Never My Love

Needless to say, Ashlyn and I ended up making love until the wee hours of the morning, holding one another closely while dozing off to sleep, as the alarm clock on my bedside table told me that it was getting close to three o'clock the next morning...at least that's the last thing I saw before I went to sleep...

~~~~~~

The next morning I had to get up and go to class, and much to my surprise, Ashlyn was already up and in the kitchen making breakfast when I came in there to get my first cup of coffee.

"Good morning," I smiled, surprised that she wasn't at work, "I'm not trying to sound like an ass, but why aren't you at work this morning?"

"I called in and took some vacation time that I've had coming to me for over a year and a half."

"Is that right?" I lecherously grinned, pulling her into my arms and gently caressing her left breast, "Why don't I skip class and play hooky today?"

"Oh, I don't think so," she knowingly smiled, quickly kissing my lips before she turned around to pour me a cup of coffee, "You've got class today and you definitely need to go. Besides, what am I supposed to tell your parents when they get your report card in the mail and find out that you've been skipping class, hot shot?"

"That's easy," I teased, "Don't tell them anything."

"Jacob Daniel Benson," Ash said, "I can't believe what I'm hearing."

"What," I asked, taking a sip from the full cup of coffee she'd just given me; "Is it wrong that I want to stay home with my beautiful wife?"

"That's not a fair question and you know it," she half grinned/half frowned, "Of course I want you to be with me as much as possible, but you have to go, baby. Otherwise, what's the point in even registering for college if you're not going to go to class?"

"You're right," I quietly replied, "But we haven't been married for very long and I just can't help it if..."

"I know, and I feel the same way, too, Jake," she sweetly interrupted me, "But getting your college degree is very important...at least to me it is. Plus, I've got a feeling that when you do graduate; you're going to get offers from colleges all over the country wanting you to come teach."

"Come on, Ash, I'm no teacher," I teased, grinning from ear-to-ear, "I'm a rock star. You said so yourself, and I'll bet you that none of them had to go to college."

"And that's what's going to be the difference between you and them," she gently replied, "Besides, once everyone in the music industry knows that you've got a degree in music, they'll take you seriously when it comes time for any kind of contract negotiations."

"Is that right?" I playfully teased, pulling her back into my arms again, and quickly kissing her lips, "Since when did you get to be so damn smart, girlie girl?"

"Since the day I married you, cutie," Ash giggled, and then after a serious look replaced the smile on her face, she told me, "As brilliant as you are, you should know better than to want to cut class, baby. Now do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"

"Of course I do," I softly replied, "But you can't blame a guy for trying, can you?"

"No," she began to laugh, "But I'll give you an "A" for effort though."

"Thank you, my love," I softly told her, as I gently nuzzled the underside of her throat; "I'll go to my classes this morning; but I'll be thinking of you the whole time I'm there."

"Good," she grinned, looking at the clock on the wall, "You've still got enough time to eat a bite. Are you hungry, baby?"

"Nah," I chuckled, pouring myself another cup of coffee, "I'll get something between my first and second class. I'll have plenty of time."

"Okay then," Ashlyn sweetly smiled, taking a momentary seat in my lap, "I'm going to miss you today, Jake; I just wanted you to know that."

"I always miss you when you're not around me," I honestly replied, gently holding her hand, "But I know that you're never far away so; that makes it a little more bearable...at least for a while anyway..."

~~~~~~

My first class with Dr. Lance Krieger went very well that morning; and of course Camryn, who still rags my ass every chance she gets, started giving me grief the moment I got to class.

"It's about time you got your slow ass here, Jake," she teased, "What's wrong; did Ashlyn keep you chained to the bed all night again?"

"You shut up," I smirked, glancing at her boobs, as they swung back and forth, unfettered beneath her shirt, "At least I'm not out in public without a bra. Wait until I tell your Mom."

"Oh, shit," she quietly exclaimed, pulling her sweater around her and zipping it up in the front, "I guess I got in such a hurry that I forgot."

"Uh huh," I chuckled, "Having a blonde moment, were we, dear?"

"Fuck off, Jake," she quietly snickered, "And don't you dare tell a soul."

"Horse manure," I began teasing her, "Wait until band practice tonight. I'm gonna tell everyone there, Ashlyn included."

"That's because you're such an asshole," she laughed, "Go right ahead then. I'll tell Ashlyn that you couldn't keep your eyes off of my tits."

"Is that supposed to intimidate me?" I grinned, "She knows what a horn dog I am. Why do you think she married me in the first place?"

"Oh please," she giggled, "I'm going to tell her you said that, too."

"Do it then," I bluffed, "My wife loves me and I love her so; it's no big deal."

"She loves you, that much is certain," Camryn gently smiled, "I wish that I could find somebody like that."

While I know that Camryn was simply making a statement and not a suggestion, my heart began to hurt for her. And because of the fact that we were such close friends, I told myself right then and there that I was going to help her find someone to love; and with Ashlyn's help, I knew that we would be able to find her a guy that was the type of person that she would not only want, but that would also be good to her, as well as good for her...someone that was worthy of her...not the other way around...

~~~~~~

When I got to my world history class, imagine my surprise when I found out that Dr. McClain had cancelled class that particular morning, leaving me to my own devices until my guitar class later that afternoon.

~~~~~~

Chapter Twenty Nine

As I said earlier, I was required to take that particular class, because once I passed it, the college left it up to the instructor's choice as whether or not a student would advance beyond their schedule. Such was the case where my guitar class with Dr. Heather Tomlinson was concerned.

"I've got some good news for you, Jake," she smiled, when I entered the classroom that afternoon, "Per my recommendation, you're going to be in the top guitar class on campus next semester. What do you think about that?"

"Oh, wow," I excitedly grinned, "You're kidding me, right?"

"Come on, Jake," Dr. Tomlinson earnestly smiled, "You and I both know that there's nothing that I can teach you. That's why I've made the recommendation to put you in Doctor Drake Fowler's class for exceptionally gifted music students."

"I've heard of him," I told her, "Wasn't he that Guitar Professor that played with several different rock and roll artists during the sixties?"

"That would be him, and it was only a few artists" she grinned, "He saw you with Covenant when you guys played at the festival, and when I told him that you were in my beginner's class, he asked me to recommend you for his class after he finished laughing."

"Please don't get me wrong, because I appreciate it, Heather, I really do," I admiringly smiled, "But I'm a keyboard player that just happens to play guitar, not the other way around."

"I'll make a deal with you, Jake," she knowingly grinned, "Study under him for at least a semester, okay? I promise you that you won't be sorry."

"I'll see," I relented, "But I'm not really sure what my schedule is going to look like in the fall."

"That's fair enough," Heather understandingly smiled, "If you do have the opportunity, I strongly urge you to study under Doctor Fowler for at least a semester, okay?"

"I promise to try," I honestly replied, "That's all I can do right now, Heather..."

~~~~~~

I thought about the offer that Heather had made to me before I left her class for the day, and because of the importance of the up and coming gig out in Los Angeles, I was beginning to feel a little stressed. However, I also knew that all of my fears, worries, as well as stress, would leave me the moment I saw my Ashlyn's breathlessly stunning face. Because, like I've said from the first moment that this story began, it is her, and her alone that can instantly calm my fears, using nothing more than the beautiful sound of her voice...

~~~~~~

"Hi, baby," Ashlyn said, greeting me at the door with a kiss and a knowing frown on her pretty face, "It looks like you've had a long day today, my love. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Hello, beautiful," I softly breathed, pulling her into my arms and holding her body against mine, "Let me just hold you for a minute, Ash, and then we'll talk, okay baby?"

"Mmm," she sweetly purred, gently placing her arms completely around me, holding firmly onto me, "I love you, and we'll talk about it whenever you're ready to talk, Jake."

We held onto to one another, simply enjoying the feeling of being able to feel each other's bodies against our own. Of course there was the occasional kiss here and there; simply because of the fact that our relationship was still brand new.

Once we finally did let go of one another, I placed my back pack on the kitchen table and took a seat while Ashlyn poured me a cup of the coffee that she had just finished brewing for when I got home that day. And because she knew me so well by that time, my coffee was sitting on the table in front of me with the perfect mixture of cream and sugar; damn, what a woman, huh?

"So, tell me, my beautiful husband," Ashlyn tenderly smiled, as she sat down beside me and lovingly brushed a few errant strands of hair out of my eyes, "What happened at school today that has you so stressed out, hmm?"

"I'm not really stressed, Ash," I said, and then I told her about the offer that Dr. Heather Tomlinson presented me with; the opportunity to study under Dr. Drake Fowler."

"Hey, I know who he is," Ashlyn excitedly grinned, "He was on the news last summer about coming to teach at the U of H. The news reporter said that he played with some really major recording artists back in the sixties and early seventies."

"Yeah, I know," I quietly replied.

"You sound like you're upset about it, Jake," Ashlyn asked, her mood suddenly changing with mine, "What's wrong, baby?"

It was then that the fears which I'd been quietly harboring about the gig in Los Angeles came boiling to the surface. Of course I didn't hesitate to tell Ashlyn what was bothering me, and that I was afraid that this was all some kind of criminal thing that we, Covenant, had stumbled into the middle of. I also let her know that I didn't trust Herb Albert or Jerry Moss as far as I could throw them and that Rob had been right when he suggested that we retain the services of an attorney.

"I don't have a problem with that at all," Ash told me, "And I'll bet that we'll more than likely get a good deal if we use one of the attorneys at Smith, Walters, Johnson and Hobbs' law firm. What do you think, sweetheart?"

"I'm not so sure," I replied, a bad feeling suddenly coming to me where that particular group of people was concerned, "I'm not sure how I know this, but I've suddenly got a bad feeling about them, Ashlyn."

"What kind of bad feeling," she quietly asked, "I'll abide by whatever decision you make, Jake; I hope you know that."

"Of course I know that, my love," I softly replied, pulling my gorgeous wife into my arms, "That's why I think we should talk to Dad about this. I think that if anyone will be able to give us some accurate input about this, it will definitely be my father."

"I agree with you there, baby," she smiled, hoping from my arms, and grabbing the phone off of the wall of the kitchen, "Why don't we call him right now?"

~~~~~~

"Hey, Miss Ashlyn," Dad happily replied, when he discovered that his daughter-in-law was calling him, "How is my oldest daughter doing this afternoon? Is Jake giving you any shit/ Just say the word and..."

"Thanks, Jack," Ash giggled, sweetly interrupting him, "But something has come up that requires your particular talents; and Jake and I were wondering if you and Naomi could come up for a visit, or we can come to you, whatever is easiest?"

"We're going to come down there, Dad," I quickly replied, having picked up the telephone extension in the den, "We can be there shortly if that's alright."

"That would be great," Dad mischievously laughed, "You're mother won't be expecting you and this will be one of the rare times that I'll be able to get the drop on her...at least for a change anyway."

"You've got that shit right," I laughed, "I still say that Mom will know before she gets home, Dad. You know that she's got a sixth sense when it comes to her children...she always has."

"Horse shit," Dad laughed, "The only way that she's gonna know anything is if you or your blabber-mouthed sisters tell her."

"I won't tell her a thing," I chuckled, "And neither will Ashlyn; you've got both of our word on that."

"Alright then," he chuckled, "And both of your sisters are gone right so; they won't know shit."

"Good deal,' I chuckled, 'I guess we'll see you around seven o'clock this evening, okay?"

"I'll see you both this evening then," Dad smiled, "Drive carefully..."

~~~~~~

"Well, hello, you two," Mom widely smiled, when Ashlyn and I appeared on her front door step that evening, "Why didn't you call me and tell me that you were coming? I would've had something ready for you guys to eat."

"And that's exactly why we didn't call you, Naomi," Ash sweetly replied, as she hugged Mom, "We didn't want you to go to any trouble."

"Well, that's one of the reasons why we didn't call, Mom," I grinned, "You'll have to get Dad to tell you what the other reason is."

"Thanks a lot, shit head," Dad playfully chastised me; "I really appreciate it, Jake."

"Hey, don't blame me," I laughed. Then I looked at Mom and told her, "We're taking you and Dad out to eat tonight, Mom so; you need to get dressed, or whatever you need to do, because the boat leaves in about ten minutes..."

~~~~~~

"You can't be serious," Dad gasped, after I told him and Mom of the feelings I was having about using an attorney from Smith, Walters, Johnson and Hobbs' law firm. I also informed him of their affiliations with Bill Sanders, making damn certain that I included his actions toward Ashlyn, as well as the fair warning I'd already given him about it.

Dad glanced around the table that we were sitting at in the restaurant, and then while using an extremely soft tone of voice, he looked at me and said, "There's something I think the two of you need to know, but this is neither the time nor the place to talk about it. Once we're done eating though, you me and Ashlyn need to have a nice long talk when we get back home, okay, Jake?"

"Fair enough," I said, "We'll talk about this later, then..."

~~~~~~

Once we got home and saw that both of my sisters had returned from where ever they'd been when Ash and I first got there, Mom made sure that they received the food that she'd ordered to take home for them right before we left the restaurant. Mom had always been that way though, making sure that her children were covered on all sides, whether it was food, clothes, money, you name it. Mom always thought about the three, well, now four of us, with every move she made. And while I know it would never be possible, I pray that everyone would have a mother who's as sweet as ours is.

"Alright, Dad," I said, once he, Ashlyn and I were sitting in his office at home, "What were you talking about back at the restaurant?"

"It's very important that you listen to everything I tell you before you speak," Dad informed us, "Do we understand one another?"

"Of course," Ashlyn softly smiled, speaking for the both of us, "You have our word that we won't say a word to anyone about anything you tell us."

"I'm glad to hear that," Dad began, "Let me begin by telling you that Bill Sanders, while he may very well be the front runner in the race for the Governor's office; he is also under investigation by not only the U.S. Marshall's office, but also the Texas Rangers, not to mention, the F.B.I."

"Is that right?" I asked, "So, what're you trying to tell us, Dad?"

"I'm not trying to tell you anything, son;" he eagerly replied, "I'm telling you that this piece of shit is a fucking criminal. We just can't find anything that sticks to him, if you know what I mean."

"So what you're saying is that you know he's dirty," I said, "But nobody has any solid evidence against him and therefore you can't arrest him."

"I knew you were smart, boy," Dad proudly smiled, as he patted me on the shoulder, "Don't get me wrong, we've got a couple of things against him, but we can't find a judge, state or federal, that will give us the proper warrants to catch him with his pants down."

"Uh huh," I quietly seethed, "It sounds to me like this cocksucker has paid off all of the right people."

"That would be correct," Dad told us, "But we can't get the proof of that either."

"Then we're just going to have to find some proof," I firmly replied, "In the mean time, I need a good attorney that I can trust with what's about to happen when we go to Los Angeles."

"I want you to leave that to me, son," Dad reassured me, patting me on the shoulder again, "I'll take care of everything."

"Thanks, Dad," I smiled, as Ashlyn and I both give him a hearty hug, "I can't begin to tell you just how much this means to us...all of us."

"Don't worry about it, son," Dad grinned, "In the mean time, you're sisters are chomping at the bit to see their big sister so; I think you know that you'd better get out there and visit with them before you two leave this house. Otherwise I'm going to be the poor bastard that's going to have to deal with it once you two are gone."

"Huh," I teased, "There's an idea..."

~~~~~~

Ashlyn and I stayed for another couple of hours, not only to visit with Leah and Laura, but also to be able to spend a little more quality time with my Mom. God knows just how much she loved us, and with that in mind, I made certain to let her know just how much Ash and I loved her, as well as just how much she meant to the both of us.

Needless to say, Mom and the girls all wanted to talk with Ashlyn about having babies, and such. As far as I was concerned, the only things in the world that I held dear were my wife, my parents, and last but not least, my precious, or need I say precocious, little sisters.

Don't get me wrong, my family member were all very happy about mine and Ash's decision to have children. However, little did any of us realize what lay I wait for us on the not too distant horizon, especially when the horizon in question was about to appear that very next morning?

~~~~~

As Ashlyn and I talked on the drive back home that night, I noticed that she seemed to be a little preoccupied with something. It was almost like she was talking to me, and while she had no problem keeping up with the conversation we were having, I could clearly tell that her mind was somewhere else.

"Are you alright, Ash?" I asked, "You seem to be a little distracted this evening."

"I'm alright," she tenderly replied a warm smile on her pretty face as she took my hand into hers and interlaced our fingers, "I'm just a little tired, that's all."

"Are you sure?" I asked again, "It bothers me when I know that you're not feeling well."

"You worry entirely too much, baby," she softly giggled, "I'm fine, I swear."