Chapter 15

Asher

I continue to drink in the sight of Elle beneath me, blindfolded and gorgeous. Her body writhes underneath mine, a silent plea for more. My fingers trace the contour of her hips, setting her skin ablaze. A low gasp escapes her lips as I push deeper into her, reclaiming what’s mine.

"Elle," I murmur against her ear, my voice husky. "You're mine."

"Yes," she whispers back, that one word saturated with surrender, echoing my feral declaration. The way she says it stirs something primal within me. I increase the pace, feeling the tension coil even tighter within us both.

Her nails rake down my back, and her body arches off the bed as a moan slips past her parted lips. It's pure music to my ears and the most erotic sight I've ever seen.

My name tumbles from her lips as she hits her peak, the sweetest sound I've ever heard wrapped around each syllable. It's the catalyst I need to follow her over the edge into oblivion.

The realization that I bring her such pleasure adds to my own building need that’s about to explode.

"Ash," she breathes out my name like a sacred chant, urging me on into a frenzied rhythm. Lost in the sensation of her around and beneath me, I can feel the familiar tingle at the base of my spine warning me that I'm getting close.

Unable to hold back any longer, with a growl, I fill the condom.

Still wrapped up in each other, I nudge the blindfold off her eyes, needing to see those crystal blue orbs that haunt me even when we are apart. The love in her gaze overwhelms me, causing my heart to stutter awkwardly in my chest.

I can’t believe the three words that just slipped out of our mouths. Honestly, they weren’t just carelessly said in the heat of the moment. They were words that came from a true place in my heart. I know it was that way for her too.

The ceiling above me blurs in and out of focus as I lie on my back, struggling to catch my breath. My heart races like it's still trying to win the Championship Cup for the Charleston Renegades, but I'm not on the ice right now. The cool sheets beneath me and Elle's warm body beside mine remind me that I'm somewhere far more intimate than a hockey rink.

"Wow," I manage to exhale, still feeling the aftershocks. The room is filled with the lingering scent of us—a heady mix of sweat and sex.

Elle, her light brown hair fanned out around her face, turns her head to meet my gaze. A soft smile plays on her full lips, and she reaches out to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. The touch feels electric, even after everything we've just shared.

"Hey," she whispers, her crystal blue eyes shining bright.

"Hey," I reply, my voice husky and thick with feeling. "You're incredible, Elle."

Her cheeks flush a rosy pink, and I smile at her shyness. It's endearing, especially when contrasted with the fierce determination I've seen in her as she works hard to pursue her dream.

"Thank you," she says, her voice barely audible. "You're not too bad yourself, Ash." Her words are lighthearted, but the intensity in her eyes tells me she means it.

I let out a low chuckle, feeling both humbled and elated by her praise. My thoughts drift to Serenity Village where she lives, so different from the rambunctious man cave I share with my teammates on Pawleys Island. I imagine what it would be like to share a space like that with her, surrounded by the serenity of Love Beach and the calming scent of saltwater, but there is no way I could live in that tiny home. I barely fit in there.

"Elle," I murmur, my heart swelling with emotions I'm not yet ready to name. "I can't believe how lucky I am to have met you."

"Me too," she admits, her blue eyes filling with both longing and regret—emotions I know all too well. We've both experienced loneliness, and it seems like fate that we found each other when we did.

"Let's not let this be just a short-term thing," I say, my words heavy with sincerity. "Let's go for whatever this is between us, without any walls or barriers. Just you and me, Elle."

Her smile widens, and she nods, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Yes, Asher."