The Heart of Him: Prologue

Ocho Rios, Jamaica was a beautiful seventy-six degrees in February. Ashley Harrison stood on the balcony in a shirt that belonged to the man lying in the bedroom. Naked as a jaybird under his shirt she was wearing, a gentle breeze tickled the lower part of her back. She looked around appreciating her surroundings and smiled at the way her life had turned out. 

During her senior year of high school, her father, a police officer, was shot and killed by a fourteen-year-old gang member. At the end of that year, she entered Harmon University, where she met her business partner, best friend, and now sister-in-law Tracy Washington-Harrison. That marked the beginning of the changes in her life.

Ashley smiled as she sat on the lounge chair, crossed her legs, and held her head back to allow the cool breeze to swim over her face. Here she was, Ashley Renee Harrison, a partner in a multi-million-dollar consulting firm, the sister to the candidate for Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the woman James Avery Brooks allowed into his very guarded life.  

Ashley turned to look at James, who was still asleep on the bed and chuckled to herself. The best thing to ever happen to her was snoring loudly from the inside of the room. She made a mental note to call Tracy, thank her for the trip to sunny Jamaica, and tease her about the weather.

In Virginia, which was home, it was snowing with no signs of it letting up according to the weather report. She smiled while drinking a glass of champagne and thinking of her brother Jeffrey, who everyone called JD and her best friend Tracy who are now happily married.

For a moment, Ashley found herself wondering if she would have a fairytale wedding like theirs. The two were married on New Year’s Eve in a wedding ceremony reminiscent of Princess Diana’s. Two months later the event continues to be the topic of conversation for many. Ashley didn’t need all of that, a simple ceremony with family and friends would suit her just fine.

Ashley stood and leaned against the balcony railing with her back to the beautiful landscape and pool that was below. She set her eyes on the muscular body of James Brooks and a frown appeared on her face as a thought manifested, James never talked about his family. His friends appeared to be those acquired through JD. At different events they attended, she met several business associates who all seemed very impressed, if not in awe of him, but never anyone introduced as a friend.

There were women who let her know instantly, usually in a “checking a sister out from head to toe” sort of way, that there was more than a business relationship between them and James. However, James’ actions sent a clear message that he was no longer available to anyone but her. 

Her eyes traveled up the long muscular leg that lay half covered by the sheet from the bed, over the hump that was his impressively firm behind, up to his strong back and wide shoulders that were exposed. She inhaled and smiled. Hmm,” she sighed, for just the sight of him turned her on. 

“Ashley?” James called out lifting his head from the pillow. She blinked. It was amazing that the sound of her name coming through his lips could make her moist in hidden areas. Each time he called her name with his rich deep baritone voice, it reminded her of a song coming from the smooth sound of a saxophone. It was his voice and that ever so manly smile that captured her heart the first time they met.

The day Ashley set eyes on James, the words her mother spoke to her as a little girl came to mind. Martha Harrison would say, “Never settle for someone that is less of a man than your father.” Of course, at the time, there was no man that could compare to her father, or so she thought. Then one day, while standing at the receptionist desk in a state office building, there he stood, smiling as their eyes met. She estimated him to be at least six- four. Standing five feet, eight inches tall with three-inch heels, she had to look up at him. It was evident the brother had a well-built body because he was certainly wearing that suit as if it was tailored made. Returning his smile, she wondered how funny is this. She wasn’t supposed to be there. On the other hand, maybe, as fate would have it, it was exactly where she needed to be.

Tracy, her business partner, prepared a bid for their company, Next Level Consulting, to be considered for an organizational efficiency project. The deadline for the submission was five o’clock that evening. This was a State contract and Tracy wanted to make sure the proposal was in the proper hands. Instead of using a carrier, Ashley volunteered to deliver the proposal in person to the name listed on the advertisement. As she entered the building, she noticed a small group of people standing near the receptionist’s desk in the midst of a conversation. It was impossible not to notice the handsome brother that stood out from the rest. He looked up as she walked by, smiled and continued with his conversation. Unfortunately, she did not have time to get her “mack” on. Tracy had entrusted her to deliver the package that could take the company to another level. She was not going to let her down. Ashley politely returned the smile and approached the receptionist. She explained she was there to submit a proposal to a Mr. James Brooks and asked if she could deliver it personally. The receptionist began to respond when the man Ashley noticed a moment before stepped over and introduced himself. “Hello, I’m James Brooks. How may I help you?” Ashley thought she was going to die the moment she heard his deep baritone voice. From that moment on, she began imagining waking up every morning to him calling her name.

Ashley’s lips formed into a small smile as she remembered agonizing over that man for weeks. 

“Are you going to join me or just stand there watching?” James asked, interrupting the memories flowing through Ashley’s mind. He sat up on the edge of the bed with the sheet still partially covering his body. 

She stepped inside the room and slowly walked over to the bed into his outstretched arms. “I think I’ll join you.” She smiled as she knelt between his legs and kissed his chest. “I can’t believe we have been inside this room for two days.”

“Since this is our last day here,” he kissed the side of her neck and said, “let’s go for three.”

She moaned as his kisses moved from her neck to the opening of his shirt she was wearing. Instinctively she held her neck back to allow him access to the center of her throat. His kisses journeyed lower until he was able to capture her nipple between his lips. Ashley held his head to her breast, increasing the pleasure of his lips. He removed the sheet that covered his nakedness. Stretching out as he pulled her onto the bed, her legs widened, and she straddled his body. She looked downward then back up to his face smiling at the arousal she had ignited in him. “Well, hello, Mr. Brooks.  Mmm—,” she moaned as the tip of his desire slid easily into her moist fold. 

Slowly she began to move, allowing her body to embrace him inside her, inch by inch, by inch. She eased down his shaft, loving the way he filled her. The two moved in a rhythmic pattern, slow and easy, entering a place, which no other person could take either of them. 

James lay back on the bed, carrying Ashley with him. Ashley slowly rose bracing herself with her hands against his chest. Sitting straight up, she moved her body in a slow circular motion, allowing him to hit that spot, signaling he was fully embedded within her. The tension began to rise as her nails dug into his chest. Her passion began soaring closer to the fire that he had quenched so many times before. Feeling his hands tightening around her waist verified he was at the same point. Her movement began to intensify. 

The feel of her thighs pulsating against his, and the essence of her surrounding him so completely, was sending indescribable pleasure through his entire body. James refused to surrender to it. Like every other time, he wanted to savor each moment of every mind-blowing stroke. The reward for his patience was the expression on her face as she climbed closer to her release. Feeling the end coming near, he rose to a sitting position, to close the space between them. One hand held her hips merged with his, while the other moved up her back to her shoulders pulling their bodies together so close it was as if they were one. 

Ashley’s arms circled his neck holding on. Her head fell backward as their bodies moved together traveling towards the destination of ecstasy. There it was! The explosion so deep it reached the core of him causing a chain reaction. He lifted her body and thrust into her one last time. His lips went to the base of her throat as they simultaneously screamed out each other’s name. 

They sat there holding each other, his arms wrapped around her body, and her legs wrapped around his waist, both drenched. Ashley placed her head on his shoulders, and he held her protectively as perspiration from their bodies dripped down his chest and the juices from their mating flowed between their legs. 

Minutes ticked away on the clock before either of them could safely speak. Once her mind cleared and her heart stopped racing, Ashley exhaled, “I think we better leave this room before one of us dies of exhaustion.”

James caressed her back, kissed the top of her shoulders, and sighed, “If it’s my time to go, this is exactly the way I would want my life to end.” He smiled still nestled inside of her.

Ashley’s hand absent-mindedly traced the muscles of his arms. “I love the feel of your hands on my body,” she said almost in a whisper. “I love the feel of you inside of me. And I love you, James Brooks.” When James did not respond, her hand stopped tracing his arm. She raised her head from his shoulder, looking away from him, and began to stand.  “I’ll go take a shower now,” she said, trying to hide the hurt by his lack of a response.

James held her in place with one hand. He placed a finger under her chin and turned her face to him. He looked into her eyes, and she could see the love there. He leaned his forehead against hers and gently kissed her. “Ashley,” he whispered as he closed his eyes. 

She waited for the words, but they never came. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed his forehead. He wasn’t ready, she inwardly accepted. One day he will say the words she longed for from him. “Would you like to join me?” she smiled. 

“I’ll be there in a minute,” he replied. He watched as Ashley walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Stretching back on the bed he closed his eyes. The disappointed look in her eyes tugged at the heart of him. There was nothing he could do. He had to protect his heart. He survived the damage his ex-wife caused and swore he would never allow another woman to have that much power over his heart again.

James stood and walked over to the bathroom door. He slowly pushed it open and watched Ashley as she showered. Exhaling, he acknowledged he could not imagine a day of his life without her in it. She crept in unexpectedly with her zest for true love and happiness. Reflecting on the last year, he began to feel alive the moment he met her. 

Standing in the lobby of the Department of Special Service, an agency he was commissioned by the Governor to lead, he overheard his name from a woman with gorgeous legs that seemed to go on forever. He stepped over to the receptionist’s desk and introduced himself. The woman was young, attractive, and feisty as hell. Not at all the type of woman for James’ conservative taste, but certainly one that was hard not to notice. He accepted the proposal she offered and took it home with him that night to review. 

The proposal for change was nothing short of ingenious, and it captured his attention immediately. He pulled up the web site listed on the document and reviewed the bio of the two owners. The first thing he noticed was both women were very attractive and very young. Ashley was clearly the most noticeable and the oldest at twenty-five. The other, Tracy Washington, was twenty-four and was the founder of the company that was started during their junior year in college. He looked at the proposal on his desk, then back at the computer screen. He concluded someone else had to have prepared the proposal. It was too in-depth to have come from either of the two young women on the screen.  

The next morning, he asked his secretary to set up a meeting with the representative from Next Level Consulting. The only time he was free was after business hours; therefore, a dinner meeting was set. 

When Ashley strolled into the restaurant wearing a black cocktail dress that revealed a very trim, shapely body and those beautifully shaped long legs, James immediately regretted the dinner meeting. His mind wandered to her body, rather than the business at hand. Experience had taught James that physical attraction fades. It was more prudent to concentrate on the mind.

They discussed the proposal and details of the contract. During which time James discovered Ashley was not the mastermind that designed the proposal. The presentation was quite polished and professional. She was more than capable of handling herself in the professional world. However, she was very attractive and that was distracting to him. Ashley certainly stimulated his body, but he needed someone who could stimulate his mind as well. He mentally ordered his body to ignore the attraction.

James later realized Ashley was not going to be ignored. Repeatedly they found themselves present at public functions. At those, she never had a problem expressing her interest in him. Soon she began inviting herself along to events they would both be attending. “We are both going to be there, so we might as well be there together,” she would say. The professional relationship turned into a personal one before he realized it was happening. He began to enjoy the attention from her and found he missed it once it stopped.

There was a lot more to Ashley Harrison than just her apparent beauty. She was sassy as hell and had no problem speaking her mind. At times, he never knew what might come out of her mouth. Surprisingly, he found that trait enticing. Then there was the way she had with people. She made them feel like they were somebody special to her all the time. She made him smile inside and out. He looked forward to the next day and definitely nights. She had a zest for life and family that had him longing for the family he exiled himself from years ago. That was credited to his ex-wife James unconsciously frowned.  

“Are you going to stand there gawking or are you going to join me?” Ashley asked from the shower door. James smiled as he closed out the memories and joined her in the shower. He conceded, he cared deeply for her, but that was as far as he would let it go.