I’m trapped in one of those movies where just when you think something can’t get any worse, it does.
It so does.
I need to finish the conversation with my father that we started last night.
Started at the celebration of two marriages…
One of which no longer exists.
He’s probably in the orchards or at the office building. I text him quickly.
At the office. What do you need?
What don’t I need? What a question, and I have no idea how to answer.
Finally, I type in a reply.
Never mind. I’ll talk to you later.
I’ve been driving around since the phone call from the fire marshal this morning. Driving around and thinking, trying not to think, and then thinking some more.
About what to do about my fucked-up life.
I need to free Ashley, but that will have to wait now.
Wait until she and her mother have healed from this most recent development.
I chuckle out loud. Development? Did I really just think of a man’s death in those terms?
God, I’m so fucked up.
I liked Dennis. He seemed like a good guy. Young, strong, robust. Just goes to show you that you never know what’s going on inside a body.
We Steels are always on top of our health. Having a doctor in the family assures that. Physicals and lab work every year, no matter what. It’s saved us on more than one occasion. Aunt Ruby had a small cancerous breast lump a couple of years ago. It was caught so early that she made a complete recovery with no chemo or mastectomy, just a lumpectomy and radiation.
Ava and Gina have already started getting yearly mammograms even though they’re in their twenties. Uncle Bryce had a cancerous mole removed last year. Again, caught early with no ramifications. Dad and Uncle Joe are both on blood pressure meds.
We Steels take care of ourselves.
If only I could heal the mess in my head.
Aunt Mel did her best.
The problem? I wasn’t completely honest with her. Hell, I’m not completely honest with myself most of the time.
I could be that way when I kept all my emotions at bay.
But now?
I will erupt. It’s only a matter of when.
Staying married to Ashley can no longer help me. Not now.
I have to free her.
And in freeing her, I have to accept that I’ll never be free.
A few hours later, Ashley and her mother arrive at my place.
After Willow is settled in one of the guest rooms, Ashley turns to me. “I want to work.”
“What?”
“I’m an intern here. I want to work.”
I get what she’s doing. She’s using work to avoid dealing with life. I’m an expert at that. I’ve often wondered if I’d be as successful as I am without my issues. They give me something to escape from.
“Ashley…”
“I’m not kidding, Dale.”
“Your mother needs you here.”
“But I—”
“Besides, it’s after four. The workday is nearly over.”
“I don’t care. Just give me something—anything—to do. I need to think about something other than this.”
“Okay,” I relent. “We’ll go to the office. I have to tell Uncle Ry what’s going on, anyway. But are you sure you want to leave your mother here alone? She really does need you.”
She opens her mouth and then closes it. “I don’t know. I just… Fuck, Dale. I don’t know.”
“I know, baby.”
And I do. Maybe not exactly what she’s going through, but I get it.
Then, before I can think anything further, she grabs two fistfuls of my hair and pulls my face to hers, kissing me.
I don’t even think about denying her. I can’t. I’ll always hunger for Ashley, and what she needs right now is an escape.
I’ll be that escape. I’ll give her all she needs because the day will come when I have to free her.
That day isn’t today.
I lift her in my arms and carry her to the bedroom. Then I break the kiss. “Your mom…”
“She’s a grown-up,” is all Ashley says before ripping the two halves of my shirt apart. Buttons go flying, pinging against the walls. “Please. I need you.”
She pushes me onto the bed and pulls my boots and socks off my feet. Then she kneels between my legs and unbuckles my belt.
Seconds later, my cock is free from its confinement, and her sweet, hot mouth is on me. She sucks me hard, and already my balls are tightening, scrunching.
She’s still wearing her clothes, and all I can think of is her naked body on top of me, riding me into the sunset.
God, she gives good head. So good I almost feel like I’m buried in her sweet pussy.
“Fuck,” I growl.
If she doesn’t stop…
If I don’t get inside her…
If…
I grab the back of her head, yanking her off my cock. “Get undressed,” I say through clenched teeth. “Now.”
Her clothes fly onto the floor, and then she’s naked, her beautiful body gleaming, her nipples turgid, her breasts rosy.
My whole body throbs in time with my cock.