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I pulled her hair just enough to make her moan into my mouth, but not enough to tear those slick lips off mine. Instinct took over, and I spun us so that I was the one pinning her down on the bed, practically knocking my bag off to make more room for her. My hips ground down, and she ran her tongue over my bottom lip.
Oh, yes. This was what I wanted. She was what I wanted.
I felt her move her hands down my side, tugging at my clothes. If it were just us, if it were up to us, I knew these clothes would be torn off in pieces—I’d never been this crazy about someone before. Yes, I’d had girlfriends, but none of them were ever at this level. This wasn’t just a physical need, it was a mental one. A deep, crushing need that I felt in my very soul.
One of her hands went between us, moving to cup me over my jeans, rubbing along me hard enough to make my balls clench in anticipation. It was my turn to sigh into her; her hand, so firm and brazen, was practically enough to push me over the edge when it came to her. I couldn’t even imagine what being inside of her would feel like.
Heaven. I bet it felt like heaven on earth.
There was a knock on the open door, and Ash pulled her lips off mine the moment Declan said, “Dad’s car is pulling up in the driveway. Just thought I should let you guys know, in case…well, you know.” His cheeks were flushed, and I couldn’t help but wonder how long he’d been standing there, quiet and watching before he’d knocked and made his presence known.
I got off Ash, giving them both my back as I reached down and readjusted myself. By the time I turned around, Ash was by Declan’s side, batting her eyelashes at him. For his part, Declan didn’t seem upset at seeing us together. He seemed…okay with it, if a little embarrassed that he’d had to interrupt us.
It was probably for the best. Dad was home. No more hanky-panky—or anything in realm of it, for that matter. If Dad caught either one of us with Ash, things would surely take a turn for the worse around here. But then again, Dad was the one who fought for Ash to be the test student at Hillcrest; he probably knew what was happening between her and Declan.
Me? Her feelings for me would come as a shock to him, for sure. Dad would probably have a heart attack if he knew what was going on.
Maybe that would be a good thing. All of us sitting around the table, the Thanksgiving turkey between us, half a dozen other plates and dishes too. Declan and I telling Dad about our relationship with Ash, and Dad keeling over right then and there, his face in the butter tray.
God, that would be amazing, not going to lie.
If Dad died, I wouldn’t have to lie to Declan any longer. I wouldn’t have to hide the truth.
The truth? It was ugly, and it was so, so illegal.
Chapter Twenty-Two – Ash
That night we ate a small dinner, mostly because no one wanted to eat a lot so close to Thanksgiving. I sat near Declan, while Will was across from me, and Dean Briggs sat at the head of the table. I imagined this was where we’d sit during the big meal itself, save for Declan. During Thanksgiving dinner, he’d be sitting beside his brother, and I’d be by my mom.
I missed her, I did. Of course I did. I loved my mom more than anything. Growing up poor, you learned what was important in life, and that was family. Did that stop me from lying to her about Ray? No, but Ray was not something I was proud of.
Now especially, I felt like my mom was going to look at me and know I’d lied to her all this time.
“How are you feeling, Ashley?” Dean Briggs spoke, twirling his fork in his pasta. His eyes were like Declan’s, as was the kind expression he wore. His goatee looked a little more grey than it did brown, but he was still a fine-looking older gentleman. “I feel I must apologize for not checking in more often, especially after what happened. Things have been…well, a bit crazy around here.”
Crazy didn’t cut it, but he didn’t know about my serial killer ex, so I’d let him have this one.
“I’m fine,” I said, shrugging. “It’s like it never happened.” My body felt like shit for a while after being hit by that car, but at least I was alive. At least I was here. It was more than I could say for some people, namely those old folks who were doing nothing but living their life when Ray found their house, decided he liked it, and then killed them and stuffed them in his trunk.
My fingerprints were everywhere in that house. If I didn’t have so little faith in the police, I would’ve thought about calling them.
The table got quiet after my response, and I felt immensely awkward. This family didn’t really feel like a family at all. There was a tension I couldn’t name between Dean Briggs and his children. It was not the most comfortable way to share a meal, that’s for sure.
The rest of the meal progressed in much the same manner. Dean Briggs tried asking questions, how our classes were, if Will was excited to transfer to Hillcrest next semester, but none of us were very talkative. Eventually he gave up trying, and we finished the meal in silence. I offered to help do the dishes, but Dean Briggs pushed me off, telling me I was a guest in his house, so I would be doing no chores while I was here.
Now that, that was something I could appreciate.
I know, me being lazy. Who knew?
“Dad,” Declan spoke, leaning on the grey and white marble countertop as he caught the eyes of his father, who was currently rolling up his sleeves near the sink. “I’m going to show Ash around the property, if that’s okay?” Asking permission like a good son. I wanted to roll my eyes and pretend to be sick, but I couldn’t.
“Sure, just don’t stay out too long, okay? It’s going to get dark soon” was Dean Briggs’s response.
Declan and I met eyes, and I followed him through his house. Will had disappeared upstairs, going to his room, and Declan led me to the giant back porch, down the few wooden steps and onto the grass. There was a stone pathway that led to an inground pool not too far away, but the pool was closed up for the season. Woods lined the property a mile or so back, and it was when Declan grabbed my hand, his warm fingers intertwining with mine, that I realized that’s where we were going to go.
The woods. Not creepy at all.
“I’m surprised you guys don’t have a giant fence lining the property,” I said, mostly joking as we made our way across the huge yard, the well-manicured grass. The further we got away from the house, the more hilly the land was. It was just after six o’clock, the first hints of dusk appearing, the sky a beautiful mixture of oranges and reds.
