Seduction (Club Destiny) (29 page)

Ashleigh’s thigh
muscles screamed as she tried to lift and lower herself onto him, forcing him deeper,
but she couldn’t seem to move fast enough. Finally, he held her hips, forcing
her to remain still as he pounded into her over and over until she couldn’t
hold back. The rush started between her thighs, a flame igniting in her womb
before the spasms started and she was coming. “Oh, God! Yes! Alex!”

“That’s it,
baby. Ashleigh. Fuck!” Alex roared, and she felt him pulse and throb inside her
as his orgasm took him, setting off another breathtaking explosion that left
her weak and crumbling on top of him.

Good grief. She
was pretty sure it didn’t get better than that.

***
~~ *** ~~ *** ~~ ***

“Congratulations!”
Ashleigh squealed when Nate finally broke loose from the hordes of people
demanding his attention.

Standing in
Pops’ living room, Ashleigh had been talking to Logan and Sam, everyone waiting
anxiously for the graduate to arrive.

The ceremony had
gone off without a hitch, and now her nephew was officially on his way to
bigger and better things. To everyone’s dismay, he hadn’t revealed what his
intentions were, but Ashleigh was just happy for him. Whatever his plans were,
she didn’t care, as long as he was doing what he wanted to do.

“Thanks, Aunt
Ash.” Nate said, putting his arms around her for a quick hug. “I’m just glad
it’s over. That was the most boring thing I’ve ever had to do.”

That she
doubted, but for an eighteen year old, she could only imagine.

“So, how does it
feel to be finally finished with high school?” She asked, staring back at the
handsome man she loved more than words could say.

“It’s about damn
time.” He said gruffly, laughing. “I didn’t think it would ever end, and to say
that I’ll miss it would be a lie.”

“No, I wouldn’t
think you would.” Ashleigh remembered her high school graduation and her need
for independence, anxious to get on with the rest of her life. As an adult, she
could look back on that time and wonder why she’d been so ready for it to be
over, but at the time, it couldn’t have gotten there fast enough.

“Have you seen
Alex?” Nate asked, glancing around the room.

“He’ll be here
in a few minutes. He had to run an errand before he stopped by.” Ashleigh told
him, wanting to ask Nate why he was looking for him.

“Don’t tell Dad,
but I’m talking to Alex about a job.” Nate whispered secretively.

“A job?” That
was news to her, but he already knew that. He hadn’t shared his intentions with
anyone, no matter how many times they had all tried to get it out of him.

“Yeah.” Nate
looked down at her in all seriousness. “I met with Sam earlier in the week, and
now I want to talk to Alex before I talk to Dad.”

“You know I have
to pry.” Ashleigh smiled. “What are your plans?”

“I’m hoping to
become a project manager like Sam.” He told her, never breaking her gaze. “I’ve
contemplated it for a long time, and she’s been nice enough to talk to me a few
times. Last week, I met with her again, and I’m convinced it’s what I want to
do.”

“What about
college?” Ashleigh asked, knowing Sam hadn’t gotten where she was without it.

“Oh, I plan to
go to college. I’m just hoping to work at the same time. Get some experience as
I continue my education. Four years of school isn’t all that exciting if you
ask me, but if I have something to work toward, it might make it easier.”

Holy crap. When
had her nephew grown up so fast? She remembered the little rambunctious boy who
ran around, pulling her hair, hiding behind chairs and making her laugh at
every turn. Here before her was a grown man, his ambitions as clear as his
brilliant golden eyes.

“Well, I think
that’s a good plan.” She told him, touching his arm and squeezing gently. “I’m
proud of you, Nate.” Ashleigh felt the tears prick her eyes.

He didn’t
respond, just smiled back at her.

“Where’s that
young man I saw you talking to earlier?” Ashleigh asked, turning her attention
to the others in the room to keep from sobbing like a baby. Her nephew didn’t
want her to get all emotional. It would likely cramp his style.

“Jake?” Nate
asked with a hint of interest in his tone. “He had to go take care of
something.”

Ashleigh heard the
disappointment, and she wondered for a brief moment what their relationship
was. Not that she would ask because quite frankly it was none of her business.
But hope sprung up like a spring flower. For the last few months, Nate had come
into his own, and she was so proud of him. Both for graduating high school and
becoming the man he is.

Having a nephew
who was so strong, so true to himself was refreshing. Especially considering
the hardships he would likely have to endure for the rest of his life. Ashleigh
couldn’t imagine that being openly gay was easy, but he was a confident,
self-assured young man and her pride swelled up just looking at him.

“Well, if I see
Alex, I’ll let him know you’re looking for him.” Ashleigh told Nate. “Now, go
talk to the others before they start hounding me about monopolizing your time.”
Reaching for him, Ashleigh gave him another hug before whispering in his ear.
“I’m so proud of you, kiddo. So very proud.”

When he pulled
back, Ashleigh saw his own tears welling up, and she turned away quickly. He
knew what she was referring to, the same as he knew she would always stand
behind him. Whatever he chose to do, that boy was going to go far.

“Baby girl, come
here.” Pops called out to her when Ashleigh turned to go into the vast kitchen
of her grandfather’s massive home.

“Hey, Pops.” She
greeted, giving him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,
besides my favorite granddaughter doesn’t seem to have enough time to come
visit her old grandpa these days.” Xavier said good-naturedly.

“What are you
talking about?” Ashleigh laughed. “I stop by at least once a week.”

“Like I said,
not nearly enough.” He grinned. “Where’s Alex?”

Ashleigh tried
to read her grandfather’s expression, but couldn’t tell what he might be up to.
He was the second person who had asked her where Alex was and if she wasn’t
mistaken, her family had come to realize that the two of them had become nearly
inseparable.

“He’ll be here
shortly.” She told him. “Why? What’s up? You aren’t going to talk about work,
are you?” She teased.

“Don’t I
always?” Xavier said with a smile.

“Of course you
do. If you didn’t, we’d think something was wrong.”

Xavier chuckled,
but then his eyes turned serious. “Have you seen your brother?”

Ashleigh hadn’t
seen Dylan since the graduation ceremony. She expected him to show up at any
time, but they hadn’t had a chance to talk, so she wasn’t sure. “No, I
haven’t.”

“Well, if you
see him, tell him that I’m looking for him.” Xavier glanced behind Ashleigh,
smiled. “And don’t run off without saying goodbye. I’ve got something I want to
tell you.”

Ashleigh glanced
behind her to see Veronica Sellers, Xavier’s exotically beautiful
administrative assistant, as well as Sierra’s mother, walking their way. If she
wasn’t mistaken, the woman was glowing.

“Hi.” Veronica
greeted Ashleigh when she came closer, keeping a couple of feet between herself
and Xavier.

Ashleigh
grinned. Those two were up to something. “Hi.” she returned the greeting and
turned back to Pops. “I’ve got to go talk to a couple of people, but I’ll make
sure to check in before I leave.”

Ashleigh hugged
her grandfather again before she left the kitchen. She heard hushed whispers
behind her before Pops laughed again and she had the sneaking suspicion that
they were about to get some really good news.

A half hour
later, Ashleigh was wandering through the house until she caught a glimpse of
her brother standing on the veranda. Before anyone could stop and talk to her,
she snuck out the door and joined Dylan standing by the railing.

The skies were
gray, lined with black clouds rolling in from afar, a few flares of lightening
off in the distance. An early summer storm rolling in on the horizon.

“Hey.” He
greeted in that intense drawl he had.

“Hey, old man.”
Something was bothering him, she could tell, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t
the weather he was worried about. “How does it feel to have both kids now out
of high school?”

Dylan turned to
look at her and Ashleigh noticed the harsh lines bracketing his mouth and the
dark circles beneath his eyes. Her heart cracked a little, knowing exactly what
he was thinking about.

“She would have
wanted to be here.” Dylan said quietly.

Ashleigh touched
her brother’s arm, moved in a little closer and leaned against him. “I have a
feeling she was.”

“Yeah?” He
didn’t sound convinced, but he didn’t say another word.

“Meghan’s been
with those kids every single day since the day she died, Dylan. She’ll always be
with them. And you.”

“Maybe that’s
why it’s so hard to let go.” He stated, but there wasn’t an ounce of humor in
the words.

Ashleigh
squeezed his arm. “You love her. Plain and simple.” Turning to face him, she
waited until he looked at her. “Dylan, it’s alright for you to move on. Meghan
would want you to be happy. You were the love of her life, and you gave her
those two miracles. Just because she’s gone, doesn’t mean you have to merely
exist in this life. It’s not fair to you and it’s not fair to her memory.”

Dylan’s mouth
hardened even more, and Ashleigh knew he was going to argue with her. She put
her hand up to stop him. “I would never tell you how to feel. I couldn’t
imagine what you’ve been through, and I won’t pretend to. But I can tell you
that you’re missing out on so much by letting her memory haunt you like this.
You’ll never forget her, no one would ever want that, but you’ve got to see
what you’re doing to yourself and to your kids. Think about it, Dylan.”

“That’s the
problem, Ash.” Dylan said, his voice husky with emotion. “I think about it all
the time. And I’m ready to move on which I think is part of the problem. I’m
scared I’ll forget her.”

“You will never
forget the love of your life. She was your soul mate. That will never change,
even if you meet someone new, fall in love, Meghan will always be in your
heart.”

Dylan laughed,
without mirth. “I can assure you, I’ll never fall in love again.”

Ashleigh wasn’t
about to argue with him. She begged to differ, but again, she’d never been in
his shoes. She couldn’t imagine life without Alex in it, and she was pretty
sure if he was tragically taken away from her, she’d never fall in love again,
so Dylan might be on to something.

The door behind
them clicked as it opened and Ashleigh turned to see who it was. There behind
them was a tiny, petite woman that rivaled Sierra in height. Her curly blond
hair bobbed sweetly in the breeze, and Ashleigh didn’t miss the way she eyed
Dylan.

“Sara?” Dylan
called out to her, his voice sounding different than only moments before,
causing Ashleigh to turn and look at him.

So, maybe this
woman was the reason for all of his internal turmoil. The way Dylan was looking
at this waif of a woman was laced with heat and longing, something she feared
she’d never see in his eyes again.

“This is my
sister, Ashleigh.” He introduced them. “Ashleigh, meet Sara Fulton.”

Ashleigh held
out her hand to shake the other woman’s, noting the delicate hand that met
hers. The warmth in Sara’s navy blue eyes was unmistakable, making Ashleigh
like her immediately.

“Nice to meet
you.” Sara said, her voice whisper soft. “I’m Jake’s aunt.”

Jake? Oh.
Ashleigh could only assume she meant Jake, the man Nate was talking to earlier.

“Jake’s one of
the sales reps I recently hired.” Dylan offered, and Ashleigh suddenly felt
like an intruder. Turning to her brother once again, she smiled because the
storm clouds in his chocolate brown eyes had dissipated. At least momentarily.

“Nice to meet
you, too. I’d better get back inside,” Ashleigh told them. “Oh, and Pops said
to let you know he’s looking for you.”

Dylan nodded,
but didn’t say a word as his eyes seemed locked on Sara’s. Without another
word, Ashleigh snuck away, leaving the two of them alone.

Maybe the sun
would come out after all.

~~*~~

Alex walked
through the front doors of Xavier’s grand estate, glancing quickly from person
to person, looking for Ashleigh. He was late, he knew, and that was his fault.

Or rather
Jessie’s.

She had called
him just after they walked out of Nate’s graduation ceremony, and he’d
ignorantly answered the call. As much as he wanted to ignore her, he hadn’t
been able to. During the short drive to her house, he’d wanted to kick himself
in the ass for leaving Ashleigh, but by then it had been too late.