Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 47: Chapter 47

ASHLEY

Demi is a crying mess when I walk into her room. At first, I expect to get yelled at for barging in. I know she has never been comfortable being alone with me. Surprisingly, she merely blots at her teary eyes and sits up on her bed. Her eyes cling adoringly to my face as a ghost of a smile seeps into her cheeks.

"I knew you would come back." She says in a low whisper. "I’m so sorry. Please don’t hate me."

Her crying fit starts again while I stand watching her, confused as hell. Was Ashton just in here? What the hell transpired between them? Can’t Demi tell I am wearing the same clothes from earlier when we met at the drawing room or does this mistaken identity have to do with the low setting of her bedroom light? Gradually, my brows furrow in annoyance. Just how much does she care about Ashton? Why has she never looked at me so lovingly like this?

Her arms shoot up to wrap around my neck in a tight embrace. "I didn’t mean to lie to you. Please believe me. It’s all a big misunderstanding."

Slowly, she eases back, her breath fanning my face. When I least expect it, her lips are on mine. She infuses just the right about of slutty aggression and sensual passion into the kiss. Lust curls like a ball at the pit of my stomach as she strokes her hands in my hair.

Heart thumping widely, my hands snake around her slender waist. I feel her shiver with excitement as my hands brush over the warm skin of her back. She tips her head back and moans when my tongue goes to work, teasing and kissing the soft band of her neck. When my fingers scrape over her hardened nipples, she gasps in ecstasy.

"Ashton" She slurs, her voice no higher than an erotic whisper. My breath catches.

Disappointed and furious, I pull away so fast she falls back on the bed. Her hair tumbles across her face. Even through the red haze of anger, I am still pining to taste her. I forcefully peel my eyes off her body and rub my hand over my neck, biting down on the clawing need to break something. What the hell was that? She was really thinking about Ashton?

"Is something wrong?" She asks leaping off the bed and taking my hand. She’s so close now, eager to continue. She kisses my cheeks one after the other. "Am I too fast?" I allow her cup my angry face in her hands and return her intense stare. I can’t believe her right now. So, I was never the problem? She just preferred to have casual sex with a different Ash Rollins.

The scales seem to fall from her eyes as she takes me in, from eyes to clothes. When she tries to jerk back, I grip her hand on my cheek and secure her waist with my other hand.

"Ashley?" She manages with trembling lips.

"What?" I dare her. My eyes are sizzling with rage now. She tries to jerk free only to topple us over the bed. I straddle her and watch with ire as she squirms beneath me. "I was never the problem, was I? And you aren’t averse to having casual sex; you just wanted to have it with Ashton!"

Bile tickles my throat now. I have never suffered this kind of raw rejection. Women have never been able to resist me so how can Demi be disgusted by the thought of being touched by me even when I am a mirror image of Ashton?

"Ashley, please."

She struggles to free her hands but I clamp down hard on them.

"You told me things between you guys was simply platonic and here you are trying to give yourself to him while still being married to me! How could you try to fuck my own brother? How shameless can you be?" My voice is a low hush in spite of the fury vibrating within me.

"I...I..."

"Cat got your tongue?" I grab her by the lapels of her shirt now. "What would have happened if I didn’t stop? If Ashton were here and he didn’t stop? You would have given yourself completely to him, wouldn’t you? Why? Why him and not me? Why not the man you’re actually married to, Demi?"

I let her go and get down from the bed. I won’t allow it. Women keep toying with me even when I try to be a gentleman. This is all I ever get; betrayal. They’re all the same.

"Ashely, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking."

I slap her hands off me. "Don’t complicate this any further by lying to my face. You knew exactly what you were doing. You desperately wanted to sleep with Ashton tonight. If he had come in here and not me, he’d already be inside you by now."

"Ashley..."

"Don’t. call. my. name." I growl in anger. "I trusted you Demi. When you insisted that sex shouldn’t be a part of our marriage contract, I didn’t question it. I respected your boundaries despite how difficult it got with each passing day. Do you have any idea how much I struggle to keep my word to you? I was a perfect gentleman all for you and this is how you pay me back? You’ve been lying to my face this whole time. MY BROTHER? It had to be my own brother?"

I gasp, covering my face with my hands. "I am so disappointed in you right now, and in my brother too. You both have been fooling everyone this whole time acting like your feelings for each other are nothing to be concerned about."

never even kissed me before. I don’t what got over me.

COME TO ME! I AM THE ONE

fulfilled your needs without judging you for going back on your word. I rushed in here worried about you when I heard from one of the maids that you refused dinner and had puffy eyes like you’ve been crying. I should

head in disgust. "Mother...do you have any idea how much this could upset her? And father, he won’t go easy on Ashton because he knows how

am sorry." She repeats over and over again till it starts

got caught. If I hadn’t been here, you and Ashton would probably have hidden the secret of this night from everyone." When

"Ashley..."

"Swear it!"

me, ever. That night in your room was

wife might be in love with my own brother! Even worse, Ashton may

and I won’t allow it. Once bitten, twice shy, right? I’ll do what I can to stop this madness. Demi can’t get with

make a resolution instantly. Thankfully, I was able to convince Ashton to distance himself from Demi. Now, it’s Demi’s turn to keep to her contract and

I begin through clenched teeth as Demi stares up at me. "You’ll stay the heck away from Ashton and you will not give him any reason to think he’s got a shot with you. He’s your brother-in-law, not your friend. Hence, you’ll only treat him as such. You’ll honor our contract and give me the respect I am due. In return, I’ll try to forget this night ever happened so we can all move on with our lives without unnecessary pain,

Demi sniffles. "We are."

chance. If you give me a reason to suspect you

rises to her feet. "Thank you, Ashley for being so mature

stupid? I step up to her with darkened eyes. "Don’t thank me yet. You have a long way to go to convince me that you and

lips. I can understand why Ashton keeps coming back after that accidental kiss

sensed how annoyed I am as she returns a halfhearted peck on my cheek. I cup her chin kiss her slowly on her lips. Demi tries not to show any discomfort and even kisses me back. We carry on with the slow kiss until I back away. It’s nothing as exciting as the one we shared earlier obviously but

what made you cry

***

window. I look down to find Demi purring softly on her corner of the bed.

kiss. Demi even fell asleep holding my hand. I know it’s nothing but I feel good knowing she trusted me enough to fall

"Morning."

small nod as

breakfast. The truth is I can’t really tell if it’s his ’I don’t give a damn about anyone so do well to avoid me’ face because he had promised me last night or if he really can’t care less that

don’t feel bad at all.

conversation as she has her breakfast. Afterwards, everyone

nice

her

black leather pants. He almost looks like a Kpop idol right now.

***

hear me, Ashley? How could you sit there and

temples. "Nicci, I only

slighted by your word choice, Ash. Do well to remember that I am a high grossing top model in Danvarr. Simply because I have

my head back in my chair and press my

to Rahl’s books and ask the young

I didn’t want to encourage her speculations by voicing my concerns earlier. However, I did find the guy holding Demi’s hand at the bookstore in Nicola’s video oddly familiar. I’m certain I’ve

in front of Demi’s aunt’s house, the night I went to drop Demi off after we were forced to kiss each other

my gut. Could Demi truly be having an affair with that stranger? I thought Ashton was the

at the HQ. If she isn’t at work, then she

She sounds a

out of the

a bite with Anna,

I’m just heading out