by E. L. Todd
He was killing me. “Thanks for the offer but I don’t need your charity.”
“Charity?” he asked. “I just told you I think about nailing you every time I say your name. You don’t even need a clit piercing with me—or a vibrator, for that matter.”
My face was so warm I was about to sweat. My thighs were pressed so tightly together I thought I would cut off my circulation. I wanted to fidget but I didn’t want to give away my vulnerability. The offer was so tempting. If any other guy said something like that, I’d think he was a weird pervert who needed to get the hell away from me. But with Ash, it was all I wanted.
He tilted his head slightly. “Come on, you know you want it.”
“Arrogance isn’t attractive to me.”
“But confidence is.” He leaned further over the table. “Come on, I want it and so do you.”
“This relationship is strictly professional.”
“Yeah?” he asked sarcastically. “Why did you invite me over for dinner then?”
I didn’t even know. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Maybe we can be friends with benefits.”
I needed to get a grip. “I have a contract I have to abide by.”
“Fuck the contract,” he snapped. “You think I give a damn about a thin piece of paper? We’ll keep it between us.”
“It’ll make everything weird later on.”
“Why?” he asked. “We both know what this is. You know it’s meaningless and I don’t do the girlfriend thing. And I know you think I’m an arrogant jackass that doesn’t understand boundaries. Why can’t two adults just have a passionate night with no strings attached? It’s a beautiful thing.”
I knew I needed to get laid if I was seriously considering this. “No. I’m your escort and I’ll do my job.”
He leaned back in the chair, a look of disappointment on his face. “I’m fine with the answer but not the reason behind it. When you do the things you want without thinking about other people’s opinions, you’ll actually be happy. Stop thinking too hard about things and just take what you want. I’m telling you, you’re trapped right now. Loosen up and you’ll finally be happy—really happy.” He grabbed his dishes then carried them to the sink. He turned on the water and rinsed them before he placed them in the dishwasher.
I remained in my seat because my thighs were so tightly pressed together I didn’t know what to do.
***
“Did you and Ash make up?” Shelly asked from across the table. She was on her second mai tai.
I was on my third. “Yeah. He apologized for what he said.”
“And what did he say?”
“He made a rude comment about me being an escort.”
“Well, it seemed like he really cared about hurting your feelings since he ran all the way down to the office like Road Runner.”
I smiled slightly. “I know he didn’t mean it. He just blurts things out without thinking sometimes.”
“With a man that hot, he can do pretty much whatever he wants.”
Amen, to that.
“So…why did you invite him over for dinner?” She sipped her drink but gave me an accusatory look.
“I don’t know…wasn’t thinking.” That was the honest truth.
“Are you two…you know?”
“No.” We almost did but I managed to find the strength to say no.
“Really?” she asked. “Because you guys flirt like crazy.”
“There’s definitely some chemistry there but we keep it professional.”
“How?” she blurted. “He is such a fine piece of meat. I would tear into him in a heartbeat.”
“Well, I do my job. And I can’t do that.”
“Well…he seems harmless.” She took a loud sip of her drink with a meaningful look on her face.
“No.”
“Come on, we never get hot guys like that. They’re usually losers.”
“Even so, I don’t want to get us in trouble.”
“Just keep it on the down low. Come on, when was the last time you got laid?”
I glared at her.
“That’s what I thought. And he looks like he knows what he’s doing.”
“Let’s change the subject.” I couldn’t talk about this anymore. I was growing warm all over again. My thighs automatically squeezed together under the table.
“Whatever,” she said. “I would jump on that if I could.”
I looked around the bar. “Maybe I’ll find someone here.”
“That guy in the corner is cute.” She pointed to a tall blond.
“Yeah, he’s good.”
“Go for it.” She nudged me across the table.
“Ugh, I hate doing this.” It would be so much easier to call Ash and just hook up with him. At least I was comfortable with him and actually liked him, not to mention he was the hottest guy I’d ever seen.
“Just get your feet in the water and the rest will be easy.”
I adjusted the top of my dress. “How do I look?”
“Like a bombshell. Now go for it.”
***
Too many drinks later, and I wasn’t even sure what was going on. Tom leaned close to me, his lips near my ear. “I was just about to walk over to you when you walked to me. What are the odds?”
“You tell me.” I grabbed his beer and took a drink. I’d had enough for the night but I couldn’t stop myself.
“You’re looking really fine in that dress.” He leaned close to me, the scruff from his chin noticeable even in the dim lighting of the bar.
“Why, thank you.” I chuckled even though I wasn’t sure why. Tom was nice enough and he was cute. But I felt like our conversation was forced. The flirting didn’t go right and the chemistry wasn’t natural.
Not like Ash and I.
“How about we head to my place?” he asked. “I live close by.”
Now that I put myself out there and landed a guy, I realized I didn’t want it. I wasn’t a prude, but hooking up with some guy I hardly knew just wasn’t me. I didn’t need their life story but I needed something… “Tom, I really need to go. I’m just not feeling it tonight.”
Disappointment moved across his face. “Come on, baby. Don’t be like that.”
I grabbed my clutch. “I’m sorry. You really are cute.” I kissed his cheek before I walked away. Shelly left an hour earlier, so I walked out of the bar alone. I was glad I didn’t slip and fall with my heels. It wouldn’t be my first time.
When I made it to the sidewalk, I stopped and pulled out my phone. I had Ash’s number even though he didn’t have mine. My thumb inexplicably wanted to hit the send button. It had a mind of its own, and for some reason, I didn’t think it was a bad idea.
“Yo.” Ash’s deep voice came over the phone. “Ash speaking—sexiest man alive.”
“You really are the sexiest man alive.” I would never be able to say that unless I was drunk off my ass.
“I’m glad you agree,” he said with a flirty voice. “I’ve turned People Magazine down a few times. I’m just not ready to share my beauty with the world.”
I leaned against a telephone pole. “You want to share it with me?”
“Absolutely, sweetheart. But first, who is this? I don’t recognize the number.”
“You really can’t figure it out?” I made my voice sexy. I hoped it was coming off that way. In my head it was, but who knew what reality sounded like.
Ash was quiet for a moment. “Alessandra?”
“Bingo. You win a prize.”
“I almost didn’t recognize you.” His flirty attitude dropped and now he was serious. “You drunk?”
“On you.” I giggled at my own line.
“Yep…you’re drunk.”
“I want to take you up on that offer.”
“What offer?”
“Fuck me until I scream.” I would never have the balls to say something like that if I were sober.
“Damn, how much have you had to drink?”
> “Not nearly enough.”
“Where are you?” he asked. “I’ll come get you.”
“Let’s just meet at my apartment.”
“No, your ass better stay there. Now where are you?”
“Uh…” I looked around. “I’m outside of Ruby. It’s a bar.”
“Okay. I’m coming to get you. Don’t move.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I hung up and giggled again.
***
Ash crossed the street then came my way.
I whistled loudly. “Damn…look at that hunky man.”
When he was close to me, he grinned. “You know, I like you better when you’re drunk.”
“I like you better when I’m drunk too.” I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck. “You smell good.” I leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips. The touch only lasted a second but it was good. His lips were full and soft.
“Whoa…you cut right to the chase, huh?” Ash pulled away but his arms were still around my waist.
“Which is closer? Your place or mine?”
“Let’s just go to yours.” He kept one arm around my waist as he walked me up the sidewalk.
“So, I’ve been thinking about the clit piercing…”
“Yeah?” He leaned close to me and placed his face near mine.
“You would do it for me?”
“Definitely,” he said. “And I would do it right.”
“Would you blow on it for me?”
His eyes darkened in interest. “I’d blow on it until you couldn’t come anymore.”
“Ooh…I like that.”
He chuckled. “Seriously, be drunk all the time. You’re way more fun this way.”
“Maybe we can arrange something… I met this guy tonight. He was cute and everything but…all I could think about was you.”
“Yeah?” he asked with intrigue. “And what did you think about exactly?”
“That I would much rather spend the night with you than him.”
“Good call.” When we reached my building, he opened the door for me and escorted me inside. He stopped in front of the stairs. “Are you going to be able to handle this?”
“Probably not.” I wobbled on my heels.
“Alright.” He scooped me into his arms effortlessly then carried me up the stairs.
“You’re so strong. I want to see you with your shirt off.”
“We can arrange that.” He grinned as he carried me up the flight of stairs.
“And I want to see your cock piercing…”
“I knew it.” He reached my floor then approached my door.
“And I want to feel it too…”
“Shit.” He adjusted his jeans with one hand. “You need to knock it off. I’ve had a hard-on the whole way here.”
“Ooh…let me see.”
He chuckled. “You need to drink more often.” He got the keys out of my clutch then opened the door. He carried me inside then kicked the door closed behind him. Then he took me into my bedroom and set me on my bed.
I lay back and kicked my feet up. “These heels are killing me.”
Ash pulled them off without looking up my dress. “They’re five inches. I’m not surprised.”
I sat up then ran my hands up his chest. “You want to know a secret?”
“Always.”
“You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.”
“Well, that’s not a secret, sweetheart.”
“Ugh, you’re so cocky but you’re still hot.”
“I know.”
My hands went to his jeans and I unbuttoned them then pulled down the zipper.
Ash watched me with dark eyes.
I got his jeans off then saw his long definition in his boxers. It was thick and moved all the way down to his thigh. “Wow…”
“I get that a lot.”
I pressed my lips to this tip through the material and gave him a gentle kiss.
Ash’s eyes widened and he released a deep moan. “Whoa…sweetheart.”
I grabbed his boxers and tugged them down.
He gripped the top and kept them up. “As horny and flattered as I am, not tonight.”
I pouted my lips. “Why the hell not?”
“Because I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
“Take advantage?” I asked. “I’m giving it to you.”
“Even so, last week you told me no. I know you’re only saying yes now because you’re drunk. That’s not how I do things.”
I growled. “Come on, don’t be such a pussy.”
He chuckled. “Excellent way to get into a man’s pants.”
I growled again.
“I’ll tell you what.” He kneeled at the foot of the bed with his torso between my legs. “If you still want to when you wake up in the morning, I’ll rock you so hard your bed will break. How about that?”
“But I want it now…” My hands moved down his chest.
“I’m sorry.” One hand moved through my hair. “Take it as a compliment.”
“You’re rejecting me. How is that a compliment?”
“I’m rejecting you because I care about you. I want to know you want me, not just because you had too much to drink. And I don’t want to be something you regret.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “Even drunk, you can understand that, right?”
I nodded.
“Good.” He stood up then pulled his t-shirt off.
Oh my lord.
Ash was a solid slab of muscle. Prominent lines of muscle divided the different areas of his body. His torso was flanked with power and strength, and the muscle of his ribs looked like lines of sand in the desert. His stomach contained an eight pack, full of grooves and valleys. And his chest was wide and expansive. Both of my hands couldn’t take up half the area. “I usually sleep in the nude but I’ll sleep in my boxers tonight.”
“I want you to be comfortable…don’t mind me.”
He chuckled then pulled the covers back. “Come on. Get into bed.”
“With you?” Seriously?
“What does it look like?”
“Are you trying to torture me?”
That stupid grin was on his face. “Change and let’s go to bed.”
I eyed his t-shirt on the floor then snatched it. I pulled it over my dress then removed my dress from underneath.
“That’s pretty impressive.”
His shirt reached past my thighs and made me feel smaller than I already was. I crawled up the bed then lay in the sheets beside him. “Your shirt smells good.”
“It’s my natural scent so I’m not surprised.” He turned on his side and faced me. Then he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him. “For what it’s worth, I’m going to be hard all night.”
“We can fix that…”
He chuckled. “I would love to—in the morning.”
“I thought you were a dick?”
“I am.”
“Then why are you being so sensitive right now?”
“I’m a dick because I sleep around and tell women they aren’t getting shit from me. But I’m not an ass. I don’t lie and act like I’m something I’m not. No woman ever has to wonder where our relationship is going. And I don’t take advantage of women. A little buzzed is fine, but totally drunk like this isn’t right. And I don’t need to get a girl drunk to get her into bed. Besides, I’m your friend. What kind of friend would I be if I totally used you when you were most vulnerable? That shit is fucked up.”
Now I felt like an idiot. I put myself out there and got rejected—coldly.
“Hey.” His voice came out gentle. “Saying no wasn’t easy. You know how attracted I am to you. I sincerely hope you still want it in the morning. Because my morning wood is going to be bigger than usual.” He leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips. His mouth was soft and delicate. Even though the touch was innocent, it somehow made me melt. “Good night, sweetheart.”
“Good night.”
***
I groaned then opened my eyes, hating the light from the window. Then I turned to see Ash beside me. The sheets were around his waist, and his chiseled torso was defined and hard.
What the hell?
I quickly sat up and searched my brain. Why was he here? I was with Tom so how did I end up with Ash?
What the hell was going on?
Ash released a loud sigh as his eyes fluttered open. He stretched his arms above his chest then looked at me. His hair was messy and he had a sleepy look in his eyes that was somehow sexy. “Morning, sweetheart.”
I slept with him?
I didn’t even remember it.
Oh god, this was bad.
“Uh…” I kicked the sheets away and realized I was wearing his shirt. “Oh no.”
Ash wrapped his arm around me and pulled me back to his chest. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I moved out of his embrace again. “What happened last night?”
“You don’t remember?” That stupid smile was on his lips.
“Does it look like I remember?”
“Then I made the right decision…”
“Sorry?”
“You called me last night from outside of a bar. I picked you up and brought you home.”
“Oh…” That wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought. “Then why are you sleeping with me?”
“Well…there’s more to the story.”
That didn’t sound good.
“You wanted to sleep together—badly. I said no.”
My cheeks flushed red instantly. Everything came back to me, and the humiliation washed over me like cold water. I remembered everything, the way I tried to seduce him and even…kissing him through his boxers. “Oh my god.” I covered my face.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s really not a big deal.”
I quickly jumped out of bed but slipped on my dress and fell on the hardwood floor.
God, just kill me.
“You alright?”
I grabbed my chest and stood up “I’m fine. I just…have to be somewhere.”
He released an irritated sigh. “Alessandra—”
“You should go.” I stormed into the bathroom and shut the door.