Miles for Love Series Box Set, page 72
“Those pregnancy hormones can be a real bitch.” He says. “Don’t let it get to you. My sister said a whole bunch of nasty things to me when she was pregnant with Henry. Fortunately, Kayla was a dream until the very end, but then she only took her frustrations out on Daniel.” Another kiss. “Sometimes the people we care the most about are the ones we feel the most vulnerable around, and therefore we let our guard down and say things we wouldn’t normally say to others whom we don’t feel as comfortable around.”
“What she said was just…awful. Like…nobody has ever said anything so mean to me before.” I sob.
He pulls the chair out beside me and takes a seat. “What did she say that was so awful.” It’s more of a statement; like we’re going to rationalize our way out of believing it was so outrageous.
“She doesn’t want to have kids.” I sniff. “And she doesn’t want to take any responsibility for not being careful. I told her that she should have discussed this with Will before having sex, and she told me that I had nerve lecturing her about something I have no experience in.”
Pulling my hand to his, he rubs it between his two hands. “And what do you make of that statement.”
“She’s right…in a way. But I was taught to be careful. I was taught to look ahead and be prepared for what’s coming. I don’t do spontaneous, and I don’t take risks…ever.”
“So you think that she and Will should have determined if their family plans were in line before taking the plunge in bed.”
“Well…yeah.”
“Baby, not everyone is like you.” He says. His voice is gentle but flat. “I mean, I never have unprotected sex, but I certainly don’t make a list of my dos and don’ts before having sex.”
“But that’s irresponsible.”
“There is a lot in life that is irresponsible. But if you never take a risk…you’re not living much of a life. You have to make calculated risks, Ash. And you also have to be accountable when you make mistakes. That’s how you learn.”
I’m quiet, digesting what he’s said.
He changes the subject. “Do you want to have kids?”
“Of course.” I look at him. “I love kids. I mean, it has to be the right time, but definitely.”
“And if you were to become pregnant before the right time, what would you do? Would you have an abortion?”
“Never. The mere thought of it makes me feel sick, frankly.”
“So, you would have the baby, and work around your education?”
“Yeah. There has to be a way. There is always a way.”
He kisses my hand. “There. I feel the exact same way. I would never advocate an abortion if I were ever to get someone pregnant. But Ash, not everybody feels that way, and if you want to keep your friendship with your best friend, you’re going to have to respect her decision.”
“I know.”
“Just like last night, baby, when you said you were saving yourself for marriage. I respect that.”
Oh shit. “I didn’t mean that…entirely.”
He tilts his head. “No? I thought that’s what you meant.”
“I just…wanted to drive home the reason why I haven’t had sex yet.”
“Ah,” he lifts a brow. “So…you’re not saving it for marriage?”
I look at my hands. “I don’t know.”
“Well, do you want my opinion?”
I nod.
“Good sex is one of the most important parts of a healthy marriage. Sexual compatibility is key to that. If you don’t have sex before marriage…how will a couple ever know if they’re going to work together sexually?” he divides his glance between both my eyes. “And as far as waiting until marriage; well…what happens if a couple doesn’t ever get married? Or, what about people like us, students, that don’t plan on getting married until after graduation?…I think it’s unrealistic to a point, to refrain from sexual activity for that many years.” He pats my hand. “Not saying that I don’t support your choice, baby, really, but I think that if a couple is on the same page with a contingency plan, I don’t see the problem if proper protection is used.”
The feeling I get is like a double-edged sword. In a way, I’m so proud of him for having such a strong, well-thought out and poignant opinion, but on the other hand, I feel like deep down, he really doesn’t agree with my values.
“I think that the love between a couple has to be super strong to make that work.” He kisses my hand. “And I love you…so much.” He shakes his head, like it’s unfathomable. “I would sacrifice having sex until marriage to be with you.” He says this with so much conviction I feel a lump in the back of my throat. “What happened last night was wonderful. And if that’s all you’re ready for, then I’m fine with that.”
Vindication is great, isn’t it?
Rising, I take a step towards him, and straddle him on the chair, wrapping my arms around his neck. He holds me close. He’s only wearing underwear, and I’m in my pyjamas still. My thighs rest on his as we embrace each other tightly. He pulls back and kisses my neck playfully. “I don’t know about you, baby, but I’m absolutely starving.”
“Me, too.”
“What do you say I whip us up some omelettes, and we go for a dip in the pool?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Chapter 20
Christopher
I hope I didn’t come down too hard on Ashley about this whole premarital sex thing. I mean, I love her to the moon and back, and if that’s what she wants, then I’m all in, but I don’t want her making that decision based on antiquated morals her overprotective and narrow-minded father imposed on her in her pre-teen years. She needs to do what is best for her now, not what was best for her when she was way more vulnerable back after her mother died. If she isn’t ready, then I’m not going to be the one to force her, but I also don’t want her going through life being constantly afraid to take a plunge and do something because it feels right at the time, just because of something that was instilled in her mind as a child.
She’s pretty quiet after breakfast, so I leave it alone. “Come on. I’ll race you to the pool.” I coax.
“Can I find my bathing suit first? I’m not sure where I put it.” She grins.
“Sure.” I lift a brow playfully. “If you can’t find it…we can always go skinny-dipping.”
“What about the neighbors?” she smiles.
I wink. “Privacy fence, baby.”
“Seriously?”
I nod, pursing my lips together.
“And how many girls have you had naked in your pool?”
My face straightens. “None. I told you I’ve never brought a girl here before.”
Her face mirrors mine. “Oh. Sorry, I forgot.”
Feeling brave, I pull my underwear off in front of her, making her put her hands over her mouth in shock. “Ready?”
I walk over to the patio doors and open them. As I walk to the pool deck, I stand in front and I can hear her telling me I’m nuts before I dive in, stark naked.
Never done that before. Seriously.
My head bobs up out of the water, and I wonder if she’s as brave as I am, but I don’t see her. She’s gone to find her bathing suit, no doubt. As I do a few laps, I lift my head up from the water, and I see her appear, still in her pyjamas, carrying two towels. Setting the towels on the deck chairs, she pulls her pyjamas over her head, revealing her sexy, naked self underneath, and she gives me a salacious grin that I reciprocate, before she dives in.
Swimming to her, I’m careful not to get too close, even though I’m absolutely dying to. “For an inexperienced, risk-free girl, you sure are brave.” I comment, treading water in front of her.
“You bring it out of me.” she says, wrapping her arms around my neck.
My eyes can’t help going to her lips. I’m dying to kiss her, but we’re both naked, in the water, and it would take nothing for me to slide inside her right now and take her against the concrete pool wall. With her body heat against me, the chilly water can’t save me from the immediate hard-on that comes the second her breasts hit my chest. “You are cruel.” I say, my voice is laced with lust. “The only thing hotter than a woman you can have, is a woman you can’t have.”
Her lips meet mine as her head tilts, and I know it’s going to be the death of me if I taste her tongue. When I do, I walk with her, holding her in my arms, down to the smooth pool liner, and I lean her back up against it, pressing my rock-hard cock gently on her clit. She moans into my mouth, making my cock twitch against her, urging me to softly glide across her clit with my shaft. Her head rears back, onto the liner, and she cries out. God, I love that sound. My lips find her neck as I suck and lick her, while driving my shaft over her swollen clit repeatedly.
“Oh…Christopher…how do you do this…” she pants, as I reach for her nipple, driving over her faster, as I feel her legs lock. As she gasps and practically growls, her body stills as I continue pleasuring her in this unique way. I’m sure the neighbors can hear her as each exhale is an open-mouthed moan, but I don’t care. Ashley has hot, wicked orgasms, and I can’t wait until I can have one with her, as I make her come with my cock inside her. That day will come, but until it does, this will do just fine.
As her body finally goes limp, she rests her head on my shoulder, and my arms wrap around her waist. “I can’t believe you did that.” She breathes.
“Is that good or bad?” I ask, just checking, even though I’m sure she enjoyed it, or she would have told me to stop. Plus, she’s the one who joined me in the pool…naked.
“Always assume it’s good, baby.” She exhales, and then she lifts her head to kiss me. “And I can only imagine how hot you are right now.” She smiles. “But I probably shouldn’t take care of that in here.”
“It’s okay.” I say, focusing on her lips, kissing her softly. Her hand reaches down to my cock and she wraps her fist around it. Just as she starts to stroke it, we hear the patio door open.
“Err…um…hey, guys.” It’s my brother Daniel, and my sister-in-law, Kayla.
I turn around, with my back to Ashley, covering her.
Daniel is looking to the side, scratching his nose nervously, but he’s smiling. “Err…heads up…mom and dad are here…” he trails off.
Kayla, bless her, walks over, shielding her eyes from viewing us. Her voice is low. “Um, are you guys…”
“Naked? Yeah,” I answer quickly. She nods to Daniel.
“I’ll stall them.” He says, quickly walking to the patio door.
“Shit!” I swear. “Doesn’t anyone use a phone anymore?”
“It’s your birthday.” Kayla explains. “They tried calling you, but there was no answer.”
“There are towels over there.” I say, gesturing towards the patio chairs.
“Is there something in the basement I can show them, so you guys can go upstairs and get dressed?” Kayla asks, handing us the towels.
“Is Henry with them?”
“Yeah,”
“Take him out front and show him the new…thing in the fountain…shit!” I shake my head, wondering how this could go more wrong.
Kayla runs for the patio door, and we scurry out of the pool, and pad our way over to the patio door. “I’m so sorry about this.” I say, feeling like the biggest shit in the world.
“It’s not your fault.” She says, wrapping the towel around herself tighter. I take her hand in mine as we run inside. Daniel is standing in the kitchen, and when he sees us, he gestures for us to hurry up, as they’re just outside. We run upstairs. She heads into her bedroom and I head into mine. I’ve never pulled a pair of shorts and a t-shirt on so fast before in my life.
“Ash, I’m going to go downstairs first. Make it look less obvious. Is that okay?” I say, knocking on her door.
She appears, wearing a summer dress, which is very hot, by the way. She’s tying her wet hair into a ponytail. “It’s okay. I’m ready.”
“I’m so sorry.” I pull her close and give her a quick kiss, before taking her hand in mine and heading downstairs.
Daniel has a smirk on his face. “So, how’s it going?”
“Shut up.” I murmur under my breath.
We hear them come inside. Mitchell is screeching and Henry is crying. I run to Henry. “Hen…what’s up, buddy?”
“I fell.” He squeals, pointing to his knee. I kneel down to his level.
“Aw…let’s take a look.” I inspect Henry’s boo-boo. His past-the-knee shorts aren’t torn, and his knee has a patch of skin that just looks like he’s scratched it. “I think you’re gonna live, buddy. You don’t even need a band-aid.”
“I want a band-aid!” he cries.
Mom looks at me. “He’s overtired. Mallorie called late last night from Latvia, and I couldn’t get him back to sleep. He just adores her new friend, Aleks.”
“Oh, is mommy having fun over there?” I ask Henry.
He nods emphatically. “She’s coming home tonight. Daddy’s coming over later, too.”
Kayla heads over to the couch and nurses Mitchell. Dad walks over to Henry and kneels to him, holding a band-aid in his hand. “Here, tiger. I found one for you.” He pulls the adhesive backing off and places it across Henry’s knee, giving it a pat afterward. “There…good as new.”
“Thank you, grampa.”
“And what about me?” I guffaw teasingly. “I was the one who looked at it.”
“Thank you, Uncle Christopher.”
I fist pump him. “You’re welcome, buddy.” Henry rubs his eyes and looks at Ashley. “Who’s that?”
“I’m your Uncle Christopher’s friend, Ashley.” She says, holding out her hand for Henry to shake. He takes it and smiles shyly at her, letting her pump his hand up and down. She jiggles his arm, making him giggle.
“We thought we would stop by and wish you a happy birthday.” Mom says. “Did you have fun last night?”
“Yeah, I did. How’s Ty this morning?” I ask Daniel.
“Grant says he’s still passed out.” Daniel answers.
“I’m not surprised.” Kayla comments.
“Did he go running off at the mouth again?” Dad asks.
“Do cows go ‘moo’?” Daniel says.
“So…Ashley.” Mom says. “What are you taking at school?”
“I’m studying to be a psychologist.” She answers politely. She’s so cute I could go over there and kiss her right now.
Dad chimes in. “Really…very impressive.”
“Thank you. My mother was a psychologist.”
“Christopher comes from a family of doctors, too.” Mom adds.
Daniel rises and goes to sit beside Kayla on the couch, while she nurses Mitchell.
Mom continues. “Before I retired, I was an obstetrician, and Christopher’s father was a military surgeon.”
“Yes, Christopher told me.” Ashley says. “My father was a doctor as well. It’s in my blood.”
“My mommy is in Russia.” Henry announces out of the blue.
Ashley giggles.
“Yes, and I bet you’re really excited to see her.” Mom says.
“Gramma, I’m hungry.” Henry says.
“What would you like to eat?” I ask.
“McDonald’s!” Henry exclaims.
Mom looks at dad and he shrugs. “Well, Christopher, we should go, dear.” She kisses my cheek. “Happy birthday, love. Why don’t you come on over for dinner tonight?” she looks at Ashley. “You can bring your friend Ashley with you.”
“Sounds good, mom.” I say, giving her a quick hug.
Daniel and Kayla rise. Mitchell is passed out from his mom’s milk. “I’ll see ya later, Mitch.” I say, rubbing his head gently.
“It was nice to see you, Ashley.” Mom says. “We’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, see you all later.” I say, walking them to the door. When I close the door, I lower my head and exhale. “That…was close.”
Ashley chuckles. “Do you think your parents caught on?”
I scoff. “No, but Daniel and Kayla will never let us live it down. They never just show up out of the blue like that.”
“It sounds like Daniel and Kayla tried to stop them. She did say that they tried calling.”
“Yeah, and it’s a good thing that they came with my parents. Can you imagine how…” I shudder.
Ashley is giving me a look.
“What?”
“See what happens when you take a risk?”
I place my hands on my waist. “A near miss. Fine. A point for you. But you have to admit….it was a pretty fun risk.”
“Nice save. I’m still right.”
“Okay, fine. We won’t ever do that in the pool again, unless the door is locked.” I lift my hand. “Which is your fault, by the way. You forgot to lock the door last night when we got home. I was too drunk to remember.”
She’s not taking the heat on this one. “Well, maybe if…oh, forget it.”
“Thank God.” I bark jokingly, stepping towards her. We hold each other, taking in the close contact. “So, you’ve met my parents…twice.”
“Is this a momentous occasion?”
“Well, yeah. Especially when Daniel blabs that we’re obviously a couple.”
“And that’s the real tragedy.” She says facetiously. “I suppose we kind of look like liars or hypocrites now.”
“Not really.” I say, rubbing her back. “Daniel knows how I feel about you.”
“Was that part of the discussion with him the other day?”
“Kind of.”
Ashley lifts her head. “Christopher, I know this probably isn’t the time to bring it up, but I think maybe you seeing a psychologist about your nightmares…might not be a bad idea.”
I pinch my lips together. “I figured you were going to say something like this at some point.” I admit. “I tell you what. If I have another one, I’ll go talk to a professional. But baby, I think any professional would advise me to do exactly what you already told me to do.” I point out. “You may not be a fully licenced psychologist, but it sure shows that the intuition is there.”
