Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 77: Chapter 77

ASHLEY

The warm rays of sunlight slant across my face, stirring me awake. I rub my aching head and prop myself up on the bed with a small yawn. A little frown creases my forehead at the sight of the brightness of the sun. Despite being my own boss, I still hate going late to work.

I barely have time to register my annoyance when a small, purring sound comes from my bed. I rub my eyes in shock at the sight of Demi sleeping soundly in my bed. When did she come into my room? What happened between us? Was she really here the entire night?

Something warm blooms in my chest as I watch her sleep. It reminds me of the first night we shared together in her room months back.

Flashes of my night start clouding my memory; the nightmare and the gibberish I can’t recall saying. Bile fills me as my eyes droop in embarrassment. I never wanted anyone to see me like that, after the throes of an intense nightmare, least of all Demi. I feel the tug of shame now. What must she have thought seeing my cry like a wimp?

Her eyes flutter open, startling me. While I slide off the bed and pull on my robe, she merely sits up and yawns softly.

"Am I dreaming? This can’t be real."

My utterance makes her chuckle a bit. How can someone look so cute at the crack of dawn? I think to myself. She comes around the bed to feel the temperature of my neck and stroke my face.

"You gave me a fright last night. I’m glad you’re all better."

So, that’s all it was? She was only being sweet and nice because of the nightmare I had? I close a hand over hers on my cheek and let my eyes linger on her pretty face.

"I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to scare you like that."

"You don’t have to feel embarrassed. I hate that you hid that from me. You shouldn’t have to endure that alone."

She continues to streak her hands across my face while I stifle the urge to pinch myself awake from this good dream. What exactly happened between last night and this morning to make Demi too comfortable around me? We are in my bedroom and she hasn’t made up an excuse to flee in over two minutes!

"Forget the rubbish I must have said. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind."

I wrap a hand around her waist but she doesn’t flinch. Is this an alternate universe where she likes me instead of Ashton? "What and what did I say anyway to make you so receptive this morning?"

She breaks into a small smile. "I don’t recall much of it. I was in too much of a panic trying to give you a cold water compress to stabilize your flaring temperature." Her eyes soften with concern. "Do the nightmares happen often?"

Would she spend more time with me if I said yes?

"Not exactly but they’ve gotten worse and frequent since the Shay Woodley strikes. I’ll be fine."

She surprises me by brushing the pad of her thumb along my cheek before planting a soft kiss on my forehead. My pulse hammers in my throat at the lustful glint in her eyes. I skim a finger over her ruffled hair.

My gut churns delightfully when she throws her head back with a soft sigh. Impatient with desire, I capture my lips to hers in a sensual kiss The shock of her returning my kiss sends flares of heat straight to my center.

My hand moves in, slamming her body into mine and rocking against the warmth of her. Slowly, the kiss grows rough, almost brutally hot as she kneads the muscles on my back and moans with pleasure. My breath shudders in back in my lungs when she finally jerks back, her face flushed and her lips swollen.

Panting, I blink to clear my vision. I was seconds away from ripping her clothes and pulling her down to the bed to impregnate her this morning.

"I’m sorry. Was that too fast?"

"No, it was just fine." She shrugs her night robe that had almost slid off her body tighter and secures the knot by her side. I can’t tell if she’s shy or pissed with the way she’s actively avoiding my eyes now so I go closer and wrap my arms around her chest.

"Please tell me that this isn’t a dream."

"It isn’t."

I whirl her towards me and cup her chin. Her eyes glaze over with something so unholy I have to fasten my mouth to hers again, briefly, teasingly. Again, she welcomes my touch. It’s not a dream after all. She’s really here in my arms and open to satisfying my craving.

I remember when Nicci had called my phone, screaming obscenities over the way I had treated her in my office because of Demi. I was back in Brellis so I knew she was talking about Ashton. She had used my secret door to get in and he must have mistaken her for my blackmailer.

What I found interesting about Nicola’s version of events was the part where Demi wanted to claw her eyes out for kissing Ashton. I didn’t realize her feelings for him had grown that strong so I knew I had to act fast or she could very well cross the line with my brother before our contract is up.

I am not sure if it’s a matter of pride or jealousy but I can’t stand her yielding to another man (my brother) while she’s married to me. I should be the subject of her affection. I should be the man in her sex dreams. It just seems fair since I was the one forced to marry her when no one else wanted her. Call me petty and insecure but Demi will only be mine as long as she has my ring on her finger.

I’ve had my fair share of torture from romantic relationships. I will no longer condone any woman making a fool out of me. I won’t allow Demi call me her husband in public while masturbating to Ashton’s name in private. I can’t take it.

Hence, I ran my thoughts about bonding with Demi by mother and managed to rally her support for our union. Now, mother thinks it’s all her own idea and continues to do whatever she can in her position to draw my wife and I closer. That was why she did as I asked at her birthday party.

hate that I have to use my mom to achieve my selfish dreams but it’s the fastest way I know how. If I am to rely on my personal charm, it would take Demi forever to give me a double take

to enjoy some intimacy in our empty marriage. I am certain that if Demi gives me a chance to be a proper husband,

a yes to my offer? Please say yes and give me

"It’s a maybe."

It’s not a flat No so that’s a huge

to give you a chance, Ashley. I really am but I have

"What’s that?"

began with a lie when my marriage claim was denied by you all. I want us to start this new Chapter on a

"Verify what?"

Asher truly the brother whom I met at the Blue Cove and later got married to

***

control, I watch her curious eyes watching me intensely. Why wouldn’t she let

wife? What if Demi truly has a thing for the guy from that night and wants to pursue it. Could Asher have been meaning to manipulate her that way by making false claims so she lets her guard

but that could also backfire. Instead of being swarmed by love, I could be the subject of her hatred for denying her that

you’re obsessed

"No, you can’t."

Fierce, are we?

Why are you

I didn’t say you had to answer. You reserve the right to answer or not like I just did. However, answering is the only way

I say anyway. This

the right name and I confirm it, I’d

"Confirm it?"

her flip flops and tries heading for the door when I grip

get the answer you’re looking for?" Mom had already hinted at Demi’s readiness to forego my offer. "What happens to the offer I made to you, Demi,

I am too but at the same time, I am willing to try, for

you want a piece of my heart now, Ashley? You have Nicci and all the women you could ever want to have fun with. How am I supposed to believe you want to throw all of that away for a few months with me?" Something flits across her eyes. "Did you suddenly realize you want more from this marriage after you saw

anything you had with Ashton. If anything, it’s inspired by it. I was always ready from the outset to give you whatever you wanted from this union. I made a lot of changes you didn’t have to ask for. You were the one who had reservations and restrictions from the jump. I thought you weren’t interested in my brothers and I

been intrigued by you and wanted to know you better. I just held myself back because I didn’t want to upset your boundaries. Imagine my surprise when I started noticing your affections for Ashton and his for you. I felt like

there is

"I know that."

"Listen to me...."

her eyes. "I want you. I want us. Forgive me if I am not willing to give any name regarding the man you met at the Blue Cove because I am skeptical about how you would react if you knew the truth. There’s already too much tension around the house,

promise to

know why the man you met was in such a bad state that he was getting so drunk? Getting tangled up with you wasn’t something he did in his right senses. If the roles were reversed and the stranger you accidentally married while wasted comes to assert his claim over you the very next morning while you’re

the anger in

deserve. Why won’t you just give me a chance, Demi? Why this steep condition? Can you really not see

pulls away from me. "I have

walk out on me after everything I just vomited? I literally just wore my heart on a sleeve and this is what I get? Scoffing, I

being a nice guy." I mutter irritably. If she likes jerks and assholes, then

***

hate playing the nice guy. You get your heart stomped on repeatedly. Your kindness is thrown back in your face. Your respect is elusive even in your own home. Good girls always end up gravitating towards the bad guys. They love

instead of Ashton. I wouldn’t have been bothered about their feelings

for her decision but it’s easier to blame Demi for my frustration. Well, I am roped in now but I refuse to be the butt of a cosmic joke twice over. Nicola already dealt with my heart and my pride as a

want. The only problem is that Demi is the one I want right now. I don’t care if the reason I want to attain her is because I don’t want my

Demi is more stubborn than I envisaged. I still won’t beg her but I will secretly pull such strings that she’ll be forced to realize that my offer is the closest thing she can get to the whirlwind romance she

you going to do now?"

don’t know why she won’t let it go. Why is she obsessed with finding the guy from that night? I can’t tell her

"I understand."

she mentioned that you told her you were the guy from

what she means to say to him. Despite my efforts, she still didn’t budge. She suspected I was lying and refused to say anything

you do if you were in my position and your wife was

Ashley but Ashton is our brother and he will remain so for life. Demi was

but what would you do if you desperately wanted her to redirect

you ask Ashal. The two of you are in the same boat after all. He figured out a sick way to win back his wife’s loyalty. I’m sure he’ll have some nice ideas to run by you." He hisses out a breath. "I’m sorry man but I can’t in good conscience devise a plan

you for the way you feel. Bros

over babes." He repeats before hanging up. A gentle knock on my door gets

"Sir?"

the leader of my strategic planning committee to bounce off some ideas with me regarding our promotion plans. We get to work comparing notes. After we are done, Levon pauses by my

"Anything else?"