by Dee J. Adams
She sure as hell wasn’t looking too healthy at the moment.
Mel turned back to her and grabbed both shoulders. “Ash,” he said shaking her hard. “Wake up, Ash.”
She moaned and licked her lips. “What?” she croaked, but she didn’t open her eyes.
“What did you take, Ash?” Mel asked. “What pills did you take for your headache?”
“Juss aspirin.” She turned her head. “I don’t feel good,” she mumbled.
“When did you take it?” he asked, getting more panicked by the minute. What if she’d overdosed on the wrong medication? “How many did you take, Ash?”
“A few,” she murmured. “Before…”
Mel looked at Paula. “Were you here when she took them?”
“Yeah,” she said, nodding, concern evident on her face. “I got her some water, but I never saw which bottle she got them from. She took two or three, I think. I’m not sure.”
Mel focused on Ashley. “Ash, you may have taken the wrong thing. Something other than aspirin.” He shook her again and she grimaced. “Are you sure you got the right pills?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. She opened heavy lids. “I thought so. Now I don’t know.” She tried to sit up and Mel helped her.
“Should we call 911?” Paula asked, fidgeting with a ring on her finger. “I don’t know what else to do.”
Wasn’t it her job to know what to do? Actually, Lizzie would’ve known what to do, but Lizzie was gone and Paula didn’t have a clue.
“I need to go to the bathroom.” Ashley threw the covers back and Mel helped her out of bed. She stumbled to the bathroom and closed the door. Mel heard the toilet seat hit the tank and whatever she’d consumed that day came back with a vengeance. At least he wouldn’t have to take her to the hospital to have her stomach pumped.
Mel stared at Paula and didn’t try to hide his feelings about this whole situation.
“What?” Paula asked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
She should’ve made sure something like this didn’t happen, but it wasn’t his place to say anything. Paula didn’t work for him. Even though Ashley wasn’t thrilled with her, it didn’t give him the right to ream her ass like he so wanted to do. Mel turned away, debated staying or going.
“This wasn’t my fault,” Paula said behind him. “You think this was my fault.” She stormed out of the room, her anger evident as her heels clicked on the hardwood.
He knocked on the bathroom door. “Ash, you doing okay in there?”
“Yeah.” Her voice was weak, but pissed. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“I’ll be right back,” he told her. He found Paula in the kitchen getting a glass of water. Probably for Ashley.
“This wasn’t my fault,” she said before he got a word out. “She wants to be so independent and do things, but she can’t. You can’t blame me because she took the wrong pills. She didn’t ask me to get them or ask me to help her.” Paula was seething as she spoke. She set the glass down and viciously wiped up a spill with a paper towel. “You have a problem with me because I know…” She didn’t say it, but they both knew what she meant. She knew who he was and could out him anytime she wanted. “I don’t know how to be any more clear to you.” She tossed out the dirty towel and faced him. “I won’t say anything to anybody. Now if that’s why you’re mad at me, then get over it. I can’t control Ashley any more than I can control the way you feel about me.” She picked up the glass, walked past him and headed back to Ashley’s room, leaving him angry and irritated.
He had such a different view of Ashley. He saw someone independent and strong. Sure she was working with a handicap, but it hardly seemed to faze her. But he wasn’t with her all the time. He didn’t do things for her to the extent that Lizzie did or Paula currently did.
Right now he wanted to be here for her. By himself. He wanted to take care of Ashley, make sure she was all right.
He’d missed her last night. After coming home from the studio, he’d wanted to talk to her, tell her about the music, about how pumped he was to create something different. He’d been itching to talk to her today, to see her, spend time with her. Didn’t matter what they talked about…he just wanted time alone with her.
Paula came back into the kitchen and put ice in the glass of water. “She feels better now that she’s out of the bathroom. I helped her back in bed if you want to talk to her. Look. I’m sorry.” She faced him, worry lines creasing her forehead. “I didn’t mean to snap just now. I’m worried about her and frustrated that she won’t let me do more for her. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I’m really sorry.”
Mel didn’t say anything as he went back to Ashley’s room. Aside from looking tired, she seemed okay. Paula hovered in the doorway and Mel didn’t know how to get rid of her. So he did the only other thing he could think of. He told Ashley he’d come back later and went home.
It had been a while since Mel had been so disgusted with himself, but leaving Ashley with Paula made him sick to his stomach. Just because he didn’t like the woman, didn’t mean she wasn’t helping Ashley, but it didn’t change the ache in his gut. Partly because she was taking the time he could spend with Ash, but mostly because he’d put himself in this bind by not telling Ashley the truth. If she knew who he was, he wouldn’t be hiding from her. If he wasn’t so worried about Paula slipping or telling his secret, he’d be able to spend as much time with Ashley as he wanted.
But the question remained, if she knew who he was, would they still have the same relationship? Would she joke with him, treat him the same? Would she smack his arm at his bad jokes or try to impress him somehow…
Deep down, Mel knew the answer. Ashley had told him from the beginning that Seger Hughes probably wouldn’t like her because she’d treat him like everyone else. She was completely wrong. He liked her because of it.
Pacing his house most of the day, Mel couldn’t stay focused on anything. He picked up his guitar, but couldn’t concentrate… Not on lyrics, or music. Instead, he kept an eye out and waited six long hours for Paula to leave. As soon as her SUV rolled out the gate, he picked up his phone and called Ashley.
“I’m fine and she’s gone,” Ashley said after she picked up the phone. She sounded stronger and he already felt better. She loved her handy dandy machine that recognized numbers and repeated them.
“You love your caller ID, don’t you?” he asked. She chuckled and Mel let himself breathe easier. “Are you hungry? Can I bring you anything?”
“I’m okay. Paula made lasagna before she left, so I’m good. You want to come over for some?”
His stomach growled and Mel realized he hadn’t eaten anything all day. “That sounds good. As long as you don’t think she poisoned it.”
“Be nice,” Ashley said around a yawn.
“Still tired?” he asked.
“Yeah. Did you get the number of the Mac truck that hit me?” She paused. “I can’t believe it, but I think I really did take the wrong thing. I swear I took the aspirin, but Paula counted the Ativan and there were three missing and I know that because I never took any of them so the bottle had been full. I think I had a reaction to it. I’m still tired, but I’m fine. We called the doctor to be safe and he told me not to take any more. I, of course, being the wordsmith of Malibu, said, ‘Duh.’”
Her humor made him laugh for the first time that day. “Go to sleep. I’ll have poisonous lasagna tomorrow. How about I come by at ten and see how you’re feeling?”
“It’s a plan.” Ashley stayed quiet on the line and Mel couldn’t seem to hang up the phone. “Thanks for calling. For checking up on me,” she said.
The short distance between them felt like miles. Mel wanted to see her more than anything. Wanted to touch her. Know she was safe. “No problem. That’s what friends do, right?”
“Exactly.” She yawned again.
Mel forced himself to let go. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.” It took everything he had to han
g up the phone and keep from running to her bedside. He didn’t want to sleep with her, but he needed to hold her. Feel her.
Bullshit. He did need to sleep with her. He needed the safety of her warmth, the vitality of her heat. He needed everything she had to give.
She’d become his new addiction.
* * *
Mel’s telltale knock at the front door at exactly ten sent a flurry of butterflies free in Ashley’s stomach. Roamer bolted to see who’d come to visit and did his usual Dance of the Newcomer as she opened the door with a flourish. At least as much flourish as she could manage with her body still so sore. She couldn’t make out anything but his faded blue jeans and white T-shirt, but his spirit hit her head on.
Mel gave Roamer a few pats before walking in and hugging her. The instant warmth and strength of his body gave her a sense of peace. They stood in the entryway for a long time just holding each other and Ashley let herself relax into his arms. How could something so simple feel so intense? How could one hug fill such an empty place inside her?
No matter what, she couldn’t let her attraction for him go beyond friendship. Maybe if they didn’t have sex again, she could do that. Maybe if she played it real cool between them, Mel wouldn’t consider having sex with her again.
What a depressing thought.
Pulling away, she felt Mel’s scrutiny as clearly as if she could see it. “I have one very important question,” he said. She lifted her brows, waiting. “Is Paula working today?”
“No, she’s not.” Ashley smiled at the freedom she felt knowing that Paula wouldn’t be showing up all day. She took his hand and headed for the kitchen where eggs and toast waited on the counter. Roamer found a chew toy and squeaked it while leading the way. “She worked a double shift yesterday so I told her not to come today.”
“Aw. Too bad.” He squeezed her hand.
Laughing, Ashley sat him down at the center island. “I can tell you’re all broken up about it.” She carefully heaped slightly burnt omelets—damn—and toast on his plate, did the same for herself, poured them orange juice, then sat next to him. “Breakfast of champions,” she said around a mouthful. She took another bite and washed it down with her juice. “So, how’d it go at the studio the other night? I’m dying to know.” She heard the glass of orange juice scrape against the tile as Mel lifted it to take a drink.
“It was good.”
“That’s all?” she asked. “Just good? Did you record the song?”
“I did.” He sounded so blasé about the whole thing.
“Are you happy with it?”
“I am.” He continued eating.
“Just like that? You recorded the song and you’re happy with it. Now you’re going to show your boss or his agent or manager and they can help you, right?”
A little sound came from his throat. “Not exactly.”
Ashley couldn’t hide the growl that rumbled in her chest. “Mel. We discussed this. You are so talented. You have to show these guys that you’ve got what it takes… You need to—”
“Ashley,” he said very calmly.
“What?” Frustration made her antsy.
He slipped a hand along her thigh, his palm warm and strong. “The song has to be mixed. When it’s ready, I’ll let you know.” He shoveled more food into his mouth, but his hand stayed high on her thigh. Before she had a chance to come up with another question, he went on. “So what’s the game plan for today?”
That brought another topic to mind. She needed to go to the grocery store, but she didn’t want to infringe on their friendship. “Not too much,” she said. “What about you? Any big plans?”
He squeezed her thigh, his heat unmistakable. “A few things.”
Which meant he probably couldn’t help her. “Oh.”
“That sounded pathetic. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just need to make a run to the grocery store. I can wait until Paula’s here. I just thought I had a ton more food than I do. I have no clue where it all went and…” She trailed off, hating how dependent she sounded. Not to mention that Mel wasn’t jumping in to offer his help. Ashley took a bite of her omelet.
A full minute passed before he said anything. “I can take you. Not a problem.”
If there was one thing she’d learned to do it was read people’s thoughts behind their words. He definitely didn’t want to take her. “No. I shouldn’t burden you like that. I pay Paula to do that kind of thing. You shouldn’t have to—”
“You’re not a burden,” he said, squeezing her thigh harder. “I’m a friend, right? It’s what friends do.” This time he sounded sincere enough, but there was something in his tone she couldn’t identify.
But because she needed a few essentials, she thanked him and after breakfast they went to the market. They made it back to the house in under an hour. Roamer went outside with his new bone as Ashley finished putting the groceries away and wiping down the counter where something sticky had leaked. She felt Mel’s presence behind her as she tossed the dishrag toward the sink then turned.
“Well, I’m glad that’s fini—”
His lips crashed down over hers in a hungry kiss. Ashley didn’t fight it, didn’t want to. She gave everything he demanded, opening her mouth for more of his hot, voracious tongue. He’d seemed a little on edge at the market, but she never would’ve attributed it to him being hot for her. God, was he ever hot. Any reason she might have had for avoiding this moment vanished as he yanked her closer, wrapping her in his body heat.
She wasn’t sure why he wanted her, but at the moment, she didn’t care. She loved his strength, his taste and the way he held her. She loved the feeling of being wanted…something she’d been afraid might never happen again. Somehow she could justify the other night as part of the emotional roller coaster of a near-death experience and of course Mel’s long abstinence. But this…this felt different. More elemental. It had to be in her head, that’s all.
Speaking of head, she wanted to go down on him again. She wanted his taste, she wanted him out of control. He’d gone above and beyond by taking her to the market and she wanted to thank him the best way she knew how. Besides, what if her lower region decided not to play today. Fear and embarrassment were strong deterrents when it came to trusting her body. Just because he made her come the other day didn’t mean she was sure to come every time.
Ashley expertly unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, reveling in the enormous erection straining for freedom. Mel groaned as she took down his boxer briefs and pressed her knuckles against his hard ridge. Before he could stop her, she dropped to her knees and took him in her mouth.
* * *
Mel hissed in a breath as Ashley took him deep. Damn, she was so good at this. He hadn’t wanted her to go down on him, but saying no was virtually impossible when it felt so frickin’ incredible. He’d wanted her for days now. The separation had only intensified his need to have her again. But he’d wanted to give back to her. Hell, all she did was give.
God, just like now, the way she worked him with her tongue, her lips, driving him crazy with her hot mouth. “Ash,” he barely got her name out as he stroked her short hair.
She took his hands and placed them on either side of her head, then she held his hips and guided him deeper into her. With her eyes closed, she looked as if she wanted to savor every sensation.
“Dammit, Ashley.” It was too good. He wasn’t going to last…just like before. This was worse, because she clearly wanted him in a purely visceral way. She moaned on his cock as she brought him closer, even deeper until Mel’s eyes nearly crossed. “You want it like this?” he rasped. It was just what he liked. A little dirty and very politically incorrect. Ashley nodded and hummed and Mel tightened his grip on her head. “Like this?” he asked.
She dug her nails into his hips and nodded again.
Oh, God, this might just kill him.
He pumped deep into her mouth and she moaned, the sound traveling through his cock and balls and up
his spine. The wet heat of her mouth stoked the fire burning in his blood. Her tongue played a wicked game against his sensitive flesh. “So good, Ash. It’s so good, baby.” She made another sound as he continued to move in and out of her mouth, probably using too much force, but she spurred him by squeezing his hips.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fucked her mouth. She was amazing the way she took him, the way she owned him. She did own him. She might be the one on her knees, but she ruled his every move, his every breath. Every push inside her mouth sent him one step closer to the edge. His blood ran lava hot like fire streaking through his veins.
She slipped her hand between his legs, cupped his balls. His whole body tensed like tight wire. Then she rubbed a finger up toward the rim of his ass, keeping pressure, making him crazy. She wouldn’t dare… Her finger circled, threatened to push deep.
“Ash, I’m there, baby. I am so there.” He felt the need to warn her, but she just nodded. Mel surged deep and she sucked him harder. That was it. He hit the peak, unloaded in her mouth. Every spurt of his come sent a shock wave of pleasure radiating across his body. It was the most intense joy ride he’d ever had standing up. Damn but she took everything he gave her. Over and over she sucked him until he was empty.
He was still breathing hard when she let him go, but Mel didn’t give her a chance to cool off. She’d just sealed her fate with him. He wanted her more than ever. He didn’t care what her philosophy was when it came to her own body, because he wanted her the same way she’d just had him.
Lifting her up, Mel kissed her. With all his heart and soul, he showed her exactly how he felt about her. Her mouth tasted faintly of him and the instantaneous turn on didn’t surprise him. He could stay hard for her all day long. She was still hot for him, one hand stroking over his ass and the other on his neck, keeping them connected.
When he started backing her up toward her bedroom, she balked.
“Hey, I’m good,” she panted. She clearly meant it in a sexual connotation. “I just wanted to thank you for the trip to the market.”
