“Did you know Ashlynn lived here?” I ask calmly.

  He doesn’t say a word, just bursts into laughter. The kind of laughter that tells everything. The kind of laughter that makes me want to wring his neck, but he’s my father, so I just have to sit there and listen to the annoying sound.

  When he finally stops laughing, I lean back on the couch.

  “You lived there first,” he says smugly. “I just ensured that she rented the place across from you.”

  Son of a bitch.

  “Why would you do that? You know she hates me,” I reply.

  “She doesn’t hate you. She just needs to remember why she chose you in the first place.”

  He says it as though it’s a walk in the park. He didn’t see the hurt in Ashlynn’s eyes or hear the anger in her voice. She is a woman scorned, and nothing I say can undo the damage.

  “It’s a nice gesture, but we saw each other a little while ago, and I can assure you that she hates me,” I groan.

  “Chance, do you have any idea how many times your mother hated me?” he chuckles. “If I gave up after the first time she told me she hated me, you and your siblings wouldn’t exist.”

  “Come on, Dad,” I cringe at the thought of him and my mom hooking up.

  “Such a fucking prude,” he laughs. I can hear a few others laughing in the background.

  “I interrupt a meeting?”

  I hadn’t even thought to ask if he was busy when I called. I usually have more manners than this when I call him. Ashlynn makes my mind a wreck.

  “Eh. I called a bit of a sitdown,” he replies nonchalantly.

  A godfather calling a sitdown is not a little thing. It means something big is going on, and he is demanding answers. I should be sitting in on the sitdown, but thanks to my trouble with the law, I have to keep away from the house until I’m off papers to keep the police from going to my father’s door.

  “I’m missing everything,” I sigh.

  “You’re not missing much, figlio.” Son.

  “Feels like I am.”

  “My orders to you are to get back what’s yours. You let me worry about things over here. Capiche?”

  My father is a man of many words but never a man of caring fatherly words. He’s always been rough around the edges. Ever since I can remember, he’s been a hard ass. My mother always got onto him for being too tough on me growing up. He’d tell her Boys shouldn’t be pampered. They need tough love.

  Now, he’s telling me to put the family matters off to the side and focus on Ashlynn? This has my mother written all over it.

  “Is mom threatening you?” I ask in disbelief, making him erupt with laughter again.

  “No. Has nothing to do with her. Just follow my orders. I’ll call you later,” he chuckles. “Also, Chance?”

  “Yes?”

  “You aren’t moving, so don’t mention it again to Max.” With that, he hangs up on me.

  “You sly son of a bitch,” I laugh, setting my phone on the coffee table. “If only it was that easy, Dad. If only.”

  Chapter Four

  ASHLYNN

  My head barely touches the pillow and I’m already tossing and turning. Thoughts of Chance haunt my mind. How things were and how they could have been played out in my mind. No matter if my eyes are open or closed, the images are there. There’s no escaping.

  “Damn, you!” I yell, hoping that no one but Chance hears my loud words.

  How the hell did we end up in the same apartment building? There are thousands, if not millions, of places to live in this city. Why did we both end up here? Was fate being cruel, or was someone else up to this?

  None of it made sense. My dream job magically finding me. This apartment falling within my budget. Great things like this didn’t happen to girls like me. We were meant to work hard and suffer our entire lives so who the hell was responsible for this? This all seemed a little too orchestrated to blame fate. Maybe it was Chance’s dad to repay Chance for everything? Even that seemed too far-fetched. The man didn’t like me, and he clearly didn’t give a damn about his son’s well-being, or else he never would have let Chance go to prison.

  Maybe it was my parents? They were always big fans of Chance. He may have been the son of a mob boss, but he always treated my parents like royalty. Or maybe they simply got tired of all of my crying and moping around and thought Chance would make things better.

  “Ugh. I hate you,” I groan, wishing Chance could hear me. A single tear trickles down my face. “I really hate you.”

  Why did I have to see him again? My heart ached when I heard his voice. My stomach knotted when our eyes met. My fingers itched to touch him. It was all too much. First thing in the morning, I needed to look for a new place to live. There was no way I could live here knowing he was right across the hall. No fu–

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  Someone knocking at my door stops my thoughts. I glance at the clock. 11:43. Who the hell would be knocking this late at night?

  My heart skips several beats, and I gasp for air. Chance?

  Don’t answer it. Whoever it is, they’ll go away, I tell myself, wrapping the covers around me tightly to keep me from getting out of bed.

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  Stupid hope floods me, and I jump out of bed. I quickly make my way through my apartment and to the door. I look through the peephole. I take a sharp breath when I see Chance standing there.

  Like you expected anyone else, I groan.

  “Who–” I begin to say, but I know he’ll reply loudly and disturb the other neighbors. I unlock my door and open it. “Yes?”

  “I needed to see you again,” he whispers, breaking my heart even more than I thought possible.

  “Ch–” My words are lodged in my throat, and tears threaten to explode.

  “Baby, please, don’t cry,” he says, stepping toward me and wrapping his arms around me. I instantly melt like butter in his arms. My knees start buckling, and he picks me up into his arms as though I weigh nothing. He shuts the door and carries me over to the couch with ease.

  “It’ll be okay,” he whispers, rubbing my back and sitting on the couch. He kisses the side of my head, and I come unglued. All of the tears that were meant for him flood down my face.

  I cry and cry and cry some more. I’m not sure for how long. I was lost in all of the pain and hurt, yet comforted by Chance’s soft words and gentle touch. When I finally stop crying, I wipe my face with my sleep shirt.

  “Sorry,” I say faintly and try to move off his lap. His arms tighten around me.

  “Please.” It’s all he says. A single word coated with so much pain and sadness.

  I know better. I know I should move off him. No, I should kick him out of my apartment and never see him again. That’s what he deserves for what he put me through, but I don’t have the strength or courage.

  “I know I don’t deserve this, Ashlynn,” he whispers against my hair. “I just… I just… I needed to see you.”

  “Okay.” It’s the only word I can muster up the courage to speak.

  “Just let me hold you a little longer, and then I’ll leave you alone for good.”

  Panic fills me at the thought of never seeing him again. It’s like a tidal wave crashing down against my soul. My lungs tighten, and the world begins to close in on me.

  “Breathe, Baby. Breathe,” he says soothingly, rubbing my back and kissing the side of my head. “Breathe. Slow breaths.”

  Just like always, Chance confronts my panic attack before it can even reach its peak. He was always good like that, knowing exactly what I needed without me saying a word. He always took care of me. Protected me. Loved me.

  This isn’t fair, I think to myself. None of this is fair. I know deep down he isn’t a bad guy. He made his choice to prove to his father that he was worthy of their family name. It just sucks that it had to come at the price of us.

  “I’ve missed you,” he admits faintly.

  I want to tell him that I missed him too, but what good will come from that?

  “Ashlynn, I’m so… I’m…” He doesn’t finish his sentence, just rubs my back and holds me. No words are needed. I can feel them in his embrace. Remorse. Shame. Regret.

  I lay my head on his shoulder and just soak up his warmth. There are a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t, but my one reason is enough– I still love him.

  Time ticks by with neither of us speaking. It’s just like how it was when we were together. Everything feels perfect, like nothing else in the world exists besides us.

  “I should go,” he says, breaking the peaceful silence.

  I lift my head and look him in the eyes. He offers me an apologetic smile.

  “Want something to drink?” I blurt like an idiot.

  “Are you sure?” He’s giving me an out.

  “Yes,” I reply and go to stand. He grabs my hips. Every nerve ending inside me jolts to life as my back arches, and I suck in a sharp breath.

  “Chance,” I moan.

  “Ashlynn,” he warns, looking at me.

  I can feel him growing hard beneath me. Another reminder of something I’ve been desperately missing about Chance. The very… very… great sex.

  Chapter Five

  CHANCE

  My dick is hard as a rock and aches to be buried deep inside her. It is taking everything inside me, not to strip Ashylnn of all her clothes and fuck her senseless. If I make a move, she’ll think it’s the only reason I came over; however, she’d be dead wrong. I came over because I couldn’t sleep and needed to see her.

  “Would it be wrong of me?” she asks.

  “Wrong about what?”

  She doesn’t answer with words. She stands up briefly and then sits back down on my lap. This time she is straddling me and pressing down against my raging hard-on.

  “Fuck,” I groan, grabbing her ass. “Ashlynn.”

  “Would it be wrong?” she whispers, looking me in the eyes.

  “It’s–” I clear my throat. “It’s not why I’m here. I promise.”

  My dick jerks in protest. It needs to be balls deep inside her. The last thing it wants to do is behave.

  “We’re both adults, Chance,” she replies seductively, draping her arms over my neck and grinding against me.

  I close my eyes and lean my head against the back of the couch. Ashlynn continues taunting me with her moves. My cock is ready to explode, but I’m still at a fork in the road. If I said no, it’d prove I don’t want just sex from her, but I’d regret it and insult her. If I go for it, she’ll think that’s all I came over for and hate me even more in the morning.

  Ashlynn leans down to my ear.

  “Since when did you deny me of what I wanted, Chance?” she whispers. My eyes fly open, and in a matter of seconds, I’m standing with her legs wrapped around my waist. “There’s the bad boy I like so much,” she smirks.

  “This bad boy is going to fuck you,” I growl, carrying her across the living room and towards the bedrooms. “Which door?”

  “Straight ahead,” she replies and traces her tongue along my neck.

  “Ashlynn.”

  “We can forget it all in the morning. Let’s just have fun tonight. Okay?”

  It sounds like her words are more for her than for me. She is trying to convince herself that this is a good idea. The last thing I want is for her to wake up in the morning with regret.

  I walk into the bedroom and over to the bed. I kick off my shoes and then carry her into the middle of the bed. Gently I lay her down. There’s just enough light coming from the living room that I can see her biting her lip nervously.

  “Ashlynn, we don’t have to do this,” I whisper, stroking a strand of her hair out of her face. “I swear, I didn’t come over here for sex. I just wanted to see you. Nothing else.”

  “I know,” she says faintly. “I just…”

  “Just what?”

  She lifts her head and kisses me. It catches me off guard but only for a moment. My tongue parts her lips for a deeper kiss. She welcomes the kiss by opening her mouth. When our tongues touch, she moans into my mouth and grabs my hair.

  “Ashlynn,” I groan, nipping her bottom lip.

  “Chance,” she retorts teasingly, making me grin.

  My hand holds the back of her neck, and I slowly lower her down to the pillow. With the same hand, I make my way to the hem of her tank top. She trembles as I lift her shirt, exposing her beautiful, perfect breasts.

  “I’ve definitely missed these,” I smirk.

  “Show me just how much you missed them.”

  Her words light a fire inside me. She’s daring me to make her feel good. To put my money where my mouth is per se. And I’m more than happy to oblige.

  “Yes, Ma’am.” I lower my head down to her nipple and flick it with my tongue. Her back arches. Her hand grips my hair harder, and she moans.

  I squeeze her tits together and suck one of her nipples. My tongue flicks and swirls around her nipple just the way I know she likes. She responds by raking her nails up my back. I wish my shirt was off so I could feel her touch fully.

  “Take it off,” she demands as though she read my mind.

  I quickly remove my shirt.

  “All of it,” she orders, sitting up and taking off her shirt.

  I begin to take off my sweatpants. My eyes carefully watch her as she shimmies out of her shorts. When she is completely naked, she lays down on the bed. I remove my pants and boxers, tossing them aside. I bring my attention back to Ashlynn’s beautiful body.

  “This isn’t going to work,” she sighs.

  Regret is already filling her, and we haven’t done anything. Guess I should be thankful she determined it now and not later.

  “I’ll get dressed and–” I say.

  “You’re ridiculous,” she laughs and sits up. She turns on the lamp next to the bed. “I was talking about not being able to see you all the way.”

  She lays back down. Her hands reach up, and she rubs my chest.

  “Much better,” she smiles.

  “Ashlynn approved?”

  “Always Ashlynn approved,” she teases.

  I kiss her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and then her lips. She smiles after each kiss. I kiss her chin, between her breasts, each nipple, then kiss a trail down to her belly button.

  “Chance,” she moans.

  “Yes, Beautiful?” I ask, kissing just below her belly button. She trembles, and her hand grabs my hair. I kiss a little lower, and her hand pushes me lower to where she wants me to be.

  I sit up, and she whimpers, making me chuckle.

  “Relax, I’m not done with you,” I assure her, repositioning myself. “Spread your legs. Let me see that beautiful pussy.”

  “Chance,” she moans, opening her legs. My mouth waters at the sight of her shaved pussy.

  I lay on my stomach. My face inches from her warmth. She drapes her legs over my shoulders. I kiss her clit softly, and she squirms at the touch. I greedily flick, lick, and suck on her clit. Her moans fill the air. Her fingers intertwine in my hair, and she pulls. It’s enough to cause pain but not enough to stop me from devouring her.

  I run my tongue between her lips and into her wetness. She pulls my face closer to her pussy, pushing my tongue deeper inside her. I work my tongue in and out of her pussy. My fingers press circles against her clit.

  “Fuck!” she screams. Her hold on my hair tightens. “Chance!”

  “Let’s see how tight this pussy is,” I say huskily, kissing her clit.

  I slide two fingers between her lips and into her wetness. Her pussy stretches. My fingers slide in and out of her picking up pace. With each stroke, she gets wetter, and he screams louder.

  Her nails dig into my back. The pain is excruciating but welcoming. It adds to my need for her.

  “Chance, I’m– I’m– I’m going–” Ashlynn flails against the bed.

  I wrap my free arm around her leg to keep her in place. My mouth and fingers work simultaneously to give her what she deserves. She bucks wildly. Incoherent words scream past her lips. The more she squirms, the more determined I am to make her come.

  “Come for me,” I demand. “Now.”

  “Chance!” she screams as her pussy tightens around my fingers. Her hips lift off the bed, and she shakes intensely.

  As her orgasm rocks through her, I gently suck on her clit. The pace of my fingers I slow to long deep strokes. Like making love to her pussy with my mouth and fingers.

  “Another… Another…” she pants, gripping the sheets and squirming against my hold. “Chance!”

  Chapter Six

  ASHLYNN

  The back-to-back orgasms came fast and hit me like a ton of bricks. They took me to the blissful state that Chance always took my body. There was no denying that my body was still his to command.

  “Chance,” I hum sleepily, resting my head against the pillow.

  “Beautiful,” Chance replies. He kisses my thigh, and then puts my legs down, and moves beside me in the bed. “Feel better?”

  “Mmhmm.”

  “Good,” he chuckles. He starts to put his arm around me but hesitates and drops it to his side.

  “The night isn’t over yet,” I say, rolling onto my side and facing him. “Whatever happens tonight, we can forget in the morning.”

  “Sounds simple enough,” he sighs.

  I can tell he’s lying and I agree wholeheartedly. Nothing about this is going to be simple in the morning. My heart is going to break all over again when he leaves to go to his apartment. I’m not built for one-night stands or casual sex.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asks, stroking my cheek gently.

  “Why do we always lie to ourselves?”

  He chuckles lightly and shrugs.

  “I guess it’s what we do best,” he smiles. “Plus, we have always tried to be considerate to each other.”

  “True,” I sigh, wrapping my arm around him.

  He repositions, sliding his arm under me before laying on his pack and pulling me against his side. He holds me close and kisses the top of my head.

 

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