”

He sets the food in front of me and then sits down to join me with a cup of coffee. His gaze silently evaluates me as I scarf down my dinner.

“So, tell me about your day.”

“Oh my gosh. It was a long one, but good news … I got a job!”

He listens as I tell him about everything. Well, everything but the tiny house.

“Is that it?” he asks.

I chew on my bottom lip. “Yeah,” I lie.

JD laughs before ruffling my hair. “I already know. I stopped over at the farm to check on you, and Willow told me you guys were checking out your new place.”

My shoulders fall. “I’m sorry.”

“You never have to lie to me, Lex. While I’m thrilled you’re here, I know you’re eventually going to leave, and that’s okay as long as you understand that I’ll always be here for you. Elizabeth too.”

“It’s beautiful. I can’t wait to show you guys, but … I will always think of this place as home. I’ll come raid your cupboards and steal your toilet paper, just like a real daughter would.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “As long as you don’t steal my damn Pop Tarts. Those are my one weakness.”

I draw a cross over my chest.

“I’m real happy for you, Lex.”

“Me too.”