Music of the Heart (21 page)

              “Cross, when do you leave for China?”

              Shit, I haven’t told Ashleigh I was going overseas yet.  With her leaving for her tour, I didn’t think about telling her.  But I can see I should have by the look on her face.

              “Um, I actually leave Thursday morning.  I’ve got a lot to do to get ready for this trip.  It’s a big one and if we land this deal, it will be huge for CTH Enterprises.”

              I glance at Ashleigh and see she looks a little pissed.  I’m not sure why since she’ll be out of town during the same time.  Before I realize it, she speaks up.

              “How long will you be gone for?”

              “Actually, this is a long trip for me.  We’ll be there for anywhere from two weeks to one month.  Just depends on how fast things get settled and decided.”

              If anyone notices the look on her face, they don’t make a show of it.   I’m honestly not sure what’s going on but she looks really pissed off.  I want to pull her aside and talk to her but before I get a chance, Merritt speaks up.

              “Hey Ashleigh, will you come help me in the kitchen for a minute?”

              Ashleigh follows Merritt into the kitchen and I know then that either Ashleigh has already told Merritt about us or Merritt just figured it out.

              I go to the bar and grab another beer.  Dixon walks over and grabs one as well.

              “Hey man, you want to tell me now what’s going on or do I have to ask Ashleigh myself?  I’m not stupid or blind, so you might as well just fill me in.”

              “Dude, I don’t know what you’re talking about.  We’re friends.”

              “You’re a fucking liar, Cross Hamilton.  Spill it you asshole.  What’s going on?”

              “Fine, you bastard.  She’s all I can think about.  Since I met her in October, I have not been able to get her out of my mind.  She’s not only gorgeous but she’s pretty fucking amazing.  I have never wanted a woman in my life as much as I want her.”

              Dixon just looks at me like I’m crazy.  I’m pretty sure it’s because I’ve never been like this over a girl before.

              “Wait a minute, have y’all had sex?  Hold on, I’m not sure I want to hear the answer to this.  She’s like a sister.”

              “It’s not really any of your business but since you asked, yes.  But I’m pretty sure I won’t be discussing my current sex life with you anytime soon.”

              “I would appreciate if you didn’t, man.  I do have one question though.  How do you feel about her?”

              I just stare at Dixon for a minute without saying anything.  I can’t believe I’m about to admit this.

              “I think I’m falling for her.  Completely, man.  I have never felt like this before.  Not even with Lauren.”

              Dixon looks at me knowing this must be serious because Lauren was my life for three years in college.  I thought she was my forever but I was sadly mistaken when she broke up with me our senior year.

              “You better not hurt her.  If you do, you will have me to deal with.  You may be my best friend but she is like family and I would hate to have to choose between the two of you.”

              The girls walk back in the room and let us know that dinner is ready.  And by ready, they mean all the take out has arrived.  We all walk in to the kitchen and I am shocked by the amount of food on the island.

              “Holy shit, that’s a lot of food.  Are there more people coming?”

              Ellis looks at me like I am crazy.  “Um, no, you dumbass.  This is all for us.  We order everyone’s favorites since we all like different kinds of take out.”

              “Okay, I’m curious.  Who likes what?”

              Again, Ava looks at me and answers.  “Well, Merritt loves Italian, Ava likes barbecue, I like Thai food, Laken loves Greek food and Ashleigh can never decide so we get her favorites of Chinese and Mexican.”

              When I say there is a lot of food, I’m not kidding.  Looking at the spread in front of me, the food ranges from ribs and barbecue sandwiches with slaw to spaghetti and meatballs and manicotti to beef satay and chicken curry.  They also have hummus and gyros as well as egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken, chips and salsa along with all kinds of tacos and so much more.

              We literally spend the next two hours eating and then they bust out about five different desserts that Ava made and I am done.  I’ve never eaten so much in my life.

              I still need to steal Ashleigh away for a few minutes but the girls are occupying all her time.  When I see her walk away and go down the hall, I take that as my cue and head that way.

              Following her to a spare bedroom, I grab her by the arm, pull her in and shut the door.  Before she has time to say anything, I pull her towards me and basically assault her mouth.  When I finally let up and she comes up for a breath, he smacks me against the chest. 

              “You ass, someone could catch us.”

              “What?!  Are you saying you didn’t want that?  And who gives a fuck if our friends know about us. They already know something is happening between us.  Why not tell them we are a couple?  Dixon already knows.”

              “What?!  Did you tell him?”

              “No.  He figured it out.  He actually just talked to me before we ate and let me know he knew there was something between us.  Do you honestly expect me to believe Merritt doesn’t know everything going on?  I know girls talk.  I’m pretty sure you told her we had sex.”

              “If you want me to be honest, no, she doesn’t know everything.  Some things I do choose to keep private.  Especially something so intimate and special Cross.”

              I pull her in for a hug and go for another kiss when there is a knock on the door after Merritt has already walked in the room.

              “Well, well, well. Sneaking away for make out sessions?  You know if y’all would just tell everyone how serious you two are, you wouldn’t have to hide or sneak around.”

              I just look at Ashleigh and then back at Merritt.

              “How do you know how serious we are, Merritt?”

              “Are you being for real Cross?  You’re like a brother to me and you girlie, are my best friend.  I know everything that goes on and I could tell the minute you both started changing.  And it’s quite obvious when you are around each other.  You act different.  So, get your perfect asses out to the den and just tell everyone that you are going steady and quit the damn hiding.”

              She starts to walk out but stops short of the door.

              “Oh, by the way.  I know you’ve had sex.”  And she just walks out the door.

              “You going to make me believe you never said anything to her now?”

              She shoots me an eat shit look because she knows I’m messing with her.  She starts towards the door but only makes it a few steps before I have her wrapped up in my arms again.  I kiss her passionately and can’t get enough of her.  My hands are everywhere on her body and they start heading to the front of her jeans.  She quickly pulls away and has to catch her breath.

              “Don’t you dare.  I am not about to walk back out there in front of everyone and tell them we are a couple after you’ve just given me an orgasm with your fingers.  I’d like to not be so obvious when we go out there.”

              I throw my head back and laugh out loud.  You never know what may come out of her mouth sometimes.

              “Fine.  But I get to give you many orgasms later tonight.”

              I give her a kiss on the forehead and walk back to the den.  Thankfully, everyone is scattered around and pays no attention to me.  A few minutes pass and Ashleigh walks back out.   I give her a smirk and she flicks me off with a grin on her face.  Everyone has made their way back to the den and before I know what’s going on, Ashleigh has started talking.

              “Okay y’all.  I’m pretty sure none of you are stupid or blind as I’ve been told but just to clarify things, yes, Cross and I are a thing.  Please don’t say anything to anyone else though.  With our jobs and careers, we want to keep this under wraps for now.”

              Everyone pretty much has the same reaction.  Mason looks at us and laughs.  “It’s about damn time you admitted it to everyone.  It was pretty fucking obvious.”

              After about another hour, we start going home.  It’s late and Ashleigh has to be up somewhat early to head to the airport.  She gives her goodbyes and I walk her out to her car. 

              “I’ll meet you at your house.  I hope you’re not too tired though.  I have plans for you.”

              The look in her eyes is enough to make me fly down the street.  Thank God she lives in the same neighborhood as Merritt.

Chapter Twenty-Four

ASHLEIGH

              I’m going to be so tired on my flight tomorrow.  Thank goodness I don’t have a show the first night.  I actually have no plans and decide to sleep all night long in my hotel room.

              I look over to a sleeping Cross and wonder how I got so lucky.  He’s gorgeous and he’s mine.  I should be exhausted after two rounds of sex with him already but he brings out something in me and I’m ready to go again.

              “Quit staring at me Ashleigh.  It’s kind of creepy.”

              I giggle and sit on his back to give him a massage.  I’m moving all around with my arms rubbing his back and not even giving it a second thought that I am totally naked.

Apparently, he has remembered and flips me over so he’s on top of me now.

              “Sorry, you were killing me moving all around.  Your pretty little lips down here were about to put me over the edge.  I was a little jealous of my back.  Now, I want them for myself.”

              Before I know what’s happening, he has flung the sheets off the bed and made his way down my body, settling his face between my thighs.  He blows out over my mound and pulls my lips apart with his fingers.  His tongue is like magic and I enjoy it too much.  It doesn’t take long before I am about to fall over the edge.  Adding two fingers to the mix, he pumps them in and out of me while he sucks on my clit.  All of a sudden, he bites down and sucks harder than ever and I explode.  My body writhes back and forth and I squeeze my thighs around his head.  He flattens them to their sides and continues sucking and lapping me up.  Just when I think he’s letting up and I’m coming down off my high, he goes at it again and I feel myself about to come again.

              “Oh my God, Cross.  I’m about to come again.  Please don’t stop.”

              Before I can urge him along more, he pulls his mouth away and I am stunned.  I’m about to open my eyes to look for him when I feel him thrust inside of me.  My eyes spring open and his mouth is on my mouth like I’m his last meal.  I love kissing Cross and I can’t get enough of it. 

              He moves his mouth down to my nipples and works his magical tongue of both of them.  Alternating between sucking and biting my nipples, I can feel it building up again.  With all my strength, I push him over so I’m sitting on top of him.  He gives me a smile and grabs my nipples with his fingers and starts twisting them and pinching hard.

              Swiveling my hips, his erection hits all the right places in me.  He grabs me by the hips and starts pumping me up and down on him.  My breasts are bouncing all around which I know he loves too.  Leaning back, his very large erection hits me in the perfect spot and I start to see stars.  I fall forward on him as he finishes and finds his release.