SWEET HEART

by Yva Golden

“Ashton…Ashton Blackstone?! You’re THAT Ashton?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Oh my God!” I exclaim, shocked that I’m actually involved with a living legend. And utterly relieved that he’s an upstanding citizen of this country, after ll.

  Involved? He just asked you to hitch a ride on his jet, silly, not marry him.

  I feel embarrassed by my thoughts, but I’m so happy I could float. Oh my God! Ashton Blackstone! I can’t believe it! I’m super honored I gave… uhm, sold him my virginity now. He’s a special man.

  “I’m glad you’re looking mighty pleased now after knowing my real identity.”

  I feel like fangirling. I grin widely, feeling giddy, and I never feel giddy. “Yes! Yes, I am!”

  “You seriously didn’t know who I was? I’m crushed. I thought I was quite famous.” He gives me a hurt puppy look.

  He’s adorable. I’m fascinated to see this side of him. He’s not the intimidating man I first met two nights ago.

  My chest is expanding with more than joy.

  Hope. I feel hope blossoming inside me.

  God, it feels so good! I haven’t permitted myself to feel like this. It made me weak, because I always feared my source of hope would disappear anyway, so I rather didn’t want to entertain it in my system. But now, I feel like I’ve entered a new dimension in my existence. My old demons have faded away, replaced by a knight. He’s kind, sweet, generous, chivalrous, and I’m in love with him.

  Yes. I am in love for the first time in my life.

  Suddenly, I’m so excited for my California adventure. Ashton lives there. It’s where the big tech people are. The land of my dreams! I actually literally stumbled on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I could kiss Franco Bonatti now. I can even forgive Jigger now, too.

  “Something wrong with my face?”

  I blink. I must have been staring at him like an idiot. “You look different in those pictures I saw.”

  “I know. I always tell my PR Team to use my old pictures in the articles written about me. They handle my media appearances. I like my old geeky image to stick to the younger generation who use my apps.”

  “But you were quite cute in those pics. So harmless-looking.”

  He quirks a brow at me. “You mean I don’t look cute now?”

  I smile at him naughtily. “Not cute. Badass.”

  His eyes go hot all over me. My body responds immediately. I feel a kind of freedom I’ve never felt before. The freedom to love. My walls are down. I’m free to love this man. And no matter what happens, it is my choice and I will stand by it bravely. I am my own woman now, no longer bound by the shackles of the past.

  I can feel my nipples swelling. I can imagine him on his laptop coding and deciphering codes and it’s making me feverish with excitement. My goodness, he’s on a new level of sexy in my book now. Ashton Blackstone! Gaaaahhh!

  “Shall we continue this conversation on board?” He extends his hand toward me.

  I take it eagerly, and we walk back to the plane. He assist me on the stairs.

  A pretty stewardess meets us at the top of the stairs. She greets me formally. Her eyes can’t hide the speculation, but her face splits into a big smile when she sees Ashton behind me. “Welcome back aboard, Mr. Blackstone.”

  “Hey, Maddy. How are you?”

  “I’m good, Mr. Blackstone, thank you. How was Vegas?”

  “Vegas was…hot. Scorching hot.”

  I feel Ashton squeeze by butt behind me. I hide my naughty smile. Indeed, it was. I feel things haven’t ended between us in Vegas. It was just the beginning.

  There’s a slight delay in our flight due to some weather conditions. We stay on the plane. Ashton asks for lunch to be served to us.

  We are seated face to face with a rectangular table in front of us. I’m going at my food like I haven’t eaten in years. I did miss breakfast, plus that episode with jigger drained all my energy.

  “So, tell me about Cali,” I say.

  He’s leisurely sipping from his wine glass, looking at me with indulgence. I just love how he’s looking at me. Ashton makes me feel really beautiful, and it’s a rare feeling for me. I soak in it.

  “California is beautiful. Nice weather. The part where we are headed is the hub of opportunities. The Silicon Valley.”

  “I knew it! Of course, you live there! It’s my dream destination actually. I want to work there after college.”

  His eyes shine with approval. “Smart plan. You can come work for me.”

  I swallow the food I’m chewing. Oh God, please don’t let this be a dream. I don’t wanna wake up.

  “Uhm…maybe.”

  His brows rise. He doesn’t like my answer. “Maybe?”

  “Of course, I’d love to work for you in the future, silly! But I want to earn it. I want to finish college first.”

  “Indeed, you must. I was a dropout, and even though they’re saying a college education is nothing compared to what I have now, I disagree. Education is important. If you have the opportunity to get one, grab it.”

  “You’re starting to sound like a dad, not that I had a loving, responsible one.”

  His face turns red. “I know I’m too old for you…” His words trail off, and he’s looking uncomfortable now. He finishes his wine in one go and pours more into his glass.

  I peer at him thoughtfully, and when it finally dawns on me why he’s suddenly looking like he has ants in his pants, I giggle. Am I getting it right? The man is actually insecure of his age?

  “How old are are you again?” I tease him.

  He glares at me. “Thirty-eight. Got a problem with that?”

  I shrug. “None at all. But it seems you have a problem with it.”

  He flushes even redder, looking vulnerable. “Really?”

  “THE Ashton Blackstone is feeling insecure with an eighteen-year old who doesn’t have anything to her name yet?” I shake my head, amused. “Unbelievable.”

  “You might like to be with someone…you know…your age.”

  Okay…what is he saying exactly?

  He clears his throat. “Anyway…” He smiles. “What are your plans when we reach Cali, baby doll? I do have some for us, but…let me hear yours first.”

  He has a plan? For us? Be still my beating heart, no pun! And the way he said baby doll is making my little bits swell with that familiar ache. I can really get used to that.

  “First, look for a place to stay, I guess. A cheap dorm somewhere near or within the university. I’m on a budget, as you well know. I need to find a part-time job I can squeeze in between school, too. Maybe waitressing or whatever. Plus my enrollment, of course. Boy, it’s gonna be hectic. But I’m so excited!”

  Indeed, my chest is about to burst with the happiness I haven’t felt in years. I can really feel it now. I’m really starting my life all over again on a clean slate, and I’m not going to take my opportunities and blessings for granted.

  I’m finally getting to know Ashton better forty-one thousand feet above ground.

  He’s openly talking about his family. He’s an only child, too.

  “Both my parents are professors at Stanford University and are still teaching there despite being in their early seventies. I bought them a vineyard in Saratoga for their retirement, but they still want to teach. They are very energetic people.”

  I listen to him in rapt attention. He tells me of his humble beginnings, of having two passions—racing and programming—and he had to choose the latter because he didn’t have the money to support a racing career.

  He had three best friends who started a company with him after they dropped out of college, and when they hit big time, their friendship was ripped apart by the pressures of success and corporate power plays.

  “I miss them, you know? Pierce and Travis have their own software company now, and it’s one of the leading ones. Reid is the king of computer games in the western hemisphere. Individually, we all ended up just fine. But I wish we’ve kept the f
riendship…” He shakes his head, great sadness in his eyes.

  It’s my turn to hold his hand.

  He tells me briefly of his own successes, but more of his failures. I can’t believe a man like him could ever fail, but apparently, he’s had a lot of trials and errors before he has reached his stature today.

  His background is so different from mine. He grew up in an environment with educated parents who could afford to send him to the best schools. Ashton actually went to Harvard but dropped out. I had lesser opportunities. I tell him more about my mother who was kind and loving to me but lacked the willpower to change the course of her life which really frustrated me; about the father that made our lives even more a living hell than it already was; about my struggle to make a different life for myself over the years. I thought I was tough, but my tears fall anew. I’m not a crybaby, but with Ashton, I feel like I’m free to be weak, to express my pain. He doesn’t question my decision to sell my virginity. I would have had no regrets, but knowing him now, I do feel ashamed. But I see no judgment nor condescension in his eyes, only understanding.

  “I want to help you, Corazon,” he utters with sincerity.

  “You already did. I have enough money for a fresh start, Ashton.”

  “I want to continue helping you.”

  “You already are. I’m hitching a ride on your jet. I can’t ever afford a ride on a private jet.”

  He squeezes my hand as though to tell me to quit being flippant.

  “I know everything’s happening so fast. I don’t want you to feel rushed or anything, but…I want us to spend more time together.”

  Spend more time together. He likes saying that, and I feel that every time he utters the words, the meaning changes. For how long, I want to ask, but I curb my tongue. I don’t want to be insecure when hope is knocking on my door. I let it in. I don’t even know what exactly he wants from me, but I’ll take it. I just want to be with him.

  “Okay…”

  “You can stay with me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Live with me in my house. Until you can find a place near the university, that is. I can drive you around to get you acquainted with the place. I’ll help you with your enrollment.”

  “You would do that?” I didn’t want to sound ungrateful…but…Oh God, is this for real?

  “Why not?”

  “But…you must be very busy.”

  “Not too busy for you, Corazon.”

  My heart just literally melts. I think I’m really in love now. This gorgeous, brilliant man is giving me a lot of his time, and who am I— among the dozens of women he could choose to be with— to say no?

  “Thank you, Ashton.” I utter with heartfelt gratitude, feeling overwhelmed.

  “I want you to love California. Your new home.”

  I think I found home. Finally. You.

  “I already do,” I reply with all the love in my heart. I feel like bursting into tears again.

  He kisses my hand. “Don’t cry, baby. I’m here.”

  I nod repeatedly, but my tears still fall.

  “I’ll take care of you, my Corazon.”

  My Corazon. The possessiveness in his voice wraps around me like a cloak of fire, igniting every part of me. Once my hunger has been assuaged by the food, my other hunger reasserts itself. His words have fueled it. My need for him is so strong now. I want him. I want to feel him all over me again. Most especially inside me.

  “Uhm, can I use the bathroom?”

  “Use the one in the cabin at the back.”

  I stare at him, conveying my need silently. I unbuckle my seatbelt and walk down the isle, the pulse between my legs escalating with every step.

  I’m scrubbing the memories of Jigger’s touch off my skin. The marine scent of the shower gel reminds me so much of Ashton. This smells so good, so refreshing and I feel even hotter thinking about him.

  And then he’s there, joining me in the small cubicle of the shower.

  Naked.

  “You were certainly taking your time,” he rasps, his eyes smoldering with intent.

  I press my back against the shower wall, pushing my chest out. I feel wanton. Feverish with desire.

  Warm water drips all over me in soft rivulets, but his big, fabulous body is what makes my entire body want to self-combust. He looks so perfect everywhere. Hard in all the right places. And he wants me. That huge thing pointing at me is proof that I’m not the only one burning up with need.

  “I thought you’d never come.”

  “Oh baby, I most certainly will come.”

  ASHTON

  “Ashton…”

  She breathes my name like it’s a magic word. I want to hear her say my name like that every single day. I want her to need me in her life like the air she breathes, because that’s what she is to me now.

  I lift her up, wrapping her legs around my waist, my hands supporting her rump. I deftly caress her soft petals, feeling her heat, her nectar coating my fingers. I stroke her soft folds, her pleasure button.

  “Ashton!” she gasps, her lips seeking mine.

  I kiss her, driving my tongue in. I guide my hard length to her opening and thrust up into her as I push her down, seating her all the way to the root of my cock.

  I groan in feral gratification. I devour her lips, inhaling her sweet breath as I take her with an urgency that echoes from the depths of my soul.

  I’m afraid this bliss I’m feeling will vanish. If I don’t hold onto her tight enough she might disappear and I wouldn’t know what to do. My fear mingles with my frantic lust and it’s a potent combination. I’m peaking fast.

  “Corazon…baby…I’m coming…!”

  But I needn’t worry for she’s with me beat for beat, breath for breath, my name chanted sweetly by her lips as we take that trip all the way to a spellbinding finish.

  She surrenders to me, and I to her.

  Chapter Eleven

  ASHTON

  Four months later…

  I WAIT FOR HER IN THE RV, my impatience heightening as the minutes pass. Three days ago, I came home from a three-day business trip in Europe and found her gone on a field trip with her classmates. She didn’t tell me about it, probably knowing I wouldn’t let her. Naturally I was super pissed when I found out she was not home waiting for me. She was already in some conservation area out of Berkeley even as we were speaking on the phone.

  This immersion trip took her away for three days straight, so I haven’t seen her for six days in a row now and I’ve been going nuts. I’m not used to her absence that long.

  Heart and I have been together since the day we met. I never let her out of my sight since we arrived in California. We lived in my house in Silicon Valley for a few weeks until she needed to go to Berkeley for her enrollment. I went with her of course, to make sure she was all set for her freshman year in college. But I didn’t let her stay in a dorm or rent an apartment. I bought a house for us in Berkeley instead.

  I’ve practically transferred my office into that new house and it will stay there in the next four years until Heart graduates. My key executives were all perplexed and some were annoyed at having to travel for an hour or so to see me in Berkeley. Obviously they love our Silicon Valley headquarters. But when they saw Heart, they immediately understood. One actually boldly told me he was happy I was finally having a serious relationship. It would mean I’d stay out of the headquarters more and off their backs.

  That proved to be true. I hate going to the headquarters now. I appointed a CEO to take my place. This shocked the entire tech world, but I didn’t care. I have more important things to do now. Like tail my baby to some damn field trip.

  I glance at my watch again. My chopper dropped me off at a little town near the conservation an hour ago and I rented this luxury RV and drove straight here.

  One of Heart’s professors deemed it enriching to bring his students into this remote area to be one with nature and feel its raw power. Heart is taking up Electronic
s Engineering and I wonder what power is this guy talking about that can’t be demonstrated inside a sophisticated lab in the university?

  “The natural energy of nature can’t be designed in a lab,” she told me over the phone last night, defending her professor.

  “Come on, it’s only three days. Plus I’m having fun with my classmates.”

  I’d grumbled, concerned of the raw energy in my pants that was accumulating without release. I also curbed the rising insecurity inside me whenever she’d mention how much she enjoyed hanging with her classmates. I couldn’t help wondering how many male classmates she had. She’d easily attract horny young men her age, given her beauty. I was nearly tempted to have her followed every time, but I fought my jealousy. I had to trust her.