On The Ropes Series Box Set

by Aly Martinez

  “You do not run from me.” He bit the base of my neck.

  “Fuck.” I angled my head to give him more room, moaning with his every nip. “I wasn’t running.”

  He slammed into me again.

  “You will not do that to me again.”

  Up.

  Then down again.

  I dropped my head back against his shoulder, turning to capture his mouth. Flint’s tongue was rough and demanding and his stubble rubbed against my face.

  He released my mouth in order to shift me for another deep thrust.

  I was on top, but there was no mistake that Flint was absolutely fucking me—using his upper body to do the work his legs were incapable of.

  “You have completely fucked with my head. I’m a goddamn mess waiting for the day when you choose to leave again.”

  Up.

  Down.

  “Ahhh,” I cried as he leaned forward slightly, changing the angle. He wasn’t as deep anymore, but it was even better.

  “Rock,” he demanded, kissing my neck.

  I threw a hand up, gripping the back of his hair and used the bed as leverage to move against him. My legs were closed tightly and my clit was squeezed with each movement.

  “I need to know if you’re planning to stay.”

  “Flint,” I breathed.

  “Just fucking tell me!” he yelled, starting a frantic rhythm inside me. His fingers were painfully biting into my hips and my shoulder with every thrust, but his cock was driving me toward the brink of release. “Answer the fucking question. Are you here to stay?”

  “Yes!” I cried.

  Planting himself to the hilt, he cursed while his cock jumped and twitched as he came.

  Out of breath, he panted, “Say it again.”

  “Yes. I’m staying.”

  His chest heaved from exertion, but it was his heart pounding against my back that exposed his anxiety. “Swear to me. I need to hear you say it.”

  What I said probably wasn’t what he expected to hear, but it was more honest than any oath I could ever make to him.

  I wasn’t ready for the rejection that I was so frightened that I would receive, but I was sick of running from the only thing I’d ever truly wanted to keep.

  I’d decided the night before that I was starting over with my life. I was doing it without fear. And hopefully, I was doing it with him.

  “I love you, Flint. I’ll stay for as long as you want me.”

  His shoulders immediately relaxed and his hands loosened their grip. “Forever.”

  My eyes began to swim even as a smile crept across my face. Reaching up to my shoulder, I placed my hand on top of his and intertwined our fingers, then crossed my arm and did the same with his hand at my hip.

  “Then I’m staying forever.”

  He released a relieved breath. “I don’t know how to trust you.”

  “I think that’s something we’re both gonna have to learn, but I’m willing to try if you are.”

  “Even if things get bad, Ash, just talk to me instead of taking off. Don’t assume anything. I’m not always going to say the right thing. I’ll probably fuck up—”

  “Flint.” I looked back, interrupting him. His gorgeous blue eyes were nervously searching mine. “Stop talking.” I smiled.

  He dropped his chin to my shoulder, but kept talking.

  “This whole thing between us is absurd. People don’t fall in love in a month. And they definitely don’t stay in love for three years with no contact. But Jesus Christ, Ash, I love you so fucking much.”

  I swallowed hard, trying to lock away the tears that were threatening to escape.

  He loves me.

  Me.

  “Stop talking,” I choked out.

  “I do want to get to know each other again. But I need you to know that it won’t change anything. I love you. I always have, Ash. Always.”

  The tears finally spilled from my eyes but my smile grew impossibly wider.

  Always.

  “Stop talking,” I repeated through my tears.

  He sighed contently. “Did I hurt you?” he asked as he softened inside me.

  I knew he was talking about sex, but starting over meant full disclosure.

  “Yes. When I was sixteen, you broke my heart and said some shitty things that made me doubt who I was as a person. For years, I tried to figure out how to be someone you could be proud of, but ultimately I just learned to hate part of myself. ” I took a deep breath, “Flint, this is who I am. I may be crazy and quirky, but I’m a good person. And that’s something I’m proud of. I can’t worry about what you think anymore.”

  “What I think? I think you’re an amazing person who deserves more than I will ever be able to give you. But, dammit, I’m going to try anyway. That shit I spouted before you left was about me and my issues. Never you. If you’ll just stay with me, I’ll spend a lifetime proving that to you. Ash, I’m so fucking sorry.”

  He reluctantly released me as I stood up. I didn’t go far though. Spinning to face him, I climbed back onto his lap, locking my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. “It’s okay. I forgive you.” I kissed him, then whispered, “I may have overreacted. I mean, who runs away for three years?” I winked and a small smile quirked the side of his mouth. “I’m sorry about this morning too. I wanted to look special for our fresh new start as a couple. No one’s really worried about where I was before. I didn’t even think about letting you know where I was going.”

  He nodded, chastely touching his lips to mine before leaning away to catch my eyes. “Why’d you take my book? That’s what freaked me out the most.”

  I laughed. “First off, it’s my book, not yours. I stole that fair and square before I reformed my ways.” He rolled his eyes. “But I wanted to write. I had a lot to catch up on over the last few days.”

  “What color?”

  I knew exactly what he was talking about. I just didn’t know how he knew what he was talking about. “Excuse me?”

  “Pink or green? If it was blue I’m gonna be pissed.”

  I slapped his chest. “You read my book?”

  “No, I read my book . . . that you graffitied with highlighter.”

  “It’s not your book! It’s mine.” He thought I was joking even as I jumped off his lap.

  He pushed to his feet, snapping off the condom and knotting it before settling on the edge of the bed. “Ash, I’m not a total asshole. You can borrow it anytime you want.”

  I gave him an evil side eye. “Wheels, I just told you that I love you. Do not make me regret it. That book is mine.”

  “Come here.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me to stand between his legs.

  “Say it again.”

  “It’s mine,” I told him and he gave me an unimpressed glare. I knew what he wanted to hear, I just really liked fucking with him.

  “The other thing, smartass.” I wanted to keep going, but as he looked up at me through his thick black lashes, I wanted to hear him say it again too.

  “I love you.”

  “And . . . ,” he prompted.

  “And no more running.”

  His lips split into a smile and the corners of his eyes softened.

  Lifting my arm, he kissed the Flint tattoo on my side. “I love you too.”

  I closed my eyes as he repeatedly whispered it against my skin.

  I was so genuinely happy for the first time in my entire life that I couldn’t even pretend to stop the awkward bubble of laugher that escaped.

  He looked up at me with a questioning expression that I only answered with a shrug as I continued to laugh.

  He loves me.

  Shaking his head he said, “Fine, you can have the book, but only if you don’t give me shit about reading it.”

  “You can take your deal and shove it. That’s my book, I don’t need you to give it to me.” I backed away and crossed my arms over my chest.

  He barked out a laugh, retrieving his crutches off the floor. “Get
dressed, baby. It’s date night.”

  “It’s my book,” I repeated, because, well, he needed to understand.

  “Absolutely,” he confirmed, walking to the bathroom. “For as long as I let you borrow it.”

  I could hear his laughter continue as he shut the door.

  I wasn’t mad. I couldn’t have cared less that he was delusional enough to think it was still his.

  I was staying.

  Forever.

  With Flint.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Flint

  IT WAS TRULY INCREDIBLE THE way one weekend changed the trajectory of my entire life.

  Ash and I had skipped our date in exchange for take-out food and the weed garden. It was far better than whatever cheesy and clichéd date I could have taken her on. It was us. And with her promise to stay, there was officially an us again.

  Ash stayed tucked into my side the entire night, never letting me stray out of her reach—even while we were eating.

  It was incredible. For the first time in my entire life I wasn’t nervously waiting for the sky to crash down on me. The world could have slipped into another Dark Age and I would have been fine. I had a home, a job, money in the bank, and a woman who didn’t need any of it.

  She just wanted me.

  My life had officially begun.

  And it was gloriously uneventful.

  Ash and I quickly fell into an easy routine. I drove her to work at the salon in the mornings, then picked her up at lunch only to drop her off at the college where she had enrolled in a high school refresher course. She didn’t need it. She was insanely smart. However, she was nervous about failing the high school equivalency exam that she needed to start college courses.

  I was so proud of her for going back to school. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to major in, but she was so excited about attending actual classes that it didn’t matter. The only problem was she needed an ID before she could enroll and Ash had nothing. We spent weeks tracking down her birth certificate and then social security card before she finally went to the DMV to get a driver’s license. Something else she was excited about. Her newsie list was dwindling as she crossed things off left and right.

  “Oh my God,” Ash gasped as I walked into the DMV. “You came. In a suit!” She left Quarry and Mia sitting in the folding chairs and rushed over to me.

  “I had a big meeting with a potential client at noon but I came straight here afterward. My woman’s getting her driver’s license today. This is a big deal.” I leaned down to take her lips.

  Her eyes flashed surprise as she dodged my mouth. “Oh shit. Let’s go.” Grabbing my arm, she pulled me toward the door.

  “Where are we going? Did I miss your test already?” I asked, doing my best to keep up with her as she dragged me toward the door.

  “No. But you need to see a doctor. I think you had a stroke.” I threw on the brakes, stopping just before we exited the building. “Don’t stop! I can’t have you dying on me! Who will nag me about leaving my shoes in the middle of the floor if you croak?” She bit her lip but the smile escaped around it.

  “I’m missing the joke, funny girl. I’m gonna need you to explain.”

  “You said something was a big deal. Clearly, you have some neurological issues going on.”

  “It is a big deal.”

  “No. It’s just a driver’s license. I’ve been driving for years.” She shrugged before adding, “By the way, you look hot in a suit.”

  I shook my head at her randomness. “You’re insane,” I told her, pulling her into my arms and kissing the top of her head.

  “I think you’re insane. You relearning to walk again after spending over two years in a wheelchair was nothing. But me getting a little plastic card that allows me to legally do something I’ve been doing for years is a big deal?” She wrapped her arms around my hips, hugging me tightly, before sliding her hand down into the back of my slacks.

  “Would you stop?” I laughed, swatting away her hands.

  “What?” she whined innocently. “It’s the suit, I can’t help myself.”

  “Right. What was it last night when you jumped me in kitchen?” I quirked a questioning eyebrow.

  “Uhhhh . . . I’m sorry, but sweatpants leave nothing to the imagination. If you don’t want to be sexually assaulted by your girlfriend, then you should really put on something else.”

  “Insane,” I whispered, kissing her again. “Besides, the driver’s license isn’t a big deal because you can drive. It’s a big deal because it will have our address on it as your legal residence. There’s no getting rid of me now.”

  “I’m pretty sure I could just change it when I move out.”

  “You planning to move out?” I teased. It was an idea that a few weeks ago would have spiked my pulse. But Ash wasn’t going anywhere. Of that I was sure.

  She was mine in every possible way.

  “Well, I don’t know. Are you going to stop wearing the sweatpants?” She slid her hand back down into my pants.

  “No. I love those sweats.”

  She squeezed my ass and winked. “Then I’m definitely not moving.”

  Smiling, I leaned forward to take her mouth and it wasn’t going to be sweet. It was going to be completely indecent, regardless that we were in a very public place. Judging by the way her eyes flashed to my mouth, she felt the same way.

  Unfortunately, Quarry and Mia noticed our moment too. Catcalls echoed through the DMV, earning us quite a few glares from the employees.

  “Ash Carson?” The older woman called from behind the desk.

  “Mabie,” Ash corrected on a mumble.

  “We’ll, get it changed,” I assured her the same way I had when she melted down the day her birth certificate came in the mail.

  Ash hadn’t spoken to Ray again since the night she turned him in to the police. Nor had she shown any desire to visit him in jail. She just hated the fact that Mabie wasn’t listed as her legal last name. I had full intentions of helping her change it from Carson, but it was never going to be Mabie.

  Ash Page had a nice ring though.

  While I wasn’t jumping into the whole marriage thing yet, I was positive it was where we were headed. I was planning to give it some time. But every day that passed only cemented the fact that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I wasn’t a rash person.

  But it was Ash. I lost my fucking mind when it came to her.

  We had only been back together for eight weeks, but it had only taken four for me to fall in love with her when we’d first met. Eight weeks felt like an eternity.

  “Wish me luck,” she said, pushing up to her tiptoes and pecking me on the cheek.

  “You got this, baby.”

  “Then I’m getting that.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, backing away. “Oh, wait.” She turned to Quarry, snapping her fingers. “Keys.”

  Quarry dropped the keys to his sports car in her hands. “Be gentle with her.”

  “Right. The same way you were gentle with Flint’s SUV when you took it out mudding last week?” She giggled, knowing she’d just thrown him under the bus.

  My eyes jumped to his.

  Quarry didn’t seem fazed in the least though. “Oh don’t even start. It was a puddle. You don’t even have four-wheel drive. Those hand pedals sucked too. Pushing a lever really takes the sexy out of peeling out.” He draped an arm around Mia’s shoulders when he finished signing. She giggled, squeezing against his side.

  “Ash Carson?” the woman droned again.

  “Oops, got to go.” She patted me on the ass then jogged away.

  I looked over at Quarry as I sat down in the chair next to Mia. “You are never allowed to borrow my car again. I don’t care if yours is in the shop.”

  “Meh. I’ll survive,” he signed back before scooping Mia out of her chair and settling her on his lap.

  I began checking my emails on my phone. “Please don’t molest her in here.”

  Mia slapped my a
rm to get my attention. You’re one to talk, she signed, not bothering with saying it aloud since Ash was gone. I threw up in my mouth a little.

  Whatever. You look like you’re twelve. Q looks like he’s older than I am. Everyone in the room is assuming he’s a pedophile right now, I replied.

  Q interjected, Hey! I wasn’t the one getting a sixteen-year-old girl naked in the back of my child molester van.

  Yes, you did! That’s why I had to sell it. I don’t even want to know what you two did in that thing before Till bought you a car.

  Q laughed. Oh come on, that’s not why you sold it.

  The floor was sticky, you dick. I punched him on the shoulder.

  “Damn it,” he cursed, rubbing his arm.

  Mia stared into space dreamily and signed, God, I miss that van.

  I gave her a disgusted look then went back to scanning my phone. Quarry asked, “Hey, why didn’t you tell us about Ash’s birthday?”

  “It’s not for another month, I’ll let you know when I plan something,” I answered absently.

  “Dude, her birthday was last week.”

  My head snapped up. “Her birthday is April eighteenth.”

  Mia’s hands lifted as her jaw fell open. You idiot! You missed her birthday.

  I looked back at Quarry and repeated, “Her birthday is April eighteenth.”

  He shook his head, pulling Ash’s birth certificate from the folder that she left on her seat. “March eighteenth.”

  What the fuck?

  I distinctly remembered her telling me that it was in April, the first night we were lying in the weeds. “What astrological sign is March eighteenth? Aries?” They both shrugged, so I picked up my phone and did a quick Internet search. “Pisces,” I whispered at the screen of my phone. “Why the hell would she have lied to me?”

  “This is going to cost you, big time. You should buy her a car and pretend this was all part of your plan. Make her think you forgot her birthday on purpose.” Quarry suggested and Mia excitedly nodded her agreement.

  It wasn’t a bad idea exactly, but I was more focused on why she would lie to begin with than the repercussions of flubbing the date.

  For the next ten minutes, I stared a hole in the DMV’s door, waiting for her to come back inside.