FIFTEEN

“Ashley Steve, it is time for you to get out of that room.”

“Leave me alone,” she grumbled as she clutched her stomach due to the increasing hunger her pride was making her face.

“You have been in there since yesterday morning and I am pretty sure the chips I stacked in there were not enough to quench your hunger. So,” she could hear his weight lean further into the wooden door. “,do yourself a favour and get the hell out of that room.”

Scrunching her lips, Ashley eyes roamed to her left where layers and layers of empty chip wrappers lay just beside the empty bottles of water. Clutching her stomach again as the hunger alarm struck again, Ashley decided it was quite stupid of her to be putting herself in such situation.

After all, she knew her anger was not justified. Dave was right the day before, she was just over reacting. And did she say she didn’t want him in her life?

Nonsense. At that point, she was already attached to the man and having him leave was not an idea she sat with comfortably.

Heaving a sigh, Ashley decided it was time to drop her anger and frustration and first get something legit to eat.

“Are you done been dramatic or do you need me to drop some sense into your head?” Dave asked as she walked passed him.

“Something like that.”

“Good.”

Sitting by the table where food was already waiting for her, Ashley looked up to give Dave a smile of appreciation. Returning it, he folded his arms and stood still, watching her. “I went to your house today.”

Uh? “Which house?”

“Yours. It was only the ground floor that got severely burnt, so I was able to slide through to get your stuff.”

“Uh?”

“You heard me.”

She dropped the filled spoon in her hand. “And by stuff, you mean?”

“Thing you wear? Clothes and the likes.” He shrugged.

“Does that include my under…?” She stopped her question.

“Under what?” He asked amusedly. It was not as though it mattered to her that a man packed her stuff. But if that man happens to be the one giving her life a turnabout mentally and most probably sexually, Ashley just had to feel like someone just increased the temperature of the room.

“Never mind.” Her mouth went back to getting stuffed.

“I also got some of your toiletries. Now that I remember,” he moved two steps closer and leaned against the wall. “,I stumbled upon a very interesting collection of yours.”

Ashley felt a brow slowly quirk as she thought wondered what he was talking about. “Collection?” She asked after a few seconds of pondering, her eyes meeting that of the man with the teasing look.

“Your lingerie collection.” Ashley felt even hotter. “I must say, you have good taste. It is a shame though, they looked untouched. Is it safe to assume that you never wore it for your ex-husband?”

“Dave, please.” The manner with which he spoke made her feel awkward. He talked as though he was talking about, say, a food magazine collection.

“It is good to see you smile again.” Ashley didn’t even know the sides of her lips were dancing with glee. “It is also good to know the effect my teasing has on you.” She rolled her eyes at his cockiness.

“So, you didn’t find my collection then.”

“Oh, I did. Very nice things to look at.”

Shaking her head, Ashley re-focused on her food and hoped he will bring up something else. He did.
“Anyway, jokes aside. Since I won’t be allowing you to stay at an hotel no matter how stubborn you might be about it, I decided to change your environment for the meantime.”

“Okay?”

Dave rubbed his palms together as though he was about to tell a juicy gossip. “Well, Ashley Steve, don’t bother to unpack your load tonight, because we are going to the beach.”

“I am going to the beach doesn’t mean I shouldn’t unpack. It is not like I will be putting on all my attire for one day at the beach.”

Groaning, Dave shook his head in disbelief. “Why, Ashley Steve? Why do you always do this?”

Trying to hide a smile, she asked, “Do what?”

“You were supposed to react happily to the sentence not query it. So much for telling you things.”

Hands surrendering, Ashley chuckled as she said, “Okay, okay. I am sorry. Yay! The beach!”

“I could tell that was fake.” She gave him a sheepish grin. “But to answer the query, just don’t unpack your things. Tonight, you will find out why.”

“Aye, aye, Dave Scott.”

He gave her his signature gorgeous smile. “It is good to see you cheerful, Ashley Steve.”

Stuffing her food into her mouth, Ashley nodded appreciatively and at the same time, she pushed away the tears that were forming in her eyes.

She might look cheerful, but her heart was still deep into the sadness business.

~

Dave always found a way to amaze her whenever he says he would be taking her somewhere.

Staring at the beautiful sunset just at the end of the playful waves, her sandals sinking into the embracing sand, Ashley felt a small smile form on her face. “I can’t believe I really am on a private beach. Perks of being rich, uh?”

Dave gave a short nod, a smirk playing on his lips. “Perks of being rich. Come, let’s go inside. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Don’t tell me we are back to fixing me.” Ashley grabbed onto his hand that he had extended towards her.

“We never took a break Ashley Steve, so we are going to continue this evening.” As they got to the porch of the beach house, Ashley could not help but admire its quite small, yet beautiful structure. To her left was a lounge overlooking the beach view and that just had to be something.

“Do you come here often?” She asked as she noticed how clean the cozy living room they had walked into looked.

“Not really. I am usually too busy to take a break. I had a cleaning agency take care of the place yesterday though.” Dave dropped their bags and went to settle on the nearest couch. After exhaling loudly, he looked in her direction and motioned for her to come sit beside him on the couch.

Snuggling into the side of his body, Ashley could not help but smile as his cologne embraced her even further. “Dave?”

“Hm?”

Her eyes traveled ahead to the attached TV just slightly above the fire place. “I wanted to apologize for being sort of rude yesterday.”

“You mean the day you told me you don’t want me in your life?” His gentle hand stroked through her skin.

Ashley cringed. The thought of him not being in her life still didn’t seat well with her. “Yes. I was just angry, so angry I took it out on you.”

“I know, Ashley. There is really nothing to apologize for.” She looked up at him, her arms wrapping around his waist. When Dave noticed how prolonged her stare was getting, he turned his head towards her. “What is it?”

With thousand thoughts running through her head, Ashley smiled a little and whispered, “I want you, Dave.”

Like the little cocky idiot he always managed to be, a goofy smile appeared on his thin lips. “In your life?”

“No. Well, I do. But no.” She tugged at his shirt in protest, he questioned her confusion with a lifted brow. “I mean,” her voice went back to being a whisper. “, right now. I want you right now.”

“Oh, Ashley,” was all he said and the next thing she knew, she was responding with haste to his mouth on hers. As their mouth danced, so did their semi-glued bodies. Pulling away for a second, Dave asked, “You sure about this?”

“Yes.” Ashley went on to get her tank top off, exposing her bare swelled chest. Grinning at the obvious effect it had on Dave, she continued, “Yes, I am sure.”

And he took her lips again, this time with increased need, their chests glued together. Hands playing on her back, Ashley felt herself being laid down on the couch by Dave’s soft hands. With a smile, he hovered over her stretched figure, staring at her with amusement.

“Oh, the things I am going to do to you Ashley Steve.”

“Hmm.” She reacted as he made a short trail with two of his fingers on her awaiting center through her jean.

His hands went on to her lower abdomen and played sensually causing a new wave of desire to befall Ashley whose eyes kept closing to relish the amazing feeling.

Lowering himself, Dave’s smile increased as their faces became closer. Occasionally, his semi- hard groin brushed hers to her wanting, but he had plans for her. Leaning closer to her ear, he continued with a slow, sexy, intending voice, “I am going to make you feel so damn good, you will think of no other man but me for the rest of your life.”

His words, his breaths, they tortured her. But he really was just getting started. As he moved even closer, he nibbled slowly on her lobe, she just had to cry, “Dave, please. I want you!”


Ashley's Revival: Love Beyond the Ashes
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