I wake up and almost let out a scream when it's hard to move. I relax when I realize it's just Gage, but then I really realize that it's Gage and my cheeks flush. His head is resting on my shoulder and his arm is draped over my stomach. My hand had somehow found its way into his hair while the other is laying over his arm. He's still asleep and doesn't look to be waking up. We stay in this position for a while because I can't find myself to wake him up. My fingers start to play with his hair again, but I find it relaxing as well. He stirs slightly but he stays asleep. I close my eyes just to rest, and I take a minute to enjoy the quiet. It's so nice not having to worry about anyone sneaking into your room because of superiority. I also don't think Gage would appreciate anyone seeing him in a vulnerable state, much like he's in now. He looks like a child who was finally put down for a nap after refusing to take one. Oh well, I still found it cute. I go to remove my hand from his h
"I still owe you a massage," Gage says as I take a bite of a strawberry. Jill brought us up a tray of food and I've been devouring the strawberries. We are currently just sitting on his bed, and he's doing work on his laptop. "True," I say, chewing the rest of the strawberry that's in my mouth. "It better be a damn good one though." "It'll be nothing less than perfect," he replies and closes his laptop. "Go on, lay down." "But I'm eating," I pout as I toss the strawberry top into the extra bowl. "You can eat afterwards," Gage says and gets off the bed. He moves the tray to the small coffee table that is sitting in his room. "Lay on your stomach." I groan because my foods taken away, but I lay on my stomach anyway. I fold my arms up so that my head is able to rest on them. I close my eyes as I feel the bed dip down. Gage climbs over so he's straddling my waist. He pushes my shirt up so my backs exposed, but he's having a hard time keeping it up. I slip the shirt off complete
Three weeks later Ashlynn's POV: Gage is slowly secluding himself, and it makes me sad. His grandmother is still at the hospital and each day her chances of getting past the heart attack decrease. He's also been figuring out the whole Iris situation, which I still don't know what it's about. He was gone for a week, apparently in South Korea, but that only gave him a new lead that she's currently in Iceland. So he's been busying himself with that. He rarely sleeps. Alex has put me in charge of bringing Gage his meals. I'll go in there to give him his breakfast and he'll be in the same clothes as the day before and his appearance just screams tired. Today I won't let him hide himself anymore. I grab the tray full of breakfast foods and a glass of orange juice. Tori gives me a small wave as I walk past her and up to Gage's office. A few of the maids give me small smiles as I walk by and I return them. The guards who are walking through the house look stoic as ever. I keep my head
Gage's POV: To say I was furious is an understatement. Once I got Ashlynn to relax I laid her on my couch, and she's currently playing a game on the small tablet. I'm at my computer looking at the background check of her so called parents. They are still living in Peoria, Arizona. They've been caught for possession of drugs and driving drunk, but nothing that has convicted them to prison. I continue to dig through their file, and I'm shocked at what I find. I make sure that what I'm reading is correct before I message Vince to look into it. "Are you stressed?" I look up at Ashlynn who is looking over at me, the tablet now laying on her chest. "Just work stuff," I shrug off. "I'm almost done. Just have to get everything prepared for a meeting tomorrow then we can head downstairs." "Alright," she says and grabs the tablet. "If you're lying I'll punch you." "Okay," I chuckle as I switch tabs on my computer. I focus my attention back to the Iris case, and I'm able to pinpoin
Alex has set the jet to leave at 8:00 in the morning, leaving me with only seven hours to sleep before the plane leaves. Really only about five to five and a half before I have to start getting ready. We are taking a group of ten men who will be on ground and then five who will be tech. Vince is staying home, per mom's request. He's pissy about it but I side with mom on this one. Considering that tomorrow is Friday, I still have to call the brothel and tell them that Ashlynn won't be there. "Go to sleep," Ashlynn says and I roll my eyes. "I could say the same for you," I reply and she grins before taking a sip of her hot chocolate. "I don't have to be somewhere in the morning, you do," she retorts and sets the mug down. "Will you tell me why you're up now?" "Anxiety?" I say, although it sounds more like a question. "I just want to find her and give her what she deserves." "Can you tell me what she did?" She asks hesitantly. "The Iris I knew was a mentor to me. I just wan
Ashlynn's POV: "Elliott is on the mission too," Kylie says as we sit on my bed. She was given the day off for some reason, so we are just relaxing in my room before I work tonight. "I'm scared. I know we aren't really anything yet, but I've grown to care for him." "I don't think the mission is a dangerous one," I say, trying to calm her nerves. "They just have to find one person. They should be back soon." "Are you scared? For, you know, Mr. Cutler?" She asks and my cheeks flush. "I know he can handle himself," I say and tuck my hair behind my ear. "Besides, why do I need to be scared?" "There's obviously a connection between the two of you," Kylie scoffs as if what I said was dumb. "We both like each other, that's it really," I shrug. "No labels yet? Shame," Kylie sighs before she starts to smirk. "Can you imagine how cute your guy's baby will be? Blonde hair and hazel eyes!" "What!" I choke out. "What do you mean kids? We have only kissed a couple of times, so
"Wait, that's Gage?" I ask as Nicole shows me a picture of a little boy in the bath with a stack of bubbles on his head. He's holding two yellow rubber duckies and has a large smile on his face. "I think he was three in this. My mom had just gotten him the two rubber ducks and he was obsessed with them," Nicole smiles. We continue to flip through the photo album and I can't help but take pictures of a few of the photos. "He's in a little suit!" I exclaim as I see the picture. Gage is probably six or so and he is in a black suit and tie. His arms are crossed tightly over his chest and his lips are forming the biggest pout. "This was his first time wearing a full suit," Nicole tells me. "It was for my sisters wedding. He was the ring bearer and he didn't want to wear it. He cried for a few hours before the wedding. I managed to bribe him with suckers, so it worked out in the end." "It sounds like he was stubborn even as a kid," I smile and she laughs. "You would've never m
One week later "You're taking it because I bought it for you. Also, I could never fit into it," Kylie says as she hands me the pink bag. "I think it'll look great on stage too." "I don't want you to buy me anything," I tell her as I hesitantly take the bag. "Lingerie is expensive too." "Just take it and try it on," she rolls her eyes and shoves the bag all the way into my hand. "Go!" I roll my eyes as I take the bag and go to the small changing area at the club. Kylie wanted to see what it was like so she tagged along tonight. What I didn't know was that she bought me a new outfit to dance in. I take out what's in the bag and gasp at the color. It was a dark burgundy color that I just fell in love with. It's a two piece set that is very strappy. The top has the normal triangle lace cut to cover my boobs, but straps go from the band of the bra and around my boobs to make them look like they are larger. The waistband of the lace bottoms have two straps that rest high on my wa