CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Phoebe slept on her side with her hand shoved under his pillow. She'd tossed the bed sheet away from her body, and her white nightgown was bunched around her knees. She looked warm and cuddly. Ash almost felt bad that he'd be waking her up from such a sound sleep.
Smiling with anticipation, Ash pulled the cap from his head and tossed it onto the dresser. Then inspiration struck, and he switched on the lamp beside the bed. Crossing his arms over his chest, he stood over the bed until Phoebe's eyes began to twitch. When her eyes opened and focused on him, he grinned and dropped his arms to his sides.
"One second," he said, reaching into his pocket to withdraw his phone. He opened his music app, then switched on his favorite workout playlist and sat his phone on the table.
"What are you--"
Ash placed a finger against Phoebe's lips, silencing her question. "Did you enjoy the strippers?"
She groaned and buried her face in her hands. "I don't want to think about it. It's an experience I hope to never repeat."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Positive," she said, dropping her hands. She made to stand from the bed, but Ash placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back down.
"They must not have done it right."
"What?" she asked.
Ash grabbed the front of his chambray shirt and yanked open the buttons. "I guess I'll just have to remedy that."
"No. No." Her hands were in the air as she pleaded with him to stop. "Please no."
Gyrating his hips to the music, Ash placed a knee onto the mattress and pulled off his shirt. As Phoebe swatted at him with her hands, he brought his other knee up to straddle her lap. He rubbed his hands up and down his still-covered chest, then he threw back his head and started moaning loudly.
"You like that, baby?" he asked.
Phoebe choked back a giggle. "I swear to you, Ashley Cooper, I am making you meatloaf tomorrow."
"Oh?" He stared down at her. "It's like that?"
She gave him a stern look. "Yep."
He hopped away from her. Nodding as if he was accepting her threat, he reached for his phone. Instead of turning off the music, he blasted it up to the highest volume. He then looped his shirt around her head and drew her towards his belly.
Phoebe bit at his stomach, which only encouraged him. He tossed the shirt aside, then grabbed her hands and placed them on his chest. "I think that deserved a least a dollar."
"I'm not paying you shit."
"Fine," he said, latching onto his tank top. Baring his teeth, he ripped it from his body. "I guess I'll just take an IOU." He dropped his hands to his waist, grabbing onto his belt buckle. "You want some of this, don't you?"
Her gaze dropped to the floor. "Not particularly."
He placed a finger beneath her chin. "You're such a wickedly bad liar."
She lifted her dark eyes. They shone with merriment. "You are such a wickedly bad man."
Ash unbuckled his belt, then he pulled it from his jeans. Curling the corner of his mouth, he unzipped his pants and shoved them down his legs.
Phoebe's hands rose like she was motioning for a timeout. "Hold up. You've done this before."
Ash shrugged. "You liked it then, so why reinvent the wheel?"
"Men are so predictable."
"Excuse me?" he asked, planting his hand against his chest. He lifted a finger and waved it in the air. "Uh-uh. No, ma'am. I will not allow you to slander my character." He reached for his phone, but before he could grab it, her hand darted out and wrapped itself around his wrist.
"Is that all?" she asked, looking at him from the corner of her eye.
He pulled his pants back up and zipped them. "I decided I'm worth more than your cheap, insulting words."
The corners of her lips quirked, then she glanced at him through her thick lashes. She hooked her hand into his waistband and pulled him closer. She rested her chin against his stomach and stared at him with those dark eyes.
"Did I hurt your feelings?" she asked.
Sniffing, he pushed out his bottom lip and looked away. "Maybe."
"Aww, poor Ash." She pulled her head away, then unzipped his jeans. She slid her hand inside his underwear and curled her hand around his cock. "I guess I'll just have to make it up to you."
Returning his gaze to her, he grinned. "Yes. Yes, you will."
They both jumped when the door suddenly crashed open. He squealed in surprise, while Phoebe pulled her hand back. There standing in the doorway was Jack. She wore a green t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts.
"Fuck," Jack muttered.
Ash threw his head back in exasperation, then he ran his fingers through his hair. "Not quite, but almost."
"Oh my God," Phoebe said, hopping from the bed. She rushed past him, fleeing into the bathroom. She continued to mutter curses from her sanctuary.
Realizing he'd been left behind, he stared at the bathroom door then swiveled his head back to the bedroom door. As he shook his head, Jack stared pointedly at his crotch. Feeling a blush darkening his skin, he cleared his throat and tucked himself back into his jeans.
"You could knock," he said, deciding to go on offense.
Jack fell against the doorframe and crossed her arms. "You could turn your damn music off." Disgust flashed across her features. "I don't know what's more disturbing. Walking in on my brother just before he's fucking, or listening to my brother's fucking awful taste in music."
She pushed away from the door. Creeping towards him, she pointed to the bathroom. "I thought this was just an arrangement?"
He knew what she was asking, but he decided to play dumb. "What do you mean?"
"You and the nurse." She squinted and cocked her head. "You know, big brother, I never would have imagined you the type."
He lowered his gaze and pretended to brush something from his arm. "I assume you mean the marrying type. Well, there's always an--"
She shook her head. "No. I mean you being the type to game the system."
Ash stood straighter at that. Any trace of his lighter mood was now gone. "I'm not gaming the system."
"Aren't you?" She arched a brow. "Frank said you married the nurse just so you wouldn't have to pay her an actual wage."
"That's not true."
Jack placed her hands on her hips, then she rocked from one foot to another. "She also said that it was against the law. Military wise. I think that's the best part, ya know. My big brother, the law-abiding asshole, is breaking the law." She rubbed her hands together. "What would happen if the military found out?"
His heart dropped as he looked at his sister, seeing the glee in her eyes. He knew that she loved him, but he also knew that she carried a lot of resentment towards him. Especially since he'd reported her after the last time she'd stolen from him.
"Jacinda, you don't understand the situation."
"Oh, I think I understand enough." She tapped her fingers against her grinning lips. "I understand quite well." With another glance towards the bathroom, she pivoted on her heel and walked from the room.
Ash watched her go, weighing the threat in her words. He'd like to think she was just toying with him, and making him feel bad for the way he'd acted towards her. But she was unpredictable. Even when she was sober.
After a few moments, he strolled towards the bathroom and rapped his knuckles against the door. "You can come out now. She's gone." He stepped back when the door swung open and Phoebe's head appeared. She peeked into the bedroom, then shuffled out of her hiding place.
"Sorry." A grimace twisted her features as she walked to the bed and sat down. Tucking her hands between her legs, she looked at the open bedroom door. "Things have been rough while you were gone."
Ash narrowed his eyes. If he learned that Jack had been rude to his wife, he'd have her shit packed within an hour and her ass planted at the nearest bus station. "What did she do?"
Phoebe's head dropped to her chest. Her feet swung off the floor. "Nothing."
"Phoebe," he said. "What happened?"
She inhaled deeply and shook her head. "It's just been awkward and tense around the house."
Ash kicked his foot out to shut the door, then he walked to the nightstand and turned his phone off. He dropped onto the edge of the bed so they sat on opposite sides with their backs to each other.
"I'm sorry about that," he whispered. And, he truly was. He hadn't been here when Phoebe and Reggie had needed him the most. Jack may be sober, but she was prickly and difficult on her best day. "I'll make sure her visit is brief."
Phoebe snorted. With a touch of humor in her voice she said, "Too little. Too late."
For a moment, he pondered whether to tell her of Jack's subtle threat. But he knew his little Phoebe's eyes would grow solemn, and the sadness would once again cloak her. Biting his lip, he leaned forward to turn the light off and prayed he'd have the strength to keep his worries to himself.