Miller's Time (Southern Charmers Series Book 2)

by Ahren Sanders

  "Jesus, Ashlyn, tell me you're with me here."

  "Maybe you should convince me." Her statement hangs between us, the vibe shifting as the air thickens. The tip of her tongue wets her lower lip and the light in her eyes burns hotter, scorching through me. I'm taken back in time to that morning in the hotel, saying those same words and staring at me with the same desire. My dick lurches, slipping along her slickness, throbbing against her as I remember the way she felt sliding down, taking me all in, the heat surrounding me flesh on flesh.

  That was Lily… This is Ashlyn… In this moment, I know she's finally accepted what I've been telling her. She is one and the same.

  It takes every ounce of self-control I can find not to lose myself in her with one thrust. "The possessive beast inside me wants to fucking bury myself in you right now. Feel your pussy sucking me deep until you're panting. I want my neighbors to hear you screaming my name and know all day your insides are coated with me."

  Her breath hitches and her hips pivot, teasing me with the familiar silky smoothness. I brace my weight on one elbow, cupping her neck and skimming my other slowly down her body, circling her nipple and continuing until my fingers reach where we're almost connected. My thumb rolls around her wet and swollen clit while my hips rock, teasing her.

  "Oh my God, Miller, please." She bows up, and I hiss when my dick slips barely inside.

  "Not yet, baby," comes out coarse and sharp. The need to have her burns through my veins, and I force myself to shift my position.

  Her eyes glaze over and roll closed as she arches her back to grind harder. I keep my thumb circling and slide a finger inside while continuing to buck my hips to hers. She's so fucking wet, her walls clenching my finger as her whimpers grow louder. Since Sunday afternoon, I've taken every chance to reacquaint myself with her body. The way she responds to my touch, the sounds she makes, the way her eyes communicate for her. Everything I missed all those months ago.

  Another finger slides inside, and I curl them together in a strumming motion. She writhes, her red hair falling over her face and blocking my view. "Look at me."

  She brushes her hair away and dips her head, giving me what I asked. Her eyes are wild, her cheeks flushed, and her breath coming in pants. She rides my hand, rubbing against me. The knot at the base of my spine tingles, and I know I can come again from the friction alone.

  She clamps down, her muscles clasping my fingers, and moans, telling me she's close. I increase my speed, leaning down to take her nipple between my teeth.

  "Miller!" she shouts, coming undone against me. It's a sound I've grown to love these last few days.

  My dick jerks and thickens, my balls grow heavy, and I heave up, keeping my fingers inside her as I stroke myself. For the second time this morning, I explode, this time all over her.

  "Shit," I growl, the possessive animal coming alive.

  "You really enjoy marking me."

  I slowly remove my fingers and haul her to me. "I never understood it. Pierce tried to explain, but it never registered. Intimacy was foreign to me. The physical part of sex was straightforward and uncomplicated. Outside of two relationships early in life, feelings have never been involved. Until you. It's more than a mark, baby; it's knowing I did it to you."

  She wraps her arms around my shoulders and places her forehead to mine. "In case you haven't figured it out, I'm crazy about you, too."

  "Good to know."

  •—•—•—•—•

  The exaggerated cries ricochet through the empty house, ringing in my ears. I catch the other three men flinching before their hard stares land on me. We all size each other up, me noticing that Austin and Andrew are younger images of their father—tall, dark-haired, and built solid. Ashlyn backs away from her mother's embrace, jumping to each brother before landing in her dad's arms. Only then does his face soften as he picks her up in a bear hug.

  Her mom steps away, coming to me with her arms stretched. I take her in and see where all her kids get their sparkling green eyes. "Miller," she gushes, hugging me warmly.

  "Mrs. Rhodes."

  "Call me Janette or Janie."

  "Janie, it's nice to meet you."

  She beams, keeping a hold of my biceps but leaning back to assess me. "You're it." Her whisper is low, but her meaning is clear.

  "I am," I tell her with no regard. She can create her fucking Pinterest board anytime.

  "J, you want to let go of the contractor so we can meet him?" Dozer groans. His meaning is not lost on me.

  She steps back but stands to my left, Ashlyn joining her on my right. I catch the move right away. The Rhodes women are flanking me and sending a message. It's me who steps forward with my hand raised. "Miller Kendrick," I offer to her dad first.

  He slaps his hand in mine more forcefully than necessary, but I'm ready, gripping it hard. His eyes are sharp and intense, his expression unreadable.

  I give him the time he needs, holding his stare. No words are exchanged, but an entire conversation drifts between us.

  I'm a lot more than the contractor.

  Yes, I'm crazy about your daughter.

  No, I'm not good enough for her, but she’ll get everything she deserves in this life.

  I'm not going anywhere.

  I catch the flicker of understanding and agreement before he drops his eyes to our joined hands with a smirk. "Dozer Rhodes," he finishes his introduction.

  Austin and Andrew repeat the same motion, without the silent interrogation, until Ashlyn steps in. "Would you like a tour?"

  "Where's the crew? It's eleven on a Thursday. What kind of slack-ass company doesn't have people working?" Austin speaks up.

  "We scheduled them at noon so we could have some time alone."

  "Seems stupid to lose an entire morning. What moron made that call?" His question aimed at me.

  "Don't be an ass, Austin. I decided. We’re actually ahead of schedule. Now, do you want to see the house or not, because our time is severely limited." She shoves a finger in his chest, and I bite my tongue to keep from grinning.

  He grimaces, pushing her hand away and narrowing his eyes at me. "Yeah," he answers brusquely.

  "Follow me," she directs in a no-nonsense tone.

  I want to pull her to me and kiss her, but instead squeeze her shoulder and motion to the back. She ushers everyone to the front room and shoots me a grateful smile.

  I go to the backyard to check on the equipment delivered and make sure everything is exactly as Dozer requested through his messages with Ashlyn. With the door open, it's easy to know where they are in the house, especially when there's a horde of stomping up the stairs. Then I hear the creak of the front door and the unmistakable, sing-song voice. "Hello?"

  "Shit." I'm on the move, getting to the living area in time to find my very pregnant sister-in-law waddling in, carrying a bag.

  "What the hell, Darby?"

  She glances around, noting we're alone, and leans in to whisper, "I came for moral support."

  "It's her family. I think she's okay."

  "I didn't come for her. Meeting the parents is a big deal, and I wanted to lend my help. Pregnant women have a way of simmering tension."

  My lips twitch at her sincerity and the way she's still talking low. "I appreciate your concern, but you shouldn't be here."

  "It'll be our little secret."

  "Darby!" Ashlyn shrieks, and our heads swing upward to find the Rhodes family gathered at the edge of the stairs.

  Andrew's eyes narrow, shifting between Darby and me, and his face turns to stone. "You're moving in with a man you just met, and he's having a baby with another woman?" he spews.

  He's so focused on firing killer looks that he misses Ashlyn's arm flying back to nail him in the gut.

  "You dumbass! That's Darby, his sister-in-law, and my friend." She skips down the stairs to hug Darby. "What are you doing here?"

  "I brought a welcome gift!"

  I take the bag she waves, and the smell of sugar and chocol
ate fills the air.

  "Oh my goodness, what is that divine smell?" Janie comes to my side and peers in the bag.

  "It's a variety of extras the resort didn't need today," Darby lies with ease. I know for a fact the resort takes everything she delivers and her staff begs for any rare leftovers.

  Ashlyn introduces Darby to her family, bragging about Darby's Creations and the business she built recently, partnering with Brasher Resorts. The story takes a few turns to explain her success along the way and how she ended back in Charleston. Darby shuffles under the praise, her face blushing.

  "I don't know what's in there, but it's not polite to hold it hostage," Dozer tells me gruffly.

  I hand over the bag and notice Ashlyn holding back her amusement.

  "When are you due?" Janie asks, and it's impossible to miss the longing in her voice.

  Ashlyn's amusement disappears, her eyes slicing to mine.

  "In a little over seven weeks." Right as she answers, her hand goes to her stomach and she recoils.

  I take her elbow. "You okay?"

  "Yes, he's active today."

  "Which means you need to be off your feet and not in an environment loaded with dust, grime, and safety hazards."

  "I have to agree. Take it from a mother of two sons, that baby isn't waiting seven weeks," Janie advises confidently.

  "That's what everyone keeps saying."

  "It means a lot that you'd stop by with a welcome present, but I agree with Miller. It's probably not healthy for you to be here with the house in such a wrecked state," Ashlyn informs her.

  "Everyone is overreacting. I'm fine."

  "Does Pierce know you're here?"

  "He does not," I answer for her. "When he finds out, he's going to lose his mind. I'm getting close to that point myself. You want to visit with Ashlyn's family, we'll plan something this weekend."

  Darby's eyes cut to me, sparking with irritation before going back to the Rhodes family. "My husband is a bit overprotective. As is everyone else in my life. Bossiness runs in their genes. If they had it their way, I'd live in a bubble."

  I open my mouth, but she waves her hand my way. "But that being said, I only came by to introduce myself and drop that off. It would be great if we could get together again before you leave."

  "I'll call you tonight." Ashlyn hugs her again.

  "I'll walk you out." I wrap an arm around her shoulder and guide her out as she calls her goodbyes.

  "I appreciate the sentiment, but how about staying away from active construction projects until after you have the baby?" I tell her when we get to her door.

  "I came for you."

  "And I love you for it."

  She attempts a smile, but it's not quite right. The enthusiasm she had a minute ago is gone, and I see the same hurt I saw when Ashlyn and I visited her at the bakery. "You okay?"

  "Yes, why?"

  "Things with Pierce and you going all right? He was pretty worked up last Friday night; Sunday he was still edgy."

  "He's overbearing."

  "You think I can't tell when something is off with you?"

  "It's hormones. They hit out of nowhere."

  "Memories hit out of nowhere, too."

  Her eyes pool with tears, and my chest aches at the sadness. "I have everything I ever wanted. Soon, we'll have the baby we dreamed about. But lately, all I can think about is how Pierce has already done all of this and I wasn't a part of it. Even knowing the circumstances, it still stings. I'm furious with myself for letting it get to me."

  "What you're feeling is justifiable, and your visions of what Pierce went through with Maya and Cole are probably far from reality. He didn't have the woman he loved next to him to share the responsibility. Mom, Dad, me, we helped any way we could, but he was alone and despised not only himself but the mother of his children. He went through the motions for survival and the wellness of his children. You may think he's done this before, but I can guarantee, this time around everything will fucking thrill him because he's experiencing it with you."

  "You're right," she replies unconvincingly.

  "Let me ask you something. Are these thoughts driven by hormones, or did they start when he pushed you to choose a name?"

  Her eyes go wide and she sucks in a breath, which is all the confirmation I need.

  "How'd you know?"

  "I didn't figure it out on my own. Ashlyn helped me put it together."

  She glances over my shoulder, her expression filling with misery. "I try not to think of Connie and what happened with her and Pierce. It never completely goes away, but a little part of me has sympathy for her. Recently, all I can think about is that she gave him his first taste of fatherhood, something I couldn't do. His pushing for a name is only a piece of it."

  Fuck, pain slashes through my side at the raw torture in her words. My brain searches for the right thing to say without being the world's biggest dick. And also not bring on a wave of emotions that could spiral out of control.

  "Darby, I see things a lot differently. Connie may have made him a father, but she didn't give him a taste of fatherhood he wanted and deserved. He owned his part in that fuck-up, but his idea of fatherhood wasn't shuffling his kids back and forth, biting his tongue every time he was forced to be around their mother, and navigating how to raise his kids in two completely different households. That wasn't the way he planned his life.

  "The day Pierce got out you were pregnant, the first time, he was out of his mind with happiness. You gave him that again when you married him and once again when he found out you were pregnant this time around. You are the one giving him the fatherhood he wants and deserves."

  "Our baby would have been fourteen this year." The realization slices through me, and it fucking kills to watch her battle this. I tug her gently to me, careful of her stomach in between us.

  "Talk to him. He's hurting because he doesn't know how to fix this."

  She shakes her head spastically against my chest. "I can't tell him any of this. He'll go berserk."

  "Let him go crazy, then let him help you through it. You're giving him what he didn't think was possible."

  She goes slack, taking a few deep breaths. "Thank you, Miller."

  "I know there are many people ahead of me you go to when you need something. But if you want to talk, I'm here."

  She nods, stepping back and wiping her eyes, which are now clear. "Can I give you some unsolicited advice?"

  "Is that code for getting into my business?"

  "Be patient with Ashlyn. There's a reason she's recreating her life here, and she's not ready to talk about it yet. Coming from someone that took a gigantic leap and got a second chance in life, she needs someone on her side, through the good and bad."

  "I'm not going anywhere."

  She smiles brightly. "I didn't think so."

  "You good now?"

  "I'm perfect." She rubs her stomach lovingly. "And you just jumped to the top of the list of people I go to when I need something."

  "Shit, guess I had that coming," I moan playfully before opening her door and helping her inside.

  As she drives away, the hair on the back of my neck prickles, and I turn back to the house to find Ashlyn watching through the front window. Her eyes are shining and her smile beaming.

  In this moment, something strikes hard, hitting me square in the chest. Looking at the gorgeous woman in the window, I finally understand exactly why Pierce is the way he is.

  Chapter 12

  Ashlyn

  "You sure you don't think it was burnout?" Dad asks worriedly.

  "No, not textbook definition burnout. I think it was a case of waking up and realizing I didn't like the person I was. It became clear I wasn't living the life I envisioned. The money was fantastic, but somewhere along the way I lost myself."

  The table is quiet, too quiet. My family eyes me skeptically, taking in the information. I made the decision that tonight was the night I explain, in my own way, what prompted the changes in my li
fe. Their months of questions and worry deserved answers. It was a practiced and generic explanation. They didn't need to know the dirty details, because those details no longer mattered.

  Miller grips my shoulder supportively, then twirls his fingers in my hair and tugs. I glance at him and smile, feeling completely at ease with his closeness. A little shiver runs through me when he winks, his blue eyes glittery. He's encouraging me without words to keep going.

  "And there's something else. Mom and I went to the bank today." I tell them about Evin, my investments, and all the things that go along with it. I repeat the story I told Evin and Miller without all the explicit slurs and threats.

  When I'm done, I take a large gulp of my wine and wait. It doesn't take long for the anger to build.

  "I don't like this," comes out harshly from Andrew.

  "Looks like we should head to Chicago." Austin drains his beer. "You in?" He eyes Miller.

  "No!" I jump in, slinging my finger between my brothers. "It's handled. You don't need to fight this battle."

  "Ashlyn, these jokers are messing with your money."

  "Not anymore." I face Mom, and she's sipping her wine with a triumphant grin. "I should say, we handled it."

  "You didn't tell anyone you were moving here? That doesn't make sense. We visited you in Chicago, you had friends." Andrew and Austin exchange another look.

  "Looking back, I was a bit of a loner. I had peers, coworkers, and associates; it's not the same thing. When I made my decision, there wasn't one person I wanted to keep in contact with."

  "I knew it," Dad pipes in, looking pensive. "Your mom and I both sensed it. Especially when we met that slickster you hooked up with."

  I straighten, my spine snapping tight. My heart races, and I silently plead with my dad not to mention anymore. Miller's hand goes to my neck, and tension rolls off him, filling the few inches of space between us.

  "Brett? Brad? What was his name, Ashlyn?" Dad keeps on.

  "Brock," the name is like sandpaper in my throat, "but I don't think—"

  "Brock, that's right. Showy asshole he was. Thank God we don't have to sit across from him at Thanksgiving dinners for the rest of our lives."