Happily Ever After: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set

by Piper Rayne

  Twenty minutes later I was at the kitchen table, ready to bash the pan of eggs over his head. I drummed my fingers against the table, hoping he would hear it and go faster.

  “The secret is,” he glanced back at me, clearly ignoring the look of hatred I was giving him, as he went back to stirring the eggs, “to never rush your eggs. They’re quick to turn on you if you do.” He spoke as if it was a hidden secret that only he knew. I was confused. Did people care this much about eggs? Before I had time to ponder that thought, he placed a plate in front of me, but not before lightly sprinkling parsley on top. He sat across from me and smiled as if he just made a full five-course meal.

  “Thanks,” I muttered as I slowly picked up my fork. I pointed to him. “You’re not having any?”

  He looked up from his phone. “Oh, no, I hate eggs.”

  I paused. “Then why did you make me eggs?”

  “Because you like eggs,” he said as if it was completely obvious and I just totally missed the point.

  I put my fork back down, “Wasn’t that part of the agreement? Breakfast?”

  “Yes, it all applied to you, not me.” He went back to his phone, only occasionally looking up at me. I had just taken the last bite as he grabbed my plate away and placed another bag in front of me. “Your lunch. Have a good day.”

  I stared at him as he walked away.

  What the hell was that?

  20

  Perrie

  Today was day one of the two-week session with Ash, and let me be the first to say that it was weird as hell. It all started five minutes after I got to work. He had already texted me wanting to know if I made it okay. Then he started asking trivial shit, which stealthily turned sexual.

  Ash: Is your bathroom shared or private?

  Me: Man, you’re nosy.

  Ash: Answer the question.

  Me: Shared. Why?

  Ash: Go. I’ll call you when you get in there, bring your headphones.

  Was he going to sing me a song? Taking a deep breath, I did as I was told. I thought I was in the clear until I saw a few other coworkers in the bathroom as well. My phone rang and I quickly answered it but stopped when I saw he was calling on video. I put my headphones in.

  “Get in a stall.”

  “Well, hi to you, too.” Not looking at any of the other girls, I quickly got in a stall.

  “Sounds busy there.”

  “Yeah, there’s a few people in here,” I whispered. “What do you want?”

  “I want to watch you play with your pussy.” My eyes practically bugged out of my head.

  “What?”

  “You and I both know you heard me. Did you wear panties today?”

  “Of course, I did, I…” I stopped remembering the contract. “I thought that was only for home,” I whispered and he slowly smiled.

  “I’ll let that slide because, actually, they’re going to be mighty useful.” He stared at me a moment. “Well? I’m waiting.”

  I looked through the crack of the stall door as more people entered the bathroom. “Here? Now?” He didn’t say anything as I put my sweater on the lid of the toilet before sitting. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Yet that didn’t stop me.

  “Position your phone… there ya go.”

  I had both legs up, feet resting on the toilet seat. “You’re already wet for me.” I felt myself blush because yeah, that’s what he did to me. “Move the panty piece to the side.” Not even thinking about it, I went for it. He sharply exhaled. “Damn.” Feeling bold, I trailed my fingers down. “Show me what you do to make yourself come.”

  I do exactly what he says, letting my fingers graze my folds before going to my clit which is exactly where I wanted it. I bit my lip to try to stay quiet as I’m fully aware there are more girls outside my door. I hear laughing in the distance but I ignore it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just me, Ash and my desire to come.

  “I can hear how wet you are,” he groaned. Normally that would have made me self-conscious that if he could hear it, then others could too. But you know what? Who cares? Who fucking cares? “Make that pretty pussy drench for me, Perrie.” I bit my lip harder, the taste of copper on my tongue. “Tell me when.”

  I nodded and managed to whisper out now as I shook and jerked, my orgasm tearing through me. I gasped almost in disbelief of what I just did.

  “Good girl,” Ash taunted. I didn’t say anything as I focused on calming my breathing. “Take your panties off.”

  I froze. “What?”

  “Take. Your. Panties. Off.”

  I briefly hesitated as I slipped the now wet panties off. “You have a courier?”

  “Yeah... why?”

  “Send them to me.” He said it so casually as if he were telling me what he wanted for dinner.

  “What?”

  “Send them to me. I’ll text you an address.”

  Before I could say more, he hung up. A few seconds later an address appeared on the screen. He had to be joking, but since it was Ash, you never could tell. Taking a moment and then flushing the toilet to make it at least seem like I did something other than get myself off, I slowly opened the door and peeked out. There was only one other person at the far end. Heading to the sink, I quickly washed my hands then went back to my desk. When I made sure no one else was around me, I took the panties from my pocket and stuffed them in a manilla envelope and ordered a courier to deliver them to the address he sent me.

  I tried focusing on work, but that was nearly impossible after the day I had. An hour later, I received a picture message from Ash. Not taking any chances, I once again made sure no one was around before viewing the pic.

  A picture of his fully erect dick with my wet panties wrapped tightly around his cock, with his cum now coating the fabric.

  By lunch, I practically rushed out of work, faking an illness I clearly didn’t have just to get home.

  He knew it too because there he was leaning against the kitchen counter, sans shirt and those damn gray sweatpants. The only sound was him biting an apple.

  “How was work?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him, stepping closer. “I didn’t get anything done if that’s what you’re asking. I was busy fielding your sexual-innuendo-filled texts.”

  “So,” he slowly walked toward me, and I already knew this was about to be dangerous, “we agree then? You can use my cock all you want, and I’ll use your cunt all I want because we ‘hate’ each other?”

  I frowned. “Do you have to be so crude?”

  “Yes.” Before I could respond, my blouse was ripped open, buttons flying everywhere, and his eyes landed immediately on my chest. My hands flew to cover myself, but he was too quick for me. “Let me see what I hate, Perrie.”

  21

  Perrie

  My eyes peeled open at the sunlight filtering in the room. Shit, I forgot to close the blackout curtains. I stared at the picture next to the window. That’s not mine. I froze. I wasn’t in my bed. Hell, I wasn’t in my room. Ever so slowly, I looked behind me. Ash. Not just Ash, but naked Ash. Before I could decide if I wanted to freak out or not, I took a moment to just look at him. We were doing this. I could not believe we were really doing this, even if it was for just a short amount of time.

  “Stop staring, it’s weird,” he said with his eyes still closed before finally smiling and opening his eyes. “There’s water on the nightstand beside you.” I turned around and grabbed both bottles, handing one to him before draining almost all of mine.

  I started to speak but a knock at the front door halted us both. He looked at me, one eyebrow raised. “If we’re quiet, they’ll go away.” The knock happened again before he groaned. I quickly got out of bed, putting on yesterday’s clothes as I hurried to the door. Upon opening it, I froze.

  “Morning, did I wake you?”

  I stared and blinked a few times before remembering I had a voice. “No. No, you didn’t…” I paused. “I wasn’t expecting you. Or even know you knew where I lived.”


  “I didn’t, I had to ask around.” I nodded at his answer, both of us just standing there. “May I come in?”

  “Yes, of course.” I stepped back and that’s when Ash came out, practically wearing a suit, including a tie. How the hell did he get dressed so fast? He grabbed his phone and walked toward us. I motioned to Ash. “This is my roommate, Ash. Ash, this is my... well this is my moth…” I paused since I never could call her that. “I mean this is—”

  Before I could think of something, Gerald did. “Gerald Lexington, Perrie’s stepfather.” My eyes widened at his introduction. He’s never referred to himself as that before. He held his hand out, which Ash shook. The three of us stood there not really saying anything.

  “I have a few meetings to attend to, so I’ll see you later. It was great meeting you, Mr. Lexington.”

  “Pleasure,” Gerald responded back.

  I didn’t want Ash to leave. I needed an anchor and he would have been it. I motioned to the couch and he sat promptly, the awkwardness just brewing around us. Truth is, I have never been alone in a room with Gerald before. I made us both a cup of coffee, doing my best not to show my nervousness.

  “I won’t take up much of your time. I know you’re very busy, and I know you don’t owe us a damn thing. But you are owed an explanation, if you’ll allow me to give that to you.” I wanted to lash out, tell him how I was owed an explanation over ten years ago when I showed up on their doorstep practically an orphan. I was owed an explanation when I was kicked out, and more importantly, I was owed an explanation on why a mother abandoned her five-year-old daughter. A five-year-old that did nothing but look up to her and wanted to be like her. But I didn’t say any of that, instead, I simply nodded my head and waited for him to continue.

  “Jacqueline is a wonderful woman that I love very much. I know you don’t believe nor understand but she does indeed love you, too.” I snickered at that statement but he ignored it. “Jacqueline and I met when she was ten years old. I was twenty.” I knew there was an age gap between the two of them but I had no idea it was that great. “It was decided by our families that her and I would marry.”

  I sputtered out my coffee. “She was a child!”

  He held his hand up to stop me. “I know, which is why the idea was absolutely preposterous not to mention absurd that the request was even made.” He paused as he narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. “Do not look at me like that, I’m not a fucking child molester.” I wiped the shocked look off of my face before he continued. “I met her once when I was twenty, then again when I was thirty-five. That’s when we married.”

  “You mean that’s when she left me,” I corrected him.

  “Have you ever met your grandparents, Perrie? Your mother’s family, anyone on that side?”

  Of course, I have... haven’t I? I searched my memory, and even though it had been so long, I couldn’t ever remember meeting my mother’s parents. I think maybe I thought they had passed.

  “You haven’t, have you?” I looked up as Gerald interrupted my thoughts. “Would you like me to be blunt or do you want me to sugarcoat the answer as to why?” I remained quiet but lifted my chin slightly to let him know what I expected. He leaned forward and poured some cream into his coffee. I watched as he stirred it but didn’t take a sip. He leaned back as if he had to search his memory. “How did they put it exactly? Ahh yes, They didn’t want their lineage tarnished with the blood from a line of wetbacks. Their exact words they said often to Jacqueline. They were racist assholes that tried subjecting Jacqueline to their behavior.” I gasped as I looked up at him, my eyes already welling with tears but I didn’t dare say anything. I wanted him to continue. I needed him too. “She defied her family long before you were born, and the fact that she was in love with someone that didn’t ‘look’ like them didn’t make hers and your father’s relationship spectacular with them being racist and all. Their love made it dangerous, not only for Jacqueline but for your father as well. They hated your father, which means they hated you.

  “For five years, which was five years too long, Jacqueline’s family threatened to report your father’s family to immigration. When she came to me seeking help, I was engaged to be married. I told Jacqueline that I wouldn’t be caught up in whatever family shit she had going on. She stood in front of me, practically pleading on her knees, to help her, to help you. Again, I told her no, but we both knew I would. Otherwise, I would have to live with myself knowing I could have prevented your fate and didn’t. She left you because she had to. She left you to protect you. Our marriage was based on politics not love, but it grew. The political justification grew to like, and that like grew to respect, and that respect grew to love, which brought us, Hailey.” He smiled to himself briefly, no doubt remembering the daughter they have. The daughter they had.

  “She became more detached after Hailey passed. But I assure you, she does love you. She was just prevented from showing you in order to keep you alive. Her family is very powerful, and she couldn’t stand up to them on her own. Now she can try.”

  He stood up, buttoning up his suit jacket. “Regardless of what you decide, you’re welcomed in our family. You are family, and I’ll make sure everyone knows it. Your choice will never be used against you.” He started for the door but then stopped, pulling a folded piece of paper from his inner jacket pocket. “Walt found this in your room, it was left behind.” He placed it on the counter before giving me a nod and then leaving.

  22

  Perrie

  I didn’t move. I didn’t speak. I just sat there existing. Hours went by and the next thing I knew when I finally turned my head to look at the stove clock, it was almost ten p.m. I finally dared a glance at my phone, seeing the multiple calls and texts from Ash, and also Claire. I didn’t bother with any of that. All I thought about was what Gerald said and also what Gerald left.

  Finally getting up, I walked to the counter where Gerald left the folded piece of paper. I knew exactly what it was without even opening it. I traced the edges of the folded lined yellow paper, before gently unfolding it and looking at the words I wrote so long ago to someone that no longer existed.

  * * *

  You left the world today.

  I’m trying so hard to understand why. You always said you could do whatever you wanted and laughed and joked. I laughed it off when you said ‘you could leave anytime because you ran your own life.’

  You left the world today

  You took your own words to heart. You left because you wanted to. Did you think of me? Did you think of what this would do to me? Did you think of me at all?

  You left the world today

  You were all I had. You were all I fought for. Everything I did was for you.

  To make you proud. And why? Because I looked up to you.

  You left the world today

  And I’m still here.

  23

  Perrie

  “You look thoroughly satisfied.” I raised my head at the smirk Ash was giving me.

  I sighed, reaching for my phone to check the time. “Well, you lasted way longer than three minutes, so yes, I would definitely agree on the satisfaction part.” The boyish grin he gave me said it all. The smile slowly faded as he looked me over.

  “What do you think about when you look at me like that?” I whispered. He slowly made eye contact with me. After a minute he slowly shook his head. “Anyway, shouldn’t you be asking me some questions or something? You know because of the whole client thing.”

  He sat up, sighing. “Do you want me to ask you questions?”

  “Don’t you with your other clients?”

  “That’s different.” He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. “Okay, get up, wear something... small. You have one hour.”

  I scrambled to my room to get ready. I was oddly excited. I didn’t know if it was a date or what but it didn’t matter. I trusted him, and yet I was a little off guard when he took me to a club. That was when I realized I was overdress
ed in the simple sundress I was wearing. That is if you compare me to the woman at the next table completely nude if you don’t count the pasties on her breasts, and that’s all.

  I leaned toward Ash, as he waved to someone he knew. “Where the hell are we?”

  He pulled me closer. “Chicago’s biggest secret. One of them at least.”

  A woman came over and placed two glasses down—a small glass bowl of sugar cubes, and a bottle filled with green liquid. Ash went to work placing a cube in each glass before pouring the liquid over it and then handing it to me.

  “So, what’s this lesson all about?”

  “Confidence.” I looked at the girl dancing across the room. The guy she was with had his hands up her skirt. She surely had a lot of confidence. As the club filled, more people came over to Ash and I just watched. They knew him. They liked him. They respected him. He was king everywhere he went.

  We danced, we drank, we laughed. This was a new side of Ash I hadn’t quite seen before. We had just sat back down, and someone came over to whisper something in his ear. He slightly tensed. “I’ll be back,” he said, not even bothering to wait for my response. It was fine with me, I was tired.

  Suddenly, the stage I didn’t even know was there lit up. It took a moment before I realized they were about to do some sort of a skit. Kind of weird for a club but whatever. I watched as one of the characters danced with a woman in a historical garment and of course, they spoke French. I was following along, then jumped when Ash appeared beside me and pulled me into his lap.