CHAPTER 14
Ashlyn
“Gran where are we going? And why did I have to wear nice clothes? I don’t have many and I hate wearing them when I don’t have to.”
“When the hell did you become a two-year-old Ashlyn Rose Cox? Do me a favor and shut the hell up.”
Sighing, I look out the window. Gran called me this morning and told me I had an hour to put on my Sunday best and do something with my rat’s nest. It would have been pointless to question her so I did as I was told and put on my best leggings. That’s the most effort anyone would get out of me at this point. At 28 weeks, I’m as big as a house and the struggle is most certainly real.
As we come into town I notice we’re slowing down at the bar. Really, I got ready for work?
“We can literally come here any day you want and I don’t have to wear dressy clothes. I can even cook for you at home.”
“Don’t you sass me missy. You know that baby won’t keep me from taking you over my knee.”
“Sass? Isn’t that what they say in the south?” As far as I know she has only lived in New England.
“Quiet, we’re here. Now put a smile on that beautiful face of yours and enjoy this.” Gran gets out of the car and heads for the front door without waiting for me. I look upward and think god help me.
I get out and shuffle my feet up to the front door while cursing under my breath. I notice the closed sign on the front door. It’s only one, shouldn’t we be opened?
When I open the front door, I scream for dear life as confetti is popped in my face along with everyone hollering SURPRISE! As I’m trying to calm my erratic heart, I look around.
The bar has been transformed into something of a fairy tale. Tables are draped with light pink table cloths and are covered with giant centerpieces made of gorgeous floral arrangements. It doesn’t stop there. There are giant pink puff balls hanging from the ceiling with twinkle lights, diaper cakes lining the bar and a cake that I can’t quite make out is on a table off to the side.
“Happy baby shower Ash!” Savvy runs up and bear hugs the life out of me.
“Did you do all of this? This is absolutely amazing Savvy!”
“You deserve it. Come look around. I want you to see everything. I think I’m more excited than you are!” She pulls my hand and leads me around.
“Doubtful. I’m trying to take it all in.” When I turn to her, I can’t stop the unshed tears from escaping my eyes. “You are seriously the best friend ever. I love you so much Sav.” I wrap my arms around her shoulders. This girl is my ride or die, always has been.
“Stop it, you’re going to make me cry.” The little sniffle I hear tells me she’s already choked up.
She shows me picture collages she made of Josh and I, a cute poster with the ultrasound picture in the middle that everyone can sign, a candy bar and a photo booth. We make our final stop at the cake table.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Please Savvy, tell me you did not get a cake made to look like a sleeping baby?”
“Of course, I did. One day I was on Pinterest looking up cakes and it popped up. Seriously, how cool is this?” She seems excited. Little does she know how it will look when she cuts into it.
“You better be personally cutting the cake.” I point at her.
“Well, if you want me to. We have caterers for that stuff.”
“Promise me you’ll cut the first piece.”
“Okay… I promise.” Confusion lines her face. This is going to be great!
I make my rounds going table to table to thank the 30 or so guests. I hit up Josh’s mom and grandmothers table for a while before making my last stop at my Gran's table which is full of her friends from the senior center.
“Gran how could you not have prepped me in the car? I thought I was your favorite granddaughter.”
“Don’t be dramatic you’re my only granddaughter. You know, you get the theatrics from your mother.” That comment makes me freeze for a second. Gran never mentions my mom.
“Okay…” I slowly draw out the word. “I hope you girls have fun. If you need me, I’ll be at the buffet!”
I walk over to the buffet tables and I have no words. I’m completely speechless. There in little metal trays are all my favorite foods from my pregnancy. ALL OF THEM! There’s waffles with peanut butter, shepherd’s pie, tuna melts, chocolate chip pancakes, and the holy grail; a chocolate fondue fountain. I grab a plate trying to hold back tears so I don’t look like a lunatic crying over a chocolate fountain.
Now I’m not really one for baby showers and I always knew I’d hate my own. This is where I’m so happy that Savvy gets me. It may have looked like a stereotypical baby shower, but not a game was played. Savvy knows I loathe baby shower games. I don’t want to be measured with a string or asked to smell candy bars in a diaper. She treated this shower like a birthday party, no games, no opening presents in front of everybody, and definitely no touching of the belly. Although I did bump into quite a few people with it.
When it comes time to cut the cake, Savvy steps up and cuts the first piece…then cringes. How can you make a baby replica cake and not feel bad cutting into the poor things freaking head? It’s like cutting into a real baby and Savvy will surely never make that mistake again. I laugh so hard I had to excuse myself to the bathroom.
At the end of the shower, Josh and his brothers arrive. He makes his way over to me and leans down capturing my mouth in a soul searing kiss. When he pulls away I start to fan myself.
“Mmmmm, that cake tastes delicious Hellcat.” He winks at me.
“Can I persuade you to join me in the office?” I give him a smile but he knows I’m completely serious.
Josh groans. “Ash, your Gran is five feet behind me. No way in hell am I dragging you away to bend you over a desk. But make no mistake, your ass is mine when we get home.”
I fidget in my seat and narrow my eyes at Josh while I finish my cake. The boys are here to bring all the unopened presents out to their waiting fleet of trucks.
They must not want to be here because everything is loaded up in ten minutes tops. I’m still eating my cake when I notice Josh talking to my Gran. He goes in for a hug and I see the dreamy look on her face before her hands inch lower. Did she really just squeeze Josh’s ass?
“Hey Gran! Hands off, that ass is mine!”
“What are you talking about sweetie? I’m just copping a feel.” Everyone starts laughing and Josh turns to wink at me. He’s eating this up. With a little swagger in his step he walks over to me. Really? He’s on cloud nine because my Gran grabbed him?
“Well, well, what do we have here? For a second I was ready to throw down with my grandmother.”
He wraps his arms around my lower back and pulls me into him. “I seem to be quite popular with the older ladies. It must be this toned ass, at least that’s what your Gran called it.” He can’t even hold the laughter back.
I move my hands down and give Josh’s ass a firm squeeze. Why the hell did I do that? My face flushes and my panties get damp. I reach up and pull his head down to me not in the mood to be gentle as I crash his lips to mine and thrust my tongue into this mouth. When I bite his tongue, he takes over. He fists my hair and pulls my head to the perfect angle for him to kiss me deeper. Our tongues are dueling back and forth when I hear one of my grans friends talking.
“They must be into that S&M stuff Margery. Look at him pulling her hair.”
“And how do you know about S&M, wild thing?” My Gran questions.
“Haven’t you ever listened to Rihanna? Apparently whips and chains are exciting and I really wish it was around when my George was still with us. We partook in spanking here and there you know.”
I pull back and cringe. Hearing this is going to make my ears bleed. “I can’t handle this conversation anymore, please change the subject.”
“On it.” Josh turns out towards everybody and uses his fingers to whistle.
Savvy runs up to me quickly and tells me to sit down. Huh? What the hell?
“Excuse me ladies! Can I have your attention please? You all know by now that Ash and I are thrilled that our little girl will be with us in just a few short months. What you don’t know, well maybe you do, is that several months ago, I did the unthinkable and left Ashlyn.”
My Gran’s table starts to boo Josh bringing a smile to my face. I’m sure if they had popcorn or tomatoes they would be throwing them.
“I know, I know, it was the worst mistake of my life. I still regret it now and will regret it for the rest of my life. When I found out that I was going to be a daddy,” he zones out for a second as if thinking of something then shakes his head. “I never thought that I would get another chance with Ash. To be honest, I know I didn’t deserve another chance. A woman like her deserves the best in life and I’m not even close to the best.” Shoot, I’m gonna cry.
“Don’t sell yourself short Josh.” I whisper knowing only he can hear me.
When he looks back at me I’m surprised to see tears in his eyes.
“The worst morning of my life was when I found you panicked, banging on my hotel room door. I went from pure elation to sheer panic. After we found out everything was okay I vowed then and there that I would do whatever it took to win you back.” He turns back to everyone and takes a few steps. “Later on, when she said she’d give our relationship a second chance on her terms I was so happy. This woman, that’s my perfect counterpart in every way, was giving me the chance I’d been praying for.”
Not able to help it, the water works start. I look around and see Savvy and Zander holding each other off to the side. Zander notices me looking and winks as Savvy mouths “Oh my god!” I try to compose myself and look back to Josh.
“Ash doesn’t know it, but I have been working on a present for her.” Josh makes his way back over to me and kneels down between my legs and grabs my hands giving them a slight squeeze.
“It wasn’t until we got back together that I let myself envision our life together. Want to know some of the things I saw?” I nod my head yes and he smiles. “I envisioned a big beautiful house with our baby girl playing in the yard. I’d push her on the rope swing we have hanging in the back yard as you look on in fear because you worry too much.” He laughs. “A gourmet kitchen fit for my beautiful chef and a master suite fit for my queen.” Josh lowers his voice so only I can hear him, “Of course the master bath has an enormous shower allowing me to worship you the way I like. The bedroom might also have a few add-ons.” He winks.
“Making a home for us was never a question, it was a necessity. Now we have a home to go to when we leave here today, a place to start our lives, make memories and grow old together. A place that is ours, not yours or mine. But there is one step we need to take before we can do that.”
Josh kneels on one knee in front of me and I gasp bringing my now shaking hands to my mouth.
“Ashlyn Rose Cox, I have loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you right in this very spot. It killed me, but I had to wait patiently for my shot at a forever with you and I did everything possible to put myself in your path. You needed to know that I wasn’t going away. When you decided to give us a try you made me the happiest man in the world. I’ll skip over all of the other shit that followed because I covered that topic earlier.” Laughter ensues around us but I can’t take my eyes off of Josh.
“You’re it for me. I knew it then and I sure as hell know it now. I’m not above begging you to answer this question the way I need to hear it. Will you, Ashlyn Rose Cox, marry me?” Josh opens a black ring box and the most beautiful diamond ring I have ever laid my eyes on sits in it. A single tear runs down Josh’s cheek. Could I love this man anymore?
Reaching my hands out I grab his face on either side.
“There is nothing I would love more than to be your wife.” Josh places his hands on my belly and rests his forehead on my chest.
“Josh, I love you so much. Thank you for being patient.” I whisper.
“Thank you for giving me a second chance.”
After Josh helps me up we’re met with thunderous applause and lots of sobbing. Savvy and my Gran run up congratulating me and asking to see the ring. It’s the first chance I get to check it out more thoroughly and my eyes widen. It’s perfect. The center stone isn’t overpowering even though its huge and it as two smaller diamonds on each side placed in a platinum setting. Josh did good, really good.
“Ash I am so happy for you!” Savvy squeals pulling me in for a hug.
I look for Gran who seems to have vanished and find her hugging the life out of Josh. We need to have a chat about her weird obsession with him. Everyone runs up congratulating us and soon after the place is empty and a crew is cleaning everything up.
I throw my arms around Savvy and squeeze the life out of her.
“You know I love you, right? Like legit I’ll take care of the dead body at 3am love. You’re the best.” When I hear her sniffle in my ear I laugh. Her emotions have been crazy lately. You’d think she was hopped up on pregnancy hormones too… wait a minute!
I pull her back at arm’s length and eye her skeptically. She eyes me back with narrow eyes and I know she’s trying to put on a front. Zander is on the other side of the room so I yell to grab his attention.
“Zander! When were you gonna tell me that your super sperm won?” Savvy laughs and Zander looks at me confused.
“You got my best friend pregnant you bastard!”
A giant smile lights up his face as he makes his way over to us. He comes up behind Savvy and wraps his arms around her waist resting them on her stomach.
“Believe me Ash, I wanted to tell everybody. Savvy didn’t want to steal your thunder so we were going to have a family dinner tomorrow night and tell you all then.” He leans down and nuzzles his face in Savvy’s neck.
“I…you…a baby…” I burst out in tears for the umpteenth time today.
Josh comes up and puts his arm around my shoulders after giving Sav a hug. Extending his hand, he congratulates Zander on a job well done.
“I can’t believe you kept quiet so long. Everybody knows you’re the worst at keeping secrets in the family. Why do you think you find out everything last?” Josh jibes.
“Hey! I kept my wedding a secret! And not that it helps my case, but we just found out this morning.”
“It’s okay bro, there’s one in every family.”
Savvy turns wrapping her arms around Zanders neck. “Babe, you do suck at secrets. That’s why we’re going to wait until this baby pops out for the gender reveal.” Zander smiles and places a sweet kiss to her forehead.
“You just wait and see. When you’re in the ultrasound room and they ask if you want to know the gender, it’ll take some real restraint to say no.”
Savvy scrunches up her face causing me to laugh.
“Tomorrow we celebrate. I’m wiped out already from the baby shower and a nice long bubble bath and my bed are calling my name.”
“Alright, let’s get you home.” Josh puts his lips near my ear. “If you’re too tired tonight don’t worry, I’ll do all of the work.” He growls causing me to shiver.
“Yes please, I need to see my house!”
“Our house.” He growls in my ear.
A smile lights up my face. Our house.
*****
We pull into our driveway a little later and I open my eyes when we come to a stop. I was more tired than I thought having passed out two minutes into our drive. Josh gets out and comes around to my side opening the door. He reaches over and unbuckles me and I let out a squeal when he scoops me up out of the Jeep.
“Josh, I’m literally the size of two people right now. Put me down before you blow a knee out! Your fight’s in a few weeks!”
“Shhhhh. You’re light as a feather and don’t forget I’m a beast in the gym. Your man can handle it.”
It’s moments like these that I know giving him a second chance was worth it. He’s too good to me and I know he’s going to be an amazing father to this precious baby girl. When he starts walking I realize we aren’t at home, well I guess we are. He brought us to our new house, the house he built for us to grow old in and I am in absolute awe of what I see.
I pat his shoulder signaling for him to put me down. As I look up at the house excitement washes over me. This is my dream house, the house I told Josh about one night forever ago when we were still in the friend zone.
As I look up at a gorgeous two story colonial with a wraparound farmer’s porch I don’t even know what to say. It’s the exact shade of blue I described to him with white shutters. The cutest swing I have ever seen hangs down from the front porch and as I head up the steps I beeline for it. I run my fingers over the smoothly polished wood and I can’t believe he found a swing like I’ve described. I don’t remember a lot about my parents, but I do have images of a similar swing hanging from a porch just like this one with my mom rocking me on it. It must have come before the drug problems.
When I sit on the swing I gesture for Josh to take the seat next to me. He sits down and throws his arm around my shoulders pulling me close.
“I can’t believe you remembered.” I whisper.
“How could I forget?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too fiancé.”
I love the way that sounds. When I take in my surroundings I notice there isn’t a house in sight. This place is completely secluded and perfect for a proper thank you on a public porch. I move my hand to his thigh and start to rub circles over his jeans. Slowly creeping my hand up, I hear him groan when I palm his dick which hardens beneath my hand.
Less demure than I’d hoped, I manage to slowly get down to my knees in between Josh’s legs. I look at him from under my lashes and nearly combust on the spot from the look he’s giving me. We’re an extremely sexual couple but lately it’s become less frequent. With how much he’s been training, trying to run his construction company and my work schedule, I’m sleeping like the dead when he gets home at night.
As I focus on the prize I unbutton and slowly unzip his jeans. Josh helps me pull his pants down his legs and I find myself face to face with his cock. It never gets old, this feeling of need I have for Josh. I take him in my hand and begin to pump his length.
“Shit Ash…” he groans bucking his hips upward.
“You haven’t seen anything yet big boy.”
I bend down swirling my tongue around the tip and spend a few extra lingering seconds on the sensitive area at the bottom. My tongue trails down slowly, teasing him, not leaving any area undiscovered. I release my hand and work my tongue up to the head. As I lean forward I take him all the way in.
“Don’t stop.” He moans.
I suck hard as I hollow my cheeks. The need to gag is strong when he hits the back of my throat but I suppress it. The grunts he makes spurs me on as I feel wetness seep into my panties. I take him to the back of my throat again and move my hand to massage between his legs. Up, down, up, down. I pick up my pace knowing that adding my teeth just slightly does him in.
“Ash, I’m so close.” The gravelly tone of his voice adds to the dampness between my thighs.
I pick up my speed and reach my finger down between his legs and massage his sensitive flesh. He weaves his fingers through my hair almost painfully and holds my head in place as he takes control, working his cock in and out of my mouth with an intense need. As his labored breaths turn to panting, his tremors take over and after a primal grunt I feel him shoot down the back of my throat. I swallow as he continues thrusting his hips upwards.
When he stops his movements, I release him from my mouth. I look up and see him laying his head back on the bench with a sexy grin on his face. Mission accomplished.
I try and fail to get up and start to laugh. I’ve been on my knees too long and now I’m stuck.
Josh notices my dilemma and jumps into action. He pulls his jeans back up and grabs my hands gently pulling me to my feet. I turn around and start to walk my ass to the front door when I realize we haven’t made it into the house yet! I’ve taken two steps when Josh grabs my hands and places them on the outside wall of the house.
He bends down and kisses the spot on my neck that does me in every freaking time. When I feel his tongue meet my skin, I moan.
“Do. Not. Move. Your. Hands.”
Josh kisses down my neck and continues his journey down my spine. He lifts up the hem of my shirt and kisses a slow path back up as he peels my shirt off. When it’s up and over my head, I feel him press his body flush with mine, skin against skin, as he brings his arms up to cup my breasts. When did he take his shirt off?
He plays with my overly sensitive nipples and I start to wiggle. His fingers pinch one hard and I gasp out, feeling myself grow wetter. When he moves his hands south heading towards the band of my leggings, he tucks his fingers under and pulls them down along with my panties.
Paranoia starts to sink in as I stand here completely naked on the front porch of our new house. I remove one hand from the house and try to look around but feel a sharp sting on my ass and yelp.
“I told you not to move Hellcat. You just earned yourself a punishment.”
He slowly rubs his hand over the tender flesh soothing the sting. My mind’s at war with itself on whether I want to do something eliciting another spank.
“Don’t move your hands, Hellcat. If I have to tell you again, you’ll get reacquainted with my palm.”
I place my hands back on the house and feel Josh leave my back. He pulls my hips back and the warmth of his tongue dives between my folds.
“Oh Josh!” I yell, barely able to catch my breathe.
He moves his tongue towards my clit causing me to slam my forehead against the siding. When he enters a finger, I know it’s not going to be much longer. I lose it when his tongue moves at a punishing pace over my clit.
“Josh!” I scream and he works me harder.
When he changes the angle of his fingers, I don’t know if I come again or if it’s a never-ending orgasm. Either way I feel like I’m going to collapse.
After he pulls away from me I whimper before he slams into me from behind.
“Josh! More… I need more.” I cry.
When I beg him to fuck me, he grips my hips harder and rams into me. He pulls all the way out then slams back in all the way to the hilt.
“I’m going to come again. I can’t handle it, it’s too much.” If I have another orgasm I could very likely die right here.
“You can and you will. Come,” thrust “for,” thrust “me,” thrust. That final forward motion plus the addition of his hand working my clit pushes me over into my next round of euphoria. Sounds come out of me that I have never heard before and if I didn’t know we were alone I would be convinced it was somebody else.
Josh’s thrusts become irregular. When I look over my shoulder he crashes his mouth to mine and moans through his orgasm.
A few moments later, Josh pulls out of me and uses his shirt to wipe between my sensitive thighs. I get my leggings and top back on with shaky legs and turn around as he’s buttoning his jeans.
Josh’s body is beyond words. Those strong arms, bold with ink that were just gripping my hips so tight as he fucked me has me licking my lips. I continue my perusal as I look across his sculpted chest then down his narrow waist that’s ripped to perfection. Hmmm, how did I not notice the bandage on the left side of his chest?
“What’s the matter? Did you get hurt? Why are you bandaged?” I walk over to him and place my hand on the bandage.
He grabs my hand and starts pulling me towards the house. “I’ll show you when we get inside after I give you a proper tour.”
We walk through the front door and I bring my hand to my mouth. I can’t believe how beautiful it all is. We walk into an open floor plan and my eyes zone in on a gourmet kitchen towards the back and I want to weep. I don’t care about anything else right now so I make my way over and examine it. I’m in awe as I check out all the appliances. Somehow Josh managed to get every single one of my favorite things. The type of stove I’ve described to him, the big beautiful island with a dishwasher and sink installed into it, a state of the art fridge and a wine cooler built into the bottom cabinet area to finish it off.
I turn around and see Josh standing to the side with a shy smile on his face. It amazes me how he can be so assertive in our sex life but so shy when it comes to everything else. I run up to him and wrap my arms around his neck. When I crash my mouth to his in the mother of all kisses I know he understands how thankful I am for all of this.
“You haven’t even seen the best part.” He whispers in my ear.
“What the hell can be better than this kitchen?” He’s insane thinking anything can top this.
He gestures towards the stairs off to the side and we make our way over. Josh places his hands on my hips as I get two steps up making sure I’m okay. When I get to the top I’m out of breath and ask for a second. I still run all the time but I’ve slowed down recently.
“Damn, I’m starting to be a shape instead of in shape.” I manage to get out around my deep breaths.
“Considering your organs are sharing a living space with our daughter I’d say you’re doing all right.” He laughs.
When my breathing’s back to normal I look around seeing a hall that has different doors leading from it. Josh steers me towards the second door on the right and places his hands over my eyes.
“I want to see your reaction.” He whispers in my ear.
Josh directs me into the room continuing to cover my eyes. We walk about five steps in and I anxiously wait for him to move his hand. The second he removes it I feel moisture build behind my eyes. I’m speechless. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
In the corner is a beautiful white crib with the beautiful bedding made up of pinks and greens we picked out at the store a few weeks ago. Over towards the right I see the rocking chair my Gran gave me a week after I told her I was pregnant. Tears start working their way down my face when I see the beautiful garden mural I found on Pinterest and failed at completing in my other house.
“How did you do all of this?” I ask in wonderment.
“I’ve been working nonstop. With our baby girl coming into the world soon I wanted her to enter into our forever home. A place where she will feel safe and never have to imagine what love feels like. You don’t realize this, but this is also my dream. You may have had a dream house, but I had a fantasy too. You’re it and this sweet baby girl,” he places his hands on my belly, “completes a part I hadn’t even thought of yet.”
I bury my face in his chest and sob. Perfection. That’s what Josh is to me. He is the white knight I never thought I needed but secretly hoped for.