by Lexy Timms
“Miss Semple is an expert in her field. A crafter of organization. And she comes with an openly compassionate heart. I know she’ll be able to lead this charity in the right direction, prioritize things in a manner that is most efficient with our time and our funds, and be able to do wonderful things for a planet that is being destroyed at the hands of our greed. Now, I refuse to put Miss Semple on the spot—”
A chuckle arose from the crowd as Ash snickered into the microphone.
“Thanks, guys. Thanks for the help.”
The laughter grew and he could hear Kallie laughing behind him.
Laughing was good.
Her laughter gave him hope.
“What I want to do, however, is tell you that not only is she the charity’s manager, but she is also a close personal friend of mine. A great woman of integrity. Kallie Semple’s character is impeccable. Untarnished. And not an ounce of her, in any way, is unflattering. I know she will be a great role model for our charity, an honest hand in its organization, and the life force of a movement I hope to spark around the world. And if anyone has anything to say about her reputation, you can discuss it with myself or my lawyers.”
A few people in the crowd erupted into whistles and cheers, which sparked a trickle of support that rose from the crowd. Ash looked back at Kallie again and found her wide-eyed in disbelief. But if he looked closely, he could see the beginning stages of a smile twitching against her cheek.
“My hope for the future of this charity is that people around the world who need something can come to us and get it. My hope for this charity is that the organizations we set up around the globe can employ those who need jobs that will help us work toward our overall goal of impacting the environment and preserving our ecosystems. Your donations will go toward three things and three things only: paying the workers so they can train and learn how to preserve the world around them, a website and advertisements to raise awareness, and the purchasing of whatever lands are necessary in order to keep them healthy. That’s it. No one is reaping any monetary benefit from any of this, which means that one hundred percent of your money will always be used for the end goals of this charity.”
Another eruption of applause silenced Ash’s speech.
“But I also blend in my own hopes,” he said. “Everyone deserves to find the peace I experience when under the wide ocean sky. Everyone deserves to find the happiness I feel when my toes are sinking into the lush sands of the beaches this earth is dotted with. Everyone deserves to find the happiness—and the love—I feel when the cool, crystal clear ocean waters fall over my skin. But they won’t be there if someone doesn't protect them. They won’t be there if someone doesn't help them. They won’t be there if someone doesn’t take it upon themselves to establish a standard that is set around the world. All great movements start with a voice that is willing to step up and speak out. Ocean Sky Foundation is that voice. So open your pocketbooks and become as generous as you can, because if you aren’t, your children and your grandchildren will be stuck cleaning up the mess you refused to clean yourself.”
Ash stepped away from the microphone as a thunderous applause filled the room. He reached for Kallie’s hand and felt her warm skin slide against his. He laced their fingers together and led her directly into an elevator the second they stepped off stage. He didn’t care where his parents had gone and it didn’t matter to him. The only thing that mattered was what was going to happen next.
And the second the elevator doors closed, Kallie went to speak.
“Ash, what in the—”
He cupped his hand lightly over her mouth and gazed into her eyes. He brought his lips down upon her forehead, kissing her heated skin softly as his hand slipped from her lips. He cupped the back of her head and brought his forehead to feel hers, breathing in her scent as her hands slipped down his chest.
“Just wait a second longer,” he said with a whisper.
He felt her nod as the elevator doors opened, dumping them into the penthouse hotel suite of the Four Seasons.
He led her into the room and felt his stomach beginning to flip all over itself. The time had come. The moment where he would pour his heart out for Kallie and hoped she would accept it. The penthouse suite was filled with roses and candles. Petals were laid everywhere, filling the room with its scent. He looked behind him at Kallie and watched her eyes dance around the room. He took in her shocked stare and the smile across her face as he led her into the middle of the room.
A room lit with nothing but beautifully scented candles.
“Kallie.”
“Yes?” she asked.
He smiled down at her as his hand rose to cup her cheek.
“My Pretty Kallie,” he said with a whisper.
“Yes, Ash?” she asked.
“I love you,” he said.
His eyes danced between hers as a small gasp fell from her lips.
“I love every part of you. I love your smile and your grace. I love your sparkling green eyes and your beautiful head of red hair. I love your independent spirit and the fire behind your eyes when you argue. And I love the well of strength you seem to draw from every single day without a second thought.”
He saw tears welling in her eyes as his hand slipped behind her neck.
“I want to build a life with you,” Ash said. “Whatever that means. Whatever that takes. Whatever I have to give up and whatever I have to provide to make that happen, I’ll do it. If you want to take your business to the ends of the earth, I’ll hand out flyers advertising your services. If you want to sell it to someone else so they can manage it, then I’ll find you the perfect person to sell it off to. Someone who will take care of it like I know you would. If you want to stay in New York City, then I’ll stay with you. If you want to fly to Antarctica and live in an igloo, I’ll build us the best damn igloo the world has ever seen.”
Kallie giggled as a tear worked its way down her cheek. A tear Ash bent down to kiss so it wouldn’t taint anymore of her beautiful skin.
“I will tear apart my life, so you can mold it to what you need,” he said against her skin.
He felt Kallie turn her face in to him, his lips less than a millimeter from hers.
“All I want is to be with you, Kallie. In whatever form that takes.”
Ash pressed his lips against hers. Soft. Sensuous. Filled with the love that poured from his heart. His hand slid into the base of her hair, tangling in the wisps that were already falling from her bobby pins. But the second his fingers slid along her skin, Kallie melted into him. Her body collapsed into him. And he stood himself up so he could catch her. Kallie’s tongue slid across his lips, begging for an entrance he’d been dreaming about all week. His arm fell to her waist and he held her close. His hand splayed across her back as Kallie’s hands slid up his chest. Their tongues collided, sliding across the other as Ash tasted her sweetness.
No battling.
No fighting.
No command.
Just two lovers encased in the glow of candles and the scent of rose petals.
Ash backed Kallie’s legs to the bed and the two of them tumbled to it. Rose petals flew everywhere as his hands began to relieve her of her clothes. Her shoes went tumbling to the floor and bobby pins were tossed off the side of the bed. Ash slid her dress down her body, revealing the beautiful black lingerie underneath. He groaned into her cleavage. He slowly peeled the bra away from her body. Her hands slid his jacket off his shoulders. Unbuttoned his shirt. Undid his belt.
He felt his skin against hers again and his heart sent itself into overdrive.
His lips wrapped around her nipple, teasing them to their beautifully engorged peaks. Kallie fisted his hair and pulled him back up, crashing their lips together. His hands slid along her bare arms, committing the softness of her skin to memory. He threaded their fingers together as his tongue slid across the roof of her mouth, pulling moans from her that made his dick twitch.
His lips slid along her shoulder. He pressed
kisses into her skin. He nibbled softly at her neck and nuzzled his nose up the outline of her ear. Her legs parted for him. Created room for his body as her heat assaulted him. He felt how wet Kallie was for him. How wanton and ready her body was.
Ash propped himself up on his forearms and gazed into her lovely eyes as her chest panted with wanton desire.
“I love you, Pretty Kallie,” he said.
“I love you, too, Ash.”
And it took all the strength he had not to cry as he slid his cock effortlessly into her warmth.
Chapter 28
Kallie
Kallie was overwhelmed. Speechless at the idea of everything that had taken place. Ash told his parents he loved her. He gazed into her eyes and told her that he loved her. And he’d told an entire audience of his peers that she would run his charity. This beautiful charity that sat in line with everything she ever held dear. He told them not to mess with her! At least, that was what it had sounded like. And she could see the sincerity of his words every time he repeated that one specific phrase.
The phrase she’d stopped him from saying in Bali.
She had no idea what had gotten into Ash, but she was no longer willing to fight it. The second he slid into her, she could feel his love. Feel his respect. Feel his desire for her. His need to have her in his life. Everything about the evening he planned had showed her how wrong she had been about him. Ash didn’t want to coop her up. Ash didn’t want to rule her life. Ash didn’t want her to pump out children and be some sort of kept trophy he stacked on his shelf.
Ash wanted to live with her. To love with her. To travel with her and to explore with her.
Ash wanted to run with her.
And she wanted to run with him.
She gazed into his eyes as her hips rolled deeply into his. Rose petals skimmed along her back as his hand fluttered down the curves of her form. He wrapped his arm around the small of her back, tilting her pelvis closer to him. It shot electricity through her veins that sent her heart spiraling into an endless abyss of newness. She throbbed for him. Gasped for him. Clung to him and not once attempted to shield herself from him. She slid her toes up the backs of his thighs and felt his tightly wound curls rolling along her clit. Trembling her body and blinding her with a pleasure unlike anything she’d ever known.
“I love you,” she said with a whisper. “I love you so much, Ash.”
She crashed her lips against his and quickly rolled him over. She planted her hands onto his chest as her pussy swallowed him whole. She rolled. She rocked. She ground into him and swiveled her hips. She gazed into the eyes of the man she loved and felt his hands sink into the excess of her hips. He cocked his hips upward, causing her to go tumbling down onto him. Her face fell into the crook of his neck as his hands grabbed her ass, rolling her slowly into him as his cock filled her to the brim.
“Oh, Kallie,” he said with a groan. “There isn’t an ounce of you I don’t love.”
Kallie went tumbling back over, only this time she found her leg slung over Ash’s shoulder. He leaned up and began pounding into her. A rhythmic pace that had Kallie’s jaw unhinging with ecstasy. But she wanted him closer. Needed to feel him closer to her. So she slipped her leg down from his body and caught him in her arms. She wrapped her legs around his hips. Secured him to her while her arms threaded around his neck. She kissed every part of him as he reached up and gripped the headboard, finding any leverage he could to roll into her.
She slid her hands up and down his back, feeling every chiseled muscle of his body working for her pleasure.
The pace picked up. The headboard slammed against the wall. Kallie’s pants turned to whimpers, and her whimpers to moans. Ash was grunting. Growling. Dripping with sweat as rose petals went fluttering around their bodies. Kallie’s hands roamed along his chest. Tracing the outline of his sculpted muscles as her pussy swallowed down his cock.
The air was thick. Filled with the humidity of their sweat. Kallie gripped Ash and pulled him back down to her and his body dropped to hers. Their lips crashed together and she lost control of her body, bucking against him until nothing could come between them. Skin slapping skin filled the room. Her heart slammed against her chest. Her toes curled as electricity shot down her legs and she felt Ash’s hips beginning to stutter.
“Kallie. Shit. I’m so ... you ... you’re just...”
She had no words. There was nothing else for her to say. Her heart burst as her body arched, filling the divots of Ash’s strong form. She curled her nails into his body. Tightened her thighs around him as her pussy fluttered around his cock. They collapsed to the bed, his dick filling her with his hot cum as her mouth reached up for his.
They shook together. Came together. Filled the other up and kissed the other’s skin. She could feel it. Feel his love. His adoration. The truth behind his words.
“I love you,” she said with a whisper.
Her head fell off to the side, her body spent as Ash rolled over and pulled her body into his.
For the longest time, silence filled the room. The smell of sex swirled around Kallie’s head as their intermingled juices flowed from between her thighs. Ash’s arms pulled her close. She threaded her leg through his. She felt his lips fall to her shoulder and she jumped, then pushed deeper into his touch.
“I love you, Pretty Kallie. And I can’t live without you.”
She turned around in his arms, bringing her eyes up to meet his.
“I’ll do anything to keep you. Anything you ask. If you don’t want to run the charity, then that’s fine. But I do think you would be wonderful at it. And you don’t have to sell your business. Not if you don’t want to. I’ll help you with it in any way I can. All I ask is that you agree to work on this relationship. This thing we have between us.”
“Why the charity?” Kallie asked.
It was the one question she’d been asking herself ever since the speech.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Why did you set up the charity and give so much of your money away to it?” Kallie asked.
“Well, it’s a topic I’m passionate about. So there’s that. But I also know my money had been a sticky point between us. So I figured it I gave a bunch of it away to the charity to be used for a purpose we could both get behind, it wouldn’t be such a glaring problem with us anymore.”
Kallie’s jaw dropped. He was giving away a chunk of his fortune just to be with her.
Just to show her how dedicated he was to this idea.
“Does this mean you’re going to be poor now?” she asked with a grin.
His chuckle blanketed her skin with a security unlike anything she could ever conjure herself.
“I’ve got enough to keep us very comfortable in our new life together. If you’ll accept it.”
“Our new life, huh?” she asked.
“If you’ll have it. If you’ll have me,” he said. “I meant everything I said in Bali. I went there with the strict purpose of building a life for us there. A life you could be proud to be a part of. I don’t want to hide you away. I don’t want to make you into someone you’re not. I don’t want to take anything away from you, Pretty Kallie. All I want is to enhance what you’ve already got. To provide for you options you didn’t think were possible. Or reachable. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. And I haven’t gone about it the best way, so I hope that all I’ve done this week will show you that I’m dedicated to trying out any and all avenues to get this to work.”
Kallie watched as Ash reached over. She heard a drawer open before it closed, then he rolled back over to face her. Only this time, he was holding a small box in his hand.
A small velvet box that held the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen.
“Oh my gosh,” Kallie said breathlessly.
“Kallie Semple, I’ve got nothing else. No more tricks. No more surprises. Well, except for suing your ex on your behalf.”
She giggled and shook her head as her eyes fell to the ring. A simple e
merald surrounded by small dazzling aquamarine stones. It had the daintiest band she’d ever seen, and no matter how Ash turned it, it sparkled.
“This is it. This is all there is. There’s me. There’s you. There’s the charity. And there’s Bali. Kallie Semple, will you marry me?”
Her eyes panned back up to his as a massive smile bloomed across her cheeks.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”
She threw herself at him, crashing their lips together. It was everything she wanted. Everything she could’ve dreamed for her life and more. She felt Ash smiling against her. She rolled him over and sank between his legs. She watched him pluck the ring from the box before he grasped her left hand, then slowly worked it onto her finger.
Then, he reached up and began peppering her face with kisses.
She giggled as they rolled back over and he flooded her skin with them. Down her neck. Along her shoulders. Down her stomach until she was a giggling, squealing mess. He rose up and brought her with him, her legs straddling him as he held her close.
“I was petrified you were going to say ‘no,’” Ash said with a whisper.
“I’m too scared to say ‘no,’” Kallie said playfully. “You’re suing my ex on my behalf and you just threatened an entire room full of rich people. I have no choice by to marry you now.”
Kallie pulled back and looked deep into Ash’s beautiful eyes.
They reminded her of the blue in her engagement ring. Just like the green emerald reminded her of the color of her eyes.
And the colors of Bali.
And of the yacht he probably got painted.
“What?” Ash asked. “What’s so funny?”
“You are the craziest man I know, you know that?”
“Crazy in love,” he said. “You don’t feel pressured into this, do you?”
“No one single bit,” she said.
“Because I don’t want you to think—”
Kallie encompassed his lips with hers before he could say another word.
“I made the right choice,” she whispered against his lips.
