shoulder. “Can you turn on Criminal Minds for me?”
“Is that wise?” Sloan gives her a challenging look. “Do you need another thing to obsess over? Watching a show about serial killers is not a good idea when it gives you nightmares.”
She rolls her eyes and groans. “I don’t tell you to stop watching porn. So, would you stop being an annoying older brother and turn on my show?”
Sloan blushes at her mention of him watching porn. A few times in high school, Ash walked into her brother’s room while he was looking at some nasty shit. He didn’t have his hand on his dick, but he was still pretty embarrassed when she caught him.
Ash gives him a sweet smile that is not as sweet as it looks. “Please, Sloan. I don’t want to miss the show.”
With that, Sloan melts into a puddle on the floor and complies with her request. He treats Ash like she’s his daughter. And now that she’s living with us, he will expect me to show her the same special treatment.
“Okay.” Sloan clicks the buttons to turn on the eighty inch flat-screen television in the living room. “But if this shit gives you nightmares, don’t wake me up.”
Ash loves scary movies. When she was a kid, she had vivid dreams after watching them and would wake Sloan up, freaked out and demanding he check for intruders. Ash was such a pain in the ass that eventually, Sloan hid all of her horror DVDs though he should have known better. Because when Ash wants something, she will do anything in her power to get it.
After Sloan turns on the show, Ash plops down on the couch and curls her body into the cushions. She looks happy, peaceful, with her hair fanned out around her face. Like the girl I kissed seven years ago. The girl who drove me to the point of madness. Years of thinking about her, imaging how she would taste and feel, made me act like an idiot.
Irrational.
Uncontrollable.
“Where am I sleeping?” Ash kicks her feet up on the cushions, peeking up at Sloan with those pretty blue eyes that slice right through me.
“Down the hall from Dylan,” Sloan says.
I clear my throat. “You would be more comfortable in the guest house.”
Sloan angles his body toward me, one eyebrow raised. “Dude, no way. My sister isn’t a guest. She’s family. Ash isn’t staying in the guest house.”
I don’t see the problem. Why is Sloan making a big deal out of where his sister sleeps?
I blow out a deep breath, knowing I will never win this argument with Sloan. “I thought it would be more practical. Ash would have a kitchen and bathroom to herself with private access to the beach.”
“We have seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms,” Sloan challenges. “And a personal chef that can make her whatever she wants to eat. She doesn’t need a kitchen. Ash would end up burning down the house if I let her cook.”
“Hey!” Ash throws a couch pillow at Sloan’s head. “I can cook. I’ve lived on my own for years, thank you very much.”
Sloan snickers. “Right. If I’m not mistaken, you set off the smoke detector making eggs.”
Ash frowns, crossing her arms over her chest. “That was one time. And it was an accident.”
My eyes fall to her cleavage that spills out from her red tank top. She loves that color, and it suits her. Her nails are painted crimson to match her plump lips that are still imprinted into my brain after all these years. I can still recall how they felt against mine, how she tasted like cherries and summer.
Some things you never forget.
For me, Ash is one of those things and a constant reminder of how much I can lose control. How much I need to stay in control.
“The guesthouse is fine with me,” Ash says with a defiant expression on her beautiful face. “I’d rather not see the skank parade you two bring home with you, anyway.”
Sloan chuckles. “I’ll be on my best behavior while you’re here.” He holds up three fingers and says. “Scouts honor. And you’re not staying in the guest house.”
“How long do you plan to stay?” I ask and come off sounding rude as fuck.
Well, in my defense, this is my house. Is it rude to want to know when our guest is leaving? I don’t think so. This is an imposition for all of us. Sloan or I are not used to having a woman in the house for