She lifts her brows and laughs at me, “You can’t even say it.”
“No, I sure as hell can’t, and can you blame me? None of this even seems real.”
“Ella Charming. Mrs. Ella Charming. It has a nice ring to it. I wonder if it’s his real last name of if he changed it for his celeb name?”
“Shut up.” She laughs, but I’m totally not smiling this time. The sound of that name is ringing in my ears and I’m starting to panic. “Oh my god, this is nuts. I can’t believe I did something so… so….”
“Awesome?”
“Not the word I’m looking for. More like stupid, spontaneous, thoughtless, dumb…”
“Oh, please. Get over yourself.” Katie starts to giggle.
“What’s so funny?”
She smiles wide, “Remember last night when you told me not to worry about you and to go have my own fun because, and I quote, ‘what’s the worst that can happen’?”
Groaning, I rub my head feeling like my hangover headache is returning, “Oh, God, I’m such a mess, but that reminds me, how was your night anyway?”
“Oh no, we aren’t changing the subject. Besides, trust me when I say your night was much more interesting. The guy I was with passed out on me before we got to the good stuff. I spent the evening worried about you and wondering where you were until I saw the picture you posted. And for the record, you aren’t a mess. I’m only teasing you. I honestly think this is a really good thing.”
“How in the hell is this a good thing? I’m fighting the urge to vomit because the butterflies in my stomach are making me sick, and you’re over there smiling like you just won a year supply of shoes from your favorite store.”
“I’m smiling because this is just what you need.”
Sitting up, I give her my best stink eye, “How can you say that?” I begin twisting my hands in my lap, “What the hell was I thinking agreeing to be with him this week? Why did I not insist that we take care of things immediately? I’m completely out of my mind. You know, I should call the airline, see if I can get a flight out tomorrow too.”
“You sure as hell are not!”
Ignoring her, I continue, “And then when we get back, you can drive me to the nearest mental institution and check me the hell in because I’ve lost my fucking mind, Katie.”
“Over my dead body.”
“I’m serious.”
“Calm down,” Katie says sitting up too and leaning toward me so she can rub my back soothingly. Speaking in a low, calm voice she directs, “Take a deep breath.” I do as she says. “Come on, Ella, don’t you think you deserve some fun? Just like Asher said?”
“God yes, I do. But-”
“No. No ‘but’ – I don’t want to hear it. Your life has been full of shit that happens to you. One big massive avalanche of shit that smacks you with one thing after another. The death of your mother, your father getting remarried to a demon from hell, her daughter being a hell spawn too, then the sudden and unexpected death of your father. Don’t even get me started on the choices you had to make for his company, how hard you have worked and the sacrifices you have made, how angry Angelica was over the whole thing, and on top of that agreeing to marry Jeremy even though you knew better. Then you have a relationship with him that goes nowhere, you try to force it anyway then have that blow up in your face. My god Ella, for once, something is happening in your life that’s exciting and full of possibility. You have a chance to let go and fucking take a gigantic leap into fun. And hell, you deserve that. And lots more. You have more than earned the right to it all and to let go and not worry about consequences for once in your life.”
“You make me sound pathetic.”
“No, I’m just stating the truth. And the fact is, it’s one week. One week that could end up being one of the best weeks of your life. For god sakes, you should be jumping up and down at the chance, not panicking. Let your inner party girl out to play, she’s suffocating to death in there.”
“You act like I haven’t made any of my own decisions throughout my life. That’s not the case – I’m not some victim. I chose to take the CEO position at dad’s company, I chose to get in a relationship with Jeremy, I’m the one who said yes to his proposal and went through planning a wedding when I knew I didn’t really love him in the way that would result in the marriage I wanted. They may have been shitty decisions, but they were still mine.”
“That’s not what I’m saying, and I sure as hell don’t see you as a victim. You are one of the strongest and toughest women I know. I do think, however, that your decisions would have been different if your life circumstances weren’t what they are.”
“Well, whatever. It is what it is.”
“Yes, that’s true, but only over my creepy shredded nasty zombie body will you not take Asher up on his offer. I know you already did, but clearly you’re questioning yourself. Well, I won’t let you back out of your agreement, so knock it the hell off. You are going to have a fantastic week, full of new experiences and incredible sex. Then you will report in to me and tell me all of the details. Anything less is unacceptable.”
“Fine. I’ll do it. I’ve got nothing to lose. I will not, however give you any details about the sex.”
“What? That’s a best friend party foul. There’s a commandment - best friends shall tell their best friends about the amazing sex they’re having. Especially when said best friend is having no amazing sex of her own.”
“I’ve said it before and I will say it again, you have a commandment for everything.”
“Only when it suits my needs.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” I laugh and then it turns into a sigh as I eye my friend and my heart warms and I feel grateful once again for her friendship. “God, I wish you weren’t leaving in the morning.”
“I know, me too, especially now. But I have to get back to work. Plus, you need to enjoy paradise with your new hubby without me in tow.”
“Will you stop saying that? You act like this is a real marriage. It isn’t.”
“You have a piece of paper that says otherwise. And a ring, I see.”
No sooner does she utter those words, than I feel a tingle at the back of my neck and I know instinctively that Asher has arrived at the pool. Feeling a magnetic pull, I turn and find him walking toward me with a large smile on his gorgeous face. I let my eyes enjoy the journey from the top of his head to his feet and they want to weep with joy at the sight. The man is insanely good looking. A flash of him naked runs through my mind and I bite my lip.
“Hello, Katie,” he greets her first and she returns it in a high-pitched breathless voice. I just barely resist rolling my eyes, and stand to say hello. I’m surprised when Asher takes me in his arms, and gives me a loud smacking kiss on the lips. “Hi wifey.” My mouth drops open in surprise and Katie laughs along with two people that followed Asher over. They must be a couple of his friends.
“Well hello to you too,” I finally compose myself enough to say, but almost swoon at the smile he’s giving me. I can’t see his eyes given the mirrored aviator sunglasses he’s sporting, but I swear I can feel them burning into my skin as he eyes me up and down and checks me out in my white bikini. In seconds a lust filled haze surrounds us and I run my tongue along my lower lip as I check him out brazenly in return. I may have been drunk last night, but the longer I’ve been awake, I’ve increasingly remembered our night together – maybe not as clearly as I’d like, but it’s definitely enough. Looking at him now, I realize how game I am for a repeat. Like now. Yeah. Now would be good.
I’m wondering if he can read my mind because he begins moving closer to me once more and everything else seems to disappear. It’s just him and me and all my focus is on his mouth as it comes closer to mine. My eyes close in preparation, but a throat clearing breaks the spell and my eyes open and Asher pulls back looking both annoyed and chagrined, but he doesn’t let go of me. Turning to his friends, I see them standing there looking at us and my cheeks flush and I hear Katie
laugh softly.
“Dude, are you going to introduce us or what?” One of them says with a smile. The other is standing there with his arms crossed and I can’t decipher the look on his face. There’s a touch of amusement, but wariness there as well.
“Ella, these are my friends, although right now I’m forgetting why.” He points at the one smiling first, “That’s Andy, and the other guy is Hunter.”
Clearing my throat I try to push away the slight embarrassment, “Hi, nice to meet you.”
Andy reaches his hand out, his smile growing, “Hi Ella, it’s nice to meet you.” His smile is wide and his blonde hair stands up straight on his head. He’s got a total surfer boy look going on. “I hope you don’t mind me saying that you’re absolutely gorgeous.”
“Oh, um, thank you,” I respond feeling awkward and glance at Asher to see a look on his face resembling pride as he nods his agreement.
“Hi, Ella,” Hunter says. “Asher and I have been friends since grade school, so I know him well. Considering that, mind telling me why you married him? I mean, I guess you could say he’s good looking, and he’s got the whole celebrity thing going for him, but I also happen to know that he has some really annoying habits too. For example-”
“Seriously, Hunter? Shut the hell up,” Asher laughs and pushes Hunter who then pushes him back and then they start mock wrestling each other until Asher’s phone starts ringing. He plucks it out of his shorts pocket and glances at the screen. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” He steps away to take the phone call.
Turning to Katie, I see her putting on her swimsuit cover up. “I’m going to go get all of us a bucket of beer from the bar. That cool with everyone?”
“Sure,” I shrug.
“I’ll come with you,” Andy says to Katie. “I think I want some food.”
“Dude, you’re always hungry,” Hunter says and Andy shrugs walking off with Katie, leaving Hunter and me alone.
Awkwardly, I turn to him, trying to think of something to say. “So, you said you and Asher have been friends a long time, how did you meet?”
His smile falls from his face and he stares into my eyes, “Cut the shit. I want to know what it is you’re after?”
My mouth falls open in shock at his complete about face, “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Asher is more than my friend; he’s like a brother. You may think he’s some stereotypical actor that lives fast and hard, but Asher isn’t like that. I’m not about to let you try and take him for some ride because you’re hoping to take advantage of his position and kindness.”
Completely struck speechless I’m not sure how long I stare at him before I shake off his words and start to get angry. Glancing over at Asher, I see his back is turned to us. Looking back at Hunter, I let the anger inside of me show on my face. “Excuse me? You have some nerve making an assumption like that. You don’t know shit about me.”
“Yeah well and you don’t know shit about Asher.”
“You’re right, I don’t, and this thing between us is exactly what I’m sure he’s already told you – a drunken suggestion that we clearly took too far. And we’ll handle it.” His face gives away nothing, but I keep going. “What you don’t know is that I’m a financially independent successful CEO of my own lucrative company. Not that it’s any of your goddamn business, but a relationship with Asher, in any shape or form, does not benefit me materialistically whatsoever. So fuck you. And fuck your assumptions, asshole.”
“Look, I’m sorry.” Hunter runs a hand through his hair in what appears to be embarrassment, but I’m past caring. “I’m just looking out for my friend, and I’m not going to lie to you, I don’t like this. He told me that you’re spending the week together,” he looks at me as if he wants confirmation, but I stare at him, giving him nothing. “I’m going to be keeping an eye on you. I don’t trust you, and I’ll do anything to protect him. He’s a good guy and I won’t let you ruin everything he’s worked so hard for.”
Before I can respond, Asher has returned, oblivious to what has transpired in his absence. “Sorry about that. It was my agent. I’ve been blowing her off so I needed to take her call.”
Looking away from Hunter, I smile into Asher’s face, “Everything okay?”
He returns my smile, “It’s fine.” He looks between Hunter and me, “You guys getting to know one another?”
Hunter smiles at Asher revealing nothing, “Yep. We sure are.”
Before I can even think about saying a word, Katie returns with a bucket of beer, “Alright, who’s drinking?” We all reach for a beer, Hunter and I plaster smiles on our faces and act like our conversation never took place, but I keep an eye on him out of the corner of my eye, and every time I look his way, our eyes meet making it clear he’s doing the same.
“What do you want to do tomorrow?” Asher asks me, sitting beside me on my chair, taking a sip of his beer.
“I’m not sure. What do you want to do?” Everyone around us is staring at our interaction and I feel uncomfortable. I don’t like being on display like a science project.
Likely seeing my discomfort, Asher stands and holds a hand out to me, “Come on, let’s cool off.”
Without a word, I place my hand in his and carrying our beer with us, we walk to the pool and enter it never letting go of our hands. The water is cool, but not cold, and feels great. The water isn’t deep – only four feet – and we walk to an empty corner, setting our beers on the concrete. I place my arms on the concrete and rest my head in them facing Asher. He does the same, facing me. “That’s better,” he smiles and I know he did this for my benefit. Gave us privacy. “So, I want to talk about this week.”
“Okay.”
“Is there anything you want to do that you haven’t done yet?”
“Katie and I have basically hung around the resort and did some shopping, so I’m open to anything. I liked the suggestions you made this morning.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, they sound fun. Oh, how about renting some wave runners? I saw that in the information they gave us when we checked in. Their other property rents them ocean side. We can call and reserve them.”
“Done,” Asher says. “What else?”
“What do you want to do?” I ask him not wanting to make all the decisions for us.
“I want to spend time with you,” he says automatically.
“I’d like that too,” I tell him.
He reaches toward me and pulls me into his arms, and I go happily. Feeling his body against mine in the water feels erotic. The thin material of our swimsuits the only thing that separates us and I can feel the firmness of his stomach and chest against my own. It feels amazing, and I boldly wrap my legs around his waist and put my arms around his shoulders. Asher sucks a breath in at my actions and he places my back against the pool wall. “There’s one other thing I want to talk about,” he says pressing against me, and this time it’s me that sucks in a breath at the contact.
“What’s that?”
“Am I moving into your room, or you mine?”
My eyes widen and my mouth falls open, “What? Are you serious?”
He places his sunglasses to the top of his head and looks at me directly in the eyes, “I’m completely serious.”
“Well… I… well I guess…”
“How about since mine is bigger, you come to mine?”
“Are you sure about this? I mean, I have a lot of stuff, and I’ll get my makeup and all my hair crap all over your counter, and I’m a mess sometimes.”
“I will love every second of it,” he says sincerely. “I want you there.”
“But-”
Before I can utter another word his mouth is on mine. One of his hands moves to my hair and he tugs it gently as his tongue licks the seam of my lips waiting for me to open. When I do, he plunges his tongue inside, tasting me fiercely. It’s the sexiest kiss I’ve ever had in my life. Hot, wet, and insistent, I moan softly into his mouth eliciting a groan from him in return. I
can feel from more than his kiss, just how much he wants me.
When he pulls away, he looks into my eyes without a word. Waiting. I succumb. “I’ll move my stuff over after Katie leaves.”
He smiles and laughs, “Please tell me it will always be that easy to convince you to do things my way.”
“You wish.” I tell him but secretly, I think he could probably do much less and I’d give him whatever he wants. I’m completely captivated by him.
Looking over his shoulder, our friends are all looking our way, but I could care less. Asher is talking about other ideas he has for us this week and I find that I really can’t wait for each and every moment. I do deserve this. And I’m going to make the most of it.
This time, when our lips meet again, it’s me that initiates, and I can feel the doubt fade from my mind, eagerness to live in the moment overcoming everything else.
When Katie left to go back to New York my room felt empty and stagnant. It’s amazing how much life she brings to everything she touches. We enjoyed the rest of the day yesterday at the pool. When Asher and I emerged from the water, she wouldn’t stop smiling at us. She even snuck me a thumbs up when he wasn’t looking. We chatted off and on, light-hearted, easy talk, staying as long as we could until Katie and I left to spend some one-on-one time together before she left the next day. Asher gave me a lingering kiss goodbye and then took off with Hunter and Andy.
After a morning of sleeping in, Katie and I enjoyed lunch the next afternoon, took a walk on the beach, and then went back to the room so we could finish her packing. Receiving several hugs before she caught her shuttle to the airport that evening she made me promise to check in whenever I could. She also quoted me some commandment she made up about spending a week ‘sexing it up’ with Asher – I don’t even remember what it was exactly. She basically said anything and everything she could think of to get me to abandon any reservations I have about the week.
The thing is, there’s no convincing needed. I don’t have many reservations, I’ve already decided to give into the week and let go, but that doesn’t mean my nerves are obeying my internal instructions to calm down. It’s all a bit overwhelming. Sitting on the bed, I’m unsure of how to proceed. Asher asked me to move into his room, and I will, but putting my stuff together and walking over there feels extremely bold. Taking several deep breaths, I do my best to brush off the doubt and begin gathering my things. The whole time I’m mechanically packing, I’m psyching myself up to go over there and knock on the door like it’s no big deal.
Charming: A Modern Day Sexy Cinderella Story Page 9
