As Ashlynn maneuvered around him, Leyton opened his eyes and watched her. She was focused on his body, as he’d wanted her to be. He was taking this slow, feeling her out, so to speak, while not touching her at all.

Leyton wasn’t going to allow Ashlynn to control him the way she controlled most people. Somehow, Jase had broken through her rough exterior, but Leyton knew that, like Jase, he had to work to earn her trust. She wanted him; there was no doubt about that. And he could probably prop her up on the desk and fuck her senseless, but she would be in control.

That wasn’t what he wanted.

He wanted to strip her of that control, but he couldn’t do that until she knew he would never hurt her.

So this was how he was going to set the pace.

Once she was settled between him and the desk once more, Leyton placed his hands on the back of her thighs and lifted her. He set her on the desk and eased between her legs once more, gliding his fingers over her smooth skin. He trailed a path along her inner thigh but never ventured to that place she wanted him most.

“This won’t be just sex between us,” he told her now, guiding her chin with his fingertip so that she had to look up at him.

“I can’t give you more than that,” she said, her voice soft. “I don’t know how to give more.”

“You do,” he assured her. “And you will. I’m not askin’ for you to give in now, but I do want you to have an open mind.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers. “Once I’m inside you, skin to skin, once I’ve filled you completely, I’ll never be able to let you go. So if you can’t accept that now, then we’re done. This is as far as it goes.”

“What about Jase?” she asked.

“You and Jase have established something. He and I will do what works for us. But you and I … that’s something else entirely.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Leyton stood up and stared down at her.

“Why complicate this?”

“It’s been complicated for a long time, little girl. A long damn time.” Sliding his finger down her jaw, he held her gaze. “Tell me you want this. Tell me you’re not gonna push me away if it gets to be too much for you.”

“I can’t make any promises.”

“Tell me. That’s your only choice. Or this is over before it ever gets started.”

Ashlynn sighed. “Fine. I won’t push you away. But you can’t expect something that I’m incapable of giving. So if it backfires in your face, that’s on you.”

“It won’t.” Of that, he was absolutely certain. He simply needed Ashlynn to open her heart, because without that, they really did have nothing.

“Now what?” she asked. “Are you finally gonna relent and fuck me?”

Leyton smirked. “Be patient. We’ll get to that. Eventually.”

Ashlynn huffed, and Leyton grabbed his shirt off the credenza.

“Where’re you going?” she asked in disbelief as he headed for the sofa to get his jacket.

“To talk to your brother.” He turned to face her as he got dressed. “That’s what you wanted, right?”

She stared at him momentarily, her eyes narrowing. “You really are loyal to Max?”

Once he had his jacket on, he returned to her. “I’m loyal to the people I love. And yes, I’m loyal to your brother—he’s my family.”

“What about me?” He noted a hint of insecurity in her tone.

“You’re more than that to me.” Cupping her face in his hands, Leyton pressed his mouth to hers. “You’re everything. And I’m gonna prove that to you very, very soon.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Someone to listen, that’s what she needed.

Ashlynn remained in her office after Leyton left. She needed to be alone with her thoughts, but it didn’t take long for the silence to become unbearable. She needed someone to talk to, someone who would listen. She knew she could’ve called Madison, and her sister would’ve let her talk through her problems, but she knew how busy Mad was. She had so much going on Ashlynn hated to bother her.

Not to mention, she’d never told Madison about Leyton, and that meant she’d have to rehash it all, explain everything. And she didn’t have the energy to do that.

Which left only one person she could talk to. Although they’d talked just last night, Ashlynn knew he wouldn’t mind if she called.

She dialed the phone and listened to it ring, releasing a pent-up breath as soon as her brother answered.

“Aidan?”

“Hey,” her brother greeted. “You okay?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. You got a minute to talk?”

“For you, always,” he said, a smile in his voice.

“Are you at home?”

“For now,” he said. “I’m goin’ out in a bit. But I’m here now. What’s up, sis?”

“Leyton,” she told him.

“Ah. I gotcha. What’s goin’ on? You havin’ some of those babysitter fantasies?” he teased.

Aidan was the only person in the world—aside from Jase—who knew her true feelings for Leyton. Before Jase had come along, she’d needed someone to confide in, and Aidan had always been that person.

“I wish,” she responded, laughing. Leave it to Aidan to always lighten the mood.

“Uh-oh. This sounds serious.”

“He said he loves me,” she admitted, leaning back in her chair and staring up at the ceiling.

“Doesn’t surprise me,” Aidan replied.

“What do you mean it doesn’t surprise you?” She rolled her eyes. “Why the hell would he love me?”

Aidan chuckled. “Have you seen the way he looks at you? I’d give anything for a guy to look at me like that.”

Ashlynn was the only person in the family who knew that Aidan was gay. According to him, it wasn’t that he was hiding his sexuality; he’d simply told her it was a private matter and he didn’t care to have the entire world knowing. To throw people off, he’d actually dated a few girls in high school, but nothing serious. From what he’d told her, he’d slept with a couple, but it’d never done anything for him. Since he’d confided in her, trusted her with such a huge thing, she’d kept his secret all these years. The same as he’d kept her secret about Leyton.

“He doesn’t look at me,” she said now, though she knew it was a weak retort.

“He’s looked at you since you were far too young for him to be lookin’ at.”

“No, he hasn’t,” she disputed.

“He has. But it’s clear he’s kept his distance. What else did he say?”

Ashlynn sighed. “He’s goin’ to talk to Max. Said he wouldn’t be with me unless I’m willin’ to be open-minded.”

“Meaning he’s not gonna let you fuck him and leave him?” Aidan laughed again.

“Shut up,” she said with a smile. “I don’t do that.”

“Right. Lie to someone else ’cause I ain’t buyin’ it.”

“What am I supposed to do, Aid?” Her voice was somber now as she sat up in her chair. Ashlynn really wanted to know how she was supposed to handle this.

Being with Leyton was supposed to be easy. Fun. She wanted him to fuck her, take her like the wild man she suspected he was. She wanted to watch while he and Jase… Yeah, she definitely wanted to watch. And yes, she wanted to take them both at the same time.

But she didn’t need love, didn’t need sympathy from him. She didn’t need any man like that.

“You’re supposed to give him a chance,” Aidan told her. “The same way you gave Jase one. Speaking of … what does he think of this?”

Ashlynn glanced at the door. “I’m guessin’ he’s happy. The smile on his face made me believe he was.” She wasn’t going to go into details, because it wasn’t her place, but she knew Aidan would catch on.

During their past conversations, Ashlynn had mentioned her desire to have a threesome one day.

“Damn,” Aidan said with a whistle. “Lucky bastard.”

“Which one?” Ashlynn chuckled. She knew that Aidan had always thought Jase was sexy. They’d talked at length about him back when she’d first decided to sleep with Jase.

“Both of ’em.”

Ashlynn sighed.

“Seriously, Ash, give him a chance. If he’s willin’ to talk to Max … that means he’s got it bad.”