Ashton smiled, relieved to finally get it out of his system. He didn’t get a moment of respite since he found out about her dinner plans with her damn fiancé. He wanted to go over to her place and check things out for himself. What if he stole her first kiss? He wanted to be the only one to kiss her.He paced the entire time, restless and furious at his own helplessness. Memories of the previous evening drove him crazy, and he missed her immensely. Being wrapped up in his thoughts, he forgot to even have his dinner. Finally, he built up the courage to message her.His phone buzzed with an incoming message from her, and Ashton sat up with excitement. What reply did she send to his earlier admission? Did she miss him, too? Missing me or my food?- Hayley Both- Ashton. Why can’t I believe you?-Hayley.You will believe me eventually. I never lie–Ashton. That was deep–HayleyI am quite deep. Come over tomorrow to know me better- Ashton.I might take you up on that- Hayley.I’ll be waiti
“Thanks! Stop please!” She smiled nervously, wiggling her foot out of his hold, unable to take the torture anymore. Although his touch on her bare feet felt heavenly, it invoked a reaction of a different kind altogether. She couldn’t control the urge to grab him and kiss him. With his hungry eyes probing into hers, she was sure that he could read the hunger in them. “Don’t you like my massage?” His raspy voice indicated that his condition did not differ from hers. He stroked her foot in a feather-soft touch, going to her ankle and up her calf a little, causing a tremor to go up her body. His hungry eyes watched her reaction, sending a strange thrill all over him. Her reaction to him invoked a greater urge within him to touch her more. “Umm, I do. I’m feeling better already,” she smiled nervously, unable to look away. His eyes trapped her in a staring contest while her body fought with her sane mind, ready to give in to the need to feel his lips on hers. “That’s impossible! I hardly
Gingerly, Hayley sat down on the couch while Jason was on the one opposite her. “I hope you know I wish to marry you?” Hayley looked him in the eyes and nodded. “Yes, but why?” This was the opportunity she had been looking for to show her disinterest in him. It was a do-or-die situation for her and she would surely speak her mind.“I need a respectable virgin wife to give me an heir to my business empire. The women I have come across do not conform to my standards. I want someone far above, someone of aristocratic lineage such as yourself. I know your parents personally and I trust them when they boast about your high principles. But there is something I wish to warn you about.” His ancient principles infuriated her, but she took a deep breath and faced him courageously. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Lowells, but my thoughts on marriage differ from yours. If I ever marry, it will be for love.” “You have little say in this, Hayley. Your family has accepted me. You’re still very
“Now, isn’t that sneaky?” She whispered into Buzz’s ears, standing up to her full height. She could hear his chuckle as he opened the door for her. Clad in a pair of jeans and a black singlet, he looked hotter than last evening. Her body tingled at the sight of his exposed muscles and all she could think of was grabbing hold of him for another mind-blowing kiss! What was wrong with her? “So you find me hot, eh?” he drawled in the same husky tone. It made her blush to the roots of her hair as she went up the porch followed by Buzz, hot on her heels. “Just as you find me beautiful!” she winked as she walked inside, feigning confidence that she was far from feeling.“Right! Buzz, go to your dad, now. I’m busy with your aunt.” Hayley’s jaws dropped at seeing Buzz miraculously understand him and walk out of the front door obediently. “What just happened? He’s so obedient.” “Yes, he is. He belongs to my friend, Jagger, who works as the Marketing Manager here. He lives in the cottage nex
They had just ordered the food when Ashton’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen and grimaced at seeing Madison's number flashing. Slipping it back into his jacket pocket, he looked up at Hayley. “Won’t you accept it?” She couldn’t help but think of what Jason had told her about his mafia connections. Maybe his boss was calling him!“No, it’s Madison. She too has shifted nearby and I’m avoiding her.” It was news to Hayley and gave her immense satisfaction to know that he was avoiding the woman. In her excitement to be with him, she had completely forgotten about her. “Why?” she asked, wanting to get an accurate picture of their relationship. “Aren’t you best friends? Or maybe friends with benefits?” “Heck, no! She isn’t any of those. She’s more a friend who takes advantage of my goodness!” he said with an eye roll. “Oh! How? Does she force you to sleep with her?” Ashton groaned and looked her straight in the eye. “What do you take me as?” “A man-whore ma
Ashton screeched to a halt right in front of the motorcyclist, who had been tailing Hayley for the last few days. Only he did not know that Ashton watched him instead. After the talk with Hayley, now Ashton knew who the stalker was. He was Jason Lowells’ man! Ashton had studied the man for the last few days. He didn’t look as dangerous as Gambino’s men did. Could he tackle him and scare him off Hayley’s back? Stunned, the man looked for a way to escape, but Ashton had completely cornered him in a dead end. He pulled his helmet off, climbed out of Fang, and grabbed the man, pulling him down from his motorcycle. Yanking his helmet off, he punched him in the face, feeling an intense urge to protect Hayley against the man. “Son of a b*tch! How dare you stalk her? I’m calling the cops!” he yelled, grabbing the man’s collar. “No, I wasn’t following anyone!” he yelled back, eager to escape Ashton’s clutches. “Who has sent you? Jason Lowells?” demanded Ashton, but the man stammered with
Hayley glanced at the clock and a tremor of excitement shot through her. She would soon be free to go to Ashton’s cottage and resume where they had left off yesterday. Would he kiss her again? She couldn’t wait to return the tiffin case filled with delicious muffins she had baked early in the morning, surprising Elsa immensely. It seemed pleasing Ashton was the only thing on her mind these days. His kisses, his nearness, affected her so much that Hayley completely forgot to work on her assignment at college. It was the day of submission, and she had to sit in the library all morning to complete and submit it. At work too, her mind was more on Ashton than on completing her work. Her dad checked the number of mistakes she made and shook his head with disappointment. “Hayley, what is the matter with you? Are you tired? Do you want to go home?” asked her dad, closing his laptop to leave for a conference. Startled out of her dreamland, Hayley looked at her dad blankly.“Umm, did you say
The moment he laid her on his bed, Hayley started having second thoughts about his intentions. No, she couldn’t afford to get pregnant at eighteen. Her eyes widened as she watched Ashton come up to hover above her, supporting his weight on his elbow. His hand tucked away the stubborn stray curl that always escaped her bun. Hayley’s breath got stuck in her throat, wondering what he was about to do!“Relax, Hayley!” he whispered, planting a kiss on her forehead. She watched him with awe, a thousand questions flashing across her mind. Would he make love to her now? Or would it be like any other physical intimacy he had with the other women? Would he forget her and move on afterward? No, she couldn’t live after seeing him with another woman!“Why are we here, Ashton?” She gazed into his eyes brimming with tender emotions, something she wasn’t used to witnessing. Was this the same rough, uncaring Ashton who hardly acknowledged her presence in the past? “I can’t see the disappointment in y