The Arrangement

Chapter Thirty-Two

With how intense Ashton can be I hadn't really factored there would be a soft side to him, yet after we fucked again in the bath he took his time washing every inch of my skin, apply creams to the bites and cuts he'd left on my chest.

Then I had to practically force him to sit down and let me dress the cuts on his hand from the knife. He'd clearly not wanted me to yet finally relented and after I climbed into his bed engulfed in one of his tops and passed out. Letting exhaustion take over as he tucked me into his and held me tight against him.

I'm a little disappointed when I wake up stretching out my sore muscle and find the bed empty next to me, but I quickly gather why when I hear hushed voices coming from the kitchen. All of them being engrossed in whatever serious conversation they're having and it doesn't take a genius to figure out they're discussing what happened last night especially when I sneak and peak as see the look on Ashton's face.

Stepping into view I make my presence known. "Morning" I say chipperly, causing them all to stop their whispering.

I don't head over to the table where they're all sitting, instead I go straight towards the coffee machine and pour myself the biggest mug I can find.

"Blair how are you feeling?" Carter asks, his tone ridiculously serious and I don't have to turn to know they're all watching me, waiting tensely for my response.

So with a real genuine smile I turn, "me? I feel great" I reply honestly and watch as their expressions shift from concern to doubt. All eyes going from me to Ashton straight away.

With what I overheard last night and the obvious way what they said got into his head I don't go to take my usual seat next to Carter inside I head round the table to where Ashton is sat. His eyes watching my every movement, clear confusion flashing across his features as I come to his side. I arch a brow at him and he seems to get the message as he pushes himself back and lets me settle myself in his lap. Using this as my way of telling them all that I am absolutely fine.

Unfortunately that's not the case though as Carter still looks than impressed. "We need to discuss what happened yesterday" he says and I feel Ashton tense beneath me.

Leaning myself back against him I sigh and cast a glance at Henley and Lennox, "do we really have to?" I ask, feeling a heat rising up in my cheeks.

"Blair, you-" Carter begins but I cut him off quickly.

"I came so hard I passed out okay" I blurt out causing Henley to quite literally choke on his toast. "Here was me thinking you'd all be a little jealous of that fact. Not pissed at Ashton because of it"

"Unless you are jealous? I don't know I'm still trying to figure you all out" I tease and at that Ashton chuckles a little but Carter's expression doesn't waver at all.

"This isn't funny Blair, you could have been hurt, Ashton should have-" he chastises.

"Why is so much focus on Ashton?" I ask looking around them all. "It's not like he purposely did anything, we got a bit carried away and trust me I'm not complaining"

This is without a doubt something to do with whoever this Jamie is, but I don't feel like questioning them on it right now would be helpful.

"It's our responsibility to ensure you're safe, we agreed to ease you into this slowly, help you figure out what your limits are," Carter explains and I get what he's saying, I really do.

But embracing everything last night was the most freeing experience, I felt so liberated. Like there were parts of me being awoken that I didn't even know existed. Parts that I desperately want to explore further.

"But I don't want to be eased in" I reply truthfully.

I know he's about to argue against me, but I don't give him chance. "This is my body, and what I do with it is my choice not yours" I say, my tone harsh, leaving no room for argument.

"I know I'm inexperienced, and that this can be dangerous but I've put my trust in you to make sure it's safe" I say glancing round at them all. "Now I'm asking you to trust and believe me when I say at no point yesterday did I feel that anything Ash did was too much"

Ashton's hand comes to my thigh, gripping my skin slightly in what I take as a sign he accepts what I've just said.

It takes him a moment but finally Cater seems to relent, he leans back in his chair and sighs. His finger tapping against the table as he clearly contemplates something. I see his gaze flick to Ashton, something I can't quite distinguish there and I'm sure there's a slight smile that tugs at his lips but then it's gone.

The silence around the table is suffocating until Henley breaks it.

"Well if we're going full hog I say we-" he begins to say but he's cut off as the other three all snap "NO" at the same time.

Slumping back in his chair his expression drops and he genuinely looks as if someone just kicked his puppy.

"I just want to try it once" he grumbles clearly disappointed.

"Wait, you can't not tell me what he's on about" I say, my head snapping from side to side as my intrigue piques to a new level.

"How'd you like snakes sunshine?" Henley chirps from his seat, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips.

I'm instantly shaking my head and shuddering at the thought. "Nope, not happening. That can go right on the red list with fisting"

Laughter erupts around the table, lighthearted, sucking all of the tension out of the room and for the first time I genuinely feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Even Tif's comments from yesterday can't make me think otherwise.

I intend to fully embrace the next two and a half months and I have a feeling I'm going to discover a whole new world of excitement.

There's undoubtedly a lot that needs to be unpicked between them also, Ashton's complexities being part of it and I have a feeling that whatever happened with this Jamie is at the heart of it too.

I can't help but want to find out exactly what happened and where she is now.