by Maya Banks
He was sweating now, rigid as he sought to maintain control. He inched forward, pushing deeper into her snug passageway.
“It’s too much!” she cried. “Oh God, Ash. I’m going to come!”
He stopped, gripping her legs, his fingers digging into her flesh. “Not too much, baby. Never enough. Hold on for me. Go when I go.”
He glanced down, wincing when he saw he was only halfway in. He pulled back and then put one hand down over her mound, sliding his thumb in between her folds to her clit.
“Going to go hard, baby. I won’t last and neither will you. Come with me now. Going to fuck you hard. It’s going to hurt. But it’s going to feel so damn good.”
She moaned again, her entire body tightening around him. “Hurt me then, Ash. I want it. I need it. I need you.”
The soft plea tore the last of his control. He pressed his thumb over her clit and then hammered forward, determined to get all the way in this time.
She cried out, her pussy convulsing around him. She went wet. Slick. So hot and velvety. He began to thrust hard and fast, and then she opened for him and he slid all the way home. But he didn’t stop to savor the sensation of being completely immersed in her warmth. He was too close. She was too close. There was no stopping now.
His hips smacked against her ass, jostling her entire body. Her body swayed against the tight restraints and arched upward, bowing up off the bed.
Deeper, harder. His vision blurred. Her gasps sounded in his ears.
“Get there,” he growled. “Now!”
Her cry splintered the room. Her wail went on and on as her body spasmed around him. His release was edgy and painful, boiling low in his balls and then exploding up his cock. He began coming in endless streams, the semen spilling from her pussy and onto the bed.
He thrust again, flicking over her clit with his thumb as she screamed again. Then he yanked himself from her pussy and grasped his pulsing cock in his hand. He pumped hard, directing the release onto her pussy and then her belly.
It jetted onto her skin, marking her. Streaming onto her flesh in thick spurts of white.
She was sobbing. His ears were roaring. And then he slid into her again, no longer able to bear being outside of her body. He went still against her, enjoying the last bursts. He closed his eyes and leaned into her, his body heaving with exertion.
Never had he been so gutted. Never had he felt more like his insides had been ripped out and laid bare. He lay there on her, his semen sticky and warm between them. Then he kissed just below her breasts.
“You undo me, Josie,” he murmured. “Completely and utterly undo me.”
chapter twenty
When Josie saw the restaurant where she and Ash were meeting his friends, unease gripped her. It was a restaurant that Michael frequented with regularity. It was his favorite place to eat, a place he’d taken her many times.
Shaking off her momentary hesitation, she settled into Ash’s side, his arm wrapped securely around her as they walked in. If she ran into Michael, and it seemed likely she would since he ate here almost every Sunday evening, she’d not act as though she was ashamed of anything. Certainly not of the fact that he’d attacked her. And she certainly wasn’t ashamed to be out with Ash, no matter how quickly she’d fallen into a relationship after she’d broken things off with Michael.
“Is something wrong?” Ash murmured as they were shown to their table.
She shook her head and smiled brightly.
“Not nervous are you? Relax, darling. They’re going to love you.”
This time her smile came more easily. “I’m not worried, Ash. Really.”
He squeezed her to his side. “Good. I want you to have a good time.”
When they arrived at their table, situated in the far corner where they’d be afforded quiet and privacy, Josie saw that his friends were already there.
She blinked when she took in the two men who rose when she and Ash got to the table. Holy hotness factor. Individually, each of the three were gorgeous. But together? They were the epitome of rich, arrogant and devastatingly handsome.
She looked right past the two females sitting, because hello, she was female and how could she even see anything beyond the three alpha men gathered?
“Josie, I want you to meet my friends and business partners, Gabe Hamilton and Jace Crestwell.”
The one he called Gabe stepped forward, a broad smile carving his rock-hard face. He extended his hand, and she shivered when their skin made contact.
“Very happy to meet you, Josie,” Gabe said in a husky voice that just screamed sexy. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too,” Josie murmured.
She turned to Jace and swallowed. The man was Ash’s polar opposite. Dark and brooding where Ash was lighter and seemingly less broody, but Josie knew that appearances were deceiving. Ash’s looks were in direct contrast with his true personality. He might seem laid-back and carefree, but he was utterly serious. At least with her he was.
Jace leaned in and kissed either cheek before retreating with a smile that made his dark brown eyes warm and inviting.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Josie. Glad Ash finally let you out of his apartment long enough to mingle with the rest of us.”
She laughed and relaxed and then turned her attention to the two women she was now insanely curious about. Anyone who managed to capture and captivate two men like Gabe and Jace had to be pretty damn special. And according to Ash, they were very much captivated. Completely and unapologetically in love.
She wanted that. Craved it. She wanted it with Ash. And if Ash’s words were anything to go by, they were on their way. It still baffled her that it had happened so fast, but then he’d explained that it had happened just as fast for his friends. In that context, perhaps it wasn’t so unbelievable that she and Ash would become serious in such a short time.
“Darling, I want you to meet two very special women, Mia and Bethany. Mia is the newlywed and I’m sure if Jace has his way, Bethany won’t be far behind on taking the marriage leap.”
“Damn right,” Jace growled.
“Hello, Josie,” Mia said, her smile open and friendly. She was Jace’s sister according to Ash and now Josie could see the resemblance.
“Hi,” Josie returned. “I’m very happy to meet you both.”
“Hello, Josie,” Bethany said, her smile no less friendly than Mia’s had been, but it was obvious she was shyer and more reserved than Mia.
Remembering everything Ash had told her about Bethany, Josie studied her, taking in the fact that the young woman sitting next to where Jace had retaken his seat had come a long way and had endured a very hard life.
And there was the fact that this woman had been to bed with Ash. Ash and Jace. Josie wasn’t sure whether to be jealous of the fact Bethany had had Ash’s hands on her or envious over the fact that Bethany had enjoyed a threesome with two unbelievably gorgeous alpha males.
She was teetering solidly in the direction of the latter.
“Hi, Bethany,” Josie returned warmly. “I’ve heard so much about you all. You’re all very important to Ash. His family as he calls you. I couldn’t wait to meet you all.”
Ash ushered her into her chair next to Gabe and across from Bethany and Mia.
“He is family,” Jace said in a firm voice. “And we’re his. Absolutely.”
“I think it’s wonderful he has such loyal friends,” Josie said softly.
“So Ash says you’re an artist, Josie,” Jace spoke up once they’d all settled into their seats. “And that you design jewelry too.”
Josie nodded, suddenly shy about having the attention focused on herself.
“She’s amazing,” Ash said. “Her work is beautiful.”
Josie turned to Ash, surprised. “But you haven’t seen it. Or not much o
f it. Not yet anyway.”
Ash looked briefly uncomfortable but then smiled. “I’ve seen what you’re working on now. It’s very good.”
Heat flushed into her cheeks and she knew she was blushing. What she was working on now was quite a bit more erotic than her previous works. But it was for Ash and Ash alone.
“Did you design the necklace you’re wearing now?” Mia asked, leaning forward, her gaze riveted to Josie’s collar. “It’s gorgeous!”
Now she was really blushing. She was convinced of it. Ash squeezed her hand underneath the table, and she controlled her awkwardness. This was important. It was what he wanted. For her not to ever be ashamed for people to know she was his.
“No,” she said in a husky voice. “Ash had it designed for me. It was his gift to me.”
Mia’s eyes widened with understanding, and to her credit she didn’t press further or try to cover the awkwardness by hastily saying more.
Josie’s gaze was drawn to the choker that Bethany wore. Her hand had automatically gone to it the minute Mia had commented on Josie’s. Evidently, it was a collar as well. One given to her by Jace. Did all of Ash’s friends share his sexual proclivities? She could certainly see Gabe and Jace in a dominant role. It was evident in the way they looked at Mia and Bethany. Evident in their body language. How protective they were even just sitting in a public restaurant.
Maybe others wouldn’t notice, but Josie did. She was in tune with that aspect because it was one she lived. It was a need in her, just like it appeared to be a need for Ash, Gabe and Jace.
She had a million questions. Nosy questions that she’d love to be able to ask Mia and Bethany. But she held her tongue. She wouldn’t want them prying into her relationship with Ash, and she’d offer them that same consideration. But it didn’t assuage the burning curiosity she had. Perhaps in time, if they became friends, she’d feel more comfortable having those kinds of conversations with the other women. But still, she knew without a doubt she never wanted to get into a discussion with Bethany about the fact she’d had a threesome with Ash and Jace. There was only so much envy she could handle!
Gabe and Jace were looking at her, open curiosity in their gazes. They likely were as curious about her as she was about them. But if they knew Ash, were as close as Ash had hinted, there was little doubt they knew exactly what kinds of relationships he preferred and that Josie was . . . submissive.
But if she thought they’d look at her with “less” in their eyes, somehow looking down on her or thinking they were “more,” she was wrong. There was nothing but interest. Concern for their friend, no doubt, and they were likely weighing whether they thought Josie was a good match for him.
Ash had said that in the beginning he hadn’t thought Bethany was a good idea for Jace, and in fact he’d been vocal about it. Were his friends thinking the same thing about her?
She didn’t want to be deemed unworthy. They didn’t know her and she didn’t want them passing judgment after only one glance.
“I’d love to see your work sometime,” Gabe said. “Think we could use a little jazzing up in our office building. All we have is a bunch of boring abstract shit. Think you’d be up for taking a look sometime and see what you could do to color up the walls a bit?”
She smiled. “Of course. I’d like that. But I’ll warn you now. My paintings are definitely colorful. I’m not into the dull, darker stuff. I like . . . vibrant colors. Themes. And I’d definitely have to shift gears. What I’m working on now would hardly be appropriate for a business setting.”
Ash coughed, choking on a laugh.
Jace’s eyebrows went up. “Oh? Do tell. What are you working on?”
She blushed again, knowing she’d stuck her foot in her mouth.
“The hell you’ll see what she’s working on now,” Ash said in an even tone. “That is for my eyes alone. But you’re welcome to see whatever else she’d like to show you.”
“Oh, now I’m curious!” Mia exclaimed. “What is he talking about, Josie?”
She cleared her throat, mortified at setting herself up this way. Her mouth had always gotten ahead of her brain, unfortunately.
“Uh, well, they’re kind of erotic.” She blushed again. “Self– portrait stuff. I mean it’s not like I had anyone else to use.”
“Oh,” Bethany said, her eyes twinkling with laughter. “Yeah, I bet Ash would go crazy if you showed them to anyone else.”
“Damn right,” Ash muttered. “No one’s seeing that but me.”
But someone else had seen them. Or at least the first one she’d taken to Mr. Downing. It had been sold with all her other paintings, and the others in that series that she’d taken to the gallery after the first sale. She wondered if it bothered Ash that some unknown person out there owned those paintings of her. She wished now she hadn’t sold them. Wished they could be for Ash alone.
“Josie, we’re planning a girls’ night out this week and we’d love for you to come,” Mia said.
Gabe and Jace promptly groaned and Ash grinned.
“What’s with the groaning?” Josie asked.
Ash laughed. “From everything they’ve told me, I definitely think it’s a good idea for you to go. But I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t come home shitfaced in a sexy dress and fuck-me shoes. It’s all I’ve been tortured with ever since the last time they all went out. Now that I get to participate firsthand, have to say I’m looking forward to it.”
Josie sent them all puzzled looks.
Gabe chuckled. “Let’s just say when our girls go out, they get drunk, have fun, but then they come home and take advantage of us poor menfolk.”
Bethany snorted. “Like you don’t enjoy it.”
“Didn’t say that, baby,” Jace said, amusement thick in his voice. But his expression and his eyes said it all. They’d grown positively smoldering as he looked at Bethany.
“So you’re okay with that?” she whispered to Ash so the others wouldn’t overhear.
Ash laced his fingers with hers underneath the table but then dropped her hand and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in close so their chairs bumped and she was nearly in his lap.
Evidently he hadn’t lied when he said he’d want to touch her, be close to her, and he didn’t give a damn who saw it.
“Oh yeah, I’m okay with it,” he murmured back. “If I get what Gabe and Jace get when their women go out and get drunk? Then yeah, definitely. I’ll even go buy you the dress and the shoes for the occasion.”
She laughed softly. “This warrants a new dress and shoes?”
“Definitely.”
“I don’t drink much, as I told you, but for this maybe I’ll have to make an exception.”
His eyes gleamed as he stared back at her. “Make an exception. I’ll make sure you don’t regret it.”
They chatted about casual topics. Gabe and Mia’s honeymoon dominated most of the conversation as Mia recounted their trip to Paris. After their meals were served and they’d eaten, the dessert menus were passed around and Josie excused herself to go to the restroom.
Mia and Bethany got up to accompany her and the three women headed toward the ladies’ room.
Josie finished first and waited outside. She heard a door open and turned to see if it was them, but her mouth fell open when she saw Michael walk out of the men’s room that was just across from the ladies’ room.
He looked like hell!
Their gazes met and held a brief moment before his flickered and he looked hastily away.
“Michael?” she whispered. “What on earth happened to you?”
She could swear fear flickered in his eyes. He couldn’t leave quick enough and Josie was too stunned to do more than stare after him as he hurried away.
There wasn’t a spot on his face that hadn’t been bruised. And it was ugly. Lip split, swollen eye.
; “Josie?”
Josie whirled to see Mia and Bethany standing there, looks of concern on their faces.
“Do you know that man?” Mia asked. “Is everything all right?”
“I knew him, yes,” Josie murmured. “And everything is fine. Let’s go back for dessert. I’m sure it’s there by now.”
The entire way back to the table, Josie’s mind was a whirlwind of what the hell. She hadn’t imagined Michael’s face or the fact that he’d damn near broken his neck getting away from her. And she hadn’t imagined the fear in his eyes. Why would he be afraid of her?
Ash’s gaze was sharp when she sat down. He didn’t miss a thing and his eyes narrowed as he looked at her and then over to Bethany and Mia as if he thought they’d done something to upset her.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “You’re pale. Did something happen?”
“Not here,” she said under her breath.
Without another word, Ash stood and reached for her hand. She followed openmouthed behind him as he dragged her out onto the patio to stand in front of the fountain. He pulled her to him, cupped a hand to her cheek and stared intently into her eyes.
“Tell me what happened,” he said bluntly. “Did Mia or Bethany say anything to upset you?”
She shook her head, her thoughts still jumbled. She couldn’t keep the one prevailing thought out of her mind, even though it was ludicrous. Wasn’t it?
“I saw Michael,” she blurted out.
Ash’s face darkened with fury, his eyes sparking. “What? Did he say anything to you? Did that bastard follow you here? Why the hell didn’t you immediately come to me, Josie?”
She held her hand up to halt the flow of questions. “This is his favorite place to eat. He and I ate here often. And he’s always here on Sundays. I would have been more surprised if I hadn’t seen him.”
Ash swore. “You should have told me, Josie. We would have eaten somewhere else.”
She swallowed and glanced up at Ash. “He looked terrible, Ash. He looked like someone beat the holy hell out of him.”