by Jade Sinner
Ash looks around the hallway, making sure no one else is listening. "Are you OK?"
I shrug. "Yeah, I'm fine. Not much can happen in ten seconds."
His expression of anger morphs into a smile, growing bigger by the second. It's contagious and soon I'm smiling too.
"Ha!" he says as he shuts his locker with a bang. "Good to know. I guarantee that when I tell him that I know that little bit of information, it'll keep him from talking trash about you."
"Little is right." I'm not sure I could even tell my girlfriends this, but with Ash, it's always been easy. "I mean, I don't have a lot to compare it to, but yeah, little is about right."
We've always been honest with one another.
With Ashton, it isn't a matter of telling him about my past. I don't have to. He knows it all.
As I lie in Ashton's arms, in his bed, with his steady breathing in my ear, I force my thoughts to go to my ex-fiancé. I'm still pissed about Jack. And hurt. And mad. And surprisingly calm.
Though I dread telling my parents the wedding is off, I am shocked to realize that I'm equally relieved. Getting past the stun and pain, I now sense the loss of a heavy burden, one I didn't even know I was carrying.
I'm not sure if this feeling will last, but for a few minutes, I decide to savor it, to lie in Ashton's cocoon and enjoy the freedom. Maybe I was rushing the whole marriage thing. Maybe I'm not ready for that?
Those thoughts and more move in and out of my mind as I ease myself from Ashton's bed.
He's still sound asleep, his broad bare chest moving with his breaths.
I hold back a giggle. He should be asleep for a week after last night.
Holy shit!
I never knew a guy could keep going on and on like that. And I never knew that I could cum more than once, more than twice, fuck, I lost count.
Over the years, I've listened to Ashton's stories of sexual expertise. It wasn't like I thought he was lying. I just figured he'd embellished—exaggerated.
Stifling a groan as I take a few steps feeling the fantastic stiffness in my legs and tenderness in my core, I make a mental note never to doubt him again. And...I add sexual stamina to my list of things Ashton Michaels has never lied to me about.
After cleaning myself and getting dressed, I check one more time on Ash. He needs to get up for work, but it's still early, only a little after six. After what he did last night, he deserves to sleep until his alarm goes off.
Quietly, I grab my phone and purse and leave him be. For only a moment, I consider giving him a goodbye kiss, but I don't. After all, he's my best friend, not my lover nor my fiancé. I'll let him sleep.
In the car, I check my phone. Fifteen voicemails and thirty-seven text messages. All from Jack.
Pathetic.
Without reading, I hit the call button.
His groggy voice answers. "Jess, what the fuck?"
"Really, Jack? I walk in on you and Luisa and you're asking me what the fuck? You were with her, in our apartment, in the bed we share. Your cock was so far up her ass you didn't even know I was there."
"Jess, listen, it's all a mistake. I love you."
"Get out."
"What?" he asks.
"Get the fuck out of the apartment. I need to get ready for work, and I don't want to see you."
"No, we need to talk. Where did you spend the night? I've been worried."
Asshole. He wasn't worried when he was fucking that slut. My neck stiffens as I hold back the tears. The sadness and hurt I felt earlier are now replaced by anger, and I'm embracing it. "It's none of your business where I was. You forfeited the right to be worried. Get out of the apartment. Don't make me call the leasing office. If I do, I'll have you dragged out of there. Do you want your clients to see that on the morning news?"
"Jess, you're blowing this out of proportion. I don't give a shit about her. I love you. We're getting married."
"That's where you're wrong. I left the ring for a reason. Take it with you. You have fifteen minutes. Whatever is left of your shit will be available on eBay in a day or two." I disconnect the call. As I do, I realize that my hands are shaking. It's not grief. The trembling is exhilarating, like the rush of adrenaline after running a race.
I don't really plan to put his shit on eBay. Hell no, that would take too much work. The dumpster will be perfect.
Twenty minutes later, I open the door to my apartment. The overwhelming scent of flowers fills my lungs as I stand in disgust at the room filled with roses. All different colors. Red. Yellow. White. Lavender. They're everywhere.
"Is he fucking kidding?" I ask the empty apartment.
I shake my head as I move from room to room. If he were there, I'd throw one of the bouquets in his disgusting face.
He's not.
However, on the bed there is a note.
Jess,
My love. I'm very sorry...
I don't even bother to crumple the paper. He isn't worth the energy. Instead, I drop it in a trash can, strip out of my clothes, and get ready for a shower. As I do, I recall Ashton helping me out of my panties last night. His big hands, long fingers, monster cock...
The memories wobble my knees.
I reach for the bedside stand to steady myself, but as I do, I brush my arm against another bouquet. "Ouch!" Damn thorns! "Fuck!" I scream.
A thin trail of blood oozes down my arm. The small puncture makes me grin.
As if I needed any more proof that Jack was a prick.
I can't believe she left without a word.
When I woke, Jess was gone and I never heard her leave.
Normally, I'm fine with waking alone. It's much easier than the 'sure, I'll give you a call' speech, but this is different. This is Jess.
I have so many questions.
How is she?
Did she go back to that asshole?
Has she told her parents?
Are we still friends?
The questions run circles through my mind nearly making me dizzy as I get ready for work.
When I finally give her a call, it goes directly to voicemail. I imagine that she's turned off her phone or at least the ringer.
Did she see him?
The thought alone causes me to ball my hands into fists.
Why does it bother me so much? Jess was engaged to the asshole. Why now does the idea of her spending even five minutes with him upset me? I know the answer.
It isn't because we slept together. It's because he upset her.
By nearly noon, I can't take it anymore. Jess works ten minutes from my office, and I have to see with my own eyes that's she alright.
The advertising firm where she works has a front office with a receptionist, Kathy. She's a friend of Jess's and recognizes me as soon as I enter.
"Ashton, are you here for Jess, too?"
"Too?"
"I have no idea what's happening, but she's had, like, fifty deliveries. I know it's not her birthday. But she's not spilling the beans." Kathy comes around the desk, steps closer, and flashes me a sexy grin. "Come on, I bet you know what's happening?"
Kathy's one of those people who loves to get the dirt on everyone. She's pretty good at keeping the secret, but she hates being out of the loop.
I adopt my most innocent face and raise my hands. "Clueless. I just came to ask her out to lunch."
"You think stuffy Jack won't like her having lunch with other men after they're official?"
My chest aches at the thought of her being official with him, but I ignore it as I keep up my normal routine. "You know me, Kathy, I'm not another man: I'm Ashton." I lower my voice. "And I don't give a fuck what he thinks anyway."
She winks. "That's right, you're the man."
I shoot her a wink seconds before I enter the main doors and make my way back toward Jess's cubicle. As I turn the corner, I enter a jungle, complete with a chorus of sneezes and sniffles. Maybe it's piped jungle noises like they have at Rainforest Cafe. I'm waiting for an elephant to raise his trunk and t
rumpet.
By the way, I mean jungle.
Not as in, work is a jungle and only the best survive. Jess's cubicle is literally a jungle.
Kathy was right. I have to wonder if there were really fifty individual deliveries, or if one giant truck would have been easier. There's no open space. Even the hallway is lined on either side. The flowers and balloons have oozed out of her area to other spaces around her. Flowers are everywhere I turn, vases and planters, roses and lilies, daisies and irises.
"Achoo." Three rapid sneezes, followed by another, echo from another cubicle.
"Jess?" I call, looking into the sea of flowers.
"Achoo."
I follow the sound until I find her. When she turns, she's shaking her head. She has a tissue in her hand and her eyes are red and nose is running.
"Ash? What are you doing here?" she asks, as she dabs her eyes.
"I wanted...are you alright?"
She nods as an exasperated smile raises her cheeks. "Allergic...achoo!"
A chorus of sneezes comes from around the room. Apparently she isn't the only one who's allergic.
"What the hell?"
"I know, right?" Jess says. "My apartment is full too."
I tug her hand. "How about getting out of here for some lunch?"
"Throw in some Benadryl and you've got a deal."
I snicker as we make our way out to my car.
"It's not funny," she says with a welcome glint to her green eyes.
"It is. It's also pathetic. Have you talked to him or your parents?"
"Jack, briefly. I told him to get out of my apartment. He did. He wasn't there when I got there, but there were—"
"Let me guess, flowers?"
"Oh my God. I never want to see another flower again as long as I live." She rolls down the window as we start to drive away. "Fresh air. I need fresh air!"
Like a puppy on its first drive, Jess leans her face out the window, allowing the breeze to blow her hair back. I can hardly keep my eyes on the road. Considering she just emerged from an unwanted tropical nursery, she looks happy and carefree. How can that be?
"Jess?"
She can't hear me. When she doesn't answer, I hit the button on the window to raise it just a little.
"Hey! Are you trying to chop off my head?"
"No, I'm trying to get your attention."
Jess smiles. "You definitely had it last night."
OK that's good. She brought it up. Her bringing it up is good. Right?
"Yeah, about that..."
She reaches over and covers my hand with hers. "As far as I'm concerned, we're still friends. How about you?"
I sit taller. "Still friends, and you were right, by the way."
"I was? About what?"
I turn my hand over so our palms meet and give her hand a squeeze. "Honey, you're a great lay!"
Jess shakes her head as pink fills her cheeks. "You know, I'm not sad. I should be. I know my parents will be furious, but I'm kind of relieved."
"Good! You should be. You were right about something else. You deserve better than that asshole."
"I do."
Sitting in the coffee shop, Jess takes a drink of her sweet tea and leans across the table toward me. Unconsciously, I catch a glimpse of her tits from the neckline of her blouse.
"Eyes up here, friend," she says with a glint to her eyes, emphasizing the last word.
Reluctantly I lift my gaze. "I don't know how I've never really paid attention. They're fucking awesome."
"Well, I could say the same about your monster cock, but I don't want to give you a bigger head than you already have."
I shrug. "It wouldn't be any different than the millions of other testimonials. I could pull them up for you on my website if you'd like."
"You're so bad."
I pull out my phone. "No, I'm serious. Let me show you."
Jess laughs. "You're a jerk and you already showed me. I don't need to see the website. Thank you very much."
I cock my head to the side. "Yes, that's what they all say. Everyone one of the testimonials is a thank-you. A few are engraved."
Suddenly, she sits taller. "I'm going to go to my parents' house tonight and tell them in person. I think they deserve that. I'm afraid it's not going to go well."
"Would you like some company?"
"Seriously?" Her tone lightens.
If I wasn't before, I am now. "Seriously," I confirm.
I change out of the slacks and blouse I wore to work and into a pair of jeans. Just as I pull the bright green tank top over my head and boobs, a knock comes at my apartment door. I'd told Ashton to meet me here before we go to my parents. I'm not sure why I like the idea of having him with me to tell my parents, but I do.
"Just a minute," I call out as I get closer.
Sliding back the deadbolt, I open the door. Instead of baby blue eyes and sandy hair, all atop of a kick-ass body, I'm met with dark hair, dark eyes, and a good body. Alright, an OK body.
"Leave," I say, my hand on my hip.
"Jessica," Jack says as he glances over my shoulder into the living room of the apartment we shared a mere twenty-four hours ago.
"I'm not talking to you, ever."
"Where are the flowers I left you? Did you get the ones I sent to your work?"
"Just stop, Jack. I almost had to go to the emergency room from the allergic reaction to so many flowers."
"Then maybe you'll like this better?" he asks as he pulls my ring from the pocket of his sports jacket. It wouldn't kill him to wear jeans and t-shirt, but he rarely does.
My skin itches with irritation as I cross my arms over my breasts. "No."
"You can't throw us away. Not now. Not so close to our wedding. We have people traveling. People made reservations. You can't ruin it for everyone."
"She didn't, asshole."
My scowl turns to a smile at the sound of Ashton's voice.
Jack turns, coming nearly chest to chest with Ashton, who too has changed from work into something more comfortable. I take a moment to appreciate the way his biceps flex under the tight Under Armour material of his shirt.
"This isn't any of your business, Michaels," Jack says. "Get lost."
I step back and before Jack realizes what happens, Ashton is in the apartment, leaving Jack still on the outside looking in.
"Obviously," Ash says, "Jess disagrees."
Jack's jaw tightens. "You know, I was always fine with the friendship thing between the two of you, but don't put your nose where it doesn't belong. Jess is my fiancée."
"Not any longer," I correct. "I didn't ruin anything. You did. You're the reason the wedding's off."
I look up at Ashton.
My heart flutters as he runs his hand through his hair and shines one of his cockiest grins. Flutters. Really. It's like I'm fifteen again, and I'm just seeing my best friend for the whole package that he is. And boy oh boy, what a package.
"Really, man," Ash says, "thanks."
Jack shakes his head. "What? Why are you thanking me?"
"For showing your true colors. For helping Jess see the light."
Jack looks away from Ashton and back to me. "Change into something appropriate and let's go get dinner. We can work this out."
I looked down at my green concert tank top and holey jeans. "I like what I'm wearing and"—I lift my hand—"what I'm not wearing."
"Jessica."
His tone is one that says he isn't' happy. I stand taller. "Can't."
"Why not?"
Ashton's arm circles my waist. "She has plans."
"Jessica Marie," Jack repeats, using my full name like I'm a child being reprimanded.
I lean toward Ashton. "You heard him, plans."
Just then, Jack pulls his phone from his pocket and grins. "Text message from your mom. She's asking what time we'll be there. She said you aren't answering your phone."
Shit. I plugged my phone in and haven't unmuted it.
"We aren't going to my mo
m's," I correct. "Besides you don't like going there. And after they know the truth, you'll never be welcome there again."
Jack shrugs. "I can slum it for an evening. If you insist, we can drive separately." He looks me up and down. "Your outfit is fine for there."
I clench my teeth as he turns and walks away. How had I not seen what a presumptuous arrogant asshole he is? And I was going to marry that jerk?
Ashton pulls me close. "What's that guy's problem? He doesn't seem to understand the obvious."
"I'm tired of taking his shit. How about I dish it for a change?"
Ashton's blue eyes twinkle. "What do you have in mind?"
"Are you up for taking one for the team?"
He raises his brow. "I've always been a team player."
"My parents will be devastated at the cancellation of the wedding, either way," I explain, "but if they think I'm happy with the decision, that it was my decision, based on me, not on him screwing everything up...I know them. They'll be happy for me."
Ashton's hands lower to my behind and he pulls me closer until our hips collide. "So we go to your parents and tell them about us?"
I nod.
"Then we come back here and I get another one for the team?" His eyebrows dance in a way that makes my pussy clench.
Damn, I need to change. Just the thought of that and my panties are wet.
"The team," I say, "got many last night."
Ashton takes one step toward me and then another, moving me backward. Once again I'm pinned against the wall, his hard body covering mine as his chin rests on his fist and his elbow leans casually near my cheek. A spicy, masculine scent fills my senses as his blue eyes drink me in. I can't help but think about last night, about his monster cock, and about how having him right here erases all the hurt that Jack's wandering inflicted.
"I want more," he says, his cool spearmint breath tickling my nose.
I try to swallow. "More?"
His grin inches upward, lopsided and sexy as hell. "Our new agreement needs some revision. I don't think we can be friends with benefits if I haven't tasted your pussy."
"You—"
He touches his finger to my lips. "Correction. Not tasted. Eaten, devoured, consumed. That small sample last night has been lingering in my thoughts. Today at lunch I kept thinking about it. All day, really. Your cum on my fingers was sweeter than honey. Jess, I have this condition that can be serious—life threatening, if not treated."
