ASHTON
I wake up to the sound of the most annoying beeping alarm at 5:40 a.m. It's way too early for my liking. Lennox is lying next to me, his head resting on my shoulder, our legs tangled together. I reach over and hit the snooze button on his phone, hoping for a few more minutes of precious sleep.
This isn't the first time Lennox has stayed overnight in my bed. We've both been taking risks by allowing this to happen. Later, he'll go back to his own place, and hopefully, his partner Seth won't suspect anything.
Lennox yawns and sits up, propping himself up on his elbows. His white hair is disheveled, his lips still red from the passionate kissing we engaged in just an hour ago. A smug smile starts to form on his face.
It's undeniable.
LENNOXWe Are Rees has been an Emmy-nominated and award-winning docuseries for over a decade. It's the only platform that allows the Johnsons, Haynes, and Walshs to share their perspectives and tell their stories. The show ensures that their truths are heard and not distorted on social media.When We Are Rees first premiered, I was just a child. I remember sneaking downstairs and hiding behind my father's couch while he watched the R-rated show (due to its mature themes). Peeking around the armrest, I caught a glimpse of Regina Rees, the show's central figure.There was a young woman in her twenties, looking frail and vulnerable, whom I knew I had to protect someday. She stared powerfully into the camera and declared, "I may always be a sex addict,
ASHTON"King," I whisper as footsteps sound on the iron staircase. "Since this is Maddy's first meeting, can you ease her into it?""Sure," King nods, rising to greet my cousin. The rest of us turn our attention to them."Here, Maddy," Perth says, taking her motorcycle helmet while holding his own."Thanks, Kits," Maddy replies, unbuttoning her denim Kinget. She's dressed in denim jeans and a plain white tee, with her dark hair cascading down her chest.King approaches Maddy and meets her gaze."You must be King," Maddy says, extending her hand.Perth moves aro
ASHTONThe board meetings convened promptly at eight in the morning, resembling a brief, intense burst of energy, akin to the fleeting sprint of an average person. It was expected for everyone to come prepared and contribute swiftly, ensuring that we would conclude by 8:10, dispersing to our respective offices.As I took my place at the head of the table at the age of twenty-two, I couldn't ignore the undeniable role that nepotism had played in my ascent. It was a reminder I carried with me constantly.Yara, a longstanding board member and the Chief Operating Officer of Walsh Inc., spoke up. "We have three grant applications that show promise," she informed the room. Our organization, J.H.W. Philanthropies, not only focused on our own projects but also provided funding to local and regional nonpr
ASHTONLennox carefully examines my childhood bedroom as though it holds precious artifacts in a museum. His gaze drifts towards the wooden dresser, where he picks up my collection of Fourth Degree action figures. His brown eyes then scan the walls painted black, adorned with X-Men chalk drawings and an array of Batman posters.Allowing Lennox into my world at such a profound level is a first for me, beyond my own family. It's far from a mere fantasy; I've imagined Lennox Burke in this very room countless times, though usually confined to the bed.I prefer reality, though, where he means so much more to me than just a passionate encounter.I grab a damp bone from my orange rug and toss it onto Gotham's dog bed. Lennox lets out a whistle
ASHTONLennox raises an eyebrow when I concede. I would much rather have Lennox, with his experience, pierce my siblings than risk messing it up myself. Nevertheless, I still don't understand why we're doing this in the first place."Do you really want to do this, Blanca?" I inquire. "After all the trouble your tongue piercing caused?""But it healed, and I love it," she responds, sticking out her tongue with a lime-green ball in the center. "And if all of us get piercings, it'll be a symbol of our sibling bond. It's something the Walshs would do. Don't we have that too?"Blanca looks at each of us, even Lennox, as if mentally grouping us together as the Johnson family—a band of peculiar individuals.
LENNOXAs Regina's former bodyguard, I prided myself on my familiarity with the Johnson family. I had numerous conversations with Ro, Regina's husband, and I had never felt uneasy or intimidated. It never made me break a sweat.However, being alone in the kitchen with Ro, cooking a simple pasta meal for Blanca's birthday, was a different story. I carried a weighty secret: I wasn't just protecting his son; I was sleeping with him. We had been intimate earlier that morning, and he claimed it was the best experience of his life.I managed to maintain an air of casualness, trying not to appear nervous. But I was standing on the precipice of a completely unfamiliar territory. It was a wholly new and unsettling feeling.I filled a pot with wat
ASHTONAfter enjoying dinner and a birthday cake, my dad pulls me aside for a private conversation. We retreat to the back patio, where I turn on the pool lights to illuminate the area.I settle into a patio chair, and he perches on the edge of a lounge chair. Curious, I ask him what's on his mind.My dad has a stern, angular face with sharp lines and no soft features. When he's serious or deep in thought, his countenance becomes even more uninviting.But I've never been afraid of him. Not even now, as he sharpens his jaw and focuses intensely on me."It's been a year, and I haven't brought this up before because I thought you needed time to figure things out for yourself. But w
LENNOXAshton suppressed his seductive gaze just to slick back his hair one final time. He snapped off his gloves and tossed them in the trash, then set a ten-minute timer on his phone. "Do you need help?" he asked me.No, wolf scout. I could easily cut my hair myself, but no one had ever offered to help me before. It was more than just cute. "Here," I handed him the clippers, and Ashton approached me from behind, exuding confidence. I looked at him through the mirror. "Start from the back of my neck and work your way up, not going higher than my ear.""Got it."I gripped the edge of the sink, standing in a slight lunge with my head dipped, allowing him to reach my neck without extending hi