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."

even kissed me before. I don’t what got over me. I had a

COME TO ME! I AM THE

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 have known you were

you have any idea how much this could upset her? And father, he won’t go easy on Ashton because he knows how stubborn Ash can get when he wants something. He’ll give him a tough

head, crying softly. "I am sorry." She repeats over and over again till it starts grating on my

caught. If I hadn’t been here, you and Ashton would probably have hidden the secret of

"Ashley..."

"Swear it!"

he hasn’t kissed me, ever. That night in your room was purely an accident and you know

all hurts more than I am admitting. My wife might be in love with my own brother! Even worse, Ashton may just have strong feelings for her that transcends sexual attraction. Am I supposed to pretend to be cool with this bullshit

Once bitten, twice shy, right? I’ll do what I can to stop this madness. Demi can’t get with any one of my brothers; that’s fucked up. A stranger may sting my

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

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

Demi sniffles. "We are."

chance. If you give me a reason to suspect you and Ashton ever again, we’re through and you’ll

to her feet. "Thank

or weak and 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 my brother aren’t up to no good every time I turn my

eyes intentionally dip to her lips. I can understand why Ashton keeps coming back after that accidental kiss between them in my room.

even kisses me back. We carry on

tell me all about your day and what made you cry earlier." Demi quietly

***

look down to find Demi purring softly on

stir up in my head. We had spoken late into the night. What had started off as a tense conversation ended up with jokes, laughter and a goodnight kiss. Demi even fell asleep holding my hand. I know it’s nothing but I feel good knowing she

"Morning."

small nod as I get off the bed. Her eyes follow me

in comparison to seeing Ashton’s face at 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

I didn’t sleep in my bed. I wonder what he must have imagined transpired between Demi and I. Yet, I don’t feel bad

breakfast. Afterwards, everyone begins to disperse for

nice day at

slides into her car and I help her shut the door. Mother

his checkered shirt and black leather pants. He almost looks like a Kpop idol right now. He doffs his cap at me before taking off in his

***

hear me, Ashley? How could you sit there and

the ache in my temples. "Nicci, I only called

Wow." Eyes flashing, she grabs her purse and lurches to her feet. "I am slighted by your word choice, Ash. Do well to remember

in my chair and press my

call your attention to what your adulterous wife has been up to. When you do get some time off your precious work, head over to Rahl’s books and ask the young man at the counter how frequently your wife haunts that place with her lover during her lunch breaks and weekends. I just hope Billion-Err doesn’t get the scoop before

flashes open as Nicci stalks away. 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

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

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

my head, I grab my phone and dial Demi’s number. It’s already lunch time at the HQ. If she isn’t at

sounds a

I’m sorry for calling out of the blue like this. Are you

a bite with

just