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.

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 since she’s not like every other girl. Given how deep Demi’s feelings for Ashton runs, I have no choice

the right direction that allows us to enjoy some intimacy in our empty marriage. I am certain that if Demi gives me a

yes and give me a chance

"It’s a maybe."

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

a chance, Ashley. I

"What’s that?"

I want us to start

"Verify what?"

the Blue Cove and

***

her curious eyes watching me intensely. Why wouldn’t she let this go? Why is she pressed to find the man from that

my 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

being swarmed by love, I could be

I ask why you’re obsessed with finding out this

"No, you can’t."

Fierce, are we?

seems a little unfair. Why are you the only one entitled to

just did. However, answering is the only way

say anyway. This is merely an exercise in

name and I confirm it,

"Confirm it?"

stalling." She slips on her flip flops and tries heading for the door

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?

the change. Trust me, I am too but at the same

of that away for a few months with me?" Something flits across her eyes. "Did

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 and

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

there is

"I know that."

"Listen to me...."

"I want you. I want us. Forgive me if I am not willing to give any name regarding the man you

guys made a promise to keep the

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 still nursing a hangover and can barely recall what a wild night you had, how eager would you be to accept him? Have you ever thought

from the way the anger in her eyes lighten to

am more than prepared to give you everything you deserve. Why won’t you just give me a chance, Demi? Why

away from me. "I

she seriously just walk out on me after everything I just vomited? I literally just wore my heart

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

***

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 them. They secretly pine for

around me instead of Ashton. I wouldn’t have been bothered about their feelings for each

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 man once before. There will

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

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

do now?" Asher asks me

go. Why is she obsessed with finding the guy from that night? I

"I understand."

you were the guy from that night. Why did you tell her

"I was trying to get her to tell me what she means to say to him. Despite my efforts, she

were in my position and your

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

but what would you do if you

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 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

you for the way you feel. Bros

A gentle knock on my door gets my

"Sir?"

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

"Anything else?"