“Cherry?” I asked, only able to find the one word.
“My dove,” Ashton said with a sincere smile, “you have no reason for your jealousy or your anger.”
“I realize,” I said, taking in a breath to calm myself, “I may have acted undignified, but she was eye fucking you.”
“Say that again,” Ashton said.
“What?”
“Eye fucking.”
“Ashton—”
Ashton stopped me by kissing my lips off. For some reason, the anger subsided.
“You are quite amazing,” he crooned into my ear. “I love you.”
“How do you know that woman?”
Barrington was back, and he was smiling from ear to ear.
“She was the entertainment at a party once,” Barrington interjected. “I assure you, Archer had nothing to do with the entertainment or with Cherry, my lady.”
I eyed Barrington, skeptically.
“My dove,” Ashton said, “you know I have always been honest with you.”
“Yes,” I said.
“Cherry is a dancer and was entertainment at my bachelor party when I was to marry Jillian. However, I shall assure you I did not dance with her or touch her.”
“I had that pleasure,” Barrington interjected smugly.
“Uh huh,” I said, still not quite sure.
“I must say,” Barrington added. “I have never seen such a bold confirmation of one’s man as you made here tonight, my lady. It was quite enlightening.”
“Barrington,” Ashton said in a tone of warning.
“I did not want there to be any misunderstanding between myself and Cherry,” I said.
“Indeed not.” Barrington laughed.
I partook in my second glass of wine while conversation continued. I was unsure if I was calm or still angry over Cherry, but by the third glass of wine I was pretty sure Cherry was history. However, the fact she would have been wiggling her tasty bits in front of Ashton rekindled my anger, which the fourth glass of wine subsided quite nicely.
“Barrington, why not join us at the charity ball tomorrow?” Ashton asked as his fingers played havoc on the back of my neck.
Barrington laughed. “Sure, Archer. If I showed up, I would indeed set my old windbag of a father over the edge. You know he wishes to deny my existence since I bought this club.”
“The club is doing well, I see.”
“Yes. I am considering opening up another in Paris.”
“Ah…” said Ashton, his finger moving down to my shoulder blade.
“Partner up with me. It would be fucking grand. We could take the night life in Paris to new heights of debauchery.”
“Yes, my father would join your father in exuberant woes if I were to own a nightclub.”
“He would shit his breeches, would he not?”
From the shadow corner, I thought I saw Gavin, Ashton’s brother, emerge like a nightmare. I blinked. Focused. There was no one there. I must be seeing things.
I placed my lips to the side of his neck. “Ashton, babe?”
“What, my dove?” he asked, turning his full attention toward me.
“I need to find the powder room,” I giggled into his ear.
“I shall escort you,” he said.
“Okay,” I replied, trying to steady myself to my feet.
“Trinity, I believe you have had a little too much wine,” Ashton said.
I patted his cheek. “I’m fine,” I assured, walking forward.
I weaved into a crowd without him. “Trinity,” he called.
I was caught in a writhing swarm of dancers, being jostled around. I laughed, losing my step and tripping before regaining my balance.
“Ashton, I almost fell,” I giggled, not realizing I lost him.
“My Lady,” I heard as someone breezed past me.
I looked up, but didn’t see anyone I knew within the mash of people. I probably just imagined it; no one would know me here.
“Hey baby,” a man wearing cargo pants and a Def Leopard T-shirt said. I tried to focus in on his face. The room swirled. “You are fucking hot!”
“Hey, you’re American,” I said.
“So are you from the sound of it.”
“Yeah.”
“Listen baby, you want to leave?”
“With you?”
“Hell yes, with me,” the man said.
“I don’t think I know you,” I replied then turned to see where Ashton was.
“Do you want me to be brutally honest?” the man asked.
I wavered, feeling like I was on the ocean.
“Honesty is usually best.” I giggled. “No. Honesty is the best policy. Yeah that’s the quote,” I said as I pointed my finger at him.
“Okay,” the man said. “I watched you dancing with that yahoo. You can move, baby. I want to take you back to my place, spread those gorgeous legs, and fuck you so hard you will never forget me. How’s that for honest?”
“Ashton!” I called.
I was looking for him, but it was hard to see. People were swelling in, lights were flashing, music was blaring, and my head was spinning.
“Ashton!” I called again, feeling sick. I might just lose my cookies.
“Trinity!” I heard. I thought it was Ashton’s voice.
The boy manacled his hand around my wrist.
“Stop! I am here with someone, let go of me,” I said. “Ashton, where are you!”
My head was spinning then I started to panic. I felt myself falling forward. The boy grabbed me around the waist, and I flailed.
“It’s okay, baby,” he said.
“Stop!” I screamed, kicking.
“Bloody hell!” Ashton yelled. He wrenched me away from the boy.
“Ashton,” I cried, “he said he wanted to fuck me. Please take me home.”
“Shh…” Ashton soothed and kissed my cheek. “I will take you home, my dove. Don’t cry.”
“What the fuck, dude,” the boy said, “find your own piece of ass. You already got a taste so it’s my turn.”
“Barrington, hold onto Trinity,” Ashton said, handing me to his friend.
Barrington took a hold of me. “Trinity, what is going on?”
Ashton moved toward the boy, face fierce, jaw clenched.
“The piece of eye candy you are referring to is my wife, you cock sucking bastard!”
Then from nowhere Ashton punched the boy square in the face, knocking him to the floor in a slump of noodle like limbs. The boy was out cold.
Ashton turned back to Barrington. “I need to take Trinity home, and you need to take out the rubbish which is lying on your dance floor.”
“What happened?” Barrington asked, handing me back to Ashton.
“The bastard had his hands on my wife, saying he wanted to fuck her,” Ashton replied, still enraged.
Barrington scrubbed his chin with his fingers. “Your wife?”
“Yes, we married,” Ashton admitted.
Barrington walked forward toward the man sprawled out on his dance floor, gave one swift kick to the man’s midsection then turned around, waving to the security staff. Once security approached, he kicked the man on the floor again.
“Get this piece of rubbish out of my club,” he ordered then he turned to look at Ashton. “Come with me to my office. We will get Trinity settled. You can have your driver meet you around back, allowing you to leave without all the hassle of the crowds.” Barrington’s eyes shot to me. “She looks shaken,” he said. I buried my face into Ashton’s chest, sobbing, shaking like a leaf. Ashton scooped me up into his arms. “I shall have one of my staff retrieve your coats from the table.”
We weaved through the crowd. When we made it to a large leather covered door, Barrington stopped.
“Trinity, you are safe,” Ashton assured.
Barrington quickly punched a code into a security pad and unlocked his office door.
“Lay her down on the divan,” Barrington said as he closed the door behin
d him. Barrington went over to a phone and quickly punched a number. “I need you to go to my table, secure the coats there and bring them to my office.”
Ashton placed me onto the divan, but I clung to him with a fierce determination.
“Trinity, everything is fine now. You are safe. We are in Barrington’s office. Lie back on the divan,” Ashton said.
I let loose of my grip then curled up. “Ashton, I’m going to be sick.”
“Here,” Barrington said, handing Ashton a trash receptacle.
Ashton took it. “Thanks.” He placed it on the ground by my head.
I wrenched up, throwing my head over the side of the divan. Ashton made sure the receptacle was in place, held back the curls that had fallen across my face, and patted my back as I heaved.
“Oh God,” I moaned.
Ashton helped me back onto the divan.
“Here,” Barrington said, handing Ashton a wet cloth from his private bar.
Ashton washed my face. “Relax and breathe for me, my dove,” he said placing the cool cloth to my forehead. “Close your eyes and rest. I am here with you, you are safe.”
“Ashton, I’m sick,” I said in a weak pathetic voice.
“I know, my love. You will be fine. You drank too much wine.”
“I’m not a drinker.” I rolled up into a ball.
“I know, my dove,” Ashton replied, rubbing my back.
There was a knock at the door. Barrington went to answer.
“Thank you. Did you take care of our problem on the dance floor?” Barrington inquired.
“Yes, Sir, Mr. Barrington.”
“Good,” Barrington replied. “Bar him from coming back.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Barrington closed his office door and walked toward Ashton. He handed him our coats. “Archer, tell me. What is going on?”
Ashton placed his coat over my body then turned his gaze back to Barrington. “I married her. I love Trinity beyond words, Barrington. We were married in Paris by Judge Benoit less than a fortnight ago. You know how complicated things are with my father so we decided to say we are engaged. Have the formal wedding. If I forgo the formality which is required of me—”
“I understand,” said Barrington.
I closed my eyes to keep things from spinning.
“I met Trinity through Jacqueline,” Ashton confessed.
“She was a—”
“No,” Ashton said, cutting Barrington off. “She was untouched and never worked for Jacqueline. I could not soil her, Barrington, nor can I allow her reputation to be looked upon as anything less than the lady she is. If my father would find out how we met, it would be disastrous. Even though Trinity came to me pure, and under the union of marriage, my father would believe she was something other than she is, hearing of her connection to Jacqueline.”
“Ashton, you have no need to explain yourself to me. Whether you bedded her before or after your marriage does not matter. You love her; she is your wife, end of story. I will not speak of this to anyone. Do what you need to, have the formal wedding, and to hell with Braedon. The old windbag is just as much of a pompous ass as my father.”
“Thaddeus, I would move the stars for Trinity.”
“Ashton, that woman loves you fiercely. Tonight’s tête-à-tête with Cherry should confirm just how much.”
“Yes, my dove is quite amazing at times. I dare say she shocks me quite often. She even put my father in his place.”
Barrington laughed. “I would have loved to see that.”
Ashton touched my cheek. “Trinity?”
I didn’t respond. Pretending to be asleep, but in truth I was drowsy.
“Let her sleep,” Barrington said.
“Father is not happy with me of course,” Ashton said in a quiet voice. “Trinity is a yank, as he puts it, but if worse comes to worse my father will know what it is like to lose two sons. I do not require his money. I have my own.”
“And your position in parliament that you are expected to hold?”
“I would decline.”
“And your birthright?”
“I do not require it. Let Gavin have it. He has always wanted what was never his.”
“How is the wanker? Is he still smoking his crack and buggering his two dollar whores?”
“Gavin is in confinement in the hospital. The bastard threatened my Trinity,” Ashton said.
“Maybe someday he will put himself out of his own misery as well as everyone else’s,” said Barrington.
“You know as much as my father despises the scandal that Gavin imparts upon our family, he still tries to protect him. I am quite positive when Gavin is released from the hospital it will be no time until father gives him money then Gavin will hit the whorehouses along with his drugs. Gavin would have a much harder time obtaining his fixes if father cut off his funds.” Ashton laughed. “I find it more than humorous father would threaten my birthright yet maintain his bastard son’s. Especially knowing what his son has done.”
“Archer, everyone believes you hold the title as your father’s heir due to Gavin’s escapades. I am probably the only person outside of your family who knows the truth about Gavin.”
“Yes, Barrington, we do hold on to each other’s secrets.”
“You keep mine, I keep yours,” said Barrington. “She truly is a beautiful woman, Archer. I am happy for you. I worried for you after the debacle with Jillian. You know I never wished for you to marry Jillian. She has always been a titled tart so without doubt she would have come to the marriage bed impure. But the title would have trumped the purity in Braedon’s eyes. One can overlook such indiscretions when title, land, and money accompany the union.”
“It is funny how that works, it is not?” said Ashton.
“Yes, but you are happy now.”
“Trinity is truly amazing. She has brought me to life. I can assure you, meeting her was the best thing that has ever happened to me. In all of my life I shall never forget how I felt gazing into her eyes and saying I do. Nor how I felt taking her as my own into my bed. I know I am a blessed man. As far as Jillian, she actually did me a favor by leaving with Billings. Our marriage would have been a disaster, but at the time I would have married her out of duty.”
“It must feel good to actually marry someone out of love. Fuck duty.”
“Indeed.”
Chapter Eleven
God save the Queen.
My head was pounding. I swear someone was beating a base drum within it. I ran my tongue over my teeth. My mouth felt dry, in need of some water and a good brushing of my teeth. I opened my eyes to find it was daylight. The last I remembered I was in Club Zod with Ashton and Barrington.
“Good morning, my dove,” Ashton said walking toward the bed with a tray of food. “I imagine you have quite the throbbing inside that pretty head.”
“Oh God,” I muttered. “I made a total fool of myself, didn’t I?” It was all coming back to me. “I drank.”
Ashton let out a low laugh.
“You did not make a fool of yourself, but you did drink, quite a bit.” Ashton set the bed tray down. “You need to eat something.” He picked up a muffin, tore off a piece, and placed it to my mouth. “Open,” he said. I parted my lips, and he placed the sweet taste of blueberry onto my tongue. “Good?” he asked.
I nodded my response. “Ashton?”
“What, my dove?”
“Did you punch someone last night?”
“Yes.”
“I lost you in the crowd.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Someone called me my lady.”
Ashton’s brow creased. “No, my dove, you must be mistaken.”
I rubbed at my temple. “There was a horrible man, he was grabbing me…”
“Yes,” Ashton confirmed.
“You hit him.”
Ashton traced his fingertips over my cheek then rested the pad of his thumb in the plump center of my lips. “I will be dammed if any man dare lay his
hands upon my wife, let alone make such outlandish suggestions. He was in need of a good pummeling in order to set him straight.”
I took a hold of Ashton’s hand. “I’m sorry. Your friend must think I’m horrible.”
“Thaddeus was captured by you. You have nothing to be sorry for,” Ashton assured.
I glanced down at my body, which was covered in a large white T-shirt.
“How did I undress?”
“I dressed you for bed last night.”
“And you washed my face. I remember you washing my face, rubbing my back.”
“Yes,” Ashton said picking up a glass. “Drink this. You need to replenish your body.”
I took a drink, set the glass down upon the tray then wrapped my arms around Ashton’s neck. “You took care of me.”
“I shall always take care of you,” Ashton said.
There was a rattle at the door followed by a subdued knock.
“May I enter?”
“Is that your mother?”
Ashton chuckled. “Yes. I must apologize in advance.”
“Why?”
“You will see, my dove,” he said then turned on the bed. “Come in, mother.”
Lady Archer walked in. Her pleasant expression changed to aghast. “My daughter, are you ill?”
I blinked. “No, my lady.”
“Mother,” Ashton greeted.
Lady Archer walked forward looking like she stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. “Tell me. I must know why my daughter looks like the devil drug her through the badlands,” she said, eyeing Ashton quite suspiciously.
“I took her to meet Thaddeus, and she partook in a little too much wine.”
“Ashton,” she gasped. “Why would you take her to such a place?”
“My Lady,” I said. “It was my fault. I insisted on meeting Thaddeus. I never drink, but I—”
“I assure you I am entirely to blame,” Ashton retorted.
Lady Archer shook her head. “Already protecting each other I see.” She stood there, arms crossed, giving Ashton an impressive glare. “We shall discuss your lack in judgment at another time. Right now you must leave. Tonight is the charity ball. Therefore, my daughter and I have much to do in preparation. Find your father.” She waved her hand. “I am quite sure you two will be able to find something to argue about.”
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