Ash Rising (DEAd Series)

A DEAd Novel

Melissa Fox

Published by
Melissa Fox


Copyright © 2014 by Melissa Fox


The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.


All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1499511611

Contemporary Romance Thriller

Manuscript Editor: Jennifer M. Barry


Line Editor: Tiffany Nichols


Formatting: Jennifer M. Barry

Cover Image Photography: Licensed by Shutterstock

Title Font: Trajanus Bricks from dafont.com

Font Author: Sell Your Soul


Cover Design: Melissa Fox

Printed in the United States of America

Asher Beaulieu had plans to meet a pretty girl.

He ducked through the elaborate flower gardens outside his parents’ cheerfully lit Cape Cod-style house to avoid the partygoers enjoying the spectacular nighttime view of Lake Simcoe. The evening had been arranged in his honor, to celebrate his graduation from the Depot—the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Academy—but he could manage a few minutes away from the crowd. The full moon lit a white gazebo on the edge of the surrounding woods, and the privacy of the structure was just what he needed, as soon as he found—

“Josie. Sweetheart.”

He greeted the sweet little blonde with a thorough kiss, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the contact. Spearmint and warm girl filled his mouth, rolled thick and rich through his blood. He’d had a few intimate encounters with Josie, all fast, hot, fun, and with a mutual understanding of no strings attached, exactly how he liked. His fingertips skimmed her neck, and he cradled the back of her head in his palm to really kiss her.

“
Wow. Ash.” Heavy-lidded and breathless when he finally let her come up for air, she slipped a slim hand between his legs. Bright eyes narrowed appreciatively at what she found. “Jeez. Where can we go?”

H
er tongue slicked her lower lip, and a quick thrill shot across his skin at the thought of where her tongue would be very soon. Tempering the reaction, he kissed her knuckles before turning her hand over to press a warm, wet lick of his own to the center. She shivered, eyes widening, and a soft gasp whispered through the air.

He so had her.

“Come with me, sweetheart.” Using his deep voice to his advantage, he laced her fingers with his and led her across the lawn. “I know just the spot.”

T
hankfully, the enclosed gazebo stood a good distance from the house. Ash opened the door and slipped inside before turning to kiss the soft, feminine lips lifted to his in clear invitation. A cushioned armchair sat against the far wall, and he enjoyed the sound of Josie’s giggles as he swung her around in his arms and dropped into the seat. She stood over him, reached into her back pocket for the tiny digital music player she was rarely without, and tucked the earbuds under her hair and into her ears. He gripped her hips to tug her toward his lap for better access to her mouth and, hopefully, her breasts, but Josie wriggled out of his hold. After dropping to her knees, her nimble fingers made quick work of the buttons on his jeans. He let out an anticipatory grunt as she pulled him from his boxer briefs.

Ash rested
his head on the back of the chair, eyes drifting closed as he settled in to enjoy the blowjob. The girl deserved his full attention, considering she went to all that spectacular effort—and it would be spectacular, given their previous encounters. He enjoyed Josie, and she him. Pretty, fun, and experienced, with a bit of an exhibitionist streak, she didn’t expect anything other than giving and receiving pleasure when they were together. He tucked a golden strand of hair behind her ear, chuffed out a breath at the sensations her mouth provoked, and brushed her cheek with his thumb.

The
scrape of wood on metal penetrated his sex-induced stupor. Focusing hazily on the figure looming outside the gazebo, he recognized Daniel as he stood half in and half out the door. Daniel gaped at the girl kneeling between Ash’s sprawled legs, her head rising and falling, golden hair spread across his jean-clad thighs.

“Uh.
” Daniel’s mouth opened and closed, and he turned his back so fast Ash felt the breeze. “Um, is that…?”

Ash scowled, but only
for a second. Josie’s tongue felt too good to keep the expression on his face for long. A groan rumbled from his chest as heat and
oh, God, so good
shot up his spine. He lowered his gaze when pretty brown eyes peeked inquiringly at him and flashed her a reassuring smile. Josie returned the grin and went back to running her tongue along his dick, the cords of the ear buds swaying against her cheeks in rhythm with her bobbing head.

“
Holy shit, Ash.” Daniel cringed as he looked over his shoulder. “The Commissioner of the damn RCMP is on his way over here!”

Ash
ignored his friend in favor of savoring his rapidly approaching orgasm. He grasped the arms of the chair and let his head fall back once again. With a sigh, he eased his hips forward.

“Did you hear me?” Daniel’s voice
squeaked high and slightly hysterical. “Ash, her damn father is coming!”

Ash let a
grin spread across his face. “So am I.”

Ash strolled into the house some time later, his nerve endings still buzzing with satisfaction and contentment thanks to pretty Josie. His attention sharpened on Andy’s familiar form standing near the hall holding his jacket and searching the pockets.

“
Hey, man. What’s up?”

“G
ot to get Lisa out of here, and I can’t find my car keys.” Andy ran an agitated hand through his hair. “Maybe Daniel has them. I drove him and Maggie, but no idea where he went. Have you seen him?”

“
Uh, not recently. What’s wrong with Lisa?”

“Greg’s here.
” Andy gestured with his chin toward Lisa’s ex-fiancé.

“Shit.” Ash
searched the room for the bastard who had cheated on one of his best friends.

“Yeah. And he brought Jenny.”

Greg had some nerve crashing the party and bringing the girl he’d been screwing when Lisa walked in on him—in the bed he and Lisa had shared. No way had Greg been issued an invitation. His mom would sooner run naked across the lawn than upset Lisa, who was like a daughter to her.

“Ah, hell.” Ash’s attention strayed from
Greg’s tall figure and the girl at his side when he spotted Lisa slinking out of the room, acting nothing like his sassy, bold friend. “And you guys think I’m an asshole.”

Andy
’s gaze shot to his, eyebrows hitting his hairline.

“I know what you
all think, but I’d never screw anyone over that way.” He nodded at Lisa as she disappeared. “That’s why I avoid being with any girl who’d actually expect anything from me. Do you think I’d do that to someone I cared about?”

A
ndy shook his head. “No. You wouldn’t. At least not on purpose.”

Ash
pulled his keys out of the front pocket of his jeans. “I’ll take Lisa home. I’ll take care of her tonight.”

Andy’s hand shot out to grab his arm.
Ash stared at the fingers gripping his biceps, and then at Andy.
What the hell?
“I haven’t had a drink in hours.”

“
I know. That’s not it.”

“
Oh. You want to take her home?” Realization dawned. Andy had been hopelessly in love with Lisa since the eighth grade. His friend should be the one riding to her rescue. “You can take my car.”

“
No.” Andy stared at the keys and sighed. “I have been drinking. I’m not drunk, but I do have a rocking buzz going.”

Andy would never drive impaired, his job as an officer with the Quebec Provincial Police notwithstanding. But still, Ash had to ask. “Y
ou sure?”

“Just get her out of here, okay? M
ake sure she gets home safe,” Andy said gruffly, shoving at Ash’s shoulder.