Affairs & Atonements Page 12

  She didn’t protest, which could only mean she liked them there. She didn’t mind it there.

  She cupped his face and lifted it up. “I’m done.”

  “I’m not,” he whispered, his hands caressing her ribs.

  Her fingers lingered on his face for a while, his eyes unabashedly dazed with an eagerness to have her. But then her hands dropped and she moved away.

  He reluctantly let her go despite the heaviness in his chest. He followed her and found her fiddling with her first-aid kit.

  “Christy,” he said.

  “Let me have a look at your ribs,” she muttered.

  Without waiting for him to answer, she knelt down to inspect it. She squeezed a tube of heat rub and massaged a thumb portion onto it.

  “It’s bruised.” She diagnosed. “But fortunately it’s not cut or anything.”

  He looked down at her, her lips almost kissing his sides. His hands traveled up her arms and to her shoulders.

  She stilled and then straightened up, her head lowered. She turned away without looking at him.

  “There are some scratches on your face,” she whispered. “I’ll dab some antiseptic cream on it and get out of your way.”

  He followed her in a complete hypnotic state. She was clutching desperately onto the sides of the table. He couldn’t be wrong. She was trying to hold back as much as he was. She wanted him.

  He neared her, so close that his torso meshed with her back. He pushed her hair aside and kissed her nape.

  She threw her head back and groaned. He took his chance and nuzzled her neck, kissing it, biting it. His hands wound around her waist, tugging her closer into him. Her buttocks met his cock and he grunted.

  His hands moved down to her crotch and she let out another moan.

  “Ashton,” she rasped. “Ashton, we can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because…”

  She pushed his hands away and turned in his arms. “Don’t make this hard on the both of us. Let me do this so I can go. Please.”

  He nodded, giving her some space.

  She breathed out a sigh of relief and dabbed a small portion of the cream on his jaw. He winced inwardly. It hurt him slightly, but not as how much his cock was aching to take her.

  Her eyes met his briefly before she lowered them again. She dabbed another small portion on the corner of his lips and his cock jerked. His hand flew up to hers, stopping her.

  “I know you said you can’t,” he said hoarsely. “But I’m gonna take my chance.”

  He pulled her tightly to him with one hand and clutched her hair with the other. His lips came down on hers quickly before she could protest and to his pleasure, she didn’t.

  Her arms wound around his neck, drawing him closer to her. Her breasts crushed against his chest. She opened her mouth wider, letting him slide his tongue into her mouth. He moved in appreciatively, exploring her mouth, warring with her tongue.

  He lifted up her shirt, removing it expertly. But that was where his patience ended as he ripped at her bra and her skirt.

  He picked her up and she delightfully wrapped her legs around him as he carried her to the bed, nibbling at her lips all the way.

  He laid her down, looking into her eyes. “Christy...”

  But she put a finger to his lips. “Ssshhh… let’s not talk.”

  His eyes glazed and he possessed her lips again with intense passion. His hands tugged her bottom to him as he rubbed his cock against her throbbing clit.

  She groaned. “Not yet, Ashton. I’ll come.”

  He lifted himself up from her hesitantly and looked down to her mound that marked her as a woman. His woman.

  He slipped her out of her panties and spread her legs, admiring the lips of her core. He caressed it with his finger, slipping in two fingers as he traced its inner lips.

  She rocked against his fingers, her eyes closed, her body solely attuned to his rhythm.

  He lay between her legs, nuzzling her pussy with his nose and then tracing it with his tongue.

  She bucked and twisted as he thrust his tongue into it with sudden frenzy.

  Finally, in utter hopelessness, she pulled his face up. “Together, Ashton. Please, I want it to be together.”

  He relented. Even though he had wanted to please her, he couldn’t help being slightly selfish. He wanted her. After eleven years of searching, he had found her and there was nothing anyone could do to stop him from claiming her.

  He kissed her lips, leaving a taste of herself in her mouth.

  She clasped his cock, running her hands up and down his velvety shaft before guiding it into her pussy.

  He pushed into her, all the way to his hilt and then began to rock against her. His movements were anything but graceful. They were deep, hard and fast.

  Finally, their bodies trembled together as he let out a soft moan of pleasure. He bent his head down and bit her shoulder, branding her as his forever.

  *****

  Christy woke up in the crook of his arm.

  She watched him in the dark, admiring him. He looked so peaceful. She ran her fingers behind his ear and he groaned in his sleep. He was tired, she smiled.

  She traced his little cut on his jaw and his lips. He was a man and they would heal. But she couldn’t help feeling protective of him. Her heart ached and she leaned down to kiss his wounds.

  He turned in his sleep, his arm moving over her to pull her closer to him.

  But she lifted up his arm daintily and slipped out of his embrace. Gathering her clothes, she pulled them on as quickly and as quietly as she could.

  She gave him one last look before she opened the door.

  Tomorrow, he’d see this as a mistake. And she didn’t want to be here when he would realize it.

  *****

  “Morning.” Ashton squinted at Marshall in the rising sun.

  “Morning,” Marshall replied, tilting his head up to look at him. “We’ve got a lot to do, if I have to finish it today. I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “That’s too bad. I was hoping we could drag it on a little. Enjoy the project at our own leisure.”

  Marshall perked his lips, observing him carefully. “You weren’t being sarcastic, were you?”

  Ashton grinned. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have thrown my temper at you. You were right. This was your project for JR and I shouldn’t have interfered.”

  Marshall sighed, scratching the back of his head. “Don’t go soft on me, man. I just might like you and I really don’t want to do that.”

  Ashton nodded and turned away.

  “Hey,” Marshall said.

  Ashton glanced back at him.

  “Thanks for helping,” said Marshall. “I… I appreciate it. Besides, you have every right to be a part of the project. I… want you to be a part of it too. After all, it is what JR wants.”

  “Thanks.”

  Marshall looked about him awkwardly.

  “Well, then,” Ashton declared, trying to ease the awkwardness between them. “Let’s get started or you’d never have it done by this evening.”

  “Yeah,” the other man replied and began climbing his way up to the unfinished deck. “Hand over those timbers as fast as you can. And will you saw them a little fucking faster? I’ve never seen anyone work as slow as you.”

  Ashton grinned. Marshall was back in supervisor mode and strangely, he liked it. Perhaps it had to do with last night. In fact, he didn’t care. All he knew was how much he missed Christy and how lonely he felt when he awoke to find that she had gone. And he never wanted to feel like that anymore.

  *****

  “Do you need some water?” he asked Marshall.

  He had just seen Christy walk into the kitchen. She had avoided him all day and finally he was at his wit’s end wondering why. He was desperate for reasons. He was desperate for her.

  “No, I’m fine for another hour…”

  “I’ll get us some,” Ashton said, joggin
g over to the house.

  “Hey! I said I didn’t need any!”

  He cornered her in the kitchen. “Hi.”

  She spun around in surprise. “Hi.”

  “I was missing you.” He smiled, nearing her.

  She paled. “Ashton, we need to talk.”

  We need to talk? He frowned. Those words always sounded so damned foreboding.

  “What about?” he asked.

  “About us,” she said, moving away from him, putting some space between them.

  “Yeah?”

  “Last night… Ashton… I know last night was a mistake-”

  “Who said it was a mistake?” He cut her off sharply.

  She shrugged nervously. “I… I think it was.”

  “Christy,…” He licked his lips, rapidly rationalizing it internally, trying to think how he could convince her that it was anything but a mistake.

  “Christy,” Chad called out to her from outside.

  Christy bit her lips, repressing the tears welling in her eyes. “That’s why.”

  She strode off towards the door and threw it open. “Hey,” she said to Chad. “When did you come?”

  Ashton watched her saunter away with the deputy sheriff, her hand entwined with his.

  What did I do wrong? What the fuck just happened?

  *****

  “So what do you think, JR?” Marshall beamed proudly as he looked up at the newly constructed treehouse.

  “I love it!” The boy shouted excitedly as he raced up the ladder, disappearing into the house. “Uncle Marshall! Dad! I love it!” he shouted again, poking his head out of one of the windows.

  Marshall grinned happily, turning towards Ashton. “Client’s happy.”

  “He is.” Ashton smiled, glancing up at his son running about inside the house.

  “Well done.” Marshall clapped him on the back. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Marshall shrugged. “I’m quite something, aren’t I?”

  Ashton laughed. “Never doubted it.”

  Marshall smiled. “You’re not so bad yourself, kid. I didn’t think you’d pull through it. You did well.”

  “Yeah, well, I had a great supervisor.”

  “True, true.” Marshall nodded, chuckling. “So there’s just the windows, then. I trust you can manage that on your own?”

  Ashton shrugged his shoulders with a side grin. “Yeah, I suppose.”

  “Hey, Dad!” JR called out from above. “Can we put a telescope in here?”

  “Yeah, buddy. Why not?”

  “Yes!” The boy gave a victorious punch in the air.

  Marshall tilted his head approvingly at him and gave out his hand. “It’s been great seeing you again, kid.”

  Ashton clasped it and shook it. “Me too.”

  The evening breeze whistled through the trees and the sun was setting in the horizon. The crickets were already beginning to chirp in the thickened lawn beneath their feet. Their silhouettes strode in perfect synchrony as they strolled back towards the house.

  “Ashton,” mumbled Marshall, breaking the silence of their stroll. “I know you’ll do your best for JR. I can see you love him. I don’t doubt that. But I’m asking you to consider Christy in whatever decision you’re going to make. She’s had enough to deal with in her life and she’s only getting back on her feet.”

  “Marshall, really, you don’t have to-”

  Marshall touched his elbow gently. “I’m sorry for everything that’s happened to Linda. I wish we knew how to deal with it better. I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

  “Marshall-” Ashton tried again.

  “No, hear me out, first. I know you loved Linda. And I can understand how it must have hurt you to see her go through all that pain. I’ve been there, believe me. I’m asking you, as Christy’s brother, not to take out my mistakes with Linda on Christy.”

  Ashton sighed. He wanted to tell him he had forgiven him a long time ago. That it wasn’t just his fault that his marriage to Linda had come to an end. That Linda was as much at fault. And mostly, that he himself had matured since then and should never have interfered in their marriage in the first place. But how do you tell a guy all that when he had just poured his heart out before you without embarrassing him?

  “I promise I’ll always take care of Christy,” Ashton said slowly. It was the only truth he could give him at the moment.

  Marshall squeezed his shoulder affectionately. “Thank you.”

  *****

  “Yummm.” Marshall rubbed his palms together. “Something smells nice.”

  “It’s olive-stuffed chicken breasts and potatoes,” JR announced. “My favorite.”

  “Yeah? You know what?” Marshall slipped into a chair beside his nephew. “It’s mine too. And your mom’s has got to be the best.”

  JR chuckled. “Yep.”

  “I thought you men deserved something really nice after working so ardently on that treehouse,” said Christy, transferring the roasted meat from the pan and into a serving plate. “It was a heck of a job and with the initial set-backs…” She coughed. “I’m pleasantly surprised that all three of you came out on top of it. And done a great job at it too.”

  “She approves.” Marshall tugged JR’s arm.

  “Now is the time,” he whispered.

  “You think? Ok, here goes.” He cleared his throat and said aloud. “Then can we have some wine with that?”

  Christy lifted her brow. “That was a little sneaky. Yes.” And then added quickly before Marshall could dart for the cellar. “So long as you don’t stay up too late and promise not to down the bottle all on your own.”

  Marshall grumbled. “Yeah, okay.” He whispered into JR’s ear, “Bossy boots.”

  JR giggled.

  “I heard that,” she said with a pretentious growl. “But you’re traveling back to Bennett tomorrow and I don’t want you all tired and drunk on your way there.”

  Marshall made a sulky face at JR and then headed off towards the cellar.

  “I love your treehouse, JR,” Margaret said, ambling into the kitchen. “When are you going to start painting the insides?”

  “Dad said we could get some paint tomorrow. And I get to paint it all on my own,” said JR proudly. “He’ll show me how first, but then after that I could take it from there.”

  “Sounds good,” said his grandmother. “Have you decided on the colors?”

  “Maybe blue. Or green.” He scrunched his mouth in deep thought. “I don’t know. I like them both.”

  “If you go down to the paint store, they have those little color cards you can choose from. Probably you should not be so set on what colors you want before seeing them first?”

  “Yeah, I guess. And as soon as I get the painting done, Dad’s gonna put up the windows. I can’t wait to start filling it up, Nan.”

  She laughed. “I can’t wait to fill it up also.”

  Christy cleared her throat, interrupting them. “Your father, JR… he isn’t here yet. Why don’t you run up to his room and tell him that dinner’s ready?”

  JR shot out of the chair and out of the room almost immediately.

  Margaret smiled. “He’s always looking for an opportunity to spend time with his dad.” She raised a curious eyebrow. “You’re being a lot more polite these days with him too.”

  “He is JR’s father, Margaret.” She rolled her eyes. “I have to be polite. And besides he did do impressively with that treehouse. He worked hard on it and I just think he deserves something special tonight.”

  “You don’t have to get defensive.” Margaret teased. “I’m just saying it’s nice that you are.”

  Christy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, observing her little dinner spread critically. Have I taken it too far? I probably shouldn’t have made the salad. Yeah… I definitely shouldn’t have made the salad.

  *****

  Ashton rolled up his cuffs and then straightened his collar. He gave himself one
last inspection in the mirror then sat back tiredly into a chair by the window. Nothing felt right. He shouldn’t be up here sitting alone in the lodge. He should be there with the family. He belonged there. That’s where he needed to stay. To live there, sleep there.

  His fingers rapped on the arms of his chair. I’m being greedy. I want more. But then when was he not? He had always been ambitious, not ever settling for what he was blessed with.

  He was fortunate that Christy had invited him back into her life, even though it was only for the limited role as JR’s father. He had the most passionate sex with her last night. Undeniably, the best he had ever had with any woman. And then she had willingly dismissed it as a mistake and stepped away. At least, he wouldn’t have to carry the burden of hurting her, he tried telling himself. They were adults now. They understood that sometimes people succumbed to their desires and lapsed into their weaknesses. And she had been his. Now that they had got the sex out of the way, they wouldn’t be as attracted to each other anymore. They could proceed respectfully with their lives. He could return to just being JR’s father and go back to Philadelphia being the high-powered advertising executive.

  If it all made absolute sense, then why the fuck did it feel so wrong?

  “Dad?” JR knocked on his door.

  He let out a breath. “Yeah, buddy. Come on in.”

  The boy swung open the door and jumped onto his bed. “Mom said dinner’s ready.”

  “Yeah?” He smiled to himself, repeatedly churning those four simple words spilt so casually out of his child’s mouth in his mind. He liked that message. And suddenly he had a yearning to hear them every night for the rest of his life.

  “Dad, are you okay?” JR asked, now peeking closely at his face.

  “Yeah, I am.” He grinned, standing up. “We should go. Mom will get mad. I’m already late as it is.”

  “Oh yeah. She hates re-heating the food.” JR rolled his eyes. “But what kept you so long? We’ve been waiting for ages.”

  “I’m sorry.” He put an arm around his son’s shoulders. He was sorry about a lot of things. But he was determined to never be late again. Chad may be Christy’s boyfriend. However, she was also his wife and he was going to do everything possible to make sure she remained as that. This was his family and he was going to fight to keep them with him.