Life After That

by Barbara Kevin

  "So baby, are you enjoying it? I think it's a great place, don't you?"

  "Yeah, it's great…" Ashley didn't sound too excited. Kirstin frowned.

  "Is something wrong?" 'Did he notice my jaw dropping just a sec ago? Oh God, please, no!' Kirstin thought.

  "Everything is just fine."

  She could sense though that was not entirely true, but chose to let it go.

  "Ok." there was silence between the 2 of them.

  On the other hand, things on the other couch seemed to be pretty good. Trevor, Erik and Grace were getting to meet each other. The 3 of them seemed to be getting along just fine.

  Beside Kirstin, Tom and Lexie were engaged on a conversation about whatever. Lexie seemed to be flirting with Tom, but again, every time Lexie would be around Tom, she'd be flirting with him. He'd never flirt back though. But apparently, that night, things had changed. Kirstin was trying not to show the fact she was trying hard to hear Tom and Lexie conversation. She felt… jealousy? 'Nah! Why would I be jealous of Tom?' she thought.

  When Grace informed she was going to the dance floor with Trevor and Erik, Lexie, getting up, said:

  "Come on Tom. Let's go dance too."

  "Ok." Tom got up and everyone, but Kirstin and Ashley, trailed to the dance floor.

  Ashley and Kirstin hadn't exchanged a word since that awkward moment after Tom got his overall off.

  "So…" Kirstin started hoping Ashley would say something.

  "So…" was all Ashley said. He was staring at this point, not facing Kirstin that had turned to face him.

  "Oh, come on Ashley! What's bothering you that much? You gotta tell me! You're quiet there for ages! Look at me!" she placed her hand on his chin and tried to turn his head, but the effort was in vain "Ashley, what's wrong? Talk to me, please!" she pleaded and Ashley didn't even have to face her to sense the emotion on her voice. He slowly turned his head, but he was glancing down.

  "I saw that."

  "You saw what?" Kirstin was trying to cover it, but she knew what he was talking about.

  "You're jaw dropping when Tom took his coat off."

  'Shit!' Kirstin thought before talking "What?"

  "Oh, come on Kirstin, I'm not an idiot! Don't you treat me like one!" she just chose not to say a word. She just looked down, ashamed.

  "Kirstin, I'm gonna ask you something and I need you to be completely honest on your answer, alright? And look at me when you answer my question." She didn't say a word so Ashley took it as a sing for him to carry on "Do you have feelings for Tom?"

  "No, Ash! God, no!" she answered as soon as Ashley finished the question and she stared directly into his eyes when she said that.

  "For real?"

  "Yes, Ashley! I mean, I love him as a friend and as a brother, but nothing like you're trying to imply. That's as far as it goes. Nothing more! I swear!"

  Ashley sensed truth on Kirstin's voice and her eyes were all watery. He felt relieved. He took a deep breath and continued.

  "Thank God! I really wanted to ask you that but I was so afraid of wearing your answer!"

  "You shouldn't be! You're the one I'm with, not Tom. Tom's my friend. That's all."

  "Good. Oh man, I can't tell you how relieved I am for hearing that. Wow… Really relieved!" he rubbed his forehead "Well, to loosen up, what do you say we go dance?"

  "Great idea! Let's shake our booties Angel!"

  "Yeah! Let's do it!"

  And they headed to the dance floor.

  Chapter 22

  NEW YORK CITY, NY – Saturday – Club Luna

  Everyone, Kirstin, Ashley, Tom, Trevor, Erik, Grace and Lexie were having a fun time on the dance floor. They were all together in a circle dancing to the sound of Daft Punk's "One More Time". When the song changed to U2's "Elevation", Kirstin noticed Lexie and Tom were there anymore. Lexie had been all over Tom while they were dancing and now they weren't at the dance floor anymore. Kirstin scanned the place and found the two of them getting a drink from the bar downstairs.

  Ashley noticed Kirstin's gaze was not on the dance floor. He looked to see what she was looking at and saw Tom and Lexie leaving the bar, heading upstairs and sitting at their table.

  "Kirstin?" Ashley called snapping his fingers so Kirstin would look at him. She shook her head and looked at him.

  "Yeah!"

  "What are you looking at?" Ashley chose to play innocent just to see what she was gonna answer.

  "Oh nothing. Nevermind." she smiled and continued dancing. But she couldn't help herself so she looked up again. And that time she saw something she was not expecting to see. Tom and Lexie were making out. Kirstin turned her gaze away quickly and glanced up again just to make sure what she previously saw was truth. And it sure was. Tom and Lexie were sitting on the black sofa. Tom was leaning back on the sofa and Lexie was not sitting on his lap but was pretty much all over him, kissing him. Kirstin was confused. She didn't know what to make of it. She felt weird. She felt like she was jealous, but it couldn't be jealousy. Why would it be jealousy? Tom was just her friend. Her best friend, yes, but nothing more. She left the dance floor and headed to the bar upstairs. When she got to the bar and sat on the stool, Tom and Lexie were still making out.

  "Tequila shot please." Kirstin ordered to the bartender.

  "What are you doing?" Kirstin heard from behind. She knew it was Ashley, but she didn't bother to look at him. She didn't wanna look at him. She had run from the dance floor without giving any explanation.

  "Thanks." She thanked the bartender when she got her drink.

  "What are you doing?" Ashley raised his voice a bit more that time. He couldn't sit beside her because there was no stool left on the bar to sit on. "Kirstin!" he shouted. Kirstin had no choice but to turn and look at him. She didn't wanna upset Ashley. She drank the tequila shot at once and just then turned.

  "Hey." She was glancing down.

  "Don't you 'hey' me Kirstin. Can you tell me what the hell is going on?"

  "What?"

  "What? Don't play innocent. We were dancing, everything was just fine, and all of a sudden you just turn and leave! I know that's your trade mark, leaving like that, but what happened this time?"

  "Oh Ashley! I can't believe you just said that. You just throw that in my face, the me leaving thingy!" she stared at him.

  "I'm sorry but that's what you do! I have no idea what's going on with you tonight! Before we get here, you're fine, then we get here and you drool over Tom and then you just apologize then everything is fine again and then this? What's wrong?"

  "Nothing! I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me tonight. I'm sorry I don't." she glanced down again.

  "Well, I do." Kirstin looked up and Ashley continued. "It's Tom. Look!" he pointed at Tom and Lexie that were still making out "That's bothering you, right?" Kirstin didn't say anything, just looked down "Kirstin, just say the words. Just say you wanna be with Tom and I'll leave right now and you'll never see me again. Just say the words!" Kirstin continued looking down and said nothing "I can't believe it you have doubts about it! I'm outta here!"

  Ashley had turned around and was leaving when Kirstin grabbed his arm.

  "Please, don't go! Come here." Ashley didn't want to. He was feeling upset because Kirstin didn't say right away she didn't wanna be with Tom, she wanted to be with him instead without even thinking. Kirstin sat on the stool again and Ashley was standing up right in front of her "Ash, I'm sorry. I'm not thinking straight tonight. Of course I wanna be with you! Only you! I've waited so long to have this, that we have now and I'm not gonna let that get away from us. I don't want Tom. He's my friend. That's all he is. I want you." Ashley was serious. Then a little smile formed on his face. Kirstin felt relieved. He was not going anywhere. She then looked over Ashley's shoulder and saw that Tom and Lexie had finally stopped that making out session. Tom was sitting by himself on the sofa looking at Kirstin and Ashley's direction "Now come here." Kirstin pushed Ashley by his shirt and kissed him hard on the mouth.
She opened her eyes for a second to see if Tom was still looking at her. When she saw he still was looking, she closed her eyes quickly. She had no idea why she was acting like that, trying to make Tom jealous.

  While Kirstin had a lot going on her mind while kissing Ashley, the kiss was the only thing Ashley was thinking about. He loved that girl so much. He had to give her a chance even if she was not sure about her feelings for him because he was sure about his feeling for her. He loved Kirstin. He slipped his tongue in her mouth, slowly tasting her. He smiled when he heard Kirstin's soft moan when their tongues touched. He left her mouth and kissed his way down to her necklace bone. Kirstin had her eyes closed, just enjoying the moment. She half-opened her eyes and saw that Lexie had joined Tom on the sofa and had her fingers entwined with his. Tom was looking at Kirstin by the corner of his eyes. She noticed that and pushed Ashley back gently.

  "Let's go to my loft."

  "Now?" he was pecking her on the nose, and then on the cheek, then on the chin, making her crazy.

  "Yes, please, now…"

  "Ok." He said through his kisses "Let's go then." He grabbed her wrist and was heading to the stairs when Kirstin stopped him.

  "Wait! I gotta get my purse." Kirstin lead them to their table. By that time, Grace, Trevor and Erik had returned from the dance floor and joined Tom and Lexie at the table "Lex, can you hand me my purse, please?" Kirstin's purse was lying beside Lexie on the sofa.

  "Yeah, sure. Here." Lexie handed the purse to Kirstin. Ashley had his arms wrapped around Kirstin's waist from behind and his chin was on her left shoulder.

  "Thanks Lex. Oh Grace! How did you get here?"

  "Tom drove us here."

  "Oh Tom. So you have your car there?" Tom just nodded "Erik, Trevor, do you think it would be ok if Tom would drive you back to the hotel?" both guys nodded so Kirstin continued facing Tom "Tom, can you please drive them back to the hotel?" Kirstin was trying hard not to giggle because Ashley was now kissing her neck and some spots were very ticklish.

  "Yeah, but may I ask you why you cant take them back?" Tom knew the answer already but he had to make sure that was it.

  "We're going to my place now and Ash is gonna sleep over. Right Ash?"

  Ashley stopped kissing her neck:

  "Yeah. You got a problem with that?" Ashley asked in a provocative tone and Kirstin just shot him a look. Ashley didn't even notice that look because he was staring straight at Tom.

  "No man. Go ahead." Tom threw his hands in the air in a defensive gesture.

  "Good!" Ashley was still seriously staring at him.

  "Ok. Let's go. Thanks Tom. Bye you guys!"

  Everyone said their goodbyes and Ashley and Kirstin drove to Kirstin's loft.

  Kirstin's apartment building

  Kirstin and Ashley were on the elevator and couldn't keep their hands off each other.

  "I want you!" Kirstin whispered through their kisses.

  "I want you too baby. So bad. But easy, easy…" Kirstin was trying to take Ashley's shirt off right there on the elevator. "We're getting there in a sec." just as Ashley said that, the elevator door opened and they got out.

  Kirstin quickly opened the door, through her purse and keys on the kitchen counter and pulling Ashley by his arm, said:

  "Upstairs."

  When they got upstairs, they stayed up, just looking at each other. Kirstin felt his breath teasing her lips before she felt him press his lips to hers, lightly at first, and then with more pressure. Kirstin's arms went around his neck, pulling him down on the bed; he was lying on top of her. Ashley smiled against her lips, as he gathered her to him, but not too tightly. Kirstin then started to get more aggressive. Her tongue parted his lips and entered his mouth. She moaned, knowing just how to arch her body into his to get him aroused. Kirstin moaned and pushed her body against his. Kirstin managed to push Ashley so that she was on top of him His hands slid around her waist and he tugged her top, pulling it up and over her head. His mouth immediately moved to one of her breasts, making Kirstin moan again. Something was bothering her, although it was hard to think with Ashley's tongue on her breast, caressing her and driving her crazy. She buried her hands in his hair as he switched to the other breast.

  "Ashley…" she moaned. He suddenly flipped her over and smiled down at her. Kirstin reached up and touched his lips. She took one of his fingers in her mouth and sucked on it. Kirstin was then able to tell him what was bothering her:

  "Do you really love me?" Ashley frowned and took her hand, holding it against his chest.

  "Do you feel how fast my heart is beating?" Kirstin nodded. "That's what happens every time we are together." he said, smiling. Kirstin just looked at his big blue, gorgeous eyes. Ashley then leaned down and captured her mouth in a heated kiss. Kirstin unbutton his shirt and took it off of him then pulled him to her, her hands sliding up and down his back as he moved to her neck, licking and sucking her skin. She felt his hands slide down her body and push her skirt down. Kirstin wiggled out of them.

  "You feel so great." Ashley mumbled against her neck. Kirstin opened her eyes, reached up, and pulled his head to her, kissing him, hungrily. She moaned into his mouth. He lay next to her watching her trying to get her breathing back under control. Ashley just kept staring at her, a look of desire in his eyes. Kirstin leaned forward and kissed him. She then made her way down his body, kissing and licking every inch of him. She slowly took his pants off. When she got back up, Ashley kissed her, passionately, turning her so that she was lying on her back. He then leaned over the bed to locate his jeans. Ashley watched, her heart beating rapidly, as he put on a condom. He then turned to her and took her in his arms again. Ashley rolled her underneath him and propped himself on his arms, looking down at her. Kirstin frowned as his eyes studied her face. He kissed her, hungrily. Slowly, he began to enter her and Kirstin moaned. She bit his lip and Ashley pulled back to look into her eyes.

  "You taste so good. I love you so much." he said, breathlessly.

  "Then prove it. Make love to me."

  Right after that, Ashley thrust himself into her. Kirstin cried out at the sensation and Ashley kissed her again. He started to move, slowly at first, and then faster. He was so aroused, he didn't know how long he'd be able to last.

  "Ashley…" Kirstin moaned as she wrapped her legs around him. "Oh, God, that feels so… Don't stop." She was looking into his eyes, her own glazed over with passion. Ashley became more aggressive, but he didn't want to hurt her. He was having some problems staying in control. He was ready to release at any time, but he wasn't about to do so without satisfying Kirstin first. He suddenly stopped moving and leaned down to kiss her again. She smiled against his lips. She knew what was going on and she sure as hell didn't mind him drawing it out. Usually, the guy wouldn't be concerned about her pleasure, but Ashley wasn't just any guy. He smiled as he began to move again, Kirstin reached up and buried her hands in his hair.

  "Oh, yes." she said, moaning. Ashley managed to smile as he brought his mouth to one of her breasts. Her eyes closed and she just let the feeling of Ashley making love to her fill her. Kirstin threw her arms over her head, her eyes still on his. Intense pleasure was building in her Ashley increased his pace even more and Kirstin knew she wouldn't be able to hold on. "Ashley!" she nearly screamed as he brought her over the edge. She arched her back as wave after wave of pleasure took over her body. Tears slid from her eyes as her body shook, uncontrollably. Ashley closed his eyes, tightly, as Kirstin's body gripped his. With a hoarse cry, he, too, released. He rolled over, pulling Kirstin with him and they both lay, gasping for breath, their bodies tangled tightly together. Kirstin lay on top of Ashley, her body still shaking slightly. Ashley's hands slid over her back and she shivered. He smiled and opened his eyes. He just stared at the ceiling, feeling too good to move.

  "How do you feel?" he asked. Kirstin stretched and sighed, deeply.

  "Terrific." she said. Ashley kissed her again before he got up and went into the bathroom to clean
himself up. Kirstin snuggled down in the bed. He got back and they got under the covers. He was sliding his hand over her stomach as he kissed her.

  She laid her head on Ashley's bare chest. He was stroking her hair gently. Kirstin felt weird after all that. She had just made love with the guy she loved in high school and believe loved still. It was great. Amazing sex! And she sure felt she had deep feelings for him, but she still was unsure if it was real love.

  'Why am I so confused? From high school until the day we met again 4 months ago I was so sure I loved him and only him. But why now I'm not so sure anymore?' she thought before falling asleep.

  Chapter 23

  NEW YORK CITY, NY – Kirstin's Loft – Sunday

  Kirstin stretched. She opened her eyes and saw Ashley looking at her from his side of the bed. He was smiling at her. She didn't say anything, just smiled back. Like that, they stayed for a while. Ashley was unbelievably happy. He was smiling because he couldn't help but smile. She was so beautiful. He loved her so much and was so happy they had shared that intimate moment the night before. And sleeping with her wrapped around his arms was terrific. He couldn't believe that finally, she was his. All his. She had chosen him. The girl he had always loved was right there, lying in bed with him that Sunday morning, smiling her beautiful smile at him.

  "Hey." Kirstin decided to speak through her smile, in a sweet tone.

  "Hi." Ashley, too, said in a kind tone.

  "What are you thinking about?" she thought it was weird him there, just looking at her smiling.

  "That I love you too much." Kirstin's smile faded. She still couldn't say it back at him, she felt bad for that because she didn't know why she couldn't say it back. She wanted to, but the words just wouldn't come out. But by the look on Ashley's face, she sensed he needed to hear something from her. She sat up right in front of him, both of them with their legs crossed.

  "I really, really, really, really, really like you a lot! But…"