<h4>Chapter 67: Chapter 68 Ashton’s POV: His and Hers</h4>


    Mirabelle was holding up the hem of her nightgown with two fingers, her steps careful and silent.


    No shoes.


    Just bare feet on cold ck stone, each step like a spotlight in the dark.


    Her skin looked warm against all that sleek obsidian.


    Pale. Almost glowing.


    Ashton’s gaze tracked up the curve of her calves to the back of her thighs, then higher, past the sway of fabric.


    The dress clung to her hips and draped off her waist like it had been cut for temptation.


    Through the thin material, he caught the outline of her spine, the dip where her back met her hips, the faintest tease of her—


    Ashton swallowed hard.


    Then shut the door.


    Fast. Quiet.


    Teeth clenched, jaw locked, forehead against the wood.


    ‘Fucking pervert,’ he muttered under his breath.


    He was supposed to be a grown man, not some hormonal teen hiding behind doors to stare at a woman’s arse.


    He didn’t move.


    Just stood there, breathing like he’d run a mile, while she padded around downstairs.


    Eventually, he heard hering back up, just as sneakily as before.


    Once the footsteps passed his room, he peeled away from the door, grabbed a towel, and marched straight into the en suite.


    He needed a cold shower.


    A long one.


    ***


    Mirabelle was already there when Ashton came into the dining room the next morning.


    She’d changed—yellow jumper, jeans, fluffy socks.


    Cosy. Casual.


    Warm in a way that made his throat feel tight again, and not because of lust this time.


    She looked...fortable. Like she’s finally settled into this ce.


    She yawned when she thought he wasn’t looking.


    ‘You don’t need to get up this early,’ he said, heading to the coffee machine. ‘Got somewhere to be?’


    She shrugged. ‘Nah. I’m on leave.’


    He’s heard all about it from Cassian—the new project, thepetition, the collegial rivalry.


    He even knew her boss, Savannah something, had called her repeatedly in the past couple of days, trying to get her toe back to Nyx.


    Mirabelle had said no.


    What was her n? To find another studio? Start her own? Take a sabbatical?


    More to the point, when did she n on telling him?


    After the fact? Over dinner?


    Or maybe never?


    Ashton pulled out a chair and sat across from her. ‘Something happen at work?’


    She stirred her coffee. ‘Nothing huge. Just needed a break.’


    That was a lie, obviously, but he didn’t push.


    Not yet.


    They ate in silence for a few minutes.


    He nced at her over his toast. ‘Got any ns today?’


    ‘Yeah. Gonna swing by thew firm again.’ She gave him a quick smile. ‘Your legal team’s scary efficient. They emailed mest night.’


    ‘Good.’ He nearly told her to have the meeting at the LGH building instead—preferably in his office—but bit it back.


    ‘Then I’ll catch up with Yvaine over tea.’


    ‘Let Geoffrey drive you.’


    Mirabelle nced at the housekeeper, who beamed at her.


    She forced a polite smile, then turned back to Ashton. ‘Public transport’s fine. I don’t wanna trouble anyone.’


    ‘You drive?’


    She nodded. ‘Got my licence in college.’


    ‘Then take one of the cars.’


    Her fork paused mid-air. ‘You mean one of those rare, probably one-of-a-kind cars in your garage? If I so much as scratched the bumper, I’d have to sell a kidney just to cover the paint.’


    He smiled, then frowned.


    He liked that she wasfortable enough to joke with him now, but he didn’t like that she still saw the cars as his. Not hers.


    Definitely not theirs.


    ‘Right. My mistake. Those have been sitting in the garage too long. Probably need a tune-up before they’re road-ready. What do you like driving? I’ll have one sent over.’


    She dropped her fork like it’d just bitten her. ‘Um, no, thanks. Really. I barely drive. Like, ever. I’d rather walk.’


    ‘Can’t have people seeing you on the subway and thinking I’m some tight-fisted bastard,’ Ashton cut her off smoothly. ‘So either you drive yourself, or someone drives you.’


    Mirabelle shifted in her seat, trying to squirm out of it. ‘Fine, I’ll drive myself... I’ve still got that card your assistant gave me the other day. I’ll buy something. Speaking of that—’ she added, ‘I don’t remember us agreeing on a million-dor monthly transfer. Can you take it back?’


    ‘No,’ he said tly, his tone edged with irritation. ‘You’re my wife. There’s a certain image that needs maintaining. That means having a driver. A card that skips queues. VIP ess. The works. Non-negotiable.’


    ‘That wasn’t in the deal,’ she shot back.


    ‘Was it not?’ he murmured, hiding a smug smile behind his coffee mug. ‘Maybe check the contract. Section Five. Subuse twenty.’


    ‘What?’ she blinked, then muttered under her breath, ‘I don’t even remember where the hell I shoved that damn thing.’


    He remembered, but he wasn’t about to tell her.


    He turned to Geoffrey and said, ‘Take Mrs Laurent car shopping after breakfast.’


    ‘Nope,’ she jumped in fast. ‘Really. There’s no need. I don’t know a damn thing about cars anyway.’


    Ashton didn’t miss a beat. ‘Then we’ll have one delivered.’


    Which had been the n from the start.


    Mirabelle mumbled something to herself and gave in reluctantly.


    After breakfast, she went upstairs to change.


    Ashton said to Geoffrey, ‘Make sure she’sfortable with whatever you get.’


    ‘Of course, sir.’


    ‘And... get one thates as a pair. The “his and hers” type. Have mine delivered to the garage.’