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.

rely on my personal charm, it would take Demi forever to give me a double take since she’s not like every other girl. Given how deep Demi’s feelings for Ashton

that allows us to enjoy some intimacy in our empty marriage. I am certain that if Demi gives me a chance to be a proper husband, she’ll fall in love

my offer? Please say yes and give me a chance to make the next six

"It’s a maybe."

her eyes. It’s not a flat No so that’s a huge

Ashley. I really

"What’s that?"

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

"Verify what?"

the Blue Cove and

***

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

play with my wife? What if Demi truly has a thing for the guy from

but that could also backfire. Instead of being swarmed by love, I

I ask why you’re obsessed with finding out

"No, you can’t."

Fierce, are we?

Why are you the

did. However, answering is the only way we move forward with our conversation and should you choose

word I say anyway. This is merely

give the right name and I confirm it, I’d believe

"Confirm it?"

on her flip flops and tries heading for the

us, to what we just shared, if you don’t 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, about our future in this marriage? Are you really going to throw all of that away?" I spin her to face

you’re worried and scared of the change. Trust me, I am too but at the same

to throw all of that away for a few

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

my hands. "I know we don’t exactly have glowing reputations in our different dealings with women and for a conservative bride, I respected your decision. Demi, my feelings for you is not entirely limited to sex. I am not a fucking animal. I’ve always 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 if I had been bold enough to try and tell you, maybe what you feel for

is no

"I know that."

"Listen to me...."

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, around my brothers and I

guys made a promise to keep the truth

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

can tell from the way the anger in her

her cheeks. "I am more than prepared to give you everything you deserve. Why won’t you just give me a chance, Demi? Why this steep condition?

pulls away from me.

just walk out on me after everything I just vomited? I

I mutter irritably. If she likes jerks and assholes, then that’s exactly

***

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

around me instead of Ashton. I wouldn’t have been bothered about their feelings for each other if I wasn’t compelled to take her as a wife. I was dragged into this mess

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

not going to be like Ashal. I won’t beg a woman to stay with me when I can have anyone I 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

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 probably envisions with Ashton, especially while she’s still a

do now?" Asher asks me over the

I really have no clue. I 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 anything about it because I am not sure how she means to react. It could be counterproductive to my future with

"I understand."

some air. "Asher, she mentioned that you told her you were the guy from that night. Why

to tell me what she means to say to him. Despite my efforts, she still didn’t budge. She suspected I was

position and your wife was in

he will remain so for

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

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 for you to keep Demi when that runs contrary to my wish for our family. Look what she’s done to you and Ashton. I can never forgive

can’t fault you for the way

A gentle knock on my door

"Sir?"

with me regarding our promotion plans. We

"Anything else?"