But as I leaned against the door, I realized there was something else I needed to do before that. Each hurdle I’d jumped over got me closer to the finish line: coming back to town, going outside alone, driving my car, dancing in the studio. But there were still other things I hadn’t faced yet.
I hadn’t gone back into Pink Feather. I hadn’t plucked up the courage to let Asher touch me like he did before all of this. And as soon as I thought those two things, I knew what I had to do. I’d held myself back. I’d focused on just making it through another day. But now I was faced with the final thing I had to do—I had to confront what was the scariest.
All it would take were a few texts and a couple of hours organizing, but I had to do it. For me, and for Asher.
ASHER
Elodie: Meet me at Pink Feather at 5.
I frowned down at the message and looked at the time in the corner of my screen. 2:47 p.m. The message had come through almost two hours ago, but I hadn’t seen it because I’d been tattooing my second client for the day. And now that I’d had a free thirty minutes until my last client of the day, I’d managed to check my cell.
Asher: Why? Is everything okay?
It was only seconds until I had a reply back.
Elodie: Everything is perfect. See you at 5.
I wasn’t sure what to say back to that. We hadn’t talked about her returning to work because I hadn’t realized it was an option in her mind. But now I was confronted with the reality that she could go back to dancing at Pink Feather. I wouldn’t stop her—I’d never stop her doing anything she wanted to do—but that didn’t mean I liked the fact she was taking her clothes off for other people to look at her. I was conflicted, not knowing how to feel about it. I wanted her to feel the strength it took to be able to get up on that stage, but I wanted to be the only person she did it for. I wanted to be the only man who got to see the way her curves moved to the beat of the music. I wanted to be the only one who got to stare at her silky-smooth skin knowing I’d get to touch it.
Fuck. I couldn’t stop thinking about how she’d look on the stage. We hadn’t done more than kiss since we’d been at the lake house, not that I was complaining because I knew she needed to take her time. She had to do things at her own pace, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t imagined touching her in every single way possible.
“You okay, boss?” Mav called, and I whipped my head up to face him where he was cleaning up my station and getting it ready for my next client. His brow was raised, waiting for me to answer him.
“Yeah. All good.” I pushed my cell back into the front pocket of my jeans and tried to concentrate on what I needed to do for the next couple of hours. I printed off several sizes of the tattoo I’d drawn, and once the client had arrived, he chose the size he wanted, and then I got to work.
My mind swirled with possibilities as to why Elodie wanted me to meet her at the strip club, but none of them made sense. The club didn’t open until seven, so why did she want me to meet her there at five? Was there a special early dance? Was she taking part in it if there was? I couldn’t wrap my head around it, not while I was tattooing, not while I was driving from the shop to Pink Feather, and not even when I pulled up outside and saw nothing but a lone motorcycle parked in front of the doors with Jax leaning against the seat.
I pulled into the first open spot and sauntered toward him, both apprehensive and excited about what was about to go down.
Jax raised his brows and crossed his arms over his chest. “Long time no see,” he greeted.
“I saw you yesterday,” I quipped back. He’d been coming around the shop less and less lately, but I had a feeling it was because of his new girlfriend—a girlfriend he’d yet to introduce us to. We hadn’t spoken about what had happened that night, but I knew he’d been to see Elodie before he’d come to see me, and I was okay with that. She was like a little sister to him. We’d picked up right where we’d left off, along with a few choice words and a promise that if Elodie wanted to get rid of a certain someone, he would make it happen no questions asked.
He shrugged and flung his leg over the seat of his bike. “I can go now that you’re here.”
“Why am I here?” I asked, halting in front of his bike as he turned the engine on. He made a motion as if he was zipping his lips and clipped his helmet in place. “Dick,” I grunted out.
“Door’s open. Might wanna lock it behind you, though.” He threw a key at me and winked as if he knew something I didn’t. What the hell was going on? “Staff starts coming in at six, so you’re gonna wanna be quick.”
“What?”
He revved his bike, knocked on the top of his helmet, then sped out of the lot, kicking up gravel as he went. I still didn’t have any idea what I was doing here, but I was determined to find out, so I pulled the door open and walked inside.
The lights were down but utter silence rang out. “Elodie?” I called out, the sound echoing, but after several seconds and no answer, I stepped forward, then remembered what Jax said about locking the door. My heart sped up as I locked it and pushed the key into my pocket with my cell.
Then music rang out into the club.
I halted in the middle of the room, my muscles locking into place. I knew that song. I knew the beats better than any other rhythm. It was the same song that had played when I’d first seen her on that stage all that time ago. My body knew what was about to happen before my brain did, but I still didn’t move from my spot, not until the light on the stage flashed and Elodie appeared.
Her steps were wobbly at first, but once she made it to the edge of the stage, her confidence was in full swing, her attention only on me as she curled her finger, beckoning me to come closer. I was a moth to a flame, helpless to stay away from her.
“Elodie,” I murmured as I stepped closer, but I wasn’t sure she could hear me over the music playing. I tried to keep my attention on her face, but the lure to stare at her body was too consuming. Her feet were bare, just like they always were, but the lace garters attached to stockings had my mouth salivating. They led up to a black lace thong, and finally a bralette which left little to the imagination. “Fuck.”
She crouched down in front of me, bringing her face level with mine. She closed the distance between us, and my cock hardened. “Come join me on stage,” she whispered, her breath fanning across my neck.
I shivered, feeling every hair on my body stand on end. “Sweetheart.” I reached for her, but she stood, not letting me touch her, and fuck if it didn’t make me want her even more. I hadn’t seen her like this for so long, and I hadn’t realized how much I missed it.
She bit down on her bottom lip, waiting for me, and I didn’t hesitate as I jumped up onto the stage. Her eyes widened at my move, but she soon concealed her surprise and pointed at the chair a couple of feet away. I moved toward it, not taking my gaze off her. She was addicting. Alluring. Captivating.
My body tingled as I sat down, and I swallowed as she took two steps toward me, each one moving to the rhythm of the music. The song changed, the beats slow, and she swayed her hips in time with them. It was something so simple, but I’d never seen anything so damn sexy in my entire life.
Her hand reached down to one of her garters and she rolled it down her leg with the stocking, pushing her ass in the air and giving me the perfect view of her body. She repeated it on her other leg and discarded the garters and stockings on the stage, leaving just her lace bra and thong. I couldn’t look away as she danced close to me, then backed up several steps. She was teasing me with her body, but it was her eyes that held me in a trance. She was confident in each of her moves, and it was more attractive than any dance she could ever have done for me.
She pushed my legs open and stood between them, dropping a kiss on the side of my neck and then blowing on it. And it was that move that sealed the deal for me. I couldn’t take not touching her any longer, so I grasped her hips and yanked her against me.
“Fuck, sweetheart.” I swallowed, trying to
hold everything back. I wanted to tell her how turned on I was. I wanted to slam my lips down onto hers. I wanted to—
“Take me home,” she whispered, her voice a breathy moan.
“Home?” I stared at her, making sure she meant what I thought she did. “Now?”
Her chest heaved, her pert nipples moving against the thin material of her bra. “Yeah.” She nodded as if she needed to push the point home. “Right now.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist and crushed her to my body as I stood. I didn’t wait for her to say another thing as I darted down the side steps of the stage, leaving the music playing over the system as I practically ran toward the main door.
Her laughter echoed around us, and I couldn’t help but grin at the sound. It had been so long since I’d heard the sound, and I knew then why she’d done this.
She was ready.
Ready for me.
Ready for us.
Chapter Thirty
ELODIE
I wrapped my legs tighter around his waist, feeling his hardness between my legs. I hadn’t been sure how I was going to react. I’d told myself I was ready even though doubt lingered in the back of my mind, but I truly was ready to take this step with Asher. I wasn’t just pretending or trying to force it. I wanted this. I wanted him.
I didn’t care that I was only in underwear as he pushed us through the main doors of the club and outside. It didn’t bother me that the wind whipped against my skin causing goose bumps to rise over my entire body. Because Asher was holding me, and that was all I needed.
He boosted me on one side as he locked the door, and I couldn’t resist planting my lips against his neck once more. I’d tried to keep to the dance I’d prepared, wanting to see it through to the end, but as soon as he’d touched me on the stage, I hadn’t been able to keep it up. I’d let my want slip free from my lips, and now that I’d been honest with him, I regretted doing this here and not at home.
But I knew I had to confront this last dance at Pink Feather. I’d taken my clothes off to earn money. I’d let people stare at my naked body. But that didn’t give anyone the right to do what Knox did. He hadn’t just raped me that night. He’d taken away any sliver of security I’d ever felt, and everything I’d worked so hard for. He’d done more damage than I’d ever thought possible.
But dancing on that stage and knowing I’d never do it again was empowering. I wasn’t dancing for people to throw dollar bills on the stage. I wasn’t dancing so I could pay my rent. I was dancing for the only person I ever wanted to see me without clothes on again. I was dancing for me.
“Fuck, sweetheart.” Asher boosted me back to the middle of his body, and I groaned as his erection scraped between my legs. “You’re drivin’ me fuckin’ crazy.”
“Good.” I pushed my hand into the back of his hair and relished in the way his eyes flared. “How long will it take us to get home?”
“Not fuckin’ long,” he gritted out, racing across the parking lot toward his truck. He placed me on the passenger seat and his lips were so close all it would have taken was a split second to place mine against his, but I knew if I did, then we’d never make it back home.
So, I waited.
I waited as he pulled his T-shirt off and handed it to me. I waited as he closed my door. I waited as he ran around to the driver’s side. I waited as he sped back home.
Then finally—finally—he pulled up in the driveway.
I wasn’t sure who exited the car first, but we met halfway around the front. His hands reached for me, grasping at my hips, and without much effort, he picked me back up and moved to the front door. I wrapped my legs around his waist and closed my eyes at feeling him so close to me. It was mere seconds until he opened the door and moved us inside, but he still didn’t put me down as he made sure all the locks were in place.
His fingers dug into my thighs as his gaze met mine. “Are you sure about this?” He pressed his forehead to mine. “Because it’s okay if you’re not—”
“I’m sure.” I placed my hands on either side of his face. “Surer than anything.”
I felt his heart beat faster against my chest, and without waiting another second, I planted my mouth onto his. His tongue flicked across my lips, and I moaned at the impact. We’d kissed plenty but knowing what was going to come after this kiss made me even more insane with want—need. I needed him like I needed my next breath.
He pulled away and started to move forward, his hands pushing his T-shirt up on my body. I yanked it over my head, but I didn’t stop there as he made it to the top of the stairs. I reached behind me, flicked my wrist to undo my bra, and let it fall between us. My move had him darting toward the bedroom, and as soon as we were inside, he sat on the edge of the bed and dipped his head to my chest.
I groaned and gripped on to his hair as he pulled my nipple into his mouth, licking and sucking like his life depended on it. I could feel the wetness building between my legs, so I squirmed, needing some kind of relief. His fingers moved to my other nipple, and I bucked my hips. He scraped his teeth as he pulled away, staring at me as his hand stretched over my hip. “Hope you didn’t want to keep these,” he murmured, gripping the edge of my lace thong. He yanked at them, ripping them into a useless scrap of material.
“Asher,” I groaned, pushing my chest closer to his face. I wasn’t sure I could wait for him to touch me much longer, but he refused to put his hand where I needed him most.
“Touch yourself,” he demanded. I snapped my eyes open, my shocked gaze meeting his. “Do it.”
“I don’t—”
“Do it,” he repeated. His hand moved around to the small of my back, his other still rolling my nipple between his fingers.
I’d never touched myself before—at least, not in front of anyone. “I…” I inhaled a stuttering breath as I whispered my hand over my stomach and between my legs. He shifted, his erection poking at me, and the sensation made me move faster. I trailed my finger through my clit, gasping as I hit the bundle of nerves. It wasn’t the same as when Asher touched me, but it was just enough to relieve the ache pulsating through me.
“That’s it, sweetheart.” His breaths were ragged as he leaned back and unzipped his jeans. “Keep touching yourself.” I pushed down on my knees to lift higher and continued to run my fingers over my clit. I didn’t look away from him as he pushed his jeans and boxer shorts off and then sat back up. “You want me to touch you now?” he asked, planting a kiss on the side of my neck.
“Hmmm,” I responded, moving my fingers faster and bucking my hips at the same time. I needed more than what I was getting, and I had a feeling Asher knew that. “I need you to touch me.”
“Say that again,” he growled.
“I need you to touch me.”
“Fuck yes, you do.” His palm slid down the front of my body and he pushed my hand aside, not hesitating as he ran his fingers through my wetness and expertly flicked at my clit. He knew just how to touch me to take me right to the edge. “Play with your nipples,” he demanded, and I did as he said, not questioning a thing, focusing on the way my body felt and the feel of Asher’s erection so close all it would take was one move and he’d be inside me.
I froze at the thought. The last time I’d been exposed like this I hadn’t had a choice. But this time…this time I was in control. I decided when and how. I held the choices in the palms of my hands. So, I lifted up, reached between my legs, and wrapped my hand around the base of his cock.
I stared directly into Asher’s eyes as I lowered myself onto him. His cock jerked at my touch and his hand on my clit paused as the head pushed inside me. “Elodie,” he murmured, almost as if he was in a dream. His voice was rough but also soft, calling to me even more. “Sweetheart.”
“I love you,” I whispered, lowering down onto him completely. He stretched me, filling me to the hilt. It burned a little, so I had to take a breath and keep my focus on him. “I love you,” I repeated again, needing to get across how I felt. He’d
been there for me every step of the way, never failing to be patient with me.
“I love you, too.” He wrapped his arms around me, his hand coming up to the back of my neck. “I love you so fuckin’ much.” He placed his forehead against mine, and we simply sat there, joined in every way possible.
His lips met mine, soft and gentle to begin with. He was trying to show me how he felt, and although I appreciated it, I didn’t want soft and gentle Asher in that moment. I wanted the Asher who couldn’t bear not to touch me.
I dipped my tongue into his mouth at the same time as I lifted up and pushed back down on his erection. His hands gripped me harder, his muscles tensing at the sensation. He pulled away, his hooded eyes focusing on my face. “I won’t last if you keep doing that,” he warned.
“Good.” I moved my hips again, this time faster. “Touch me, Asher. Make me feel nothing but you.” I’d barely gotten the words out when his hand moved back between my legs, his fingers rubbing against my clit at lightning speed. “Yes,” I groaned, dipping my head back and trying to keep the rhythm of my hips. “Just like that.”
I felt the burning at the bottom of my back, warning me that I was going to orgasm any second. The build-up was intense and feeling Asher’s cock inside me had me squirming even more.
“I’m close,” Asher gritted out. “Fuck, I can’t hold it.”
“Faster,” I ground out. “Faster.”
His fingers moved quicker, and I groaned long and loud as my orgasm slammed through me, taking over each of my senses and taking control of my entire body. I wasn’t sure if I was still moving as I closed my eyes and relished in all the sensations, but when I heard Asher groaning, I opened my eyes, watching as he lost himself in me just like I had with him.
Burned Duet: Asher & Elodie: Fast Burn & Deep Burn (Easton Family Duet Boxsets Book 4) Page 38