13. Carter #3
“What the—?” Ashley asked, but he placed his finger over her lips. The space was tight, making it impossible for either of them to give the other space. Ashley’s hands rested on his chest, moving their way to his stomach.
The creak turned into soft footsteps coming down the staircase. Ashley’s eyes widened as Carter gave her a nod, and she snatched her hand back. The last few footsteps were a stumble followed by a drunken laugh.
“Aunt Marilyn,” Ashley mouthed.
“I know that wench Ms. Porter locked up the good wine.” Aunt Marilyn muttered to herself, her voice carrying into the closet. “Little does she know I have a spare.” The sound of a key missing its mark repeatedly was followed by the click and a very enthusiastic, “Booyah!”
A slight laugh slipped from Ashley, and she slapped a hand over her mouth just as she had done earlier when he made her scream with pleasure.
He smiled at her, trying his hardest not to laugh.
The last thing they needed was to be caught by Marilyn.
Her favorite pastime was airing out family secrets.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs made Carter reach for the doorknob.
He turned to Ashley, not expecting her face to be a breath from his.
He bent, kissing her with every regret and longing that had built inside of him over the years, then slowly drew back, resting his forehead on hers.
“We should go to bed before we get caught.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Bed. Alone.” Her eyes cast down, eyelashes sweeping toward the apples of her cheeks.
He gently urged her chin up with his thumb. “It is taking me everything I have not to fuck you up against the wall in this dusty broom closet.”
“Then why don’t you?”
“Because you deserve better than that.”
“Can you stop telling me what I deserve? What if I want to be fucked in a dirty broom closet? What if the thought of walking out of this closet, out of this kitchen, to my room alone makes me want to scream?” She lifted both hands to his face, fingers trembling as they settled against his jaw.
She looked at him with those big, beautiful eyes that had a way of looking right through him and past the excuses, the fear, the carefully constructed walls he erected.
“I have spent years respecting your decision, even if I didn’t understand it. But I knew you. I knew us. And what you said to me that night… I know you didn’t mean any of it. But I didn’t push. I didn’t ask. You had a reason for not fighting for us. For not taking what you really wanted.”
“Ashley—”
“I’m done waiting.”
For years, he convinced himself he was protecting her from disappointment, from a life tied to Winterridge. Protecting her from him. But standing here now, with desperation warring in her gaze, he wondered if all he’d really been protecting was himself.
“Haven’t I waited long enough?”
“Ash…” The nickname slipped out.
A soft breath escaped her, and the last bit of distance between them disappeared. He had no idea who moved first; they were a clash of tongues, lips, and hands.
She reached down, grabbing hold of him just as he lifted and pinned her against the wall next to a mop handle. He dipped his head, dragging his tongue along her neck to her collarbone.
He pressed her against the wall as his hand drifted lower, lower, until he swiped his finger along her moist folds. She moaned into his mouth, and he devoured the sound.
A floorboard creaked outside the closet, and they froze. Their breaths panted out, mixing together. The refrigerator door opened, and a bottle rattled against the shelf.
“Well…”
Ashley’s eyes doubled in size. Carter held his finger to his lips. The door was open a crack, but Carter didn’t even need to look to know it was Bill.
“What is he doing?” Ashley whispered as she peered past him.
Bill placed a pill organizer on the table and poured himself a glass of milk. He popped one pill, then another, and another, and another.
“How many pills is he taking?” Ashley asked.
Carter pressed his lips together. Bill still hadn’t told his family, and it wasn’t his place to say a damn word.
Bill popped a pill and threw his head back to swallow it, but he didn’t straighten; he continued to look up. “Lily, I don’t know how to do this without you. You were always the strong one.”
Ashley’s fingers dug into Carter’s bicep, and he wrapped his arm around her, holding tight.
“Strength is through family, I know. That’s why I brought them here.” He took one last pill and let out a long breath. “I got this, sweetheart. But if you can just lend a hand from up there, I’d appreciate it.”
Silence settled over the kitchen. Bill stared at the floor for a moment before downing the rest of the milk.
“Hell, if you can get Gabe to stop being an asshole, I’ll owe you one.”
Ashley let out a quiet, watery laugh.
Bill nodded as if satisfied with himself. “Good talk.” He gathered up the pill organizer and headed upstairs.
When the floor creaks stopped, Ashley exhaled. “You’re right. I should talk to him.” She pressed up on her toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Seems you got your wish,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to bed.” She squeezed his hand as she pushed open the closet door. “Goodnight, Carter.”