Page 43 of Broken Beauty

“What if I told you that I am going to stay?” he says before crossing his hands over his chest, making his biceps ten times bigger.

I laugh.

I can't help but laugh.

He can't just stay with me in California.

“You need to stop joking around.”

“I'm not.”

“Ash-“

All of a sudden Ash is on me.

Ash's hand is on my throat, not choking me, just keeping his strong hand on my throat. His legs are around mine and my back is against the bed.

“You're mine, Ariella. I meant what I said last night. Now that I have you, I'm not letting you go. I don't care about your stupid deal or your stupid overthinking. I don't even care about your fucking past relationship trauma because none of them can measure up to me, even if they just gave you a first kiss or make-out. You're mine and I'm not letting you go. Understand?”

Some girls would find this possessive act very concerning and would probably run for the hills but I can't help but want to cross my legs after hearing everything he is saying to me.

So instead of running away and squirming in his hold I wrap my arms around Ash and pull him down so that his lips can meet mine.

Ash's tongue licks my lips before biting down and thrusting his tongue to slide against mine.

His hand on my throat tightens lightly before he removes his hand and trails it down my body.

“Yes,” I moan.

Ash slides his hand beneath the covers and his hand rests against my stomach. “Glad we understand each other.” He rips the covers off of me and I gasp and remove my lips from his. “I say we spend all day in the hotel room, order food, and then we can do some of your crazy bucket list items tomorrow.”

I smile at Ash and nod my head before I feel his lips smash against mine.

Twenty

Ash

Present

Watching her dance with guys to make me jealous is working. If she was trying to accomplish just that then its most certainly fucking working.

I feel like breaking glass with my knuckles and then watching blood run down my arm from that.

And it's all because Ariella Madden feels like pushing my fucking buttons.

Jace invited me to some stupid party and at first I told him to fuck off and that I just felt like staying home, but then he mentioned that Ariella and Bridgette were going to be there.

I had to go. If Ariella was there, I just had to go and watch her. I need to see how she acts when I'm not around.

Right when I walked inside the party my eyes immediately found her in the living room with Bridgette as they talked to these guys. I didn't show I was pissed when she looked over but Bridgette was smirking while watching Jace get pissed off.

I don't know how long they are going to play this game for.

After getting drinks from the kitchen I noticed Ariella started dancing and that brings us to this moment. Me watching her dance with some guy she thinks is going to make her forget all about me. But I see the way her eyes go to me every once in a while.

The way her thighs would press together when her eyes trailed down my body. I love the way she looks at me. She looks at me like she wants me to own her entire world and she is probably thinking she is looking at me like she hates my guts and wishes I was dead.

I see the guy's hand trail down her thigh and I try to focus on the way my fingernails dig into my skin. I can't go over there.