“Yeah, just give me a few minutes and I’ll wake her up.”
He turned to leave, before stopping and looking back to us. “Take care of her heart, Josh. She doesn’t deserve the shit she’s been handed.”
The door shut and I looked down at the blond hair splayed over my chest. A soft murmur echoed through the room, and Ashlyn started moving as the first signs of consciousness hit her. Slowly, she rolled away until her back was to me, and she snuggled deep into the pillow. I followed her lead until my chest was pressed against her back, and my hand disappeared under her shirt until it was resting on her stomach.
“Ashy, you’ve got to wake up,” I said softly into her ear.
She wiggled back until her hand rested on top of mine, and I entwined our fingers.
“Shh, just a little longer. I’m sleepy,” she whined in a baby-like voice.
“I really wish I could stay in here and have you rubbing your cute little ass against my hard on, but I really don’t think Mom will stay out of here for long.”
“Crap, I forgot again.” She rolled onto her back, and I finally saw her face. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and she looked at me with clear green eyes. Her pink pout was still slightly swollen from our attack on one another’s mouths and, as I allowed my gaze to roam over her features, her cheeks flushed rose.
“How’d you sleep?”
“Like a baby, I was exhausted.”
I couldn’t stop the smirk covering my face. She slapped my chest and rolled her eyes dramatically. At least she wasn’t fleeing the bed and claiming that last night was a huge mistake, so I’d take attitude and an eye roll over everything else.
“I cannot believe we did that, in your childhood bedroom, with your parents down the hall,” she said with a gasp as fear and concern tainted her face. “Was I loud? Josh, I’m always loud. What if they heard me? Oh my god, the shame.”
I ran my finger along her cheek and traced her lips. “You weren’t loud. But Ashy, I will make you scream . . . very soon.”
Her eyes changed from concern at being heard by my parents, to heat at the thought of me making her scream. The shift intrigued me, encouraged me, and motivated me not to stop until I got exactly what I wanted.
“I need to have a shower if I’m going to start feeling human,” she stated in a low tone as she began climbing out of bed and changing the subject. The shirt hung loosely on the top of her thighs and her hair hung over her shoulders. I couldn’t ignore the air of innocence that surrounded her. There were no words that needed to be said. Her eyes flashed to mine as she looked through her overnight bag and pulled out her toiletries and clothes for the day. “I’ll meet you downstairs,” she said softly as she slipped through the door and into the hall.
The second my bedroom door closed, I stretched, then got out of bed and pulled on some jeans and a tee. I opened and closed my hand to get some movement and stretch the annoying ache that continued to taunt me. The throbbing was evidence of just how hard I hit Lachlan, and I hoped the fucker was hurting this morning. The sound of the shower turning on caused me to smile. I stepped into the hall and headed to the kitchen as the soft sound of voices floated up the stairs.
The kitchen was crowded with people, and chatter filled the air. All eyes fell on me when I stepped into the room, and conversation ceased. Talk about being under the spotlight. It wasn’t that much of a surprise, though, considering I went all Mike Tyson in the backyard at my parents’ house during my brother’s engagement party. Mom glanced over my shoulder, and the excited look on her face dropped as her eyes found nothingness.
“Where’s Ashlyn? I thought we were all having breakfast together.” Disappointment laced her words.
“She is in the shower. She will be down soon.”
Her face changed from disappointment to excitement in a split second, and she immediately gave Grandma Crawford and Aunt Carole a look that made me nervous. The three of them together were dangerous, and as I watched them walk out of the kitchen carrying dishes of eggs and bacon, I knew they were up to something. Dad and Eden soon left, and it was just Ky and I. We hadn’t spoken since I left, and I hated how we left things, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to discuss what had happened.
“I was a prick last night. You know I’m protective of Ash, so I won’t apologize for that, but I will apologize for being a prick,” Ky stated, and handed me a freshly-brewed coffee. I leaned against the kitchen island beside him, and we both looked outside to the back deck where Eden and Mom were setting up breakfast.
“I won’t apologize for anything I do when it comes to her,” I stated firmly.
“That’s fair enough. How is she? Was she able to relax last night?”
Of course she relaxed, I made her come twice.
I avoided his gaze. “Yeah, she was okay. She seemed to forget about it all.”
Before the conversation could continue and potentially get even more awkward, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I smiled after pulling it out of my pocket, when I found my friend from the West Coast’s name on the screen. Savannah Rae was a gorgeous Australian, who had moved to Los Angeles to take up a position at Beautify Magazine, one of the top periodicals owned by Anderson Publications. When we first met, we had some intense flirting. She had a sexy-as-fuck accent that I couldn’t resist, but then we went our separate ways, and next time I saw her she was loved up. It was a blessing in disguise, because now she was one of my best friends.
I opened her message and burst out laughing.
Since when did you become a boxer? You like making yourself known at events, don’t you? Being called the other guy at the west coast office Christmas party, breaking girl’s hearts all across the country, and now getting in a fight at your brothers engagement party. I wish I could have been there. Damn deadlines.
How the hell did she know about what happened last night? I busily tapped in a reply, telling her that I’d call her on the drive home, and shoved my phone back in my pocket.
“Coffee, I need coffee.” Ashlyn stepped into the kitchen and the scent of her perfume hit me like a ton of bricks. A white sundress hung loosely around her mid-thigh, but was tight across her chest. Fuck me, she was the cause of an instant hard on.
“Which one of you is going to make me one?” She fluttered her eyelashes and chewed on her lip when her eyes found mine.
“I’m the king of making coffee in this family,” I said gloating and shooting her a wink for good measure. I pushed away from the kitchen island and headed for the coffee machine. I could hear quiet talk between Ky and Ashlyn, but I focused on the coffee and got lost in memories of the night before. One thing that had sat in the pits of my gut for the past five years was the unnerving feeling that Ky would always be her go to Crawford, but slowly, I felt like she was beginning to give me more of her. For five years I had dealt with the feelings of second best, but with every glance, touch, and soft word, she was changing that, and she didn’t have a clue in the world.
“That smells good.” Ashlyn sidled up beside me and rested her body against mine. The closeness of our bodies could only mean that we were in the kitchen on our own. “How’s your hand this morning?”
I flexed it and pain shot up my arm, but I wouldn’t show her. “It’s okay.”
“Liar.” She snorted. “At least let me drive home today.”
“A gentleman always drives the lady home.”
She raised a brow and smirked. “A gentleman? Would a gentleman do what you did last night while in your parents’ house?”
“A true gentleman will always guarantee satisfaction, no matter where his lady is.”
“His lady?” She laughed and shook her head. “Well, just so you know, your guarantee of satisfaction was met last night.”
I shot her a wink and felt my chest swell with pride as her cheeks flushed. She crossed the kitchen and headed to the fridge to get the creamer, while I focused on the coffee.