I ran from the room as Gael called, “Ashlin, wait.”
As I made it to the front door, two arms came around me and Gael’s lips were at my ear. “Hey, let’s go talk.”
“Please take me home. Gael, I’m humiliated. There’s a picture of us having sex on a national tabloid magazine.”
His arms tightened around me and his breath tickled my neck. “Let’s talk first and if you still want to go home we will. Please, give me a second.”
I simply nodded instead of responding and let him lead me to the opposite side of the house from where his parents had been. How could Harris do this to me? I hadn’t seen Harris since he had been to the house to threaten Gael. It had to be him feeding the magazine the bullshit about a reconciliation. Things had been going well with Gael’s parents and now I would be the easy girlfriend that ends on up national magazines while screwing their son.
Gael closed the door behind us as we entered what appeared to be a guest bedroom done in a ship theme. Fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve, I refused to look up even though I could feel Gael looking at me.
Interrupting the silence, Gael spoke, “My parents know about Harris. I told them about it in case I needed their help if he tried something else while I was gone.”
Shock resonated through me. I was getting used not having to hide what I felt around Gael. “They know about Harris. Why didn’t you tell me? Gael, they must think you’re crazy dating someone like me.”
My inner temper flared about being kept in the dark about what his parents knew prior to me meeting them. Not being told was unacceptable. It’s how Harris had treated me when he determined what I should or shouldn’t know about things that pertained to me.
Gael put his hands up as my jaw set. “Ashlin, I can see you’re pissed and I probably should have told you, but I wanted you safe. I was in France, heard you being threatened, and didn’t know what that maniac was capable of doing. And honestly, I was afraid you were going to pull away.”
The earnest words softened me as I massaged the headache that formed at my temples. Damn Harris.
“Please don’t do it again. Gael, I can’t have a relationship built on omissions. I know from experience they don’t work.” A few strands of hair fell into my face and I brushed them to the side.
Closing the distance between us, Gael brought me closer to him. “Ashlin, I get it. I do. When I was in France, I felt like you were going to realize that it was too soon to start something as serious as I wanted. Hell, I still think you’re going to run.”
I laid my face to his chest and smelled the manly cologne that I had become accustomed to.
Sniffling, I fought back the tears. “I’m not running. I think you should reconsider this, though. If this was his first strike, Gael. It’s only going to get worse.”
Pulling back, Gael put his fingers underneath my chin to raise my eyes to meet his. “I don’t care. The only thing I hate about that article is what it’s implying. Fuck, Ashlin. I want to kill him.”
There was a knock at the door. “Gael. Ashlin. It’s Erica. Can I come in?”
“Just a second, Mom.” Gael turned his attention back to me. “Are we good? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my conversations with my parents. I should have.”
“We are. We’re going to have road bumps, Gael. Don’t exclude me when you do something that affects me.”
He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. “I promise. Are you okay if my mom comes in?”
“Sure.” I was going to have to face them eventually. Might as well get it over with.
Gael spoke louder over my shoulder since my back was to the door, “Come on in, Mom.”
She came in and gave me a sweet smile. “I wanted to check on you and see if I could talk to Ashlin?”
My heart raced and I looked at Gael who raised an eyebrow to Erica. She answered his silent query. “I promise, it’ll be a good talk.”
Gael looked at me and I nodded. Leaning down, he whispered in my ear. “If you get uncomfortable at any time, come find me.”
“Okay.” I answered as he gave me another quick kiss on the lips.
Gael left the room and I stood there awkwardly. “Let’s sit on the bed if that sounds good to you, Ashlin.”
I sat and took a deep breath, wanting to get it all out there. “I’m sorry you had to see that picture and have been brought into this horrible game my ex is playing. I haven’t seen him since the day, I believe, Gael told you about with the threats. There is no reconciliation. I’m not a cheater.” My hands were shaking as I spoke.
“Do you care for my son?”
That was not what I had been expecting. Sincerely and openly, I responded, “I do. I thought I had found love with Harris, but that pales in comparison to what I feel for your son and we’ve just met. It’s making me question if I really ever knew what love was.”
“And do you now?”
Drawing an invisible infinity symbol, I swallowed hard. “I’m afraid to answer that from fear that I’ll either jinx us or lose him if Harris keeps up this game he’s playing.”
Erica’s hand lightly touched mine and it soothed me like a mother’s touch should be.
Softly, Erica spoke, “I understand. You and Gael will both know when the time is right to tell each other what is evident to Dave and me. I hate your ex has put you through this. It hasn’t altered our opinion of you in the slightest if that’s what you’re worried about. Dave and I know what goes on in relationships. We were young once, too. We hope you’ll keep coming around.”
“Thank you. I will. I promise.”
Gael came into the room abruptly. “We need to go. There’s a problem at the restaurant.”
Sitting in the office of Gael’s restaurant, I watched him pace the floor with his phone to his ear. People were streaming in and out with pieces of paper. He’d nod or shake his head and they’d leave. The atmosphere felt frantic.
“Fred, I appreciate it. Consider Gael’s Place your new client.”
He hung up the phone and came to sit beside me. Both his food and alcohol vendors had stopped all future deliveries without notice. Gael only used fresh ingredients so if he couldn’t get food, the restaurant would be closed within five days.
We knew Harris was behind it. In less than a three-hour timespan, Harris had struck twice. I had offered to call him, but Gael didn’t want me to. Harris probably wanted me to speak to him and would twist it against me somehow. Guilt consumed me. Both Gael and his father had been calling in every favor they had to find vendors that would take Gael’s Place as a customer. Harris had left hardly any stones unturned.
“I have all new vendors. They’re friends of family and want the business. They know I’m a loyal customer.” The stress and strain was evident. Gael dragged a hand down his face as I curled into his side.
My hand lay on his stomach as I tried to be comforting. I felt Gael relax. “What if he gets to these vendors Gael?”
“He won’t. They’re aware and they’d rather have lasting business and a reputation. They’re good people. I helped several of them get started, but couldn’t leave my current vendors out of a loyalty that obviously wasn’t returned. Fuck, Harris is a bastard.”
This is all because of me.
“Ashlin, don’t even think it. Give me a few more hours to make sure the staff is all good and we’ll leave.”
I kissed his neck. “Don’t rush. Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
Gael’s finger brushed my nipple and I moved to straddle him. His hands came down to my legs and moved up underneath my dress. I rubbed myself against him and a growl emitted from low in his throat. Reaching my sex, Gael tore the crotch of my panties and stuck a finger inside me enticing me to sit more upright as I rode his hand.
My orgasm was building and I knew we didn’t have much time. “Condom. Get a condom, Gael. I want to come with you in me.”
In a flurry of activity, Gael had unzipped his pants and rolled on a condom. As
I slid on, we both hissed in pleasure. Putting my hands on his shoulders I rode Gael. We were both in need of each other. Through the fabric, Gael pinched my nipples and my pace quickened.
The ridges of Gael’s dick tickled my walls. “You’re close, Ashlin. I’m going with you.”
Feeling pressure on my clit from Gael’s thumb, my orgasm released itself.
“Gael!”
“Ashlin!”
We both cried out at the same time before I slumped on his body. “I think you need to come here every day when I’m working.”
His hands stroked my back as I said between breaths, “Am I becoming your sex slave?”
“That, among other things.”
I didn’t say anything as I held onto him and wondered if his other things were the same as mine.
Naked and in Gael’s arms, while in his bed, was my new favorite place. My skin felt like it glowed from the lovemaking.
“Now this is the perfect way to end a shitty day.” Gael’s hand caressed my arm as he spoke.
That was the understatement of the year. “Not all of it was shitty.”
“True. Every part with you was perfect.”
I snuggled closer. “Your mom was really great, by the way, when we talked. I don’t think the pictures swayed her opinion of me.”
The comforter cocooned us. As Gael spoke, I could feel the vibrations in his chest, “No, it didn’t. She texted me earlier in all the chaos to check on you. Mom said I better take care of you.”
Rubbing my leg down his, I playfully responded, “I’d say you fulfilled that task. Quite well, I might add.”
“Do you see how even after the day we’ve had, we can be all that each other need?” Gael pushed me up so he could see my face when I responded.
For a few seconds, I focused on the dark wood nightstand. It was easier to look somewhere, as I normally got lost in the emotion of Gael’s eyes. “I do. Do you know what would make this day even better?”
A twinkle in his eye formed. “What’s that?”
“Will you read to me? I like listening to you read the story of Daniel and Sophia.”
Gael grabbed the journal from the side of the bed. “I think that’s the perfect ending to our day.”
Snuggling into the side, I listened to the words of a woman who risked it all for love, not caring about the consequences.
WALKING INTO THE foyer, I came to an abrupt halt. Danny stood there with a somber look on his face. “Did you enjoy your walk, darling?” He asked, barely above a whisper.
I took note of how sad his beautiful blue eyes were. “It was lovely. Your mother and I talked mostly of the baby.”
Nodding as if he didn’t hear me, Danny looked over to his mother. “I need to speak with Sophia in the study, Mother.”
My heart dropped as Irene reached down and squeezed my hand. I had come to love Danny’s mother, more than my own, in the last four days we had been back from our honeymoon. It was decided that Danny and I would move into his parents’ house until we decided on our own home. Danny told me he was going to talk to his father about moving to Tybee Island as soon as possible. He knew he needed to continue helping his father, but we also wanted to start on our own dreams.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
Smiling, Danny leaned down and kissed my cheek. Taking my hand from his mother’s, he led me into the study without saying a word. My mind was racing. Had he talked to his father about Tybee Island? Is he having second thoughts about our marriage? Placing my hand on my bodice, I instantly felt sick.
Walking into the parlor, I inhaled deeply and slowly blew it out. Turning, I faced Danny. His smile was warm, caring and full of love. His eyes however spoke an entirely different story. They were scared and confused.
“You’re scaring me, Danny.”
Shaking his head, he took my hands in his and prompted me to sit along with him. “No, my darling, no. I do not mean to scare you at all. It’s just …” Looking away, he closed his eyes. Opening them again, he slowly turned to me. “My father has asked me to do something, Sophia. Something I so desperately do not want to do, but I am obligated.”
“What is it?” My heart was beating so loudly in my chest I was sure the whole house could hear it. Trying hard to not jump to conclusions, I held my thoughts down and focused on Danny.
“My father still has part of his business in London. My uncle has been taking care of it, but he has fallen ill with Scarlet Fever. Father got word of it this morning. My father’s heart cannot take another trip back to London and he has asked me to travel in his place.”
I sat there and stared at Danny. Not knowing what to say, I closed my eyes. I knew I wouldn’t be able to travel with him. Being on the sea would not be a good thing for me when I wasn’t pregnant, I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like being pregnant. Opening my eyes, I felt the tear slowly slide down my face.
“Oh, Sophia,” Danny whispered as he leaned over and kissed the tear away. “I’ve already talked to your father. He told me how ill you get when traveling by boat. I wanted to have all your things packed and ready but—”
Slowly shaking my head, I asked, “How long will you need to stay once you arrive?”
Swallowing hard, he whispered, “One to two months.”
Sucking in a breath of air, I let out a sob. “What if you are delayed and miss the birth of our child? You’re already going to miss the whole pregnancy!” I stood and turned away as I let my tears fall and sobs shake my body. He’s leaving me. He’s leaving us.
“Sophia, I don’t want to do this anymore than you want me to.”
Spinning around, I looked at him. “Let’s run away. Let’s leave and go back to the island.”
Danny looked at me and I knew the moment the words were out of my mouth they were foolish. “Can Thomas, your older brother, not go?”
Looking to the ground, Danny shook his head. “Thomas left for New York two weeks ago and father has no way of getting word to him. He was hoping he would have received word from Thomas on his whereabouts but he has not.”
Placing my hand over my mouth, I sat back down. “But … we just started our life. We just got married and you have to leave.”
“Sophia, do you not see it in my eyes how torn apart I am over this? Do you think I want to leave you? I never want to leave your side. I feel as if my heart is being ripped from my chest.”
Nodding my head slowly, I whispered, “As do I.”
“I have arranged for us to stay at Thomas’ house this evening. I thought it was the least he could do since I’m doing his job for him.”
Smiling, I let out a giggle. “We’ll be alone this evening?”
Placing his hand on the side of my face, his thumb brushed lightly across my skin, leaving a warm tingle in its place.
“You will leave tomorrow?” I asked as I placed my hand over Danny’s hand.
“The sooner I leave, the faster I return.”
Leaning in closer, Danny captured my lips with his. Our kiss was soft and tender. Slow and not rushed in the least bit. “Pack a bag darling. I want to leave for Thomas’ house as soon as possible.”
Nodding my head, I stood. Turning to head upstairs to our room, Danny took hold of my arm. Stopping, I glanced to him. “Promise me you won’t be gone long, Danny.”
Giving me that smile that built the pressure between my legs, Danny nodded. “I promise you, Sophia. I swear to God I won’t break my promise to you.” Lifting my hand to his lips, he gently kissed it. “Go, darling. I want to bury myself inside you.”
My stomach dropped and I found myself lifting my dress and running up the stairs to pack.
Walking into Thomas’ house brought a chill to my bones. It was dark, cold and much too quiet. Danny smiled and said, “I should have known Thomas would not have kept staff on to keep up with the house.”
Giggling, I nudged Danny. “He is a man with no ties, leave him be.”
Heading to the staircase, Danny said, “Doesn’t mat
ter. All we need is the guest bedroom. Follow me, Darling.”
Lifting my dress, I did as Danny asked as we made our way up the winding staircase. The pressure between my legs built with each step as we drew closer to the bedroom. The first night back from our honeymoon, I wouldn’t be with Danny for fear his parents would hear us. It didn’t take long for my desire to build and I practically attacked him our second night home. Danny had a way of being creative in bed while being discreet.
Stopping behind Danny, I waited for him to open the door to the guest bedroom. Turning to me, Danny raised his eyebrow and gave me that smile that made my insides turn to mush. “I love you, Sophia.”
“I love you, too, but why are we standing out here?”
Lifting his mouth in a smirk, Danny said, “Cause I have no idea what is behind this door and I am praying so hard that it is a beautifully decorated room fit for a princess. I have a feeling though it is going to be the opposite and we will have to make love in my …” Danny shuddered. “Brother’s room.”
I let out a titter and hit Danny lightly on the shoulder. Walking into the room, the drapery was drawn up and the light from the setting sun cast the most amazing colors into the room. The tapestry on the walls was breathing taking as I walked to the middle of the spacious giant room. I spun around as I looked up to the ceiling. It was painted to look as if you were standing outside and looking up.
“Oh my. Danny, are you sure this isn’t your brothers bedroom?” Glancing to Danny, I saw he was looking up as well.
“Mother said Thomas redecorated but she didn’t say he had paid someone to redecorate. What in the world is he doing where he is making such money?”
“I thought he worked for your families business?”
Danny looked at me. “He does! I’m going to have to ask for a pay raise.”
Giggling, I continued to scan the room while Danny lit a few candles before it got too dark. A giant post bed stood before me. The carvings in the wood were incredible as I walked up and lightly ran my hand over the turned barley post.
Predestined Hearts Page 17