Tough Love

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

ISABELLE

Ashton never came home.

I'm usually a good sleeper, but I went to bed worrying about him. I laid there waiting for him to turn up, but he never did. Then, I just couldn't sleep because I kept going over everything in my head. I had this a gut wrenching feeling that something was wrong, worrying that he had crashed or worse gone to a bar and got completely drunk.

I had tried to call numerous amounts of times and each time it rang out, I had left messages and nothing, not a reply. I didn't want to hassle him, but who the hell takes off and then ignores their family.

It wasn't like him to just take off and not answer.

Parker and I had stayed up until 2am, I walked around the house trying not to worry and to keep myself busy with housework, but the house was tidy and there was only so many cups of tea I could drink before my bladder was calling. I'd said goodnight to Parker, who I felt sorry for. He was just as much a victim to Kelly's antics like Ashton.

The time dragged on, and it was now almost seven am. Where the hell is he?

Realising I wasn't going to get anymore sleep, I tossed the blankets off the bed and remade it. I fluffed up the last pillow and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Jesus, "I'm so tired." I said to myself as I ran a hand through my hair and tossed to all to the side.

I walked towards Jenna's room after my shower to check on her. She was sitting on the end of her bed in her pyjamas still, she turned to look at me, but her face was blank. "Dad hates me". It was a mere whisper, one that held so much emotion.

I sighed and sat beside her, placing an arm around her to draw her in. "He doesn't hate you; he's just upset and hurt."

"I didn't mean to make him so mad." Well maybe you should have thought about that beforehand.

"Jenna maybe when you're older you'll understand better, but for now let's just go have some breakfast and deal with it when your dad comes home. He loves you more than anything." I wanted her to know, he really loved her. We both did.

"Ok." she looked up and gave me a slight smile, a smile I hadn't received from her in so long.

"Get ready, and I'll see you downstairs" I offered and walked out of her room and towards the stairs where I spotted him.

My heart hammered against my chest.

"Belle" he breathed out and pulled me hard into his chest, his arms holding me tightly as he kissed my neck, his hands touching me all over, a touch that I had missed for so long.

I pushed back and frowned, are we just going to forget that he's been away for the whole night? "Where the hell have you been?" I noticed he was freshly showered but his eyes were red and he looked drunk. "You were out drinking?" I ripped my arms from his grasp and stepped back away from him. "You better fucking answer me now."

"I stayed at mum and dads; I just couldn't be here."

"Isn't that lovely, so comforting to know." I snapped irritated. "I'm so glad you got to go and have the time alone you needed." I was mad, there was no calming me down right now.

He took hold of my hand and pulled me back towards the direction of our bedroom, once we were in there, he closed the door and faced me. I wasn't going to speak, he needed to explain himself. He had grabbed my face, cupping it and kissing me with a desperate passion and walking me backwards to the bed, my legs gave out underneath me as he pushed me down and moved over the top of me.

A surge spread between my thighs, heating me up from within. I moaned, bucking my hips to meet his erection and ground against him. He muffled out a moan against my lips and drove his tongue deeper into my mouth. My fingers sliding beneath his shirt and up over his warm skin, digging my nails in.