When There Is Nothing Left But Love

Ashton had already flung the blanket aside, a rapid motion that lifted up my skirt along with it. Horrified, I snatched it back and cringed beneath it. “Ashton, you brute…”

He turned to me with a smouldering look. Without another word, he got up and strode out of the room.

I gaped at him. Did he just walk out on me? I thought in disbelief.

Ashton returned a few minutes later with a first aid kit in his hand. He once again took up his seat beside my bed and deftly began to apply ointment to my arm.

Ashton’s regular, handsome features, framed by the soft glow of the light in the room, made a familiar but irresistible picture. I realized with a start that I’d known him for close to ten years now. He remained, however, just as gorgeous as when I’d first met him.

When he had finished, Ashton suddenly raised his head. Deep in thought, I hadn’t time to react and was confronted with his intense stare.

Our eyes met. For a moment, I felt as if I’d plunged deep into his obsidian eyes. My face burned and I could feel my heart racing in my chest.

“Ahem,” I coughed. My throat suddenly felt incredibly parched. “I’m very grateful to you for what happened tonight. I’m willing to overlook your trespassing incident and so won’t be calling the police. Goodbye!”

“Ha!” Ashton gave a high, dry laugh. He narrowed his eyes at me, then remarked, “Scarlett, I never realized how cunning you are with your words!”

and grabbed my chin. Ashton was just inches away from me, and we were close enough to feel each other’s breaths on our faces. I flinched. “I wasn’t quibbling,” I argued breathlessly, my heart pounding. “I was speaking

look at Ashton and lay back down on the

still as a statue. After a while, when he hadn’t moved, I

at me. “Is it because of the baby? Or is it because of your parents?” he

didn’t experience first-hand any of the events that I went through. They’re all a list of incidents in your mind. We lost a baby, and I still bear grudge against my

me. If you want freedom or a new start, I’m willing to give everything up. Until then, Scarlett, you need someone by your side to take care of you. When you’ve found that person, I’ll agree

I hadn’t foreseen that Ashton, who was usually so domineering, would suddenly soften once pressed. It

those words left my lips, however,

…

morning arrived bathed in a soft, sunny radiance. The air was filled with

in the bedroom. He’d evidently snuck away sometime in the night, probably after I

the bathroom to wash up, then went to downstairs to prepare breakfast. There was no sign of Armond for a long

of his room, then opened it. The bed was still neatly made. It had clearly remained

raised in my bedroom, the rest of the house

he been with