“I want you more than I ever wanted anything,” Ashton said against her lips.
“I want you too, I want this…I want you inside me,” Sophie panted in response.
Ashton tensed over her, his muscles hardened under her touch and his mouth claimed hers with a new vigor. “Are you sure?” He pulled away and looked into her eyes. Sophie looked at his handsome features, his strong jawline, full lips, perfectly straight nose, and endless blue eyes and she realized he was the only one she ever wanted to be with. His were the only lips she wanted to kiss. She reached up and ran her fingers along his cheek and traced his bottom lip.
“I have never been more sure of anything,” she whispered before she pulled him against her to kiss him, to taste him. To breathe in his scent and feel everything that is him upon her. His song was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard and she wanted to play it forever, to live in this moment always.
Ashton took care with her body as he slowly built her pleasure, his lips grazing her flesh, his tongue pulling warmth from her core as she reacted to his touch. He explored her like he was discovering her secrets. Sophie soon writhed for release from the frenzy of desire that took over her. Sounds of her bliss slipped freely from her lips, in turn causing Ashton’s own excitement to build. When Ashton pressed against Sophie’s slick heat as he entered her, Sophie gasped from the sensation of feeling too full as she stretched around him.
“Are you all right?” He stilled, noticing her discomfort as he pushed slowly into her core. The heat of his breath tickled the sensitized skin of her neck.
“Yes…don’t stop…” she panted.
Ashton leaned down and took Sophie’s nipple in his mouth. The sensation made her melt around him, allowing his presence inside her to turn into another sensation. Pleasure erupted inside her as if the discomfort was pulled away, exposing the building of pure bliss. A primal need took over as she thrust her hips against his. His growls of pleasure encouraged her as they both brought each other toward release.
Ashton opened her eyes to sensations that left her soaring, a feeling that lingered as she leaned against his chest. Her fingers lazily traced the deep grooves of his stomach. He had been so gentle with her. The moment couldn’t have been more perfect and she would never forget giving herself to Ashton. “Wow…if I had known what I was missing…” Sophie smiled against his chest, surrounded by his scent and his heat as he held her close.
Ashton chuckled. “Yeah, me too.” Sophie raised her head from his chest and looked up at his face. “It’s different with you,” he explained.
“Good different?” Sophie asked, biting her lip nervously.
“Yes, good different.” He kissed the top of her head. “Very good different…incredible.”
“When did you get this?” Sophie read the words of his tattoo: ‘Life is what you make it’, as she traced the letters wrapping around the side of his chest.
“When my grandfather died.” Ashton’s voice was low when he spoke.
“Margaret told me about him. He sounds like he was such a wonderful man.” Sophie smiled thoughtfully.
“He was. He used to say it a lot. It reminds me of him.”
Sophie sat up and slid her leg over his waist, straddling him. His smile was beautiful and his eyes were shining with emotion. She wanted to paint him like this, capture this moment on a canvas for her to always be able to gaze upon. Ashton ran his hands over her breasts and down her stomach. “You’re perfect.” He whispered.
Sophie’s eyes widened when she felt him harden beneath her. The sound of the door opening caused them both to still.
“Mel.” Sophie breathed against his neck. Ashton wrapped his arms around her and pulled the blanket over their heads.
“Hey, Ashton,” Mel called.
“Hey, Mel,” Ashton returned with a chuckle.
“I’m glad you guys finally did it. The sexual tension between you two was unreal.”
“Mel!” Sophie gasped from under the blanket.
“What? It’s true and you know it.”
Ashton’s laughter ruptured from his chest and Sophie loved the sound and feel of it as he lay under her. Her whole life Sophie tried to believe that she didn’t need love but Ashton had always made her doubt it from the first moment she met him. She could no longer deny that it had any hold on her. She had been swept up in the frenzy of emotions Ashton caused in her. She was in love with him. She wanted to listen to his song forever, remember all the words, and set her life to the beat.
***
When Sophie opened her eyes the next morning she found herself alone in her bed. She sat up holding the sheets over her chest, Ashton was gone. She slid out of bed, retrieved a night shirt, and pulled it over her head. She walked into the living room separated only by a partial wall, allowing a couple of minimal archways to separate the apartment into designated rooms. Mel was still asleep on the sofa. She looked so innocent, not at all like the firecracker she was when she was awake. Sophie couldn’t help the ache that twisted her insides. Ashton had left her without saying goodbye. She picked up her phone, hoping he left a message explaining his departure. There was nothing.
Last night she shared something with Ashton that she thought was truly the most beautiful thing she had ever experienced. She wondered if Ashton had meant the words he’d said to her last night. She wanted it to be real, wanted to believe every word that he said.
Thoughts of Margaret began to trouble her. Fear that something happened made her fingers dial her number in a hurry. It rang twice before Charlotte answered. “Miss Sophie. How are you?”
Sophie was washed with relief at Charlotte’s pleasant tone. “Hello, Charlotte, just making sure that Margaret doesn’t need me today.”
“Her daughter, Bridgette, Ashton’s mother, is in town visiting her. She and Marcus are taking her out to lunch today,” Charlotte informed her.
“Wonderful. Tell her to call me if she needs me.” Sophie was relieved that Margaret was well but it didn’t ease the sadness. She had always tried to convince herself that her attraction to Ashton was only physical but she knew she had been wrong. Last night only revealed how deep her affections for him ran. What if Ashton realized it was just sexual attraction for him? What if that’s all he wanted?
Sophie turned her music on and tucked the iPod into her panties. She slipped onto her stool in front of her easel and set to work finishing her painting for Margaret. Painting always cleared her head and she needed it now more than ever. Before long the world faded and she was completely focused on her painting.
Sophie startled when someone slid their hands around her waist. She relaxed when Ashton’s delectable scent suddenly enveloped her. She leaned back into him as his lips skimmed her neck. His hand reached down into her panties where her iPod was. Thank god! After taking his time retrieving it he pulled it out and turned it off. “You look so hot right now,” he whispered in her ear.
“Where were you?” Sophie relaxed.
“Getting breakfast.” He smiled against her neck. “What’s this?” he asked when he noticed what she was painting.
“Oh…” Sophie suddenly felt guilty for having stolen Margaret’s photo. “I was going to surprise Margaret. To say thank you for letting me stay and for giving me a job…” Sophie trailed off.
“It’s incredible.” Ashton looked at the painting. “I was there that day when this picture was taken. My grandmother arranged us all to get together to have a family portrait done. The photographer took this picture when they were wrapping up. I guess she saw something…”
“Beautiful,” Sophie finished.
“Yeah. She’ll love the painting, Sophie.” Ashton kissed her on the cheek. A sad smile graced his lips and she wondered if it was painful looking at the picture of his grandfather. It was obvious they had been close before he passed.
“Something smells delicious,” Mel moaned from the sofa. Ashton and Sophie smiled at each other. Mel tumbled off the sofa and dragged her feet to the kitchen.
“I went to the bakery around the corner. I didn’t know what you ladies would want so I got some of everything.” Ashton said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Mel opened up one of the bags sitting on the counter. “Holy fucking shit, that smells like heaven.” Mel reached in the bag and pulled out a croissant. “Still warm,” she squeaked. Taking a big bite, she looked in the other bag. “Oh Sophie, there are blueberry turnovers. Your favorite,” Mel said with her mouth full. She grabbed one out of the bag and passed it to Sophie.