by Alex Grayson
He uses his other hand to turn my head back to him. “Don’t ever be embarrassed, Poppy. I’ve waited a long time to have you like this. There’s nothing you can do that would make me not want you. I meant it when I told you last night, I’m never letting you go.”
I look up at him and my heart nearly stops at the look on his face. He’s telling the truth. There’s no way I can deny it. His eyes are soft as he gazes down at me, and I get the sense he’s trying to drill the words into my brain. He doesn’t need to; I believe him. I just wish I knew why it took him so long to make a move.
He releases my hands and they immediately go to the back of his head to pull him down for a kiss. He groans against my mouth and slips his tongue against mine. I taste strawberries and man. It’s a lovely combination that leaves me ravenous for more.
He grinds his hips down on me, sending bolts of delicious pleasure spiraling through me. I want him—I’m desperate for him. I wrap my legs around his waist, locking them behind his back, and lift my hips to meet his thrusts. His jean covered cock hits just the right spot, and I cry out. His hand goes to my breast, palming it through my silk shirt. When that isn’t good enough, he starts working on the buttons. His fingers fumble and he curses under his breath.
“Fucking buttons.”
I laugh and lean my head down to watch him.
He glances up at me with narrowed eyes. “You could help,” he grumbles, still trying to get the buttons loose.
“But I’m enjoying watching you struggle,” I tell him, not able to hold back my giggle.
His look turns smoldering, then he cocks a brow and smirks, right before he yanks the material and buttons fly everywhere. I gasp, but I can’t help the excited thrill that washes over me at him being so far gone that he tore my shirt to get to me. Thank goodness I’m wearing a cami beneath it. He lifts said cami, tugs my bra down, and the next second his mouth is engulfing my nipple, pulling it between his teeth. I whimper and fist his hair, needing more. He palms my other breast, tweaking that nipple with his fingers.
Tipping my head back, a long moan escapes my lips. When I open my eyes, I see the trees and leaves falling all around us, reminding me of where we are.
“Asher,” I pant through the sexually induced fog he’s caused.
“Hmm…” he hums around a mouthful of nipple. I give his hair a tug and he lifts his head. The look he gives me almost has me forgetting what I was going to say.
“We have to stop. Someone might catch us.”
Leaning down, he licks along the seam of my lips. “Mmm… just a few more minutes.”
With him resting on his arms, his rough shirt scrubs against my exposed nipples. The combination of that and him thrusting his cock against my pussy has me whispering breathlessly, “M’kay.”
His lips pull up into a smile against mine. I release the grip I have on his hair and run my hands down his back until I reach the bottom of his shirt. I slip them beneath it and feel his smooth back. I lightly graze my nails against the skin and he groans and rocks his hips harder into me.
He adjusts so he’s leaning on one elbow. Keeping his eyes on me, he trails his fingers down my stomach, stopping at the waistband of my shorts and flicking open the button. I grab his wrist, not sure I feel comfortable baring myself out in the open like this.
His fingers are still on the zipper, but he makes no move to pull it down. “Trust me?” he asks quietly.
It only takes me a minute to realize I do trust him. I don’t know if that’s foolish or not, and I still feel guilty over Sterling, but I’m not going to let that stop me from experiencing something wonderful. And I get a sense that what me and Asher have is special.
I nod, and he graces me with a stunning smile.
He slowly moves the zipper down and slips his hand inside my shorts. My back bows off the blanket when his fingers touch my clit. Sparks of pleasure zing through me, and I see stars behind my closed lids. I bite my lip to keep from crying out, but little whimpers escape. Thick fingers enter me, and I feel myself clamp down on him. His thumb works my clit as his fingers pump in and out of me. I clutch his bicep and dig my heels into the blanket, lifting my hips, seeking for more.
My limbs lock up when I feel the first spark of my orgasm hit. I cry out Asher’s name and he covers my mouth and devours the sound. Pinpricks start in my toes and travel up my legs. I quiver and moan and pant, not catching nearly enough breath.
By the time I start to settle down, my body relaxing against the blanket, I feel pleasantly exhausted. I lazily open my eyes and find Asher right there, still hovering over me.
“You are the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” he says, dipping down and laying soft kisses over my face.
I sift my fingers through his sweaty hair and scrape my nails on his scalp. He moans and presses his cock against my hip, reminding me he hasn’t had his release yet.
“Do… uhh… do you want me to…” I stop, and look down at his obvious erection, blushing profusely.
He chuckles, winks, and pulls back, bringing me with him so I’m leaning back against him like I was before. “Not right now. But you can definitely take care of it later.”
We finish up our lunch and sit and talk for a while longer. I love it out here and wish we could stay here forever.
I look down at my hands that are running up and down his arm. The tattoos are bright out in the sunlight.
“You know, when I first saw you, I couldn’t believe you were my boss,” I tell him, tracing my finger along a gorgeous sunset on his arm.
“Oh yeah?” His breath blows the few pieces of hair that’s fallen from my hairband.
“Yep. For one, you were extremely sexy. And two, you had these beautiful tattoos, and that eyebrow ring, of course.” He chuckles in my ear. “That’s not the typical look for a man in your position. You were supposed to be this rich stuck-up guy that played by the rules. Or that’s what I was expecting anyway. But I got you instead, and I was struck dumb that first day. I was fumbling around so much. I’m surprised you didn’t fire me.”
“Want to know a little secret?” I nod. “I was utterly enthralled the first time I saw you—still am. Every time you enter my office I have to work really hard to not take you in my arms and devour you whole. You sit so prim in that chair on the other side of my desk with your notepad and pen in hand. You have no idea how many times I’ve imagined laying you down on my desk and feasting on your body. It’s a real struggle.”
I tremble in his arms and barely stifle a moan. The sated feeling I had a few minutes ago diminishes at his words. I want him again already.
“Tell me about Grant,” he says, and I stiffen in his arms.
How does he know about Grant?
He must sense my question because he explains. “I’ve overheard you and Liv talk about him a couple times.”
I don’t want to talk about Grant, but I also don’t want to hold anything back. This is a new relationship, and I want everything out in the open. It’s not a secret, but it’s still something Asher has a right to know if we plan to continue.
I shift, getting into a more comfortable position.
“He was my fiancé. We had been together for two years when my mom’s cancer took a turn for the worse. The day my mom died was the day I found Grant in bed with another woman.”
While I talk, my voice is void of any emotion. I may be over what Grant did, but it still hurts that he was capable of cheating on me, and of all the days I had to find out when my world was already shattering all around me. He had always been so sweet and attentive. I thought we were both in love.
Asher stiffens behind me and the hand he has lying on my leg balls into a fist. He’s angry. I pick it up, uncurl his fingers, and kiss his palm.
“I realized the next time I saw him that we wouldn’t have worked out anyway. I don’t know if it was my mom being sick, which took away a lot of my time, or if we just naturally grew apart, but the pain wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It tore me
up at the time it happened, but that could be because I had just lost my mom and didn’t have anyone else to lean on.”
His body is still tight, but his thumb goes back to stroking my leg.
“Bastard needs to pay for hurting you,” he mutters darkly.
I turn my head and kiss his neck.
“I’m fine, Asher.” I try to soothe his apparent anger. “Really. I’m just relieved he did it before we got married.”
His eyes are still hard, but when he looks at me, they soften. He traces a finger down my nose before leaning in and kissing my lips. Pulling back, he tugs me back so I’m lying against him again facing forward. He’s once again relaxed, but I still feel the anger rolling off him.
We stay underneath the tree and watch nature for another half hour, before packing everything up, mounting our horses—Asher helps me this time—and riding for another couple hours. By the time we get back to the ranch, I’m tired and hungry. Asher teaches me how to unsaddle Nina. Once we’re done, Clint is standing by to put the horses back in their stalls. I feel oddly emotional when I say good-bye to Nina. She’s been such a gentle and sweet horse. Clint couldn’t have picked a more perfect horse for my first ride. After we settle up with Clint, we say our good-byes and head back to the waiting car. With a quick kiss, Asher opens my door and we both slip inside. I lean my head back against the headrest, and before I know it, the lull of the drive causes me to drift off to sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
Poppy
I sleep the whole way back to the hotel. Asher wakes me and carries me inside. I didn’t realize I was so tired. I groggily look up at him, seeing the dark scruff on his jaw, and murmur, “You can put me down.”
His smiling gaze drops to mine as he steps into the elevator. “I like you just where you are.”
I snuggle deeper into his chest, hiding my pleased smile. This is what I’ve always wanted, what I thought I had with Grant, but what Asher and I share is so much more. It’s also something I could have possibly had with Sterling. But then I’m starting to realize what Sterling and I had was a fantasy, just like Liv said. It was the mysteriousness of the situation that intrigued me. Yes, Sterling made my heart race and my body sing, but he wasn’t real. He wasn’t real because he wouldn’t let it be. He wouldn’t even show me his face or tell me his name. Although I realize this, a pang still hits my chest. I never answered him last night when he sent me that message, and he hasn’t messaged me since. I don’t know what that means. Does he know what happened between me and Asher and is letting me go? He seemed so adamant and sure of himself. It’s strange that he would give up so easily. But maybe it’s easier this way. I certainly don’t want to hurt him anymore than I know I will once I talk to him. I’ve decided to just enjoy my time here in Texas and call him when I get back home.
Back in the suite, I head to my room to freshen up and change, and Asher heads to his. I take a quick shower and walk out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Asher said to wear something a little more flashy. He still hasn’t told me where we’re going, something he obviously likes to do. I decide on a loose black skirt that comes to mid-thigh and a quarter sleeve light gray shirt that hangs over my shoulder. I braid my hair in a loose braid, leaving out a few tendrils. Knowing my cowgirl boots will go good with my outfit, I pull them on before grabbing my phone and purse and walking out.
My breath catches when I see Asher standing at the window. He’s back in his usual black: black jeans that mold his ass perfectly, and a black button-down, which he leaves untucked. His forearms show off his multiple tattoos. His hair is still damp and looks as though he used his fingers to brush it. The man must not own a hairbrush, but he pulls the look off nicely. Very nicely, in fact. So nice that my mouth is watering just looking at him.
He turns when he hears my gasp and gives me a sexy smile as his smoldering eyes gaze appreciatively up and down my body.
“Come here, Beautiful,” he says huskily.
My body jerks. Sterling calls me beautiful. It sounds weird coming from Asher. I’m not sure if I like it or not. It’s a big fat reminder of what I did to Sterling. He watches me intently as I stand there and stare at him. There’s something in his eyes, but I can’t quite figure out what it is. It’s almost like he’s waiting for my reaction. His body is tense, and I can see a tic in his jaw.
That’s strange.
I push the odd feeling away and walk over to him. I’m confused when a look of relief briefly flashes across his features, just before he wipes it away. His body visibly relaxes as he waits for me to make it to him. I get a weird sense that something isn’t right here.
Before I can question him on it, he pulls me into his arms and slams his mouth down on mine. His tongue forcefully invades my mouth, and I accept him. My purse and phone drop to the soft cushioned carpet as I dig my nails into his shoulder and hold on tight as he consumes me.
All too soon, he pulls back and we’re both left breathless. He rests his forehead against mine, closing his eyes for only a second before boring them into mine.
“What am I going to do with you?” he whispers.
I kind of feel the same way about him.
“Take me out to wherever you have planned. Then bring me back and make love to me all night long,” I state boldly.
His lips tip up into a sexy smirk, leaving me breathless once more.
“You can bet on it. Now, we better go before I haul you off to bed. As much as I want to do that, I want you to have the full Texas experience.”
I giggle while he scoops my phone and purse off the floor and leads me to the elevator.
Yes, I think I am falling for this man.
The driver pulls up to what I can only describe as the traditional honky-tonk here in Texas. There’s no line to be let into the old worn-down building, and no bouncer standing outside the door. It even has the wooden doors that swing open both ways like you always see in western movies. Excitement fills me as we walk in and blaring country music hits my ears. My jaw almost drops to the floor when I see all the people inside. Straight ahead in the far back is an empty stage. There’s a bar to the right, a jukebox, pool tables, and dart boards to the left, and right in the center is the dance floor. It’s filled with men wearing plaid shirts, wrangler jeans, belt buckles, and cowboy boots. The women are almost identical, except some are wearing skirts or short cut-off shorts and some are sans hat. I feel so overdressed.
I stumble in my shocked state and Asher has to catch me. He looks at me with laughter in his eyes, before leading me over to the bar. He sets me down on a stool and stands halfway behind me and halfway beside me. One hand goes to the back of my stool while the other goes to the bar, caging me in. There’s a young woman dressed in a red and black checkered shirt, tied to just below her breasts, standing behind the bar. Her hair is braided into two cute pigtails that hang over her shoulders, with a brown cowgirl hat. I can’t see her bottom half, but I’d bet it’s something in a jean material.
“Hey y’all. I’m Mindy,” she says with a country twang. “How are ya tonight?”
I smile at her jovial behavior. “Hi, Mindy. We’re doing great. How are you?”
She smiles, revealing two dimples in her tanned cheeks. “I’m just peachy!” she chirps. “What can I get y’all tonight?”
Before I get a chance to order my usual Moscato, Asher says, “Two Budweisers. Bottles, please.”
I wrinkle my face and look up at him. He laughs and taps the end of my nose.
“They don’t carry that kind of stuff here, baby. It’s beer, liquor, whiskey, or tequila.”
“Beer it is, then.” I’ve had beer before, and I’m not really a fan of it, but I’ll take it over the other choices. I don’t want to get too drunk tonight, and I can still taste the whiskey in my mouth from the plane trip. It wasn’t bad, but not something I’d like to drink again.
Mindy sets our bottles down on the bar, takes Asher’s money, and with a wink, walks away. I grab mine and tip it to my lips. It’s
bitter, but I force myself to swallow. I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to drink. I try to hide my distaste, but Asher sees through me.
“It gets better the more you drink,” he says, and takes a hefty swallow of his own.
Ha! I give him a doubtful look, which earns me chuckle.
I turn in my seat to face the dance floor. A country song is playing that has most of the dancers doing some type of line dance. I watch, fascinated, as they all move together. They make it look so easy. I want to go out there and try it, but I’m scared of making of fool of myself.
I try another sip of my beer and it tastes just as bad as the first one. My foot bounces to the beat of the country tune on the rung of the stool. I’m not surprised when I look over to him to find him watching me. The hand that’s holding his beer bottle is now resting his whole arm on the back of my stool. His other hand is resting on my lower thigh, lightly swirling circles with his thumb.
“You want to try it?” he asks, tipping the top of his bottle to the dance floor.
“Maybe in minute.” I take another swallow. Hmm… maybe he’s right after all. The bitterness isn’t so bad this time. Another swallow proves he’s right.
We watch the dancers for a while, or rather, I do. One song ends, only for another to begin. Some dancers leave the dance floor and are replaced by others. Some decide to stay for the next set.
Before I know it, I’ve emptied my bottle. Asher takes it from me and places it on the bar. With a smirk, he says, “Told you so.”
I stick my tongue out at him playfully and snatch it back before he can lean down to bite it. I laugh at his pouted look.
“Come dance with me.”
He grabs my hand and pulls me from the stool. The song that’s on now is slow. Once we’re in the middle of the dance floor, Asher pulls me in his arms, resting his hands right above my butt. My arms go around his shoulders and my hands go into his hair.
“I love your hair,” I tell him, sounding pathetically wistful.