“You have no idea how much I missed you,” he said in a desperate whisper.
Ashiya rolled him over onto his back again. She took the condom out of his hand and made quick work of covering his length. Her lips lifted with a greedy grin. She loved the hell out of his dick. It was perfection. Perfect length, just enough of a curve to hit every spot, and so deliciously thick. The only thing that kept her from taking him in her mouth was that her body ached for him more. She adjusted herself over him and slid down in a sure motion.
Russell clenched his teeth. His fingers dug into her hips. Ashiya pressed her hands against his chest and then raised and lowered her hips. They both groaned. She started slowly, savoring each filling stroke, but that only lasted a few heartbeats. Passion, longing and lust took over. Her movements became hurried.
She opened her eyes and looked down at him. His eyes were open and on her. Just like before, he watched her. Desire and adoration swam in his gaze. No one ever looked at her like that when making love. As if she were not only giving him pleasure but gifting him with something so precious and perfect that he wasn’t sure he was worthy.
He slid a hand up her thigh and pressed his thumb against her protruding clit. Ashiya crashed over the edge. Her movements jerked and her rhythm was thrown off as the orgasm rocked her. Russell grabbed her hips, flipped her onto her back, pushed in deep and owned her with hard, fast thrusts. The ripples of her orgasm continued as she cried out. Russell’s body tensed. He pulsed hard and oh so deep inside her, before falling heavily on top of her. Ashiya didn’t care if she had to lasso the moon there was no way she’d ever let Russell go.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ASHIYA WOKE UP slowly at five in the morning. She hadn’t woken up that early since coming to her grandmother’s home. Any other day she’d still be knocked out from the sleeping pills. She turned her head, took in Russell’s sleeping profile on the pillow next to her and smiled. A dose or two of Russell worked better than any sleeping pill on the market.
She wanted to roll over into his arms. Wake him with a gentle kiss on his jaw while her hand roamed down his chest to slowly squeeze his dick until it hardened in her palm. He’d groan and grin before pushing her onto her back and giving her a morning pick-me-up that was ten times better than coffee.
Instead, she eased from the bed and hurried out of the room. As much as she wanted to wake up in his arms and have a repeat of the awesome night they’d shared, she didn’t want to see regret in his eyes. Nor did she want to have the awkward morning-after discussion. The way he’d held her, kissed her, and made love to her the night before was the same way he’d done it when they’d dated. There was so much joy and hope in her heart about them finally getting another chance that she wasn’t ready to shatter her happiness with all of the reasons they shouldn’t be together.
She tiptoed to her room and quickly showered and dressed. Russell still hadn’t stirred by the time she left the house and got behind the wheel of her car. She called Brianna as she eased out of the driveway.
“Good morning, Ashiya. Is everything alright?” Brianna asked, sounding worried. Not too surprising since Ashiya hadn’t gotten up early since coming to town.
“Everything is fine. I’m just up early, and I don’t feel like being stuck in the house. I thought that maybe I could go by the Legacy offices again this morning and meet a few more of the employees.”
“That’s a great idea. Do you want me to call Levi and let him know you’re coming? He mentioned you sitting in on some of the meetings he’s having in the next few weeks.”
Levi had made the offer right as Ashiya began her tour of the facility the day before. Her cousin hadn’t seemed enthusiastic about the idea of her butting in on his meetings, but he also seemed ready to accept that she had ideas, wasn’t going anywhere, and ultimately had the power to do whatever she wanted since she was a majority shareholder.
“Let’s do that,” Ashiya agreed. “I’m going to find someplace to get coffee and breakfast, and then I’ll meet you at the office later.”
“I’m already up and almost dressed. Let me know where you’re going, and I’ll eat with you. That way I can give you an update on what’s on the schedule. His morning is slightly busy.”
“You know Levi’s schedule?”
“Melissa was in a habit of sharing his schedule with me, and I shared it with your grandmother. She still does that.”
“Did my grandmother sometimes sit in on meetings?”
“Not as much, but Levi would come over and give her an update on any major discussions of the day.”
“Good to know. If there was a standing meeting he had with my grandmother, go ahead and start arranging them with me. If we’re going to work together, we might as well start sooner rather than later.”
Since she’d decided to do this, it was time to get into the habit of owing a major corporation. She would only learn so much by staying at home reviewing reports and getting updates from Brianna. If she wanted Levi and the rest of the board to take her seriously, and if she was going to find out the source of the missing money, then she would have to be involved.
Hours later, Ashiya was in dire need of another cup of coffee, and she wished she’d chosen three-inch heels instead of the six-inch heels she’d grabbed on her way out. To say Levi’s schedule for the day was packed was like saying the interstate during rush hour was slightly busy. There was barely time to breathe or catch up on anything between the meetings.
Ashiya sat back and listened for the most part. Levi always introduced her as the new owner, then dove right into the meetings. Discussions were on everything from a fragrance blend for a new shampoo line, to marketing another brand of soaps to teens, and adding a new wrinkle-reducing compound to a face wash. Ashiya knew the Legacy Group had gone from a small soap-making business to a larger health and beauty organization, but to see and hear the decisions that went into the multitude of products was amazing.
At two, Levi looked at his watch and ended the last meeting. Ashiya, Brianna and Melissa followed him back to his office. Though Ashiya’s feet were killing her, she tried to look upbeat and not let it show that she was tired and starving.
“We’ve got about an hour and a half until my conference call with public relations,” Levi said once they entered the executive suite.
“Good, we can finally eat!” Ashiya said, pressing a hand to her stomach.
Three sets of eyes turned to her. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. “I mean, you do eat? Don’t you?”
Melissa chuckled and shook her head. “I put protein bars in his desk, but the man lives on coffee and fumes.” She pulled out her phone and checked it. “I’m going to grab a sandwich from the cafeteria before meeting with finance on the budget for the new face cream. I’ll be back in time for the three-thirty meeting.”
Levi nodded. “Okay. I promised my grandmother I’d stop in. Since I’ve got dinner with the Douglass Industries CEO, I’ll drop in now and check on her. If I’m a few minutes late, start without me. I’ll catch up when I get in.”
Melissa nodded. “You’ve got it.” She smiled at Ashiya and Brianna before leaving the executive suite.
Ashiya stared at Levi. “Are you seriously not going to eat?”
He slid his cell phone in his back pocket and grabbed a set of keys out of the top drawer of his desk. “There’s always something to eat at my grandmother’s house.”
“Do you think she’ll mind if Brianna and I come along?” The idea of food drove her to ask the question rather than the idea of spending more time with the aunt who seemed least excited about her.
Levi, for his part, only showed a second of irritation on his face. Maybe he was getting tired of her tagging along. Ashiya just smiled the innocent, go-along-with-this smile that typically got her whatever she wanted.
He shook his head. “She won’t mind. Let’s go.”
Levi was right. Aunt Gertrude didn’t seem to mind that he’d brought her along. If anything, she seemed slightly excited that Ashiya decided to intrude. She immediately had them settled in the sunroom on the back of her modest two-story brick home. Her backyard was large with a basketball goal in one corner and an outdoor grill and patio in another. Tall trees around the edge of the yard blocked her home from prying eyes. Levi was also right that she always had food ready. As soon as they were seated her housekeeper came in with trays of sandwiches, fruit and cheeses and a basket of chips.
Gertrude sat in one of the four white wicker chairs around the wicker-and-glass coffee table that filled the brightly colored room. Sunlight brought out the highlights in her honey-gold hair as she spread out the edges of the leopard print caftan she wore and leaned forward in her chair.
She waved one thin hand at the food. “You kids eat. I bet you haven’t eaten since earlier this morning, have you, Levi?”
“I get through the day,” Levi grumbled, but reached for one of the sandwiches on the tray.
Gertrude looked at Brianna sitting next to Ashiya across from the table. “Why don’t you make him eat?”
Brianna lifted one shoulder. “I can’t make him eat, Ms. Gertrude. No matter how much I fuss at him.” Brianna gave Levi a glare that was more flirtatious that furious.
Levi was focused on his sandwich and missed Brianna’s look. “No one can force me to do anything I don’t want to. Besides, Melissa keeps me stocked with smoothies and protein bars.”
Gertrude grunted. “I don’t like that girl.”
“What’s new, Gigi,” Levi said in a slightly exasperated voice. “Melissa is a good assistant. That’s all I care about.”
Ashiya perked up at the mention of Melissa. Although Melissa had been very helpful and professional today, Ashiya still didn’t have a great feeling about the woman. She knew it was because of Russell’s doubts and didn’t care. “Why don’t you like her?”
“For one thing, her parents are trash,” Gertrude said flatly.
Levi sighed. “Gigi, stop.”
Gertrude raised a brow innocently. “What? They are. Mean as hell, and they don’t care who they step on to get what they want. They spoiled the hell out of that girl, and now she thinks she’s important, when all she is is an overpriced secretary.”
Ashiya leaned forward. “Oh really?” She was not against gossiping on an average day. When the gossip could possibly help her find answers to a problem for Russell, she was even more interested.
Levi held up a hand. “Stop it. We’re not bashing Melissa today.” His voice sounded like he’d had to stop several “Bash Melissa” conversations. “You called me over here for a reason. Tell me what it is. I’ve got a meeting this afternoon.”
Gertrude grunted and pouted again but waved her hand. “Fine. I wanted to let you know that your cousin Cameron is coming home.”
Levi’s head whipped around to his grandmother. Brianna’s hand froze on the way to pick up another sandwich. Ashiya looked between the three of them. From the self-satisfied smirk on Gertrude’s face, to the shock on Brianna’s, and the barely concealed annoyance on Levi’s.
When they were quiet for way too long for her curious mind, she spoke up. “Who’s Cameron?”
Gertrude turned to Ashiya with a gleam in her eye that said she was more than happy to tell her. “He’s one of Maggie’s grandkids.”
“He’s a bastard,” Levi said before chomping on his sandwich. Gertrude slapped the back of his head. He flinched and grunted. “Well, he is.”
“You don’t like him because he’s just like you,” Gertrude said.
Levi shifted in his seat. “He’s not the least like me. He’s lazy, doesn’t give a damn about anyone but himself, and thinks he’s better than everyone in the family.”
“Well, do you blame him?” Gertrude said. “Maggie’s son treated him almost as bad as Gloria did her George.”
Someone who was given her dad’s treatment. Apparently that was a trend in this family. Ashiya shifted forward in her seat. “Why?”
Gertrude placed a hand up to the side of her mouth and said in a stage whisper, “He’s an outside baby.”
Ashiya frowned and glanced at Brianna and Levi. They didn’t appear confused, so she focused back on her aunt. “A what?”
Levi shook his head, his scowl deepening. “What my grandmother is trying to say is that my uncle stepped out on my aunt and had a kid with a woman across town.”
“Oooh.” Ashiya leaned back. That was messy. Despite all of the scandals and drama on her Robidoux side, the closet thing they had to an “outside baby” was her cousin Byron pretending to be Lilah’s father when he wasn’t. Biologically speaking. He’d adopted her the year before.
“What I want to know is, why should I care if he’s coming back?” Levi asked.
Gertrude looked at him as if the answer were obvious. “Because he’s finally gotten his life together. Maggie wants you to give him a job at the company when he’s in town, and I told her I’d talk to you.”
“No.” Levi said without missing a beat.
Gertrude grunted, then looked at Ashiya. “Ashiya, sweetheart. You know how badly your grandmother wanted to get the family back together.”
“Gigi, don’t,” Levi said in a tense voice.
Aunt Gertrude didn’t stop. “He’s really a good kid. He got into some mischief when he was younger but what kid with a chip on his shoulder doesn’t? See if you can find a place for him at the company.”
Levi glared at her. Her aunt gave her a pitiful, pleading look that immediately made her feel guilty for even thinking about saying no. Now she understood her aunt’s enthusiastic response to her joining Levi for lunch. She had an ulterior motive and figured Ashiya could help her out.
Ashiya lifted her shoulders slowly and spoke hesitantly. “Um... I’d have to meet him first. Get to know who he is. I’m still figuring things out and don’t want to make any rash decisions.”
Gertrude blinked twice. Her shoulders slumped a little, but she nodded. “Fine. It’ll be a while before he’s here. Don’t let Levi poison your mind before that.”
“He won’t,” Ashiya said. “I like to make my own judgments about people.”
“Good.” Gertrude nodded firmly. “I was worried when you came, but I know your grandmother always hated that she never got to know you. She reached out to your mom a few times when you were younger, but she always said that you were busy with something and couldn’t visit.”
“Who? My mom?” Her mom said her dad’s family never reached out to get to know them. Once she and her dad checked out on their marriage and he was away, Ashiya also believed that his family wouldn’t want anything to do with her.
“Yes. Your grandmother even sent birthday cards every year, but after there was no reply, she stopped. I was surprised when she gave her money to you, but knowing that she wanted to make things right made sense. She was the most sentimental of the four of us.”
Gertrude said the last part as if that were a shame. Maybe it was, in her eyes. She had wanted Levi to ultimately take control.
“That can’t be true,” Ashiya said, her mind still reeling with the news that her grandmother had tried to contact her before she died. “I never knew any of that.”
“It’s the God’s honest truth. Ask your mom. She’ll tell you. By the way, Levi, that Hamilton girl is back in town, too. Didn’t you used to date her? She was nice. Bring her back around.”
Ashiya drifted out of the conversation as Levi tried to convince his grandmother not to invite his ex-girlfriend to the house for dinner. Her mind couldn’t focus on more gossip about her cousin, his obvious discomfort, or the way Brianna seemed to deflate at the woman’s mention.
Had her mom really hidden her grandmother’s attempts to contact with her? Elizabeth always said Ashiya was owed access to the f
ortune her father’s family had. It made no sense for her to keep Ashiya in the dark. But knowing her mother, and the entire Robidoux family, she couldn’t completely dismiss what Aunt Gertrude said. Now she had another mystery to solve on top of everything else. Why would her mom intentionally keep Ashiya from her dad’s side of the family?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
RUSSELL INTENTIONALLY DIDN’T return to the house until after eight that evening. When he’d woken up, alone, he’d been disappointed but assumed Ashiya had gotten up to go to the bathroom or maybe even to her room for something. When he’d realized she’d left the house completely without saying a word to him, the doubts kicked in.
Why had she left? Did she regret what happened? Had she changed her mind about wanting to start over now that he’d caved?
He’d felt as foolish and unsure as a kid in his first relationship. Which only pissed him off. A phone call to Brianna gave him the answers he needed. Ashiya decided to go to the office and learn more about the company she inherited with the help of her cousin and not him. Satisfied that she was safe, he’d decided to view the day to himself as a blessing rather than succumbing to the feeling of being dismissed after serving his purpose for a night.
When he entered, the house was quiet. Not many lights were on. Ashiya’s car was in the garage, so he knew she was there. Unless she’d gone out with Brianna or her family again. He’d stopped trying to tell himself he shouldn’t be upset that she’d left without talking to him, or that he should be happy she decided to put space between them. He was confused, frustrated and off balance. She was playing games with him again, and this was exactly why he didn’t need to be with her. Knowing that didn’t make the situation any easier to accept.
If she wanted to run and hide and pretend as if the night before didn’t matter, then let her. They’d made no promises. Hadn’t agreed to get back together. He didn’t owe Ashiya anything.
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