Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 31: Chapter 31

DEMI

"Ashley?"

I take tentative steps into his bedroom as I call out to him. This will be my second time in here and I am very wary of making another blunder. Thankfully, there's no other brother in sight. I know he's alone in here. Except for Ashal who is still receiving treatment in his room, the other two brothers are with father in his study.

"Ashley? Where are you?" The sound of the shower tells me he is probably in the bathroom. I decide to leave and come back when a thought crosses my mind. There are definitely no cameras in here and I may never get a chance to rummage through his half open drawers again. Inhaling, I sidle towards the drawers and slide them fully open. The bottom drawers mostly contain his briefs and socks. I quickly work my way up without messing his neatly arranged underclothes.

The next set of drawers are locked except for one. When I pull it open, my jaw drops at the number of adult toys in there from prostrate massagers to cock rings. Cautiously, I pick one up and gape in astonishment.

"Find what you were looking for?"

I turn around sharply, startled to find Ashley fresh from the shower with only a towel around his waist. I flush red on my cheeks as his sultry eyes rake my body. His wet hair and the water shimmering on his hairy chest makes my heart thud widely in my chest.

Slowly, he makes his way to me with a mischievous grin on his handsome face.

"I-I need help with m-my styling t-tomorrow." I manage to stutter. Ashley is so close to me now with our belly buttons grazing. He smells very good and his breath in my ear tingles my skin.

"Is that really all you want?" His hand closes around the blowjob simulator in my hand. "That's not for you but I have an entire collection guaranteed to make even a nun scream in pleasure."

Embarrassed, I try to leave only to be trapped by Ashley's body.

"Ash, please. I'll come back later." I hate how breathless I sound.

"I'm already here now. Why don't we start." He trails wet kisses down my neck and my nipples go hard as a rock. I want to push him away but then he starts nibbling on my throat. A soft moan escapes my lips. I turn away when he tries to kiss my lips.

"This doesn't have to mean anything. Just close your eyes and feel."

Before I can respond, he captures my lips in his. My head falls back in delight. Somewhere in my head, I try to justify this as a way of distracting him from the fact that he just found me going through his things. I also throw in our legal marriage to the mix. The bubble busts when his cold hands scrape over my thighs and try to pick me off the floor.

"I c-can't." I gently push him away. Ashley's eyes darken.

"Do I really repulse you?"

"You know we can't do this."

"I know we can. WE'RE MARRIED FOR GOODNESS SAKE."

"Don't start this, Ashley. We're not that kind of couple."

He yanks my arm when I try to leave. "And exactly what kind of a couple are we? The type where you can't stand your own husband's touch because of your moral high ground but you have no problem throwing caution to the wind when it comes to his brother?" He doesn't look surprised at my shocked expression. "Would you have stopped me if I was Ashton?"

I wrench my arm away from him. "You have the wrong idea. I didn't stop you because I want to experience this with any of your brothers."

"Then why did you stop me, Demi? Your body clearly wants this."

"I'M NOT ONE OF YOUR SEXUAL CONQUESTS, ASHLEY. I am not the type of woman that is content with being touched by a man who doesn't love me or I him? Yes, I am a woman and I have needs but random sex with a man who's still very much a stranger to me isn't my style. I'm sorry."

"What do you want then? Love and commitment?"

"Maybe."

Something painful flits in his eyes. He looks away and slams his drawers shut. "I already have your outfits for the week picked out. Stop by tomorrow morning and I'll help you."

wish I can thank him with

do anyway. I can't help but wonder why he reacted that way regarding the love and commitment phrase. Are

morning, Ashley keeps to his word and styles me. He is surprisingly in a better mood and doesn't make me feel awkward about our encounter the previous night. When I step up to the full-length mirror to behold my look, I

those heels

comes up behind me in the mirror. "Thank you, Ashley. I

"How's Ashal?"

"Much better."

his condition and

Please?" Ashley looks uncertain. "He was kind to me that day. He wanted to console me when I came home crying after the blogs compared me to Mila and Nicola. Ashal didn't want to leave me by myself but he had something pressing to get to. That was the last time I saw him. I don't understand

"Fine. Just a few minutes, okay? He

in an

headphone on. He seems to be rounding off a session with a therapist. His eyes look tired

to meet his halfway and squeeze. "Dear lord,

I hear?" I give him a

Ashley shrugs.

but I'll come hang out

forward to

to his forehead, pat his

cubicles. Different departments occupy different

open, we are greeted by cheerful faces resplendent in their

handsome man walks up to us and shakes hands with father. His hair

"Good morning, Josh."

gives me a firm handshake as he welcomes me to work. I immediately see why Asher doesn't like this young man; he feels threatened by him. Josh might be an attention seeker but he does get the attention he seeks. He has a way

Branson to his employees. At the snap of Josh's fingers, two ladies march out holding a mini cake and

snorts and heads for his office. I blow out my candle and bask under the cheerful smiles and applause

show you to your

ask the beautiful lady in a snug red dress and

office even if you're only an intern for now." She winks at me as she leads me through a maze of offices and over the

Mine is right over there if you need anything." I smile contentedly at my space. It's already pre-decorated in a minimalist fashion with just the right amount of office

open door. Before Nessa

eyebrows wing up. "Are

is thrilled about me being here. There are some who consider me unqualified even as an intern. I intend to work hard

calls from

stupid? Doesn't he have a landline

my shoulders. "Try to settle in. We're glad to have you." She blows me kisses and dashes off to attend to her grumpy

appliance to. Blake is my go-to girl for office gossip. Minni always has best restaurant recommendations for staff lunches and dinners. Nate is open to give advice on any relationship squabbles I might have and the list goes on. When someone raps on my door, I am just about to thank them in advance and dismiss whatever they've come to say when I see

"Hi."

reply to

pocket as he comes around my table to peer at my computer. Nosy much? I

have been trying to finish editing a report on an excel

"Need any help?"

no, I've got it.

do all the men around me

let me know if there's anything I can do to

"Thank you."

have plans for lunch? You're welcome to join father...I mean Mr. Rollins and I. We always enjoy meals from a place called soul

don't know. I'll have to ask

some of the staff. Minni is a food connoisseur. Plot twist, she discovered soul foods for all of us here. It's just a little pricier