Always (Time for Love Book 4)

by Miranda P. Charles

  After another long moment, she turned around to go back to her car, her spirits low. Was he out on a date? No. From what she’d gathered when they were going out, Ash didn’t do romantic dates with other women. He had sex nights.

  Ugh! Shut up, Bren, she ordered herself.

  “Brenna!”

  Oh, thank God.

  She swivelled and saw Ash standing by the door, wearing sweatpants and a white t-shirt. Her breath caught in her throat, her body already preparing itself for what she had in mind.

  “Hi,” she said, walking towards him.

  “Were you waiting long? I was in the shower.”

  She smiled. “Only for a few minutes. I thought you weren’t home.”

  Ash stepped aside to give her room to enter. “What’s up?” he asked as he closed the door.

  She turned to face him. “I wanted to see you.”

  “Oh, okay. You want a drink?” Ash asked, heading towards the kitchen.

  Oh no, Ashton. You are not gonna do the we’re-only-friends act again. “No, I don’t want a drink,” she answered.

  “Right. Do you need something else?”

  “Yes.”

  He raised his brows in query.

  Holding his gaze and taking a deep breath, she started to unbutton her dress. Fortunately, she had one which fully opened at the front. It was the perfect dress for stripping in front of a man.

  Ash’s Adam’s apple bobbed, then his chest heaved, his lips parting to take in more air.

  His reaction gave her a boost of confidence. Licking her lips seductively, she slowly walked up to him as she undid her last buttons.

  “I need you,” she breathed, stopping right in front of him and sliding the dress off her shoulders, revealing one of her sexiest pairs of lacy underwear.

  Ash’s eyes roamed her body, his pupils already dilated. His hands remained at his sides, but when she glanced at them, he was rubbing the tips of his fingers together. The bulge that formed in his pants also didn’t escape her attention.

  “I’m dying for you to touch me, Ash.”

  Ash looked into her eyes, his expression transforming from stunned to carnal. “Where?”

  “Everywhere,” she mouthed.

  “Show me,” he said, his sensual tone making her shiver in delight.

  She took his hand and placed it on the valley between her peaks, pressing it there. Her heart was thudding hard and fast, and she wanted him to feel it. Then she moved his hand so it was cupping her breast.

  Ash’s thumb moved to circle her nipple, shooting off bolts of pleasure within her, and creating a fresh rush of moisture between her legs. His eyes didn’t leave hers when he unclasped her bra. Taking it off her, he discarded it somewhere on his living room floor.

  “Where else, Brenna?” he asked, his eyes hooded with lust.

  Panting softly, she took his hand again. This time, she let it slide down her belly, before resting it on her panties.

  “Do you want me to take this off?” he asked, playing with the band.

  She nodded, unable to break his gaze.

  He lightly ran his fingers on her mound, teasing, before hooking her undies and rolling them down her thighs. Ash knelt in front of her to completely undress her. But instead of getting up afterwards, he ran his hands up her legs and positioned them at the apex. She almost stopped breathing.

  “You want me to touch you here?” he asked, his voice hoarse and heavy with desire.

  “Yes, please,” she breathed.

  He smiled, his gaze hot and smoking. He parted her folds, uncovering her nub, then he dipped his finger into her wetness before rubbing her needy clit with it.

  “Ash,” she cried, bracing herself with a hand on his shoulder as desire weakened her stance.

  “I missed this,” he murmured, before leaning in and replacing his finger with his tongue.

  Oh, God. She didn’t how long she could stand still with him doing that. She wanted to raise a leg to give him more access, but she was scared she might topple over.

  “Ash, I want you,” she moaned.

  “You have me, baby,” he said against her pussy.

  “I want more,” she whispered.

  He looked up and gave her a salacious smile. “Tell me.”

  “I want to spread my legs for you,” she said, blushing. “In bed. So we can have lots of room.”

  Ash chuckled and rose to his feet. Tenderly, he cupped her face. He gave her a thorough kiss before taking her hand and leading her up the stairs.

  *

  “Now can I continue what I was doing before you interrupted me?” Ash said teasingly, kneeling on the bed to join her after discarding his clothes.

  Her gaze went to his erection... hard and heavy... calling to her. She sat up and moved closer to him. “I want to say hello to this first,” she said, wrapping her fingers around it and running her tongue on the tip.

  “Brenna,” Ash groaned, raking his fingers through her hair. “I missed you, baby.”

  “Hmm,” she responded, closing her mouth around the head and pumping.

  “You can’t have all the fun,” he said abruptly, gently pushing her away.

  He encouraged her to kneel and spread her legs. Then he lay down, positioning his head between her thighs. “Go down on me, sweetheart,” he rasped as he grabbed her hips and brought her pussy down to his mouth.

  She let out a lusty moan before leaning down on top of his body and capturing his cock again. Panting and gasping from the rapture he was giving her, she licked and sucked his length, stroking his balls as she did so.

  Ash’s sexy noises turned her on even more. Before long, she was almost at the crest. Her moans got louder and her tugs got faster.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Ash darted his tongue inside Brenna, unable to help his groans of delight as she pleasured his cock while he tasted her arousal.

  He couldn’t believe this turn of events. Earlier he’d been standing in his shower, his heart aching from missing her so damned much. And now here she was, making love to him so passionately. If this was but a dream, he’d squeeze his own neck if he dared to wake up.

  Brenna’s lips closed around his hardness, her tongue teasing the tip as she caressed his balls with her hand. Oh God, this woman knew exactly how to drive him crazy. He was getting close, but this wasn’t how he wanted to come tonight.

  “Bren, I want to come inside you,” he grunted.

  Brenna got off him—eagerly, he thought—and repositioned herself to straddle his hips. She guided his erection into her wet opening and sank down slowly, taking in his full length. Then she started rocking.

  “Ahh, baby...” he groaned. He sat up so they were nose to nose, their hips flexing and meeting with the primary purpose of taking each other to paradise.

  She felt so good. And so damned incredible. Only Brenna could take him to this level of arousal and pleasure, and he knew why. It wasn’t only his cock that was participating in the action. His heart was burning, ablaze with love.

  “I love you, Bren,” he groaned, nearing his climax. He buried his face in her neck as he braced for his release.

  “Ash,” Brenna gasped.

  “Say it, baby,” he pleaded, straining his legs to thrust into her more powerfully.

  She clutched him tightly, her body quivering. “I love you!” she cried as she erupted in an intense orgasm.

  With a victorious yell, he came inside her. The force of it had him seeing stars.

  *

  “Stay here tonight,” Ash said as he gathered Brenna in his arms, replete and deeply satisfied.

  “I’d already planned to,” she said, lazily drawing circles on his chest. “I’ve got my work clothes for tomorrow in the car.”

  He grinned. “Confident that I’d fall for your charms, were you?”

  She chuckled “No. Just being prepared. But I’m glad you succumbed to my seduction,” she answered sultrily.

  “I don’t think I had any hope in hell of resisting,” he m
urmured.

  Brenna nipped at his jaw. “I’m pleased you didn’t make it hard for me. But I must say I’m a bit disappointed that I didn’t get the chance to try out my other moves. I didn’t think you’d give in that quickly.”

  “You had other moves?” he asked with interest.

  Brenna nodded, trying to hide her smile but failing.

  “Well, I’d like to see them.” He tried not to sound too excited.

  She shook her head. “I think I’ll save them for next time.”

  “Next time? Like tomorrow night? Or maybe when I wake up in the middle of the night from my hot, horny dreams of you?”

  Brenna giggled. “No. I meant next time when I have to thaw you out because we had a fight or something.”

  “Oh,” he said, disappointed. “It won’t be for a while then.”

  “I hope so,” Brenna said, gently slapping his chest.

  “Well, seeing that we don’t have any plans of fighting in the foreseeable future, how about you show me those moves anyway?” he asked, caressing her naked back.

  Brenna thought for a second. “I’ll make you a deal.”

  “Okay.”

  She shifted to rest on his chest, looking down at him. “You tell me about your hot, horny dreams—”

  “Deal,” he said eagerly.

  Brenna laughed. “I’m not done. You tell me about your hot, horny dreams and we start going through the boxes in your garage this weekend.”

  He scrunched his face. “Sorry, babe. I’m going to an expo for the latest eye surgical instruments on Saturday. I’ve arranged to meet a contact there.”

  “What about Sunday?”

  His brows rose. “Don’t you go to Patty’s every Sunday?”

  She leaned down to kiss him. “I’ll see her another time. You’re my priority now, Ash.”

  “Bren,” he whispered, his heart expanding. “Are you sure? Would Patty be okay with it?”

  “I’m sure she’ll understand that I have other things to do on some Sundays. She’ll be fine.”

  He pulled her head down for a kiss, pouring his elation and relief into the meeting of their lips.

  “I suppose that since I have several Ash seduction techniques up my sleeve, I can show you another one tonight,” Brenna murmured.

  “Excellent idea,” he agreed wholeheartedly.

  Good thing he didn’t have major operations scheduled for tomorrow. He and Brenna wouldn’t get much sleep tonight.

  *****

  “These are your clothes from your teenage years!”

  Ash laughed, surprised by some of the contents of the boxes in his garage. “I can’t believe Mum packed those. They were in the spare room at my old apartment. I could have donated those ages ago.”

  “I still think it’s funny that your mum didn’t label the boxes when she helped you pack,” Brenna said.

  “I know. Mum thought I was running out of time with my packing, so she turned up one day while I was at work. She chucked everything in boxes with no rhyme or reason, wanting to get everything done before my move the next day. She didn’t know that I didn’t want to box everything because I really wanted to ditch a lot of stuff. Anyway, luckily I’d already packed and labeled the important things before that.”

  “Three and half years later...” Brenna quipped.

  He chuckled, walking towards Brenna. “Well, at least we’ve started,” he said, pulling her to him and giving her a kiss. In no time flat, the kiss had turned passionate.

  “We should make a rule,” Brenna said breathlessly, pushing at his chest.

  “What rule?”

  “No kissing until we finish at least one box, or we won’t make good progress.”

  “Okay, on one condition.”

  “What?”

  “Let’s have sex now first, and then we can start with that rule.”

  Brenna giggled. “Here?”

  “Yes, here,” he murmured against her neck, sneaking a hand underneath her shirt.

  They were startled by the doorbell ringing.

  “Were you expecting someone?” Brenna asked.

  “No.”

  He went to press a button to open the garage door. As it started rolling up, they could see two pairs of legs—male and female—walk towards it. He recognised their shoes.

  He groaned silently. Amanda and Connor. Drats. No sex with Brenna in the garage today.

  “Well, well. What brings you here?” he asked dryly when the door was rolled up enough to reveal the couple’s faces.

  “I was told that today is the day we’re sorting through your boxes,” Amanda said, grinning widely and giving him a kiss.

  “We?”

  “I self-invited myself and Connor,” his sister replied, already bouncing up to Brenna. “You guys don’t mind, do you? You know how long I’ve been wanting to see what’s inside these boxes.”

  He glanced at Brenna, who shrugged at him with a sheepish smile. He chuckled. Brenna must have told Amanda what they’d planned to do today.

  “So anything exciting in these boxes, bro?” Connor asked, man-hugging him hello.

  “I do believe some of my old toy cars are in there somewhere,” he answered, knowing that should get his future brother-in-law excited.

  “Let’s go find them then.”

  *

  “Amanda and I are going to prepare some lunch,” Brenna announced.

  “Sure, babe,” Ash answered distractedly, reading through his school report cards in amusement.

  “I found one!” Connor cried triumphantly, holding up a miniature, old model Volkswagen Beetle.

  “Oh my God,” Ash said with a laugh. “That used to be my dad’s. Actually, I think it was even my grandfather’s. It’s battery operated, but I doubt it still works.”

  “I could try fixing it,” Connor said.

  “So your Formula One mechanic skills work on antique toy cars, too?” he teased.

  “We shall soon see,” Connor said with a grin.

  Ash smiled, feeling absolutely contented. Life was bliss, and he knew Brenna was at the core of it.

  “Ash,” Brenna said from the threshold.

  He frowned at the fearful look in her face. “What’s wrong?” he asked, rushing to her.

  “I just saw missed messages on my phone. Patty’s been taken to hospital.”

  “Is there a donor for her?” he asked hopefully.

  She shook her head. “She’s not well. I have to go.”

  “Of course, sweetheart. Do you want me to drive you?”

  “No. It’s better if I go alone.”

  “Okay,” he said, kissing her forehead.

  “I’ll see you later?” she asked softly.

  He nodded, kissing her again and letting her go.

  This was most definitely not the time for him to show insecurity or jealousy. It would be plain wrong at a time like this. Besides, Brenna had already told him she loved him. What more could he ask for?

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Brenna arrived at the hospital, telling herself not to think of the worst. She’d tried to call Darren back, but all she got was his voicemail.

  The messages she received from him didn’t say much—only that Patty was experiencing complications, so he and Sally had rushed her to the hospital, and for Brenna to come as soon as she could.

  The lady at reception gave her instructions on how to get to the wing Patty was in. At least Patty wasn’t in surgery or an intensive care unit, so that was probably a good thing. She allowed herself to relax for the first time since getting those messages.

  Reaching Patty’s room, she spotted Darren sitting on a chair next to Patty’s bed. He was reading a magazine while Patty seemed to be asleep.

  “Hi,” she said softly.

  Darren looked up. “Hey,” he said, getting up and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for coming.”

  “What happened?”

  Darren told her in hushed tones, his demeanour betraying his concern. “She was asking for
you when we drove here.”

  “How are you, Darren?” she asked, placing a hand on his arm.

  He smiled. “Trying to cope as well as I can.”

  She nodded her sympathy.

  Sally came into the room. “Hello, Brenna. Glad you were able to make it. Why don’t you and Darren go to the cafeteria and get something to eat while Patty’s asleep?”

  “Great idea, Auntie,” Darren said. “Let’s go, Bren. I haven’t had lunch yet.”

  “Me neither,” she answered.

  *****

  “Mum asked me if we’re having relationship troubles again,” Darren said as he took a bite of his sandwich.

  Brenna sighed. “That’s the problem with this, isn’t it? I’ve noticed your mum watching us like a hawk every time we’re around her. I’m sure she’s looking for proof that things are alright between us.”

  “Yeah. She got really worried yesterday when I told her you won’t be visiting today because you have something else on. She wanted to know what, so I told her you’re attending a friend’s birthday. Then she wondered why I wasn’t going with you.”

  “Darren, maybe we should come clean,” she said softly.

  “No! Bren, I thought you understood. She’s happy because we’re together again.”

  “I know, but let’s think this through,” she said patiently. “Your mum told me before that she was concerned about how you’re coping. She said she was happy I’m around again for you. But you see, her attitude about us is really because of you. I think if she sees you’re coping well with her situation, and that us not being together is okay with you, then she’d be fine with it. We need to show her that even though we’re just friends, things are still well and good.”

  Darren shook his head stubbornly. “And what? Tell her we’ve been lying to her all along? I don’t think she’ll be happy with that at all.”

  “Maybe we could have a pretend breakup. We could say we’ve realised we’re better off being just friends. If she sees us happy together being friends, then I’m sure that would alleviate her worries.”

  Darren buried his face in his hands, then looked at her pleadingly. “I’m sorry, Bren, but I don’t think I want to take that risk at this point in time. She’s not very well at the moment. Can we talk about this another time?”