Tagged & Ashed (The Sterling Shore Series #2) (21 page)

He’s been touching me all day.  He can’t stand close to me without touching me.  It’s confusing the shit out of me, too.

“Your dad seems to be doing well with Trip,” I say to shift the conversation, hoping his touch will move unless he really wants me.

I look over my shoulder as Damon does his best to make silly faces at Trip, hoping for a laugh.

He smiles as he looks, too, and then he reaches down and pulls a bean from the stir-fry to pop into his mouth.

“I’m surprised.  This is the longest my father has hung around since I’ve been an adult.”

That’s pitiful.  I wish I could kiss his smiling lips right now.

He looks down, his eyes meeting mine, and for a fleeting second, I think he’s about to give in.

“So, Ash, your food is making my stomach growl,” Damon says as he joins us, breaking our intense eye contact.

Tag turns to face him, his body leaning against the counter beside the stove as his side touches mine.

“Thanks,” I say quickly.

“Ash is a great cook.  I didn’t know I had so many pots and pans until she moved in.”

I laugh a little, feeling less like his child’s mother and more like we’re a couple.  It’s such an awkward setup.

“Need help setting the table?” Wren asks as he joins us.

“I’ve already done it,” Tag says with a smile.  “It’s my only way to contribute, since she won’t let me cook.”

I smirk as I think back to his one time of trying to cook with me.  It took forever to get all the smoke out of the house, and all he had to do was stir the food while I took a quick shower.

“Burn the kitchen up again, eh?” Wren pokes, making me laugh out loud.

“Just a little,” Tag chuckles.  “It wouldn’t be fair if I was good at everything.”

“So the two of you are living together, raising your child, but you’re not together?” Damon asks curiously.

Tag swallows hard against a piece of bread he has
hijacked from the oven, and I hold my silence, putting all the burden on him to answer that question.

“Right,” he says shortly, making my heart break at the simplicity of the answer I wish he’d elaborate on.

“It’s not uncommon for people not together to have a child and live in separate homes,” Damon adds.  “In fact, it’s the norm.”

“Most people don’t have someone stalking and attempting to kill them,” Tag says too casually, his hand sliding back around my waist as the reality of those words send a shiver over him.

“It looks like the two of you obviously care about each other.  Why not at least try dating?”

I’d like to know the answer to that myself, and apparently everyone else would, too, since all eyes are on us.

“Um… I… Well-”

“Dinner is done,” I say to relieve Tag of the awkward explanation he apparently doesn’t want to give.

“Excellent,” Damon chirps.  “I’ll take a seat by the lady of the house to hear stories about my grandson.

I force a smile as I take the pans over to the serving table, and everyone swarms the feast.

“I’ll be right back,” I murmur softly to Tag, and he tilts his head to the side.

“Are you okay?” he asks worriedly.

“Yeah, I’m fine.  I just need to check my makeup.  Cooking makes me a little flushed.”

“You look perfect to me.”

I wish he wouldn’t say shit like that.  My head is fucked up enough.

“Thanks, but I’ll only be gone a minute.  Go ahead and start without me.”

His lips tighten, and I escape before he interrogates me further.  As soon as I’m alone in my room, I do something I haven’t had the chance to do with so many people around.  I take three deep breaths, trying to hold back some of the sobs, but it’s no use.

I fall apart, my tears falling heavily as they thud against my cheeks.  I curl into a little ball as I let them fall freely.  I clutch my side where the knife dug in all the way to the hilt.

Please let this be over soon.

Chapter Fifteen

In Love and Hell

Tag

“Ash was quiet tonight,” I murmur to Wren as we stand out on the back deck and let the breeze wash over us.

Though my property is still gated, you have a perfect view of the ocean.

“Yeah, I noticed that.  She’s still not eating very much.  She barely touched her food, and we were almost done eating by the time she got in there.”

“I know.  Should I say something?”

“I think you should.  Bity says you’re the only one who seems to bring out her vulnerability.  It’s likely she’d confide in you.  She definitely needs to talk to someone after the hell she’s been through.”

I look through the window as Damon sits beside Ash, and she forces another smile, masking her truths behind that glorious grin.  I wish I knew what to say to make it all better for her.

***

Ashiara

“You were quiet, pretty girl.  Want to share?” Damon asks kindly.

He looks completely different than the scruffy man he was when he arrived.  His dark shadow has been shaved clean.  His clothes are pressed, clean, and fit him perfectly.  He almost looks like Tag now, just older.

“I’m fine, just tired.  It’s been a long couple of weeks, as you’ve read in the tabloids,” I grumble, my eyes pointing to the mess of magazines he brought in.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you hadn’t seen them.”

“It’s fine.  So how long are you staying?” I ask to change the subject.

“I originally planned on leaving tonight, but Tag invited me to stay.  I think I’ll take him up on it.  How do you feel about that?”

The way he says that is odd, but then again, I’m very tired.  I’m both mentally and physically drained.

“I think it’s a good idea.  I’m sure Tag would love the chance to spend some time with you.”

“And what about you, dear?  Would you like to spend time with me?”

“Um, I don’t see why not.  Right now though, I need to get Trip to bed.”

The sliding glass door to the outside deck opens, and Tag steps in just as I stand up.

“Going to bed?” he asks as he walks toward me.

“Yeah.  Trip is out, and I’m pretty beat.  Do you want him in my room or your room tonight?”

He tilts his head as though I’ve just said something wrong.

“You’re not sleeping with me?”

As much as I want to say no, I want to say yes just as badly.  This is so twisted and confusing as hell.

“I don’t really know if-”

“I’m sure Damon would prefer a room with a view, and yours is the last one.  If you stay the night with me and Trip, then he can wake up with the ocean in his room.”

I force an uneasy smile, and then I nod.

“Then I guess you’ve got a roommate again.”

***

Tag

Roommate?

Is that how she views herself?  Is that my fault or is that what she feels?

Damn I’m confused.

Damon stands, and then he heads off toward Ash’s room to make himself comfortable
, as Erica, Bity, and Shannon walk in.

“We’re going to take a walk on the beach.  You guys feel like going?  We can bring security,”
Shannon chirps.

I look to Ash, hoping she’ll say yes.  I’d love to hold her to me as we carry our son down the beach.

“I’m tired, but maybe tomorrow.  You guys are staying, right?” she asks.

“Yeah, we’re here for the duration.  No more leaving you alone,” Bity quickly adds.

“What about you, Tag?  You in for a beach stroll?”

I’d like to get out just to clear my head for a minute.  Ash’s body in those short little shorts and tight top is killing me.  I haven’t been able to keep my damn hands off her all day.  I thought about saying to hell with it, and fucking her despite the pills, but I can’t.

As soon as her head isn’t clouded by anything, she’s mine.

“Sure,” I murmur in a sighing tone, not wanting to go and leave her, but not wanting to stay and not touch her.

She almost frowns, but she swishes out of the room with Trip in her arms.  I watch as my bedroom door closes, and I debate going on to bed with her.  With the raging hard-on I’ve had most of the day, that would probably be a bad idea.

I need some fresh air.

***

Ashiara

I should be able to sleep.  I’m exhausted, and I cried so much earlier that I almost passed out.  Why can’t I sleep?

With an irritated huff, I finally give up.  They’ve been gone for a while, and I’m starting to wish I had just gone with them.  I would have liked walking with Tag, but not being able to be with him is getting more painful by the day.

Mmm.  Pie.

Erica brought a pie, and I skipped out on desert.  Now I want some, and I think that’s exactly what I’ll go get.

Heading into the kitchen, I notice the fridge already open and a body bent over in it.

“Hello?” I ask curiously, and a head slams into the top of the fridge as Damon emerges, cursing under his breath.

“Sorry,” I chuckle out, and he grins oddly while staggering backwards.

He must have hit his head pretty hard.

“Please don’t be sorry.  I just didn’t expect anyone else to be up.  I needed some pie.”

I smile as I pull down two plates.

“So do I,” I say softly, and he smirks while walking over with the pie in hand.

“So, Ashiara, how is it my son can keep his hands off you?”

Wow.  Skip the small talk, why don’t you.

“Um, I really don’t know what to say to that.”

I smell the stout, pungent stench of soured alcohol radiating from his body.  There’s more, too—I just don’t know what.  He isn’t just acting drunk, he’s acting high.  I’ve only ever seen a few people on drugs, but he definitely fits the bill.

“I don’t mean to sound so crude, it’s just, damn.  You’re a beautiful piece of work.  How much does it cost to keep you in his bed, and how much more would it cost to get his
dick in you again.”

Whoa.

“I think I’ll skip the pie.  I’ve lost my appetite.”

I start to walk out, but he grabs me at the elbow and jerks me back, his breath suffocating me as he leans in far too close.

“Damon, let me go.”

“I’m just trying to talk to my grandson’s mother.  What’s so wrong with that?” he slurs out.

His eyes are wild, the devil nesting in their glaze, and he moves in to pin me against the wall.

“Damon, stop, pleas
e.  You don’t want to do this.  You’re just fucked up.”

He laughs wildly.

“Fucked up?  Damn you sound sexy saying that word.”

I feel the bile rising to the back of my throat as his lips try to reach mine.  I’m pushing with all my strength to force him off me, but I’m not strong enough.  If this bastard touches me, I’ll fucking kill him.

“Damon, Tag will kick your ass for this,” I growl as I turn my head away to try to catch a breath his disgusting secretion hasn’t tainted.

He laughs
maliciously, as his hips press harder against me and his hand grabs my breast.

“Honey, do you have any idea how many of Tag’s girls I’ve fucked?  They all want two things - money and dick.  I’ve got both.  My son’s wealth is my wealth, and they know it.  Same as you.  I promise I’ll help you relax in ways you’ve never imagined.”

He grabs my ass and starts tugging at my shorts, his body moving enough to give me a little mobility, and I knee him in the crotch as hard as I can.  His air leaves his lungs in a harsh, loud breath, and I start running toward the bedroom.

I cry out as he jerks me by the hair, and then I slap the floor hard with a loud crashing
thud.

“You fucking cunt!” he blares.  “Hold still.”

“No!” I scream as he starts trying to pull my shorts down.  “No!  No!  Please, no!”

Before he can touch me anywhere else, his body is ripped off mine and goes flying against the wall.  My eyes can’t adjust to the dark of the living room at first, but when they do, I see Tag’s fist colliding with Damon’s face over and over.

“Tag!” Wren screeches as he leaps over a coffee table.  “Dude, stop.  You’ll kill him.”

Tag doesn’t stop, and it takes Wren and Billy to pull him off before the bloody pulp left of Damon collapses to the floor, still breathing.

“Fucking piece of shit,” Tag growls through gritted teeth before kicking the unconscious lump in the gut.

He rips free from Billy and Wren’s grasp as
Shannon dives to be at my side.

“Holy shit, Ash.  Are you okay?” she gushes as she smoothes my hair from my face.

“I’m fine,” I hoarsely release as my whole body shakes from the adrenaline high.

Tag kneels beside me and scoops me up to pull me to his body.  He carries me over to the couch and sits down to nestle me onto his lap.

“Call the cops,” he says to Wren, who nods while pulling out his phone.  Then he turns to me.  “What all did he do to you?”

The guilt in his face makes me force back the terror and nerves begging to break free in a feverish flood of tears.

“Nothing.  You got here in time,” I mutter while wrapping my arms around his neck.

He pulls me closer, and I bury my face in his neck as he holds me.  I would have never in all my life thought an embrace could be this comforting, but then again, I’ve never truly loved someone the way I do him.

***

Tag

“You guys just don’t have a lot of luck, do you?” the detective asks.

“Not really.  What’s going to happen to him?” I ask as they load the bloody mess of a man into the back of a squad car, just a few bandages in place to show where I’ve been.

“Attempted rape is pretty serious.  It’ll be up to a jury.  I assume she’ll be pressing charges.”

Rape.

The very sound of that word makes me feel like doubling over and heaving.  This can’t be happening right now.

My fucking father almost...  It doesn’t seem possible.  I know he’s fucked up on all sorts of drugs, but this?  I hope he finds the same justice in prison.

“Hell yes,” I growl.

“Good.  I’ll see you
in a little while.  Maybe I’ll have some news on Rene when she gets back from Vegas tomorrow.  I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks,” I sigh while walking back inside.

Ash is reading a tabloid beside Bity, both of them laughing as though she wasn’t just attacked by the man who spawned me.

“Damn she’s tough,” Wren murmurs softly while walking up to me, keeping his voice quiet enough to escape Ash's ears.  “Most girls would be hiding in their room right now.  I would be hiding in my room right now if that had happened to me.”

“She’s not as tough as she wants everyone to think,” I sigh.  “She’s just good at faking it.”

Wren pats my back as I walk over to Ash, and she smiles up at me as she uncrosses her legs for me to sit down beside her.  I don’t sit right away though, I’m almost scared to get too close.

“Can we have a second?” I ask Bity, and he nods before kissing her forehead and walking away.

Everyone else disperses, and
Shannon walks in holding Trip.

“I’ll watch after him tonight.  You two probably need to talk.”

Ash looks a little distraught by the thought of losing her child for a whole night, but she nods and lets her walk away with the sleeping boy in tow.

I finally sit down beside her, and she turns so that her leg lightly rests atop mine.  I’m surprised contact with me doesn’t make her cringe.

“I’m so sorry, Ash,” I murmur through a choking strain.

“Tag, it’s not your fault.  It’s not like Damon’s the first old sleaze to cop a feel either,” she jokes, trying to downplay the severity of the situation.

“You know that’s not all he was trying to do.  I don’t see how you can even look at me right now.”

She takes my hand in hers, and she pulls it close to her lap as she stares at me without any fear tainting her perfect eyes.

“This was
not
your fault.  You’re not your father.  You saved me… again.  It seems to be a habit you’ve formed.  I love that about you.”

My heart almost flips up to my throat.  I could have sworn she almost told me she loved me.  It’s almost impossible to catch my breath now.

“Let’s get some sleep.  We’ll deal with all this shit tomorrow,” she says sweetly.

Without Trip in my room, I don’t have any reason to ask her to sleep with me anymore.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll stay with you tonight.  I sure as hell don’t want to be in the bed Damon was in until it’s burned and replaced.”