by C. A. Harms
“It’s not even like that, babe, we’ve never been more than friends.” I hated seeing her question my commitment to her. Even when we weren’t together, I never once strayed. “It’s only been you, Ashlynn, from the moment you first allowed me to kiss you.”
She appeared surprised by this confession.
“I won’t deny that she’s attractive, but I don’t see her as anything more than a friend. Yes, we’ve gotten close during my time here, but it’s like having an annoying little sister. And she feels nothing more for me than friendship too.”
She nodded, though I didn’t buy for a second it was genuine.
“Come here, to Italy.” Ash lifted her head and her eyes locked on mine. “I was told today that we have a week to finish up here, and I want to share this place with you.”
“I don’t—”
I decided in that moment not to let her talk her way out of this. “I want you here, it’s beautiful, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather share this with than you. Plus you can meet Aurora and see for yourself that there is nothing more than a lifelong friendship that has developed between us.”
***
“Should I stay away for a day or two?” Aurora asked as she flopped down on the bed beside me. “I mean I know she’s a little leery of this.” She motioned between us. “And the last thing I want to do is give her more doubts.”
“I wanna take her to dinner and I want you to join us.” I remained under the covers, still wiping the sleep from my eyes.
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“There’s nothing here.” It was my turn to motion between the two of us. “If we avoid one another, that’s only going to make us look guilty and there is absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.”
“If you’re sure.” Aurora gave me that pointy stare of hers like she was giving me one last chance to back out.
“Seven o’clock at Bitone,” I said as I stared right back. “I already made reservations for three.”
I paused while we shared our few seconds of silence, both continuing to hold the other’s gaze.
“Okay, fine,” Aurora replied. “But if at any point in time she feels uncomfortable, I’m out of there.”
I smiled. “Okay. But after she meets you and sees that we are what I’ve told her we are, then she’s gonna love you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ashlynn
I still wasn’t sure me being here was a good idea, but it was too late for second guesses. I took in a deep breath as I moved down the corridor toward the baggage claim. My heart raced with anticipation and fear.
I didn’t want to be that girl. The one who was jealous of her boyfriend having a relationship with another woman. But it was hard, at least in this situation it was. Kyler was in Italy in a beautiful city with a gorgeous woman. They were sharing dinners and drinks together night after night. It all made my stomach uneasy.
I watched ahead as I walked toward the front of the airport and the instant I saw Kyler that anxiousness I felt shifted and the desire to run to him hit me. That need to have him wrap his arms around me and press his lips to mine was so overpowering.
He pushed off the wall as he started moving toward me, and with each step he took my heart felt like it raced faster. “I think you get more beautiful each time I see you.” He hooked his arm around my waist and slouched just enough to bring his face closer to mine. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
He pressed his lips to mine and suddenly I felt that tension inside me ease. I don’t ever remember feeling this dependent on another person’s touch. Kyler was a comfort to me just by being near him, and that was both amazing and terrifying.
“I’m glad you came.”
I leaned back, looking up into his mesmerizing eyes. “As if you actually gave me a choice.” He threatened to have his mother pick me up and drive me to the airport.
“I wanted to see my girl.” He skimmed his nose over mine. “I need you here.”
“Me too.” I wasn’t lying. Just being in his presence for the short time I had already been there, I’d felt better than I had in days.
He kissed me once more, this one much more heated than the last, and I felt my fingers curl tighter against him. His shirt bunched from my hold and I whimpered when I felt his tongue demand entrance. That slow curl, the way he erotically tasted my lips and sucked on my tongue, it all made my knees feel weak.
“We could stand here all morning,” he whispered against my lips, stealing another kiss. “Or we can go back to my place and continue it there.”
“Go,” I whimpered when he bit my lower lip and tugged.
“My place it is.” He linked our fingers together and tugged me toward the front entrance. He looked back over his shoulder and I felt the heat rise in my cheeks when his tongue jutted out to run along his lower lip, almost as if he was still seeking out the taste I’d left there.
The ride to the hotel was fueled with sexual energy. I swear it was rolling off the both of us in oversized waves. He placed his hand on my upper thigh and every so often he’d move his fingers back and forth, creating just enough friction that I found my legs continuing to part more and more.
Once out of the cab and inside the lobby it was almost as if we were in a race to reach the elevator.
With his keycard in hand, he practically dragged me down the hall, and when his door was open, I found we were on one another before the door closed behind us. All hands, as our clothes were shredded piece by piece.
He turned me to face the bed, and as I stood before him wearing absolutely nothing he began to trail kisses over my shoulders and neck. Reaching around to cup my breasts, he pinched my nipples and I fell back against his chest. “You drive me crazy with need.”
God, I knew the feeling, my body felt like it was on fire.
Slowly Kyler began walking toward the bed, moving my own body along with his, and as he reached the end he stepped back. His palm against my lower back, he whispered near my ear. “Crawl onto the bed and get on all fours.” Wild excitement ran through me as I did what he asked.
“Fuck.” I heard the hunger in his voice. “Perfect ass,” he said as he moved in behind me and cupped my ass. “So fucking perfect.” He gave it a gentle squeeze just before pressing his erection against my backside. I found myself pushing back against him, causing a deep groan to rip from his lips.
I looked back over my shoulder to find him gripping his cock and moving forward to slide it over my ass and between my legs. I bit down on my bottom lip, arching my ass up and opening more for him.
“Damn, you look so intoxicating like this.”
I loved hearing his longing for me, it was heavy in his voice.
I felt him part me before slowly moving further inside, and I no longer hid the pleasure he inflicted within me. “Kyler, yes,” I moaned.
“Feel good, baby?”
“So good,” I assured him as I pushed back against him. I needed him to move, I needed him to let go and give in to what I knew we both needed.
“Please,” I begged and that was all it took. He let go, gripping my hips tight and began to move.
I couldn’t speak, hell, I wasn’t even sure I was breathing. It felt amazing and I leaned forward, arching my ass up higher and took all he gave.
Nothing had ever felt that good. Nothing.
***
I sat across the table from the woman who had spent day after day with Kyler. I’d watched them interact and smiled when I felt it was necessary, but if I was being honest, I heard nothing they were actually saying to one another. No, instead I watched the way she’d look at him, and he in turn would look at her. I watched her eyes and her body language. I desperately sought out something that would confirm the jealousy I’d felt was warranted, but I found nothing.
Watching the two of them was almost like being able to see Hayley and myself through someone else’s eyes. They hassled one another like they’d known each ot
her their entire lives, yet there was absolutely no flirtatious angle to it.
“I don’t know how you put up with him,” Aurora said. “He sings along to the theme of every television show and immediately I want to stick cotton in my ears. The man cannot carry a tune.”
“Can’t say I’ve ever heard him actually sing out loud, but he has softly hummed near my ear and it wasn’t that bad.” I shrugged and she arched her brow.
“That’s because the man adores you and anything he does you’re gonna find amazing.”
It was my turn to shrug because honestly she wasn’t lying. I did find everything about Kyler appealing.
“Don’t let her fool ya, babe.” Kyler leaned in, and though he wasn’t attempting to whisper, it still felt so intimate. “I don’t just adore you, I’m head over heels in love with you.”
When I turned my head to look at him our lips hovered only inches apart. That slow confident smirk of his that I’d found only made me want him more each time I saw it cover his lips.
It was me who moved in to steal a kiss and he smiled against my lips. “I’m so happy you’re here,” he assured me and I couldn’t deny the fact I was happy to be here. He was right, I needed this time with him. I needed to see him in this light, where he’d been for weeks, living and working.
Later, after dinner had ended and Aurora and we parted ways, Kyler took me for a walk. The lights of the night were nothing like the city of Santa Barbara; they were much more subtle.
They were exquisite.
My hand held firmly in his, he showed me some of the places he’d grown to love, sharing stories of shoots and conferences he’d attended. For a few hours I lived the life he had through his eyes. I saw the excitement in his eyes and it all only made me love this man more.
Kyler had been handed the opportunity of a lifetime. A chance to set his future into motion, yet he didn’t want it all, not forever. It was for now, a chance to say he experienced it. The most amazing part was he wanted only me, because I was enough.
And that said a million unspoken words, and my heart fell for this man all over again.
Chapter Thirty
Kyler
We’d been back in California for almost three weeks now. The commercial was in full swing and most nights I found myself exhausted from the day. But there was one thing I never went to bed without doing, and that was to tell Ashlynn how much I loved her and how I couldn’t wait to hold our child.
The idea of being a father was becoming more real with each passing week. The small bump that had begun to form on the girl I loved confirmed it. It was real, so fucking real, and I found myself wanting to fast forward to get him or her here faster.
The morning sickness had long faded and there was nothing better than watching Ashlynn be able to put away a double cheeseburger, large fries, and a shake like a champ. She was still thin, all bump—that sweet little bump at her waist, but at this rate, she might actually start putting on the weight she’d lost and then some.
I’d left the set early, stopped into the cafe Ashlynn loved, and grabbed us both the ham and turkey sandwich with baked chips. I wanted to surprise her with lunch and called ahead to make sure her dad did what he could to keep her round the office until I got there.
I walked along Belmont Ave, lost in my thoughts, when I heard my name being called out. Looking back over my shoulder I found Beau jogging in my direction from the opposite side of the road.
Immediately I braced myself for some kind of confrontation, as it seemed that was all that had taken place between us since the moment he found out about Ash and me.
I was surprised when he stopped in front of me, only a few feet apart and reached out his hand toward me. I gave him a look I hoped didn’t convey my what the fuck thought, but by his deep chuckle I knew I’d failed.
“I know,” he said, “it surprises me too.”
I hesitated, because let’s face it, this shit was the last thing I expected. When I slowly moved my hand out to meet his I half expected him to deck me, or worse.
When he gripped my hand in his and gave it a firm shake, a huge part of me felt relieved that maybe this shit was finally behind us. I never expected us to be friends; I knew that ship had sailed, but cordial would be nice.
We lived in the same city, had many of the same friends, running into one another without wanting to beat the hell out of the other would be a nice change.
“So I quit the firm.” I knew my eyes widened in shock. “It recently came to my mother’s attention that my father has somewhat of an addiction to call girls. You wouldn’t know anything about that now, would you?” A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth yet I simply shook my head in response.
“My mother decided that she’d had enough of Kenneth Lambert and my grandfather took over from there.” Beau shook his head with a laugh. “Until now I’d never known just how much my grandfather despised my father. It’s actually quite satisfying to see my dad grovel and still come up empty-handed.”
“Your father is a pompous dick.”
“Agreed.” Again he nodded. “I’ll be working for my grandfather in L.A. I think it’ll be good for me to get out from underneath my father’s wing. He was turning me into him and I think we both know that being anything like him was only setting me up for disaster.”
“A fresh start.”
“Yeah.” He paused as if deep in thought. “All I ever wanted was more.” He then looked back toward me, his gaze locking with my own. “I was too stupid to realize that what I already had was everything, and now it’s gone.”
I knew he was referring to Ashlynn and for once I understood where he was coming from. I could relate—just the thought of not having her as my own was almost crippling.
“Take care of her, Kyler.” In that moment I’d gotten a glimpse of the Beau I’d known my entire life, the good guy I’d once been proud to call my best friend.
“I will.”
“Yeah, I know you will.” He stepped back and dipped his chin in a nod. “You’re a good guy, Kyler, you always have been.”
Before I got the chance to respond he turned around and started walking back toward the other side of the street, just before he disappeared around the corner.
***
“Can I look now?”
“No.” I smiled as I walked behind Ashlynn, my hands placed over her eyes and I led her into the room. “Just a little further.”
“Hurry up already.” I knew she was attempting to sound annoyed, but I sensed the humor laced in her whine.
“You keep being pushy and I’ll be forced to make you wait even longer.”
“You can never make me wait, Kyler, we both know this.” Little smart ass had a point. “But if you feel the need to try, then…” She let the sentence die as she pushed her ass back against my cock and I could feel myself growing hard almost immediately. “Okay, you can give it a go, but in the end I think you’ll just lose.”
“Getting you, I’m always winning.”
“Cheesy,” she added with a smile and I knew though it may be cheesy when I said things like that it made my girl feel good. “But effective.”
“Okay, stay right here,” I directed and she pursed her lips, which only made me chuckle. “I mean it, don’t go trying to move around with that thing on your eyes.”
“Then why don’t you just take it off already?”
I stood before her, looking at her, watching her frown lines deepen on her forehead or the way her nose wrinkled up in confusion and I felt it so deep in my chest it was like for a moment I couldn’t breathe. I was so in love with this woman, everything about her made me feel like I was the luckiest man in the world.
I leaned in closer and pressed my lips to hers, feeling her body jerk in surprise just before she settled into the kiss. Her hand wrapped around the back of my neck as her fingertips toyed with my hair at the base. “I love you so much,” I assured her before stealing another kiss. “No one makes my heart race and my body ache like you do.”
Reaching up, I began to untie the scarf around her eyes, and as I pulled it away, I watched her blink a few times as if to clear her vision. Then she began to scan the room and I stepped back out of the way so that she could see everything.
“When did you do this?” she asked with fresh unshed tears pooling in her eyes. “It’s perfect.”
I reached out and took her hand in mine as I laced my fingers through hers. “I got Hayley’s key and came here during the day while you were at work. Then at night I occupied you just enough that you wouldn’t notice the change.” When she looked up at me I wagged my eyebrows and made her laugh.
“I just thought you were exceptionally horny,” she said with a shrug.
“Well, that yes, but come on, the food?”
“Yeah,” she smiled, “the cooking dinner each night was a little surprising.”
“Had to hide the paint smell somehow.”
Her gaze returned back to the room as she looked around from one wall to the next. “I went with a neutral color because we’ve decided to be surprised.”
“It’s really is perfect.” She repeated her earlier words.
Deciding to not find out if we were having a boy or a girl was fun, for us at least. Everyone else kept pushing to know because it was easier to shop they’d said. But for us it was thrilling not knowing. It would be a moment the two of us would share when we met our child.
“I was going to get the crib and things, but I wanted to do that together.” I still watched her as she moved around the room now, looking closely at the walls, skimming her hand over the border.
Halfway up was a taupe color, and around the center a thick border with teddy bears, giraffes, and an assortment of other animals. There were so many colors within that border that it was next to impossible not to pull out colors for either a boy or a girl. It was why I chose it, and the sales lady kept saying it was adorable and new too, so that helped with the decision making process.
