It’s a goddamn heart.
“Was that too rough? Did I hurt you?”
“No.” She gives a soft laugh.
“Did I scare you?”
Where the fuck is this insecurity coming from? This isn’t me, Ace La Rouge takes what he wants, but it seems Asher La Rouge needs Evelyn’s reassurance.
What a fucking pussy.
I’m not happy but it’s the truth. We’re still brand new. Everything is shiny and bright, exciting and filled with intense emotions. I’m blind to the hazards and if I’m not careful, I’ll fuck this up before we really have a chance to begin.
“You didn’t scare me at all.” She finally looks up at me. “Exactly the opposite.”
“Really?” I want to believe her, but I’m cautious. She’s not some chick I want to fuck and leave. Evelyn is part of my future, which means I need to be careful and not fuck shit up by going all caveman and scaring her off.
She reaches for my chin and drags a finger along my jawbone. “That was…” Her voice trails off and I hang on her every word.
It was what?
What was it?
“Hey, Ace!” Cage calls out from the front of the barn. “We’ve got visitors and your phone is going bat-shit crazy.”
Evelyn breaks away from me. She rubs at her mouth and chin, removing the evidence of moments ago, then she drags her fingers through her hair finger-combing it straight.
“Shit.” I pull my pants up and tuck my dick inside. It’s spent but eager for more.
“It’s Evie’s friends.” Cage isn’t dumb. He knows exactly what’s going on in here, which is why he yells from the door.
“Be there in a sec.” I lift Evelyn to her feet and give her a once over.
She takes a look at her clothes. “How do I look?”
“Perfect.” My shirt looks fucking amazing, especially with her nipples practically drilling a hole through the fabric.
She’s turned on and I can’t help but wonder which of the many things I said had an effect on her. We will finish what I started in here, and I’m going to find out exactly how interested she is in more of it, like a little rope work.
We head out and Cage meets us with a shit-eating grin. Yeah, he knows exactly what we’ve been up to. Fortunately, he keeps whatever thoughts are swirling in his head to himself.
He thrusts my phone out at me. “Smokey says you need to go.”
“Shit.” I turn to Evelyn. “Sorry, I gotta call him back.”
“Anything wrong?”
“Smokey is my crew chief.” I dial his number. “If he’s calling, it’s for a reason.”
Cage jerks his thumb over his shoulder and speaks to Evelyn. “Your friends are here. They’re waiting on the porch.”
Evelyn peeks around Cage’s broad form and I follow the direction of her gaze. Sure enough, Prescott and Gracie wait on the porch.
Smokey picks up. “Hey, Ace.”
“What’s up?”
“We’re spinning up. Fires down in San Rios.”
Shit. “I’m on my way.”
Evelyn doesn’t go to meet her guests, choosing to remain by my side. “Anything wrong?”
“My helitack team is spinning up. I’m really sorry, but I gotta go. I don’t know how long I’m going to be away.” I look to Cage.
“Don’t worry, Ace. We got her.”
“What does that mean?” she asks.
I take Evelyn’s hands in mine and lean in for a kiss. My dick wants much more than that, but there’s no time.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. It could be a few hours, a few days…” Or weeks. I don’t tell her this. “Brody and Cage will look over you. I want you to stay at La Rouge while I’m gone.”
I glance over at Prescott. Evelyn wasn’t safe when I turned her over to him, and he’s still on my list of suspects.
“Okay,” she says.
“I mean it. I need to know you’re safe, and I can’t do that if I don’t know where you are. Stay here. My brothers will keep you safe.”
She squeezes my hands. “I will. You have to go now, don’t you?”
“I do, and Grant Malone is planning on coming over to talk with you. Please be here when he arrives.”
“I won’t go anywhere.” She lifts up on her tiptoes and whispers into my ear. “I like your bossy side.”
“Do you?”
“Hmm, yes, I think I do.”
“Then you’ll stay?”
“I promise.”
Holy fuck, my dick takes note of that.
“I’ll stay right here until you get back.” She gives me a nod and a soft smile brightens her face.
I suppress a low groan because all I’m thinking about now are all the filthy things I want to do when I get