Chapter 4
ASHLEY BLINKED, the bright sun stinging her eyes, adding to the crushing pain in her head. Nausea floated in her gut as the taste of last night’s alcohol lingered in the back of her throat. Carefully, she pushed herself to a sitting position, keeping her eyes closed. The smell of coffee seeped into her nose, easing the queasiness. She didn’t think anything would help the pounding in her head.
Pushing the covers back, she set her feet on the floor and padded to the bathroom. She wanted to avoid the reflection in the mirror, but her big, puffy eyes were like passing an accident on a highway. No matter how much you wanted to look away, you couldn’t rip your eyes from the horror.
She splashed cold water on her face before grabbing her toothbrush. It would take a steam cleaner to remove the wretched taste in her mouth. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her dress from last night hanging in the shower. There was so much she didn’t remember and what she did, she’d rather forget.
After two shots of mouthwash, she stepped from the bathroom and gasped.
“How are you feeling?”
“Mitch?” He sat in a chair by the window, folding the newspaper and setting it on a table lined with some pastries and a carafe of what she prayed was coffee.
“Shit,” she mumbled. “What time is it?”
“Nine thirty.”
She groaned, rubbing her temples. “Where’s my phone?”
“On the bed, but I already talked with your father, if that is who you wanted to reach.”
So many questions raced through her cobwebbed brain. “Did he come banging on my door and see me like this?” She groaned, not wanting to know how it came to pass that Mitch and her father spoke.
Glancing down, thankful she had clothes on, though no more than a bra, T-shirt and her panties, she had to wonder what happened after…after… the last thing she remembered was offering to perform sexual favors.
Or getting sick.
She wasn’t sure which one came first.
Quickly, she climbed back into the bed, pulling the sheets up to her chin.
“No.” Mitch sat on the edge of the bed, his hand dangerously close to her leg. “Your phone went off this morning, and there was a reminder. I thought it better to meet your dad in your place, versus him worrying about you.”
Mitch’s blue eyes brightened like the sky in the morning sun. He smelled of fresh soap and an ocean breeze. “It appears my father didn’t smash your face in, so I’m hoping that means you were a perfect gentleman last night, and you left right after I got to my room.”
He cocked his head. “I did stay here last night. But nothing happened. I’m not that kind of man, and I think you know that.”
Her cheeks heated. “I wasn’t referring to that. I know you wouldn’t take advantage of a drunk woman. I don’t remember much, but what I do remember isn’t pleasant, so I was hoping you’d bypassed certain things.” A memory of someone holding her hair back told her otherwise.
The softness of his fingers surprised her as he traced them across her hairline, pushing her tangled mess behind her shoulders. “We’ve all been there at one time or another. Don’t think twice about it.”
“Was my father really mad?”
Mitch shook his head. “He’s worried about you, him, and Derek being in the same room, but he just asked that you text him or call when you’re vertical.”
“I have to meet Suzie downstairs by eleven to get my hair done and all that nonsense. I’m going to look like shit.”
He palmed her cheek. “You look beautiful and fortunately, on your worst day, you’ll still upstage the bride.”
Her pulse raced as the thumping of her heart echoed with the throbbing pain between her ears. The corners of her mouth tugged into a smile, even though she fought it. “You’re a sweet man.”
“I have my moments.” He leaned in, his mouth hovering a few inches away. “But now that you are sober, I’m going to do what I thought about doing last night.” He brushed his lips over hers once. “Feel free to push me away if you don’t want to be kissed.” His hand slid behind her back, pulling her body closer. He tasted like chocolate and coffee with a hint of sugar.
Her mind screamed to stop.
Her body hummed to life as if last night never happened. It was as if his kiss had the power to heal her aches and pains both physically.
And emotionally.
His strong muscles flexed under her touch. Their tongues gently teased each other with a promise of something more.
A moan escaped her lips as he stretched out beside her with her leg draped over his hip in a not so subtle invitation. She had to be crazy to even be contemplating letting this go any further. Every second she thought to pull away, her body pressed harder against his, feeling his warmth wrap around her like the heat coming from a fireplace.
“I didn’t think that through,” he whispered, dribbling kisses down the side of her face, landing on that sweet spot under her earlobe.
“What do you mean?”
“I intended on kissing you. Once.” He cupped her face, staring into her eyes with an intent so raw it nearly gave her an orgasm right there. “Leave you hanging, hoping that later we could pick up where we’d left off, but now I’m drunk on you.”
She tucked her face into his neck, trying to stifle a laugh, but it proved impossible.
“Yeah, that’s about the cheesiest thing I’ve ever said.” He rolled to his side, keeping one arm around her, his fingers dancing up and down her arm, giving her goosebumps.
“I’ve heard worse.” Unable to control herself, she laid her hand over his rock-hard stomach. “But we probably better stop now before we take things too far.” She kept her body still, waiting for him to react to her words.
“What would be too far, exactly?”
“I’d say doing something that would make me blush when I had to take your arm at the end of the ceremony while we pass by my father, but that’s going to happen anyway. I mean, I’m assuming you undressed me last night.”
His lips pressed against her forehead. “You helped. You didn’t want to stop either. I practically had to restrain you.”
She covered her face. “That’s so embarrassing.”
“Nah. I’m just glad I was there, and you didn’t throw yourself at someone else.”
“Thanks for being a gentleman.” She kissed his chest, letting her hand glide across his nipple, grazing gently.
“That’s dangerous,” he said with a strained voice.
“Why is that?”
“Because this time I know I wouldn’t be taking advantage.”
“I seem to remember you telling me last night that when we were together it would be because I wanted it. Well, I want it.” A pang of guilt tickled her senses. Being with him might make it easier to be around Derek and Valerie. It would give her something else to focus on. Besides, Mitch knew her dad, and from what she surmised, her father at least respected Mitch.
“You’d be breaking all your own rules,” he said with an arched brow and a wicked grin.
“Some rules are meant to be broken,” she whispered, straddling his waist.
“I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret later.”
“Are you trying to talk me out of this?” She curled her fingers over the edge of her T-shirt. “Having second thoughts?”
“Neither.” His hands rested on her knees, gliding gently up her thigh.
“Then stop talking.” She ripped her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor.
His fingers dug into her flesh when she unhooked her bra, letting it roll over her shoulders, slowly exposing her breasts, enjoying how his ocean-blue eyes widened with desire.
He raised up, taking her nipple into his mouth, his hot, wet tongue flicking over the top and in a circle.
Taking in a long breath, her chest rose to meet his lips. She’d thought about him kissing her body. Dreamt about it once. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized how consumed her thoughts had been since she’d last seen him. Watching him go from one nipple to the other, lapping gently, letting his teeth graze while his fingers pinched, she couldn’t remember a time this had felt any better.
Right.
She rolled her hips, teasing his growing erection, enjoying the deep, throaty groan that came from his mouth, filling her ears with the sweet music of passion.
“You’re a dangerous woman,” he whispered, lifting her up and laying her down on her back on the bed. He knelt between her legs, yanking his shirt off.
Instinctively, she reached for the button on his jeans. “Why would you say that?” She pressed her lips against his navel, flicking out her tongue as his pants popped open. Carefully, she eased the zipper down, her hand rubbing against him in a promise of what would come.
“Besides being gorgeous, you’re smart, kind, generous, and the kind of woman that could destroy a man’s heart.”
She pressed her hand against his chest, staring up at him while his fingers tugged through her long hair, unsure of what to say. His gaze tore through her with intense heat. Those weren’t just words, and for a second, she couldn’t catch her breath.
“I’m sure you’ve broken many.”
“Not a single one that I know of,” he said. “And I can’t say that I’ve had mine broken, but if anyone could do it, it would be you.”
He didn’t have to say such sweet things to get her in bed, she was already nearly naked with her hand over him while he removed the rest of his clothing. Mitch was like no man she’d ever met. She believed every word he said and felt them deep to her core.
Ignoring the warning in her mind, telling her to tread lightly because she knew without a doubt he could easily do the same to her, she lowered her mouth over him, holding his gaze. She’d never been shy in the bedroom, which was what led to those tasteful nude pictures which turned disgusting when Derek decided he needed the world to know what he had, which hadn’t meant her stunning personality, just her physical attributes.
Derek had never loved her, a fact that turned into a hard pill to swallow.
Mitch made her feel valued. The time he took to make sure she wanted to take whatever they were feeling for each other to the physical level made her want him even more. She envied the woman who would be able to tame his heart and chase away the demons that make him feel he can’t love anyone, because it wouldn’t be her.
Couldn’t be her.
“Ashley,” he said softly, tugging at her hair. “Come here.”
She kissed her way to his luscious mouth, nipping at his bottom lip.
He eased her down on the bed, slipping his hand inside her panties, toying with her moist folds. His fingers glided across her hard nub before sinking deep inside her, only to repeat the motion.
Her skin turned into an electric current of pure pleasure. She arched her back, rocking her hips. “You sure are good with your hands,” she said with a breathy moan.
“I could say the same about your mouth.” He kissed her, shoving his tongue between her lips as he plowed inside her again with another finger.
Wiggling, she rolled her panties down, needing to feel his naked flesh against hers while the sun glistened against the perspiration beading on their bodies. The sound of the waves lapping at the shore as the ocean breeze filtered through the partially opened window.
It seemed like he kissed every inch of her body while he teased her, bringing her to the edge only to back off enough to keep her release at bay.
“You’re driving me crazy.”
“That’s the point,” he mused, as he covered himself in protection before settling between her legs, entering her in one powerful stroke that sent her insides tumbling out.
“Oh…God.” She dug her fingers into the middle of his back, clenching tight around him, desperately trying to maintain some control. The muscles in her stomach twitched. Heat swelled from her toes to her lips.
She moved with him, creating more friction in the places that demanded them the most. His kiss was deep, wet, and wild.
Digging her heels into the mattress, her body jerked with ferocious spasms. Her moans filled the room, bouncing off the walls and landing on her skin, making her shake all over again.
He tucked his face into her neck, sucking on her earlobe. His movements grew faster, but never desperate. As her climax eased, Mitch arched his back as he groaned, his release spilling over her like warm fudge on a chocolate cake.
She massaged his neck, shoulders, and back as they both struggled to catch their breath.
He raised himself up on his elbows, fanning her face, his thumbs rubbing softly just above her cheeks.
It was impossible to hold back a smile. He’d been her knight in shining armor last night, and this morning, her prince charming. There wasn’t a single thing about him she didn’t like, something she’d known after his third visit to her office. He was real. Genuine. Trustworthy.
She could feel her heart shattering already.