ASHLEYMy phone chimed softly, then it sounded with a loud ring that had irritation seeping into me. I groaned, throwing the covers over my head. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to sleep, but clearly, the person calling didn't understand what boundaries and privacy meant because my phone kept ringing incessantly. I hissed through my teeth, pushing the covers off my body. I peeled my eyes open, squinting them because of the sensitivity of the lights. My hands roamed the other side of the bed, trying to look for my phone, but I couldn't find it. I looked to my right, my eyes straying to the nightstand where the fucking phone lay, vibrating with so much energy. I glared at the object, snatching it off the surface of the nightstand. I brought the phone to my face and checked the caller, unable to fight the urge to roll my eyes.Of course, it was my mom.I mean, I missed the woman and I should have known that the only person capable of blowing up my phone with calls and mes
ASHLEY I have been indoors since he stormed out of the room, curled into a ball under the sheets and crying my eyes out. I groaned, yanking a piece of tissue from the Kleenex box beside me, and wiping my face with it. I threw it somewhere in the room, hugging myself. I wish I could turn back the hands of time. I would have made smarter decisions. I wouldn't have threatened Lawrence and Maria, preventing them from telling him. Heck, I would have told him myself. I have seen him angry. I have seen him look like a volcano but I have never seen him the way he looked this morning. He looked broken. He looked betrayed. He looked hurt and it was all because of me. The fact that I was the source of his pain made me want to rip my hair out of my scalp, and then stuff it into my throat. It affected me. A lot more than I let on. He hadn't come back into the room after he left the other time and it was almost nightfall. I was looking forward to him coming back home. I was looking forward to b
ASHLEY"Why do you love disobeying me, Peach?" He demanded, huskily. His fingers found the hem of my thong, tugging at it before he let it go. It left a stinging pain but the aftermath was pleasurable. My teeth clamped down on my lips, taking it in. I could have sworn I felt my eyes roll in their sockets.I was practically breathless in his hands."Use your words, Peach." He ordered me and fuck, he couldn't have sounded hotter. I found his controlling ass so hot and it made my core grow hot, throbbing with liquid. I knew it was only a matter of time before my panties got soaked. His fingers brushed the skin of my ass, trailing down the fleshy sides of my lap, daintily. He left a burning, scintillating sensation, everywhere his fingers touched."Arden," I sucked in a breath, "I am sorry." My voice came out so small and breathless. He wasn't making it any easier. I didn't understand how he wanted me to form a coherent speech when his hands were getting busy underneath my dress."I have
ASHLEY I woke up to the impact of hot, sizzling feathery kisses, trailing across my exposed neck and against my will, and a moan rolled out of my mouth. I arched my back off the bed, trying to get more of what he was offering, and I heard him chuckle. I whined, groaning softly, my eyes fluttering open, locking in a stare with twinkling green eyes that sparkled with mischief. "What are you doing?" I whispered to the man, who wouldn't stop nuzzling his head into my neck. I tilted my head to the side, giving him access to my neck. The warm kisses made me so dizzy, rendering my vision useless. His long, sinful fingers pinched my nipples through satin sheets that barely covered my body and I whimpered, trying to snap my legs shut because of the way it was brimming with so much liquid. He shifted the sheets off my body, revealing my perky mounds that were aching for his never-ending touch.I swallowed the spit that was starting to build up in my mouth, a little ashamed of myself because o
ASHLEYI was a little skeptical about my dress. I mean, I didn't know what he would think about it. Was it appropriate for where he was taking me? What if he thinks it makes me look fat? But then, I loved the dress. The thick brown material pressed firmly against my body like a second skin. It accentuated my curves and highlighted the shade of my skin. It was a long-sleeved dress that stopped little inches before my knees. The plunging neckline exposed a little cleavage, cupping my bosom perfectly. I had my hair tucked securely in a sleek low bun, highlighting my look with soft makeup. My lips were coated in a dark red lipstick that made my lips appear fuller. My entire look screamed daring at a glance, but I loved it. I paired the dress with a pair of stunning nude stilettos. I smoothened my palm over my sleek hair, sighing a little, then picked up my perfume and sprayed the sides of my neck and my wrists. If he doesn't like it, I could always change it.'He's not Adam.'My subcons
ASHLEYThunder clapped violently just outside of our room. The ferocious sound echoed and resonated loudly in our compound and miles away from us, but it sounded as though it was on repeat in my ears. It almost had me jumping out of my skin. I moaned softly, turning to my side to snuggle into Arden's body, but before I could reach out to hold him, I felt myself being held so tightly. The grip was so harsh and suffocating. I could barely breathe. I couldn't even find my voice. I had not reeled from that and was still trying to pry myself out of the right grip when I felt the weight of a leg on my body. My eyes snapped open, my eyes anchored on Arden's frame that was thrashing around on the large bed. The sight was enough to alert my senses that he was having another nightmare. His body was jerking furiously and the way he was stiffening was enough to tell me that his muscles were contracting. I shot up from where I lay, leaning over to him and trying to touch him."Hey, hey, baby, wak
ASHLEY"Okay, people, get to work!" I clapped my hands together with a wide grin on my face, subtly dismissing my editors. They mumbled greetings to me and soon filed out of the office, shutting the door behind them and I slumped onto my chair, spinning myself around. I kicked my heels off my feet, moaning at how good it felt not to have that death trap strapped to my legs.I threw my head backwards on the chair, sighing softly. God, no one said it would be so hard to run a firm. The past few weeks have been so draining. I leave home so early and get back late at night. Ivana told me that the first few months are always the hardest, because you have to put things in order and get everything going. And she was right. I couldn't afford a slip-up. I wanted everything to come out so nice.It was exhausting but I loved every bit of it.Heck, it still feels so unreal. Every day I walk in here to discharge my duties, it makes me question the fact that I, indeed, owned this place. It made me
ASHLEYMy black manicured fingers moved swiftly on the screen of my phone, my lips stretched in a wide uncontrollable grin as I conversed with the girls on a group chat we had and often talked in. My hectic work schedule would agree with me that I desperately needed this Girl's Day Out. It's been a series of meetings with several editors during the week. I barely even got the chance to breathe throughout the week as all we did was to assess the samples of books that had been stuffed on our website, going through them to see the ones that were suitable for publishing, and boy, it's been a shitload of work. I wasn't going to pretend like I didn't enjoy every bit of it. I enjoyed it. Going through so many books which are distinct and unique in their ways, possessing alluring storylines, was so refreshing but it doesn't diminish the fact that it has been so exhausting and it occupied every bit of my time. It was the weekend and I didn't want to stay indoors since Arden had an impromptu