Chapter Four - Was Ashton Jealous?
1606 Words
The music was peppy and a recent favorite of Hayley’s that energized her to show off her best moves to the world. Or maybe to Ashton in particular! She grabbed Shaun’s arm and pulled him closer, making his eyes widen with surprise. “Let’s enjoy tonight, Shaun! We might never meet again!” she yelled in his ears with a laugh.
“I’ll seek you out, Hayley!” he yelled back, but Hayley didn’t pay any heed to his reply. She was busy gyrating to the music, concentrating on her seductive moves to tempt the guy who was watching her like a hawk.
Ashton couldn’t take his eyes off her, even for a second. The way she grated sensuously, all he could think of was pulling her against his hard body. She bent over and for a moment; it made him think of mind-blowing se*. All his earlier determination to stay at least two feet away from her hot body the entire night crumbled to dust. At that moment, she looked up and their eyes met.
“F*ck you, Hayley!” he swore, his blood rushing to his head at the sight of her with another guy. She instantly looked away, as if scorched by the intensity of his stare.
“Ashton, let’s dance!” whined the girl, who clung to him throughout the evening. He hardly recalled her name, his attention elsewhere all the time. She rubbed her brea*sts against his arm to distract him, failing miserably. Ashton tore his glance away from Hayley and glared at the girl beside him.
“F*ck off! I’m not interested,” he muttered, extracting his arm from her grasp.
Her shoulder strap slid off as she pushed herself closer to him, fluttering her eyelashes desperately at him. “Let’s get out of here, Ashton. I could show you what I’ve got to interest you more!”
“Try your luck elsewhere!” He gritted out, pushing her away roughly, making her stagger. Ashton didn’t possess any refined gentlemanly ways! He wasn’t made for those! He was crude, rough, wild, and he preferred it that way! It gave him the zeal to fight the dangerous men who captured his dad! He strode off without a backward glance, his eyes searching for Hayley, who was here a few minutes ago. Where did she go?
He noticed her friends were also missing! Did they leave so soon? Annoyed at himself for letting the clingy girl distract him, he strode out of the auditorium just in time to see Hayley climb into her dance partner’s white Lamborghini. Before Ashton could reach his car, they sped off out of sight. It made him wish he had his motorcycle with him now! The BMW was too precious for a rough chase! Nevertheless, he wasn’t letting her go with another guy.
Seething with mad fury, he drove on, looking for the Lamborghini. After five minutes, he found it ahead of him, turning into a quiet residential street. Was he taking her to his house? How could Hayley agree to go? Was she planning to get laid tonight? Ashton lost control of his temper, although he had no reason to. He wasn’t a saint! So what difference did it make if Hayley spent the night with a guy? She was an adult now.
His mind didn’t listen to any argument as he followed them, screeching to a halt right in front of them, blocking their way.
“Have you f*cking lost your mind?” yelled Shaun as he stepped on the brakes just in time. Yes, he had lost his mind.
Ashton alighted from his car in a fit of rage, his eyes pinned upon Hayley, who looked pale with fright. He had never been this angry in his entire life! The sight of her with another guy made him want to murder the man.
He yanked Hayley’s door open. “Out!” he barked at her, his blue eyes dark like a rising tornado. Shaun swore under his breath and emerged from his car, glaring at him with disgust.
“She won’t go anywhere with you. Are you her f*cking guardian?” Ashton ignored the teenager. His eyes focused upon Hayley, who sat frozen in her seat, watching him with wide eyes.
“I said come out. Right now!” he yelled, reaching out to unbuckle her seat belt. Hayley came to her senses and pushed him away.
“You’re no one to order me around. Leave me alone, Ashton.” Ashton froze and looked at her flushed face with surprise.
“No, I won’t. You’re coming with me. No arguments.” He unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her out, not paying any heed to Shaun’s threats.
“She doesn’t want to go with you. Didn’t you hear her?” yelled Shaun angrily, fisting his hands. Ashton gave him a look of warning that quietened him immediately.
“Get in, Hayley,” he seethed, but she stood her ground.
“I won’t. I’m going with Shaun to his house.” Ashton lost his mind and picked her up on his shoulder and started walking towards his car while Shaun stood dumbfounded.
“Ashton, you bully! Put me down, now!” yelled Hayley, beating his back, but he simply placed her down on his passenger seat as if she were a rag doll. In a second, he was beside her before she could escape. Reaching out, he fixed her seat belt while she struggled to open the door and escape.
“I don’t want to go home with you. Don’t you get it?” she said, disgusted by his jealousy. She knew he was jealous! Then why couldn’t he admit it already?
“Don’t tell me you’re that desperate to get laid? That too with that d*ckhead? Couldn’t you find someone better?” Hayley stopped struggling and gave him a death glare.
“I’m not marrying him. So who cares who I have fun with?” That got his attention, and he turned to glare at her, his nostrils flaring with a fury that he tried hard to control.
“I thought you weren’t the type to indulge in that sort of fun. You’ve changed, Hayley!” Strangely, he looked upset as he drove away from the street towards her house.
“I have just grown up!” He didn’t reply and looked even more upset. Hayley watched the fleeting emotions on his face under the streetlights. She was just putting on an act to see the extent of his jealousy, but he didn’t need to know that. All she wanted was for him to lose his composure and admit that he was jealous. She knew he was following them and took advantage of Shaun’s weakness for her.
“So how many guys did you have fun with in the last four years?” Hayley blinked at the question, realizing that his mind was still stuck there.
“I’m not answerable to you, Ashton. Have I ever asked you about your se*capades?” Ashton smiled at the description and gave her a brief glance.
“I don’t remember, so there’s no point asking me.”
It shut Hayley up since his candid admission hurt her a lot. It was a lost battle already! He was a man-who*e and would never leave his ways.
“So? You didn’t answer me, Hayley!”
“Not even one.” Ashton looked at her tenderly, his expression softening at her honest admission. Why was he overreacting to a basic need? Surely she deserved to have her first se* experience! Couldn’t he be the lucky one?
Ashton stopped the car in front of her house, clenching his teeth to control his wayward thoughts. How could he ever think of her that way when he should stay away from her? Hayley sat like a statue, confused by his behavior. After her honest admission, he hadn’t spoken a word of appreciation for her. Neither did he admit he had been jealous of Shaun. What could she think of it?
“Thanks for the worst night of my life.” She unbuckled the seat belt and sighed dejectedly. Maybe Ashton would disappear from her life for another four years now. Would she be married to Jason by then? Would she be forced to move on from her first love? Tears pricked at her eyes and she opened her door to leave.
Ashton grabbed her hand to stop her, feeling guilty for spoiling her night. He couldn’t sleep knowing he had hurt her.
“Be ready at 6:30 tomorrow. I’ll take you out to dinner to compensate for tonight.” Shocked, Hayley looked up into his eyes. They were still dark as they searched hers, dropping to her lips for a fraction of a second. Did she note a look of hunger in them? Did he want her? He looked away, shuttering his emotions immediately, dismissing her. Hayley blinked, unable to believe whether he had really asked her out.
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“Nope. I don’t date. It’s just dinner.”
“No, thanks. I’ll have dinner in my room.” She opened the door and climbed out with a heavy heart, unable to look at Ashton in case he saw the tears in her eyes. Ashton looked at her impatiently and then swore under his breath.
“Okay, fine! You can call it a date! Be ready. I won’t ask again,” he said, looking totally frustrated. Hayley stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Sure. I’ll be ready!”
- Writer
