Always (Time for Love Book 4) (19 page)

Ash disposed of her bra, then his fingers moved to the button of her jeans. Slowly, way too slowly, Ash unzipped her jeans and pushed them down her legs, leaving her with just her undies on.

“Lie on the bed, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear.

Eagerly, she did as she was told. She looked at him as he stared at her, his eyes devouring her body as if it was the first time he’d seen her naked. Well, semi-naked, because she still had her panties on. She was tempted to take them off herself, but it was much more fun when Ash did it.

Ash leaned down and started kissing her legs. She parted them for him, her breathing becoming soft gasps as Ash made his way to the apex.

“I better get rid of this, before I get told off for not completing the job,” he murmured, pulling her last piece of clothing down her legs. Then he reared on top of her. “Now what?” he asked, a naughty smile appearing on his face.

She grinned, biting her bottom lip. “Take your clothes off.”

“Gladly,” he said, disposing of his garments in record time.

Ahh, she’d missed his hot body, especially the hardness that pointed at her. To her surprise, she wanted him inside her immediately. What was it about Ash that got her soaking in seconds? But it would be a shame to make this so quick.

“Stand by the side of the bed,” she instructed, then scooted in position in front of him. She wrapped her hand around his length, tasting the dew that had formed at the tip, before sliding it in her mouth.

Ash groaned. “I’m loving this game,” he said, running his fingers through her hair as her head bobbed up and down.

With her free hand, she caressed his balls as she continued suck and tug him. Before long, Ash stepped back, gently pushing her head away.

“Hey, I didn’t hear me say we can stop,” she said.

Ash reached for her nipples with both hands, flicking them with his thumbs. “I thought you might want to demand something else.”

Ahh.
He was right. “Lick them with your tongue?” she asked shyly.

Ash chuckled. “That doesn’t sound like a demand.” But he did anyway.

She lay down in bed, taking her with him, his mouth still latched on to a bud. “Ash.” Her voice carried the intense need she had for him.

“Anything else, sweetheart?” he asked between licks.

“I want you,” she gasped, bucking her hips to tell him exactly where else she wanted attention.

But Ash didn’t stop kissing her breasts. Instead, he placed his hand between her legs. He dipped a finger in her, then pulled it out to spread her juices onto her clit.

She moaned—a lusty cry she wouldn’t have been able to stifle even if she wanted to. His tongue laving her nipples and his fingers playing with her pussy were driving her arousal to fever pitch. It was so damn good, and she was so close, when Ash stopped abruptly.

“Honey, don’t stop,” she pleaded, squirming with need.

“I’ll give this to you instead, baby,” Ash said, inserting his cock inside her.

Ohhh.

“Good?” Ash asked, grunting as he thrust inside her.

“Yes... oh, yes.... Faster, please,” she cried.

Ash groaned. “Anything you want, Brenna. Anything you want.” He drove into her, pushing to the hilt, then pulling out just to drive into her again, over and over.

The sounds of their connecting bodies mixing with their cries of pleasure added to the magical force that pushed her further and further up. Once again, Ash was taking her to heights of pleasure she’d never thought possible. And she was almost at the crest.

Her body tensed, her breath coming out in faster, louder gasps.

“Yes, baby, come for me,” Ash panted through gritted teeth, his face a picture of single-minded concentration as he lunged into her.

“Oh God,” she breathed, before she cried out loud, her body trembling uncontrollably as an intense orgasm washed over her.

“Fuck... Bren...” Ash gasped, bucking into her with abandon before exploding and filling her with his come.

*

“C
an you demand that again when we get home?” Ash asked as he pulled out of her.

“I’m home. I’ll give you a few minutes to recover, then I’ll demand it again,” she teased.

Ash wrapped his arm and leg around her. “I mean my place. Since you’re moving in with me, that’s home for you now, too. But I won’t complain if you want another one in a minute.”

“A minute?” she asked with a giggle. She was more than glad Ash was insatiable. When it came to him, she was too.

Ash rolled his eyes. “Fine. Thirty seconds then.”

She shifted on her side to fully face him. “There’s something I really, really demand when I move in to your house.”

“What?” Ash asked, smiling at her with obvious love in his eyes.

“I want to go through the remaining boxes in your garage. Even though we take ages sorting through each and every single item we find, it’s so much fun. It’s like going down memory lane. I actually think I’ll be sad when we run out of boxes to open.”

Ash held her tighter. “There’s one big reason why I refused to go through them before.”

“What?”

“When we find a particular item, you’ll know,” he said mysteriously.

“Ooh, now I’m intrigued. What item?”

Ash shook his head. “Find it, and you’ll know.”

She pouted. “Tell me,” she demanded, too curious to wait.

Ash grinned. “And spoil your fun? No.”

“
Please?
” she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.

He simply shook his head again, covering her mouth with his. Soon, her interest went to where his wandering hand was going to touch her next.

Ah, well. There would be plenty of time to uncover the mystery of the hidden item.

A
sh followed the verbal directions given to him, and arrived at his intended destination. There were only two people in the room, and they were huddled close together in a corner, holding each other’s hands tightly, conversing in hushed tones.

Quietly, he sat on a chair furthest from them. He didn’t want to announce his presence. It seemed like an intrusion at a time like this.

He had to admit that a small part of him—okay, a big part of him—still didn’t like seeing Brenna that close to Darren. Or any other man, for that matter. When it came to her, his possessive streak couldn’t help but act up.

But he was tolerating this vision of Brenna and Darren comforting each other. He’d accepted the fact that the two were friends and always would be. He was just relieved that Darren also had a girlfriend now. It made him breathe easier. Speaking of whom, he wondered where Monica was.

“Ash!”

“Hey,” he said, getting up and walking towards them.

“How long have you been sitting there?” Brenna asked, frowning and searching his face.

“I just got here.” He gave her a genuine smile, wordlessly telling her he wasn’t bothered by the scene he’d witnessed. And seriously, only an ass would be so misunderstanding.

Brenna smiled back and put her arms around his waist. “Thank you for coming.”

He squeezed her tight, kissing her temple. “Always.”

They let each other go and he went to give Darren a man-hug. “How are you holding up?” he asked.

Darren let out a huge sigh. “I’m a bundle of nerves at the moment. What do you think the chances are of this operation going badly, Ash? I mean, Mum has been quite sick already. Do you think her body will accept her new liver?”

“She’s being operated on by the best liver transplant surgeon in Australia, Darren. I’m sure everything’s going well. And post-operation, she’ll be looked after and monitored by a top team. She’s in good hands.”

Darren nodded, sitting down. “Whoever that person was who died in the car accident, I’m so grateful for her for being a donor,” he said, his eyes watering.

“We’re all grateful,” Brenna said softly.

“Darren!”

Sally rushed to her nephew, followed by two women. Brenna introduced them to Ash as Sally’s daughters.

“Where’s Monica?” Ash whispered to Brenna.

“She was in Canberra for work when Darren got the call that there was a compatible donor for Patty. She’s on her way back now.”

“How are you?” he asked, cupping Brenna’s face so he could inspect it properly for signs of stress.

She smiled serenely at him. “I’m okay. Nervous for Patty, but very glad.”

He gave her a quick peck. “I’m afraid I have to leave for the eye hospital in a few minutes. I have a cataract operation to perform.”

Brenna nodded.

“I assume you’re staying here with them?”

She nodded again. “I hope that’s okay with you?”

“Of course, sweetheart,” he said, smiling. “Did you drive here? I can pick you up later if you want.”

“No, I drove. I’ll see you at home tonight.”

“Okay.” He still got a thrill whenever Brenna called his place home.

*****

A
sh stood in his roomy walk-in closet, surveying it with satisfaction. Brenna’s clothes were all unpacked now, and her stuff took about sixty percent of the closet space. He didn’t mind. And he knew he’d end up moving some more of his less-used things to the spare bedroom. Women always needed more room than men.

“Ash?” Brenna called.

“In here,” he answered.

Brenna appeared, her face alight.

“How’s Patty?” he asked, gathering her to him.

“The operation went well. She’ll be staying in the hospital for at least a couple of weeks, but the doctors don’t envisage any major problems.”

“That’s good news. It’s a great Christmas present for her and her family.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Brenna said. “Darren is gonna try and see if he can get in touch with the family of the donor—to extend his gratitude and condolences. We hope that their grief at losing their loved one will somehow be lessened by the knowledge that she'd saved a life."

Ash nodded solemnly.

“Will you go with me next time I visit Patty? She really likes you.”

“I’d love to. She’s a lovely woman,” he answered, hugging her tight.

“So what are you doing back here?”

“I realised that you have sixty percent of the closet space.”

“Are you trying to figure out how you could claim some of your space back? Unfortunately, Dr. Payne, if you want me here, you’re gonna have to learn to share.”

“Share? You’re right. What would you say is fair? Fifty-fifty?”

Brenna giggled. “I thought seventy-five/twenty-five was more the norm for couples, with the woman getting the lion’s share, naturally.”

“Seventy-five/twenty-five? Where did you get that figure from?”

“You’re not complaining, are you?” she asked, pressing herself against him.

He shook his head. Yes. Ashton Payne. Wrapped around Brenna Ward’s fingers. And no, he wasn’t complaining at all.

*****

“Y
ou have to give me a clue on what I’m looking for, Ash.”

“Like I said, babe, you’ll know it when you see it,” he answered, slitting open one of the boxes in his garage.

“What if this thing was in one of those boxes that Amanda and Connor went through last time? Are you sure they haven’t inadvertently chucked it away?”

“No. They would have known it was important if they saw it,” he answered.

“You’re intriguing the hell out of me,” Brenna complained. “Just one clue?”

“Patience, my love. Patience.”

*

A
sh finished sorting through his box, replacing most of the contents back and labelling it with ‘donate’. Then he pushed it to a corner where the rest of the to-be-donated boxes were.

He went to stand behind Brenna and kissed her neck.

“Hey, none of that. I’m working here.”

“I distinctly remember that we created a rule. We kiss after finishing a box. Well, I’ve just finished one.”

Brenna twisted and gave him a quick smack on the lips. “There. Now get back to work. I’m on a mission to find this mysterious
thing
you intrigue me with.”

He chuckled, eyeing the five remaining boxes yet to be checked. He couldn’t believe that after more than three years, he was finally getting rid of them. He was also glad that Amanda and Connor hadn’t stumbled upon what he wanted Brenna to find. It was still hidden, waiting to be discovered.

He frowned. Surely it was here somewhere?

“What?” Brenna asked, noticing his expression.

“I do hope Mum packed it.”

“Well, she packed everything you didn’t, right? So it must be here.”

“Yeah. Anyway, I’m hoping we’ll be finished before dinner. I’m cooking for you tonight, remember?”

“You know I always look forward to your cooking, honey,” Brenna said. “But I’m not leaving this garage until I find it, whatever
it
is. And because you haven’t told me exactly what I’m supposed to be looking for, I’m checking each content thoroughly—even if it’s only a pencil case or a box of paper clips—to see if it’s special enough to be the mystery item. It’s taking forever!”

He laughed, knowing full well that Brenna was enjoying herself with this search.

He went to open a new box and was delighted to see it full of his old CDs. They included those he’d bought when he was still in his early teens. He started checking them, putting aside the ones with the songs he wanted to download to his devices later.

He was playing a tune in his head when he heard a sniff. He glanced at Brenna and saw her holding a piece of paper in one hand and dabbing a tear from the corner of her eye with the other.

His heart pounded. She’d found it.

Silently, he looked over her shoulder. The file he’d marked
Important Medical Documents
and had secured with a rubber band was open in front of her. The loose sheets which were inside it were all there for her to see. He was glad that Brenna was thorough and nosy enough to open that file and check it.

“You found it,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Brenna swung around and threw her arms around him, sobbing softly.

He held her tight, kissing her hair repeatedly. When her sniffing had eased, he leaned back and wiped her face with his shirt.

“You’ve been writing poems for me since I was eighteen?” she asked.