Forever You (3 page)

family.”

Denny smiled and nodded his head.

“Connor, can I get you something to eat before you go?” Claire asked.

“No, Claire, I’m good.”

I looked at my watch, and it was 6:30 pm. I wanted to get to the club before Ashlyn did in case

there was someone there that I needed to speak with. Plus, I needed a few drinks before she showed

up.

I arrived at the club around 7:00 pm and was surprised at how crowded it was at such an early

hour in the evening. I walked to the back by the bar and sat down at my usual table. Rebecca, my

favorite waitress, walked over with a smile on her face.

“Good evening, Mr. Black. What can I get you?”

I looked at her and ran my tongue across my lips. She was a twenty-something sex on legs.

“Give me a scotch, and make it a double. In fact, bring two.” I said.

She smiled at me with her eyes and turned away. She returned in a short amount of time and set my

drinks on the table.

“Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Black,” she winked.

I smiled and tilted my head. “I know something you can do for me.”

I got up from my seat and escorted her down the hallway and into a small room that is used for

storage. We walked inside as I shut and locked the door. She unbuckled my belt, unbuttoned my pants,

and took them down seductively. She didn’t need to stroke me; I was already hard and waiting for her

lips to wrap themselves around me. Her mouth was amazing as her tongue made circles around my

cock. I let out a low moan as I thrust my hips back and forth while keeping my hands placed on her

head. Relax; this isn’t the first time I’ve been with her. She provides me a service occasionally when

I come to the club because she’s the best at it, and she knows it. In return, I provide a large tip to

thank her for her services.

I left the small room first and walked back to my table with sex on legs following behind. I looked

at my watch, and it was 8:00 pm. I had just enough time to down my scotch before Ashlyn showed up.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I looked up and saw her sitting at the table.

“Ashlyn, you weren’t supposed to be here until 8:30 pm.”

“Nice to see you too, Connor,” she said as she kissed me on the cheek. She cocked her head and

glared at me.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked.

“Were you just with that waitress that was following behind you?”

I picked up my glass and took a drink. I turned so I was facing her and cupped her chin in my hand.

“That is none of your business, Ashlyn. We’ve been over this a thousand times. What I do and with

whom I do it with is none of your concern.”

She looked down and then back up at me. “Connor, there’s something that I need to talk to you

about, but first I want to dance. I’ll be back and then we’re going to talk.”

I sighed as she got up and made her way to the dance floor. I called over Rebecca and ordered a

few more drinks. I sat there watching beautiful women stare and smile at me as they walked by. A

couple of them grabbed my attention, but it was quickly diverted when Ashlyn came up behind me and

wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Are you ready for that talk now?” she asked.

I took her arms and quickly removed them from me. I was feeling the effects of the alcohol, and I

was in no mood for whatever it was she wanted to talk about. I raised my hand, and once again, I

caught Rebecca’s attention to bring over a few more drinks.

“Connor, we need to talk,” Ashlyn said.

I looked over at her and sighed. “Ashlyn, what is it that you want to talk about?”

She started running her finger up and down my arm. “We’ve been seeing each other casually for

about a year now, and I think maybe it’s time to take it to the next level.”

I took another drink and looked directly into her eyes. “What the hell are you talking about? What

do you mean by
‘the next level’
? There is no next level Ashlyn; how many times do I need to tell you

that?”

I saw the anger growing in her eyes with each word I spoke. She clenched her jaw and pointed her

finger at me, shaking it while starting to yell.

“We’ve been together for a year, but you still see other women! This has to stop, Connor! I know

you have some feelings for me in that dead head of yours. I can feel it!”

I took the last sip of my drink and slammed the glass down on the table. I took my finger and

pointed it at her; it was my turn now. My voice was angered as I found myself yelling over the loud

music that was playing throughout the club.

“I have no feelings for you, Ashlyn! I never have, and I never will! You need to stop this right now

or that’s it; I’m done with you for good. You’re nothing but sex to me, and that’s all you’ll ever be!”

Anger overtook her face as she raised her hand and slapped me. The sting of her hand felt

permanently etched into the side of my face.

“That’s for disrespecting me, you bastard!” She yelled before turning on her heels and storming off.

I sat there and stared straight ahead. I didn’t care that she left or that I hurt her feelings. She entered

into this arrangement fully aware of where she stood with me, and for her to think otherwise is stupid

on her part.

I finished off the last of my scotch. I was feeling good as I noticed some girl staring at me from

across the bar. Her beauty was breathtaking. I was about to get up and go talk to her until she stood up

suddenly and went to the dance floor. I shrugged my shoulders and stumbled to the bar for another

drink.

Chapter 3

The next morning, I was awoken by the sound of someone making a lot of noise in the kitchen.

Everything was blurry, and my head felt like it had been beaten with a hammer. I looked around the

room, trying to remember how the hell I got home last night. The last thing I remember was Ashlyn

slapping me across the face. I glanced over to the other side of the bed and noticed the comforter was

messed up. Clearly, I was with someone last night. I got out of bed and walked over to the dresser.

After finding a pair of black pajama bottoms, I pulled them on before heading downstairs to see who

the fuck was making all that noise so early in the morning.

I reached the entrance to the kitchen and stood there with my arms crossed as I watched this girl

making something in my kitchen. I stood there for a moment, staring at her from behind. Her blonde

hair was long and wavy. I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to stay the night. She broke my number

one rule. No one has ever broken that rule, or any rule to be exact. I cleared my throat to let her know

I was there and watching. I didn’t want to completely scare the hell out of her.

She slowly turned around and looked at me. I gulped as my heart started to beat a little faster. It

was her eyes. She had the prettiest ice blue eyes that I’ve ever seen. They had a clarity to them that

reminded me of a beautiful aquamarine gemstone. They sparkled amongst the light that filtered through

the kitchen windows. As much as they sparkled, they were also filled with fear as she looked straight

at me.

“Did I not go over the rules with you last night?” I said as I cocked my head to the side.

“Huh?” she frowned.

“I don’t do sleepovers. You were supposed to leave after I fucked you, so would you mind telling

me why you’re still here, in my kitchen, making yourself comfortable?”

My tone was harsh, but who does this girl think she is? She put a glass on the counter and slid it

over to me. I reached for it before it slid off the counter and broke all over my floor. She stood there,

looking at me without answering my question.

“I asked you a question, and I expect an answer.”

Her beautiful ice blue eyes suddenly darkened as she raised her voice to me.

“Listen, buddy, I don’t know what you think happened here last night but you didn’t fuck me!”

I looked at her intently as she continued on with her rant.

“You drank yourself into oblivion at the club last night, and they kicked you out. I was walking

outside when it happened, and being the good person I am, I called a cab to make sure you got home

safely. You then proceeded to vomit all over yourself, so I had to get you to the bathroom and out of

your clothes, because frankly, you smelled. I was on my way out the door when I decided to check on

you one more time. I went back to your room, and you were lying on your back, so I rolled you on

your side again in case you vomited; I wouldn’t have wanted you to choke to death. I fell asleep from

exhaustion after dealing with you, and when I woke up, I decided to make you a pot of coffee and a

hangover cocktail. I was leaving in a few minutes, and I didn’t expect you to be up for at least a few

more hours.”

I shifted my weight, folded my arms, and took a few steps closer to her. “So, you’re telling me that

nothing happened between us?” I asked.

“No, nothing happened. I just wanted to make sure you were going to be ok. You were obnoxiously

drunk,” she said as she looked down at the floor.

Her voice had become soft and pained. Who is this girl, and why the hell would she help me like

that? I was intrigued by her; not only by her beauty, but by her kindness. I could tell she had a

gentleness to her; an innocence I’ve never seen in a woman before.

I picked up the glass and looked at it. “What is this?” I asked.

“Just drink it, and you should start to feel better in about 15 minutes,” she said with a smile.

It was only a small smile, but it caught my attention in more places than one. She said she was

going to pour me some coffee before she left. It’s beyond me why this girl would even bother after the

way I just spoke to her. She reached into the cupboard to grab the cup as it fell out of her hands and

onto the floor. She cursed as she bent down to pick it up. I walked over to her because I didn’t want

her cutting herself.

“You’re going to cut yourself,” I said.

She didn’t listen, and she wouldn’t stop picking up the broken pieces.

“Stop,” I commanded in a harsh voice.

She still didn’t listen, so I had no choice but to grab her wrists and force her to stop. I turned over

her hands to take the broken pieces from them. I took in a sharp breath when I saw the scars along her

wrists. Our eyes met, and she quickly pulled away. She stood up, and I continued picking up the

pieces as she grabbed her purse.

“I’m sorry for the mug; I’ll replace it for you, and I hope you feel better,” she said as she headed

for the door.

I threw the broken pieces in the garbage and followed after her. I couldn’t let her leave. I didn’t

want her to leave. I still had more questions.

“Wait,” I said. “At least let me pay you for your trouble last night.”

She turned and looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes.

“I’m not taking your money.”

Shit, I had to think fast. I wasn’t about to let her leave.

“Then at least have a cup of coffee before you go,” I said.

I was relieved when she agreed and sat down at the island. I poured her a cup of coffee and placed

it in front of her. I picked up the glass of what she called ‘a hangover cocktail’ and forced it down. It

was disgusting, and I could tell she was trying not to laugh at me as I was drinking it. I leaned over

the counter and looked at this beautiful woman sitting across from me.

“Why on earth would you help me like that? What if I was a rapist or murderer?” I seriously asked.

She threw her head back and laughed. “You couldn’t rape or murder me even if you wanted to. You

were so far gone last night; I could barely get you home.”

I ran my hand through my hair because she wasn’t taking what I was saying seriously, and she could

have been in danger if it was anyone else besides me.

“You shouldn’t be doing those kinds of things; it’s not safe in this city for a girl to be doing shit like

that,” I said with agitation.

She put her elbow up on the counter and leaned her head on her hand as she stared intently at me

with a smirk on her face. I got the impression she thought I was joking, so I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Are you even listening to me?” I asked.

Instead of answering my question, she lightly laughed and got up from the stool.

“Thanks for the coffee, but I need to get home. Have a lovely day, Mr. Black, and next time, don’t

drink so much,” she said with a smile.

Damn that smile. I followed her to the elevator and asked her if she had a name.

“It’s Ellery Lane!” she yelled.

I stood there and watched the elevator doors shut as the beautiful woman known as Ellery Lane

disappeared from my sight. I swallowed hard as I ran my hands through my hair. I raced up the steps

to my bedroom. I threw on a pair of jeans and took out a shirt from the drawer. I grabbed my shoes

and raced down to where my Range Rover was parked. I climbed inside, put on my shoes, and pulled

out of the garage. That’s when I saw her get into a cab around the corner. I discreetly followed the

cab to her apartment. I parked the Range Rover across the street and watched her as she got out and