Unseen Heart (An I Saw You Novel)
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One
Present
“Quit ignoring me, Tex,” Ashley huffed from beside me, arms crossed over her chest while those clear blue orbs spat fire at me. Naive little brat thought I’d give a fuck—that her every wish would be my command.
“Shut it,” I hissed low, not bothering to hide my mounting annoyance. My words, snide and demanding, were just high enough that she could hear over the music inside the car. We were on our way to the airport and our driver, poor man, didn’t need to deal with one of her hissy fits.
Thank God for privacy windows.
Pampered princess or not, I wasn’t going to put up with much. I would never be Chester. Would never put up with what he did.
Fuck her if she thought otherwise.
“…I’m an adult and you will treat me with some respect.” Ash threw her hands up in the air, exasperation written all over her actions. She didn’t realize just how much I both loathed and yearned for her to repeat the action. My eyes followed the exaggerated movement, almost obsessed over that minuscule sliver of skin—the tanned bare flesh of her midsection that a minute prior had been hidden behind her shirt. “You can’t just up and grab me—demand that I leave my home on some pathetic whim of yours.”
“Ashley.” Her name on my lips didn’t carry the usual sweetness I associated with my feelings for her. Not this time. This time, her very presence left me bitter. Enraged. Harder than motherfucking steel. “Continue to push me, doll, and I’ll toss your little ass out of this car and call your mother to come and drag you home. Trust me, she’s more than willing at this point.”
Immediately, her hackles were raised and her lithe little body was poised to strike. “Heaven help you if my mother knows anything other than what I’ve shared with her.”
A chuckle escaped me then. “Would you like to read the text messages we’ve exchanged? Or just take my words for it?”
The sting of her fingers on my cheek did nothing to dissuade me. “How fucking dare you do this to me!” Leaning over, Ashley turned her body in the seat, facing me, nose to nose. Her exhale tasted decadent on my lips. “I’m going to destroy you, Tex Hunter. Ruin everything you hold dear—”
“Too late for that shit, babe.” A snort escaped me then. “I’m fucked and I never even had the pleasure of wetting my dick.”
“Asshole,” she snapped while I, in turn, gave her a shitty smirk. Not liking my response, Ashley raised her hand once more to strike. Swung it my way, but before it could connect, I grabbed her wrist in one of my own and pulled her closer.
Her body was now practically over my own.
Our breathing in sync, every expand of my chest mimicked by hers.
God, she felt good. Like bliss. But this small taste of elation came with poisonous thorns.
“I’m going to let that one go, babe. You get one. That’s it.”
“Or what?” Even in her hardheadedness, she was stunning. Made me hate her even more for how I reacted to her mere, pathetic presence. Angry and pushed beyond my limits of patience, I was hard beneath the confines of my jeans.
Could feel the small drop of pre-come pool at the tip and then slide down the head. Collect at the same spot over my pants that now showed my desire for her clear as day. If only she’d get her head out of her—
Fingers were snapped in my face. “Are you even listening to me? Tex, I am not one of your groupie whores. Don’t ignore me.” Another insolent huff and glare.
Fuck me. How did Chester ever put up with her shit?
“Keep your hands to yourself, Ashley.” With as much of a gentle touch as I could muster, I pushed her back into the seat and leaned over her. Dominated the space—showed her with that simple action just how much smaller than me she was. “I hold no qualms when it comes to disciplining you. Another wrong step, and I’ll place you over my knee. Make you count each one of the swat your parents failed to deliver. Had you been taught the value of friendship...of respect, you wouldn’t be this selfish.”
She was a blip of a girl.
At five-foot-four and a hundred-and-twenty-pounds soaking wet, I could dominate her like one would a rag-doll. Bend her to my will.
Being over six-foot-seven, Ashley barely reached my shoulders. Petite. A little porcelain doll with the bite of a viper.
Nostrils flaring, she clenched her fist. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“Are you sure? Want to test that theory?” Bringing my face closer to hers—lips hovering—I exhaled a long breath. Immediately her own tongue peaked out and wet her lips. As if to taste me in the air around us. “My feelings for you do not cloud my judgement, babe. I’ll do whatever it takes to get through that stubbornness of yours, even if at the end you’ll hate me for it.”
Then my lips brushed the apple of her cheek, down toward her jaw, and then under the shell of her ear. Just tiny little open-mouthed kisses to soften the blow of my words.
Chester might’ve been her focus these last few years, but Ash has always had a wandering eye. Liked to look for me when she thought no one else was paying attention. Whenever I was bare chested inside the studio or taking a dip in the pool during hotel stays, she was aware of my presence.
Same way I never strayed too far from hers.