Bossy Bastard: A Hero Club Novel

by J. L. Perry

  He’s scrumptious.

  Ashton clears his throat, and my eyes snap up to his. “Like what you see, sweet-thing?” He cocks an eyebrow and smirks.

  Ugh!

  He’s sexy, and he knows it.

  I shrug, acting unaffected as I go back to my sunscreen.

  “You’re okay, I guess.”

  He chuckles as he comes to a stop in front of me. “Need a hand with that?”

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  “Hand it over,” he commands, holding out his hand. He’s looming over me, and my face is level with his abdomen. Goddamn, he smells so good, and I’m tempted to dart my tongue out and lick him like I want to. I swallow hard as I crane my neck to look up at him and place the sunscreen in his hands without argument. “Stand.” Again, my body acts on instinct as I do like he asks. What the? We’re so close I can feel the heat radiating off him. He leans forward just a tad. “Lose the towel, Em,” he whispers, and his warm breath on my skin sends tingles shooting down my spine.

  My logical brain screams, no, don’t tell me what to do, but my traitorous body has other ideas. Our eyes are locked as my hand moves of its own accord, plucking at the corner of the towel where it’s snuggly tucked in at the side. It falls to the ground, pooling around my feet.

  My brain may be sensible, but my body’s an unscrupulous ho.

  Ashton takes a step back, and I hold my breath as he drinks me in. His eyes begin a slow descent down while my skin prickles in their wake.

  The red string bikini I’m wearing doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

  “Jesus Christ, Emma,” he groans, pausing at my chest and the two tiny triangles that barely cover my breasts. My girls are ample size, to say the least, so they’re practically hanging out all over the place.

  I’m virtually naked.

  I don’t even have to look down to know my nipples are erect—he’s got me all kinds of flustered.

  The look on his face alone should be enough to make me feel self-conscious, or at best slightly concerned, but it appears to be having the opposite effect. I’m so turned on right now I swear I could jump his bones. I need to get my raging libido under control before I do something I’m going to regret.

  I’m enjoying our friendship, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize it.

  Ashton clears his throat when his eyes meet mine once more. He looks like he’s teetering on the edge as well. The sexual attraction between us is irrefutable. I can almost feel the pheromones wafting in the air.

  “Lie down… on your stomach,” he orders, flipping the lid on the sunscreen.

  I can do that. There’s no harm in putting a bit of lotion on my back, apart from the fact that his hands will be on me, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look forward to that part. He has magical fingers—my girly parts can testify to that.

  A grumble erupts in the back of his throat once I’m sprawled out, face down on the lounge chair. He stands beside me for the longest time, and although I can’t see his face, I can feel his eyes on me.

  When he straddles my hips, I squeeze my thighs together. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.

  He gathers up my long hair in his hands, draping it over my shoulder. I tense when he plucks at the ties of my bikini top. “Relax,” he says, sensing my uneasiness.

  My body quivers when he squirts a line down my spine. Seconds later, his big strong hands are on me. He splays his fingers out across my skin before moving upward in slow, precise movements.

  It feels amazing.

  I drag my bottom lip between my teeth biting down hard in an attempt to suppress the moan that’s threatening to escape.

  His fingers drift upward and over my shoulders, then down my sides, skimming the swell of my breasts as they pass. Goosebumps pebble my skin as liquid heat settles in the pit of my stomach.

  Repeating his movements, he follows the same path he just took, albeit a little slower. As his hands skim down my sides again, his fingers dip a little further underneath, grazing the edge of my nipples. I hear his breath catch, and this time I can’t control the whimper that falls from my lips. I’m so turned on if he so much as breathes on me, I’ll orgasm. My heart thunders against my chest when I feel his erection pressing into my backside as he continues to explore every inch of my upper body.

  Ashton shimmies down further, his hands now cupping my behind. “This ass,” he groans, giving it a tight squeeze. He leans down, his mouth hovering over my ear. “I’m going to bite those cheeks one day, sweet-thing.”

  The unscrupulous ho in me screams, “Do it… do it now!”

  Getting up, he comes to kneel beside me, squirting more lotion down the back of my leg. He starts at my ankles, his thumbs massaging my calves as he goes higher.

  “Mmm, that feels so good.”

  He sucks in a sharp breath as his hands grasp either side of my knee before slowly roaming upward. When he reaches the top of my leg, his fingertip grazes the inside of my thigh along the seam of my bikini bottoms, teasing me. I’m on the brink. It’s like erotic torture at its finest. My body hums, every inch of me feeling alive.

  “My sweet, sweet, Em,” Ashton breathes.

  He moves to my other leg, and I’m not sure how much more of this I can take. My toes are dangling on the edge, and I’m about to fall.

  By the time he’s finished, my body is quaking with need. Every single nerve ending is buzzing. He reaches up to retie my top, and I adjust the triangles in the front before sitting up. My eyes lock with his, and I find his pupils dilated. He’s just as turned on as I am.

  “Come, let’s go for a swim,” he says.

  His hand extends out to me, and I take it. I’m going to need his support because I’m pretty sure my legs are jellified.

  “This water better not be heated,” I whine.

  I’m already hot enough.

  Like the heat of a thousand suns.

  “It isn’t,” he says, chuckling. “I only heat it during the colder months.”

  “I need to cool off… especially after that.”

  He leans into my space, whispering in my ear, “Did that get you all hot and bothered?”

  “Yes,” I admit.

  Letting go of his hand when we reach the first step, I waste no time diving in. I’m surprised the water doesn’t sizzle against my skin.

  Ashton follows closely behind, so I turn quickly swimming to the other end of the pool. I need distance.

  “Not so fast,” he says, his fingers wrapping around my ankle as he pulls my body back to his.

  Oh shit!

  Chapter Twenty-One

  ASHTON

  All my good intentions seem to fly out the window with her. I should’ve known rubbing lotion on Emma’s luscious body was a bad idea, but the moment I saw her in that tiny red bikini, all logic went out the window. I needed my hands on her, any way I could get them.

  She yelps when I drag her back to me, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist.

  “Ashton,” she says, squirming.

  “Emma,” I retort, turning her around, so she’s facing me. Her big caramel eyes lock with mine. She’s so fucking beautiful. “Wrap your legs around me.” She does it without hesitating. Submissive Emma turns me the fuck on. “Let me touch you… let me take the edge off.”

  I want to do more than touch her. I want to press her up against the side of the pool and bury myself balls deep inside her. But she’s not ready for that. Fuck, I’m not even sure I am. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t hesitate, but she’s not anyone else.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she says.

  “I think it’s a brilliant idea.”

  “You would,” she says, laughing. “We’ve already pushed the boundaries of our friendship, Ashton.”

  “No, we haven’t, those boundaries you speak of are part of our constitution. The fundamental principles of our friendships.”

  “Is that so?”

  I lean in and brush my lips with hers. “Have you forgot
ten that our friendship includes handholding, kissing…” I kiss her to emphasize my point, “… and orgasms? Besides…” I kiss her once more, “… until I get to perform my hit on Elijah, I can’t risk sending you home aroused. Your orgasms belong to me.”

  My hands slide down to cup her sweet ass, drawing her closer so she can feel how hard I am for her.

  “You have some valid points there.”

  “That I do,” I say, smiling.

  “And what about your orgasms? What if I wanted to touch you, too?”

  “Touch away.”

  Her pretty eyes slightly widen as she intakes a sharp breath. She’s considering it, but that’s not enough, I need her to agree.

  My mouth crashes into hers, and the moment her legs tighten around my waist, dragging me closer, I know I’ve won.

  I reach for the ties on either side of her bikini bottoms.

  “What are you doing?” she asks, pulling out of the kiss.

  “I’m just gaining better access, don’t worry, I’ll leave my shorts on.” The temptation to slide into her heat would be too great if I didn’t. “Trust me, Em. I’m not going to try and have sex with you. Considering the fundamental principles of our friendship, that would be unconstitutional.”

  “You’re very cute, Mr. Barclay,” she says, smiling.

  “I’m not cute, Emma. Ridiculously hot, yes. Sexy… without doubt. But cute? No.”

  “Well, I think you’re cute,” she says, squishing my cheeks together, and although her actions make me smile, I growl at her.

  I have a reputation to withhold.

  “I’ll give you cute.”

  I tug on her ties, and they effortlessly come undone. I waste no time moving my hand in between us, sliding through her slick folds. Even submerged in water, I can feel how wet she is for me.

  She’s perfection.

  Her head falls back, and her lips part with a tiny whimper when I shove two fingers deep inside her heat. The sound she makes radiates straight to my cock. She’s so tight, so fucking tight. I can’t even begin to imagine how good she’ll feel wrapped around my dick.

  The pad of my thumb bears down on her clit, moving in a circular motion. Her fingers glide over my abs and underneath the waistband of my swim shorts. I suck in a breath as her dainty fingers wrap around my girth.

  “Emma,” I breathe as my lips connect with hers again.

  Just having her hands on me is enough to send me over the edge.

  This woman unravels me.

  Our movements are synchronized as we work each other over—her stroking my engorged cock and me thrusting into her tight pussy.

  Stroke-thrust-stroke-thrust.

  I add a third finger, and she moans loudly into my mouth as her grip on my dick tightens. It feels so good. So damn good.

  “Don’t come until I say you can,” she murmurs against my lips.

  I draw back. “I’ll come whenever I fucking feel like it. The sooner you learn who the boss is here, the better.”

  There’s a mischievous smile on her face as she raises her eyebrows, and that’s when I realize she’s only retaliating against my own recent demands. “I believe I’m the boss of your orgasms now, Barclay, and don’t you forget it.”

  She’s off the charts sexy.

  “I’m not one ever to give up control in the bedroom, Emma. You best not forget that.” She has no idea how important that is to me. I crave control. Without it, I feel unhinged. After Anastasia, I swore I’d never put myself in that situation again.

  “We’re not in the bedroom now,” she says as her pace quickens. I throw my head back, and a feral noise comes from deep in the back of my throat, her assault on my body is relentless. My hips jerk forward as her other hand disappears into my shorts, cupping my balls and lightly massaging them. “Don’t you dare come,” she warns, her words sounding more forceful.

  I want to blow just to spite her, but instead, I try to spur on her release.

  Why does this woman undo me?

  And more importantly, why do I let her?

  I like her assertive side, but I’m also a strong man. Strong men don’t like to be told what they can and can’t do. It’s that simple.

  My pressure on her clit increases as my fingers slam into her over and over again. “Oh God,” she moans.

  “It’s Ashton… although you’re not the first person to have mistaken me for God.”

  She releases a small laugh. “Ashton…” My name falls from the lips all breathy, and I love the way it sounds.

  Within moments, her body starts to shudder as her inner muscles contract around my fingers. Thank fuck. There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing her come apart at my touch.

  Nothing more beautiful.

  I can’t hold it any longer.

  She senses I’m close too. “You… you can come now,” she utters as she falls over the edge. It amuses me that she thinks she can tell me what to do.

  “Fuck, Emma… fuck.”

  It’s been a month since I’ve even looked sideways at another woman, and I don’t know if it’s that or her, but my body violently jolts as I blow so hard I’m seeing fucking stars.

  My fingers are still buried deep inside her as she wraps her hands around the back of my head, pulling me in for a crushing kiss. I slowly slide them out, but it takes minutes, possibly longer before our lips finally part.

  I rest my forehead against hers as countless emotions flow through me.

  “Je ne te laisserai jamais partir,” I whisper. I’m never going to let you go.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? We can go and get what you need for work tomorrow.” I can’t believe what I’m asking, but I don’t want her to leave. I’ve enjoyed having her in my home.

  “I need to go. I have washing and stuff I have to do. Plus, my work isn’t far from where I live. It just makes more sense to stay there.”

  When she bows her head, I know she’s uneasy about the thought of spending the night here. “I have spare rooms, I’m not expecting you to share my bed.” Although I’d be lying if I said that thought didn’t cross my mind. I’m still reeling for our romp in the pool. I need more. “Duke will probably feel more comfortable if you were here.” I’m scraping the barrel by using the Duke card, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

  “He seems to be doing okay. He likes it here, I can tell.” Emma pulls out her phone. “Do you have a piece of paper and a pen? I can give you Mark’s number just in case you need it.”

  “Mark?”

  “The vet… from the shelter. The one you met this morning.”

  Ugh! Dr. Douchebag. I don’t like that she has his number programmed into her phone. “Hand me your phone,” I say. “I can send his contact to mine.”

  Emma hands it over—she’s way too trusting. I scroll through her contacts, and I’m pleased she doesn’t have a lot of numbers in there. Apart from me, Chance, her dad, and Dr. Douche, there doesn’t appear to be any other males.

  I send his number to my phone and then delete it from hers. It’s a pretty shitty thing for me to do, but the idea of her conversing with him makes me uncomfortable.

  She picks up her bag, throwing it over her shoulder. “Your pie should be ready by the time you get back.”

  After she pulled it out of the oven, she said it needed to go in the fridge for three hours to fully set. “Why don’t you hang around and have a slice with me?”

  “I really have to get going.”

  I blow out a long breath. “Okay, let me grab my keys. Why don’t you get Duke, he can come for a drive with us.”

  “I’d like that,” she says, smiling.

  Thirty minutes later, we pull up outside her building. I remove my seat belt. “Stay,” she says, holding up her hand to stop me. “You don’t need to walk me up.”

  But I want to.

  Emma exits the car before I have a chance to protest, Duke is still in her arms, so she places him down on the passenger seat. Her hand gently runs over his fur
as she leans back into the car. “I can’t believe how much he’s improved since this morning.”

  “Yeah, I kind of have that effect on everyone.”

  She releases a small laugh, rolling her eyes. “Do you think you’ll be okay with him? You know you can call me anytime.”

  “I’m sure I’ll manage.”

  “There’s some more rice and chicken cut up in the fridge. It’s probably best if he sticks to a simple diet for the next few days. I can come by after work tomorrow and take him for a walk if you like.”

  “I’d like that. Maybe you could stay for dinner.”

  “That sounds nice. And thank you for today and for rescuing Duke. It means a lot to me.”

  I shrug. “It’s no big deal.”

  I only did it for you.

  “It is to me.” She gives me one of her full smiles, and my breath catches in my throat. “His medication is on the cupboard, and don’t forget to take him outside to the toilet before you go to bed. Otherwise, you might have a nasty surprise awaiting you in the morning.” My stomach turns at the thought.

  She stares down at Duke, and I can sense she’s anxious about leaving him. You can see how much she adores him. I only hope I don’t fuck this up, she’ll never forgive me if I do.

  “He’ll be fine,” I say, and I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince her or myself. “Stop worrying. It’s a dog, Emma, not rocket science. I’ve been responsible for myself for years, and I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

  “I know you’ll look after him. I just worry about his health. I know we don’t have him for much longer…” She grimaces. “I hate the thought of him suffering.”

  “He’ll be okay. I won’t let that happen.” I reach over the seat and grab her hand.

  Emma bends down to place a kiss on the top of Duke’s head. “Be a good boy for Daddy.”

  This time I roll my eyes.

  Fucking Daddy.

  “Do I get one of those?” I ask.

  “Sure.” She leans in, and I meet her halfway. Her soft lips brush with mine, and I feel my cock twitch.

  When she draws back, I smooth the hair back from her face. “I’ll look after him.”

  “I know you will.”