16. Ash

SIXTEEN

Well, this ride to the resort has been the most awkward ride of my existence. I really didn't think things between Sunday and me could get worse than after our one-night stand from hell, but my rejecting her has definitely brought a whole new level of discomfort and tension. I hate that I hurt her. I didn't mean to, but I rejected her. I mean, I didn't, but I know that's how she took it. What was I supposed to do? Kiss her again? Fuck her in my mom's guest room with the pine air freshener misting us with every thrust while trying to keep her quiet so her son didn't hear her from the other room?

And then there's Shannon in my head and the fact that Sunday still refers to me as Dash. What if we did fuck, and I finished in one pump again? Then we'd have the rest of this trip to be awkward and miserable together. And what about Wade? She would never let me see him again if I fuck up like that. I mean, rightfully so, but I really like the kid, and I enjoy hanging out with him. It would suck not getting to talk to him anymore.

"Are you sure you're alright, mom?" Wade asks for probably the hundredth time as we get out of the car, and I go to grab the bags out of the trunk.

"Yes," Sunday sighs, her voice tired. "I just have a headache from the seizure, I think. I'll take a nap once we're in, and I'll be okay." She ruffles his hair before Indy floats over.

"Wade, come with me, and we can have fun while your mom rests!" Wade's eyes would turn to hearts if they could. I chuckle lightly at his crush on Indy. Better him than Indy's infatuation with Derek. God, that will put me in prison for sure.

Sunday stares at the resort with her head cocked to one side. "Your Christmas-loving mama is getting married in a tropical beach resort?" I laugh lightly while adjusting the bags as we start up the palm tree-lined path to the entrance. This isn't really what I want to talk about with her, but she's finally talking to me, so I'm going with it.

"Well, Neil is a beach guy and lives in a Christmas-themed house for her, so if they travel or anything, it's tropical. You know, give and take." She nods as we enter the stucco hotel. Once inside, my senses are immediately overwhelmed by the sheer size of the lobby. Tropical plants tower over us, their leaves reaching up to touch the high ceilings. In the center, a magnificent water feature glistens in the light, its cascading streams sparkling and inviting. The air is thick with the scent of exotic blooms, and the sound of trickling water fills my ears. It"s like stepping into a lush paradise within the hotel"s walls.

My mom's squeal pulls my attention as she spots us and glides over to hug me tightly as if we weren't just together this morning and following each other here. "I just want to say again," she beams. "I'm so happy you brought your beautiful girlfriend and her handsome boy with you! Now maybe if you and Huddy can bury the hatchet, then everything would be perfect!" Her voice is filled with excitement and hope, but it doesn't stop my stomach from dropping as I feel an ice-cold whoosh fall over me.

"H-Hudson is here?" I choke out, my throat constricting in dread. "Already?"

My mother"s face contorts with worry and pain. "Ash, baby, it's been years. Where are you going!?" But I can"t answer her. My legs carry me away from the lobby, my heart pounding in my chest. Where am I going? Anywhere but here. My room maybe? I know the number, but I don't have the keycard. It doesn"t matter. All I know is I have to get as far away from everyone as possible before they see me break.

Sittingon the floor in front of my hotel room, I stare at the marble tile as pretty feet in orange flip-flops with grey-painted toenails appear in my vision.

"You forgot your key," Sunday says as she drops the card into my lap. I grab the card but don't make any movements to get up. She releases a sigh and grabs the card back while leaning over me to unlock the door.

"Get inside, charming. You can be all broody in the room," she says as she pushes open the door and gives my leg a nudge with her toe.

"I'm not brooding," I mutter. "I'm fucking pouting." She chuckles while trying to drag the bags in. I stand up and help her get the bags into our room. I see the king-size bed and pray that she allows me to sleep there tonight, even if I need to put a pillow barrier between us for her comfort. My fucking back is killing me. I'm trying not to complain, but spending my days hunched over in weird positions to draw or tattoo, it's wrecked me, and the last couple of days of a lot of driving and then sleeping on the floor it's put me in a shitty as fuck mood due to the discomfort.

"So," Sunday starts as she sits on the edge of the bed. "Who's Huddy?"

I snarl my lip at the name. "Hudson is my cousin. He's some hotshot financial guy who spends his time traveling from his Malibu mansion to his high-powered, high-paying gig on Wall Street in his private jet."

Sunday nods. "Sounds like a real piece of shit. How dare he be successful."

"Ha ha. It's not his success that I hate. It's–" I grimace. I really don't want to talk about this, but she needs to know so we can act accordingly. "He's with my ex, Shannon." Sunday's face twists as she stares at me.

"Oh. Shit."

"Yeah." I force out a laugh. "My abusive, selfish, cheating ex is somewhere in this resort, and I will undoubtedly have to interact with her at some point this weekend. I was hoping to have a little time to work up to it. You know, get our story straight." I go to rub my chest, but Sunday beats me to it. I look down at her small hand over my heart and close my eyes while wrapping my hand over hers.

"The story is that I'm your girlfriend," Sunday says softly, looking up at me. "I assure you you'll get what you are paying for." Raising a brow, I laugh lightly.

"I'm not paying you?"

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. "I seem to remember promises of orange starbursts, sir."

"Oh, I like that," I smirk suggestively. "Call me ‘sir' again." She smacks my chest.

"Asshole," she mutters. Her face softens as she turns back to me. "Kiss me."

I inhale sharply, too sharply. So sharply, the saliva in my mouth flies down my windpipe, causing me to choke and start coughing. "W-what?" I sputter out between coughs. She's one hundred percent unamused.

"I said, kiss me, you idiot!"

"Why would I do that? No one is here with us." She smacks her forehead.

"If you and I kiss for the first time–"

"We've kissed before," I interject, and she lets out an honest to god growl.

"You're so annoying! If we kiss in public without practicing, it will look like a first kiss! That's why fake dating always gets found out. You gotta work the kinks out first. And the kiss at the shop in front of Josh was a rush job." She has a point.

"What about at the car… either time." I point out.

"Uh-huh, well, if your tongue down my throat is how you would kiss a woman in front of your mother, then we"ll be just fine." Sunday stands up and pulls on my arm to get me to follow. I obey, even though my heart is in my throat. She looks up at me expectantly, but I can't do it.

"Fuck." My body tenses as I whisper the curse. The familiar cold wave washes over me, bringing with it the nagging feeling of inevitable disappointment. She"s waiting for me to make a move, but I know deep down I'll only let her down once again. She's going to laugh at my feeble attempt. I'm going to kiss her and once again prove to her that I can't live up to her expectations. To anyone's expectations.

"Hey." I feel her hand rubbing my back slowly. "Charming, how about you tell me why you're afraid of me."

"Sunshine," I breathe out, shaking my head. "I would rather lick the mattress in a pay-by-the-hour motel than have that talk with you."

She nods and stands straight, letting her hand fall off me. "Ash, I can't help you if you don't talk to me."

"Perfect." I give her a fake smile as my anxiety steals the breath from my lungs. "Because I don't want your help." I walk past her, heading to the door, only to stop. Shannon, Mom, Hudson, any of them could be out there. Fuck… I'm trapped. I turn and head to the balcony. I need air, space, something.

"If you don't want my help, then why am I here?" she probes while following me outside the room. I let out a frustrated groan before whirling around on her, my entire body overstimulated, exhausted, sore, and anxious.

"I brought you here because you insisted on opening your mouth while my ex was on the phone! Now leave me alone." She recoils at my outburst, and I watch as she goes from nervous to embarrassed to stony.

Her honey eyes find mine, and for the first time, they're betraying her. Her face is tense and sharp, but her eyes… Fuck, I hurt her.

"Sun–"

"I'm sorry." Her voice is so small. I hate it. "I'll leave you alone. Maybe Indy and Wade won't mind me tagging along."

"Wait." I go to grab her wrist, but she jerks away and heads back into the room. I see her grabbing her purse and walking towards the door, and panic fills me.

"I don't like that I'm Dash to you," I confess, causing her to stop. She turns her head and stares at me.

"What?"

"Dash. I know you call me that because of our night. Because I… finished." I watch her face soften as she walks a step closer.

"I call you that because you ‘dashed,' not because of the sex." She worries on her bottom lip before sighing. "Okay look, I'm just going to be open and honest with you, charming. Was the night when we got to your apartment satisfactory? No. It kind of sucked. I was so afraid you would see a photo of Wade and ask about him and run. And then there was the fact that I've been divorced, and he destroyed my self-esteem. I was so scared that you would see my stretch marks or my small chest and move on, which is why I insisted on my shirt staying on. So, I wasn't on my game either. Honestly, when thathappened, I was relieved. I felt like the world agreed we shouldn't be having sex yet. But that night, the date itself, was and still is one of my favorite nights."

I look down at her worried expression, and I sigh. "You have noidea how out of my league you were. I mean, you still are, but anyway, the date was amazing. It was the best date I had ever had. And when you asked me to go to your place, I panicked. I had just left Shannon recently, and sex with her was pretty much her telling me all the ways Ididn'tsatisfy her. When I got in there with you, all I could hear was her telling me I was going to fuck it up. And then you grabbed me, and I don't know, it's never happened before or again." My face must look like a fucking tomato at this point. I can't even look at her anymore. I feel all my man cards being ripped from me.

"Charming," she whispers, bringing my face to look at her. "The only thing you fucked up was running out and then acting like you didn't know me."

"Can you blame me?" I huff and spread my arms out. "Years of being told I was nothing by her, and then I finally get free only to fulfill the–"

"Oh my god, Ash," her voice is full of annoyance as she grabs my shirt and yanks me to her, our lips crashing together in a frenzy of desire. I can feel the heat radiating from her body as I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her even closer. I hoist her up effortlessly, and she wraps her legs around my waist. Her soft curves fit perfectly against me. Our tongues dance together in a wild rhythm, causing sparks of electricity to shoot through my veins. As she moans with pleasure, I feel myself nearly lose control. Pressing her back against the balcony door, I trail kisses down her neck, nipping and licking along every inch of her delicate skin until I reach the swell of her chest.

"God, yes!" she gasps, her hands tangling in my hair and tugging roughly as her hips grind against mine. I lose myself in the overwhelming sensations consuming me, fueled by our shared desire. With a swift motion, I turn us around and lay her on the small table of the balcony, where the thunder booms above us and rain pours down. Ignoring the storm, Sunday pulls me closer to her, urging me on. I rip off her already-damp shirt to reveal her bare breasts, and I hungrily suck and bite at them before lightly grazing my fingers over her pierced nipples. As she moans and arches into my touch, I grab her waistband and silently ask for permission to remove her soaking wet panties. She nods with a smirk and lifts her hips, allowing me to slide them off her legs. My own pants are quickly discarded, and I hover over her, fully exposed and ready to take what we both crave so desperately. Her eyes roam down my body until they land on my throbbing cock, signaling her readiness for me.

My muscles tense and I bite down on my bottom lip as her hand wraps around my pulsating cock. "Fuck," I hiss through gritted teeth. The sensation of her fingers sliding up and down my shaft is almost unbearable, sending electric jolts of pleasure through every nerve in my body. Despite the pounding rain and crashing waves, the only sounds I can hear are our pants and moans. My breath comes in ragged gasps as I whisper her name, feeling myself reaching the edge. "Oh god... Sunday, fuck…" I moan desperately against her ear.

"Fuck me," she commands, spreading her legs further to reveal her rain-soaked pussy. God fucking damn it, is this a fucking dream? Is this a test? Is she trying to see if I can actually finish this time?

Shit… what if I can"t?

Sunday squeezes my dick and pulls me by the hair to look at her. "Fuck. Me. Charming." she orders, pumping my cock with each word.

"I… I don't have a condom," I confess. It's the first time in years, but I didn't expect to do anything because Sunday and Wade would be here.

"I'm clean; I have an IUD. Are you?"

"Yeah, yep…clean, whistle clean." I'm nearly shivering with excitement. I have never been bare before. I watch her lie back and nod her consent. Gripping her thighs, I slide myself past her slick, warm lips. She gasps as the head of my cock slips into her entrance, and I grip her hips as I drive myself into the hilt.

"Holy shit!" she cries out, and I watch her back arch. "H-Oh my god… more!" Her walls squeeze around my dick, and I throw my head back as I pull out to the tip before driving back in. Her eyes roll back in her head as I thrust again and again. She feels so fucking good, better than I ever could've imagined.

"Ash!" she whimpers, and I lean over and lift her, keeping her impaled on me as I walk over the railing. I press my backside against it and look at her.

"Watch the storm, sunshine. Feel the rain and the thunder while I give you your release." I grab her hips and move her up and down my shaft. The look of shock on her face morphs into pleasure as she digs her nails into my back. I hiss as she drags them upwards; the pain mixing with the pleasure of her tight, pulsating pussy is almost too much.

"Need. More." She pants, and I nod, slamming in her and grinding my pelvic bone against her clit.

"Yes! Yes!" She throws her head back, and I thrust rapidly into her, grinding her clit with every thrust; the loud thunder muffles her cries, and there's a crack of lightning over us, illuminating our soaked bodies in a bright light as she grips me tightly before screaming my name while exploding around me. It's too much, and I can't hold on any longer. I grip her nearly limp body and use her, moving her up and down to meet my short, rapid thrusts as my balls tighten, and I follow her over the edge with my own release.

We stay still for a long moment, trying to come down. I look at her, waiting for her to tell me the next move, but as she goes to speak, the hotel phone starts to ring back in our room, pulling us completely back into reality.