Room for Two

  “Trust me, we’ve been informed.” Dana smirked. “It’s the stuff comedies are written about. Rosa kindly filled me in and I passed it along to my best friend soon after.”

  “What’s the huddle about?” Ash asked, looking wary, as he joined the group. He seemed to sense that he was the topic of conversation, as usual.

  “You don’t want to know,” Dylan advised. The doorbell sounded before Ash could question them further, and in what seemed like just moments, the apartment was near full to bursting with men wearing suits and women wearing expensive dresses. Dana would have certainly felt out of place in anything from her own closet, so she was glad Ash had generously supplied another outfit from the resort shop.

  “I hate these things,” Zoe whispered in her ear as they stood on the edge of the crowd, sipping wine and gossiping. “See that blonde over there with her fingernails on Dylan’s sleeve?”

  Dana zeroed in on the woman in question and felt an immediate dislike for the ultrathin waif who oozed sex appeal. “Yeah, I see her. I think you need to go over there and stake your claim.”

  Zoe shrugged, not appearing jealous. “I’m not worried. He can’t stand her. Apparently, she’s on husband number four, who happens to be a wealthy investor. He’s also old enough to be her grandfather. Dylan thinks they have an arrangement that she can sleep with anyone she wants to as long as she’s discreet, which she isn’t. So she paws all over anything in pants like some kind of bitch in heat.”

  Dana smiled as Dylan pulled free of the other woman’s hold and walked away. Then the amusement fled when the bimbo moved on to Ash and literally rubbed herself against his side. “I may need to teach this woman some manners,” she ground out. “After all, it’s what I’m getting paid for.” Throwing her shoulders back, she stalked over to her fake boyfriend’s side and gave him a besotted smile. “Hey, baby, who’s your friend?”

  Ash didn’t miss a beat as he lowered his head and brushed a brief kiss across her lips. “Hey, sweetheart. I was just wondering where you’d gotten to. This is Monica Annin. Monica, this is my girlfriend, Dana.”

  Dana put one arm around Ash’s waist before giving Monica a polite nod. “Nice to meet you. Is your husband with you tonight?”

  “He’s here somewhere,” Monica said indifferently. “All he wants to talk about is business—so boring. At least Ash understands that there’s more to life than that.”

  I’m going to choke this slut, Dana inwardly fumed. There was no way she could miss Monica’s meaning. She’d either already slept with Ash or she damn well wanted to. “Honey, could you help me with something in the kitchen, please?” Dana asked as she pulled him away from the other woman and out of the room. “Please tell me you haven’t sunk low enough to do her,” she muttered as she literally dragged him through the doorway.

  “Fuck no,” Ash hissed. “I’m not going to be the next notch on her bedpost. Believe it or not, I do have some self-control. She disgusts me.”

  Raising a brow, Dana said, “Well, after Brittany, I had to ask. I can hardly do my job if I don’t know everything. If you want me to make myself scarce while you hook up with someone, then you have to give me a sign.” Dana seriously hoped that her voice didn’t betray how jealous she felt. The last thing she wanted to do was stand idly by while he was with someone else. Just the thought of it made her feel a surge of nausea mixed with violent tendencies.

  Ash glanced around the busy room filled with guests and catering staff before pulling her into what appeared to be the pantry. In the pitch-dark surroundings, he pushed her against a nearby wall and lowered his body against hers. “I couldn’t give a fuck about anyone else here. I can’t get your taste or the feel of your ass out of my head. I want to bend you over right now and sink so deeply inside of you that I don’t know where I end and you begin. As soon as this party is over, that’s exactly what I want to be doing. You’ll be screaming my name, while I think of every way possible to make you come until you beg for mercy. And then I’ll do it all over again.”

  She felt him kiss the side of her neck before he added, “And that’s all you need to know right now. Any questions?”

  “Yes—er, no. I have no idea,” Dana whispered shakily.

  He chuckled, before somehow managing to find her nose in the dark and tapping it with a gentle finger. “I’m glad we got that cleared up. The goal for the rest of the night is to get these damned people out of here as quickly as possible. Got it?”

  She nodded dumbly. She doubted he could see her, but it was better than croaking out more gibberish. Her body was still going crazy with desire, and it was taking everything she had not to plaster herself against him and beg him not to make her wait any longer. Only the thought that she’d be little better than Monica made her fight harder for control. He took her hand and linked their fingers together before ushering her back into the bright lights of the kitchen. She hoped she didn’t look as shell-shocked as she felt. Rosa appeared from out of nowhere with her hands on her hips. “What is it with you two tonight? I swear, every time the boy goes missing, you’re stuck to him. You better not have done anything in there that I’ll have to clean up because I was just coming to say that I am leaving.”

  Dana knew her face had to be as red as her dress. But Ash didn’t seem in the least uncomfortable. “I assume you’ve covered everything with the caterers?”

  “Of course,” Rosa grumbled. “They know exactly what needs to be done. I also told them there’d be a big tip if they got out of here fast.” Winking at Ash, she added, “I figured you’d appreciate that.”

  “You’re a rock star,” he praised.

  “Damn straight,” she deadpanned. “See you tomorrow.” Then turning to Dana, she added, “Make sure he wears a condom. There’s a case of them in his bedroom closet.” With that parting advice, she was gone.

  Dana dropped her head before murmuring, “I can’t believe she said that. Is it written on my forehead or something? How in the world does she know?”

  Ash leaned closer. “It could be because your nipples look so fucking sexy sticking out like that. Or else . . . she’s really good at reading people.”

  Horrified, Dana clamped her hands over her traitorous breasts, which were indeed standing at attention. “Dammit! I’m going to have to ice these things before I go back out there.”

  Ash put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. “Nope, I’m afraid not. You look perfect for the part, sweetheart. Everyone will know my girlfriend and I have been making out. Well, unless you’d rather Monica believe that I’m available. In which case, then by all means hide out in the kitchen.”

  “Point taken,” she snapped before straightening her shoulders. “Let’s go.”

  After that, they worked the room at each other’s side for the rest of the evening. He seemed to constantly find an excuse to touch some part of her body, which keep her in a heightened state of constant arousal. She was so turned on by the time Dylan and Zoe, the last remaining guests, finally left that she could hardly stand it. Which was why when Ash looked at her, she closed the distance between them and began ripping at the buttons of his dress shirt. He growled low in his throat as he tossed his suit jacket on the floor. Impatient with her fumbling fingers, she yanked on each side of the material of his shirt and buttons went flying in all directions. He turned her around and lowered the zipper of her dress, before pushing it down her body, where it pooled at her feet. She had no idea how they made it to the bedroom, but soon they were standing there in only their underwear as their hands and tongues tangled wildly. “So fucking sexy,” Ash whispered to her as he zeroed in once again on her ample behind. “I swear, I’ve had so many dirty thoughts about your ass.”

  She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but her breath hissed out when he smacked one cheek, causing it to sting. “Ouch,” she cried. “Do you mind being a little more gentle?”

  When he
repeated the move on the other side, she had to admit that it felt surprisingly good. Her clit throbbed and moisture pooled between her thighs. Without wasting any time, he picked her up and carried her until she felt a smooth surface against her back. “This first time is gonna be hard and fast. I trust that works for you.”

  “Oh, yeah.” She gestured impatiently for him to continue.

  He laughed softly, then pushed her panties to the side and she felt him impossibly large against her opening. Apparently, he’d managed to remove his underwear somewhere along the way and put on a condom. How in the world had he done that in such a short amount of time?

  “Ash—I want you right now,” she demanded, then almost screamed at the overpowering sensations when he slid deep inside her. She wound her legs around his waist, then moaned as they frantically raced toward the finish. She’d never been one to come from intercourse alone so she was shocked to feel her orgasm building. Then it washed over her in wave after wave of bliss. She cried out, grinding against him to prolong her pleasure. “Oh my God,” she chanted over and over when she didn’t think she could take any more. “Mercy, please, I may die right here otherwise.” She was almost relieved when he shuddered and found his own release. In true Asher Jackson fashion, he shouted out a few obscenities instead of words of affection.

  He rested his head against her neck as he struggled to catch his breath. Finally he managed to say, “That was amazing, but embarrassingly short.”

  Dana giggled, always appreciative of his sense of humor. It lightened what could have been an awkward moment. He’d mentioned them doing several things earlier, but still she hated being in the position to wonder if she should pick up her clothes and leave or wait around and see what he said. She’d never really had to deal with this kind of thing before since she was usually more like Ash in sexual encounters. She let loose an exaggerated yawn. “Maybe you’re not as good as you thought. These poor women might keep coming back because you’re leaving them unsatisfied. Have you ever thought of that?”

  “Really?” he asked her lazily.

  “Yep.” She bit her lip to keep from laughing at the injured male ego he wasn’t quite managing to hide. Patting his chest, she added, “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Not every guy can go the distance. It’s easy to get overexcited and lose control. You could try thinking about sports and anything else that would distract you. I bet if you practiced more, you could work up to the five-minute mark.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” He nodded. “Since you had to suffer so much, how about I bury my face between your legs and make it up to you? Would that help?”

  “Only if you insist,” she huffed out. He slid his still-hard cock out of her and threw her over his shoulder. “What’re you doing?” she squealed as he walked toward what she thought was the bathroom. “Put me down,” she insisted. She really didn’t want her ass in the air for him to scrutinize, but he ignored her demands. Instead, he reached out to turn on the shower. Then he stepped into the glass enclosure with her still in his arms. She’d almost given up hope of him releasing her when he put her gently onto her feet before reaching for a bottle of body wash. He poured a handful into his palm and began washing her. “Ash, I can do that,” she croaked out, but he acted as if he hadn’t heard her.

  When he reached the apex of her thighs, he simply said, “Open.” She automatically complied, then moaned as his slippery fingers moved over her still sensitive clit. Then his hand moved farther back to her ass and she quivered. She’d never tried that and she didn’t intend for the first time to be in a shower with Ash, but damn, his touch there was arousing. She was close to coming once again and was disappointed when he continued up her body and away from where she wanted him the most. He circled her nipples next—in response, they immediately stiffened to hard peaks—before saying gruffly, “Turn around.” He cleaned her back with quick efficiency, then made fast work out of doing the same to himself. She would have loved to return the favor, but he was already rinsing himself. “Lean against the wall,” he instructed, and she didn’t even think about arguing; she simply turned around again and did as he asked. Then he dropped to his knees and pulled one of her legs over his shoulder. “Hold on to me, Dana.”

  That was all of the warning she had before his mouth was buried in her wet heat and his tongue started driving her insane. Her clit throbbed when he sucked it before sliding his tongue back inside her. “Ash!” She cried out his name, digging her fingers into his hair. The man would probably be bald tomorrow, but she was too far gone to care. He added one finger, then another. Soon he was pushing into her hard and fast, while he nipped at her clit with his teeth. “Oh my—damn, more!” she hissed as she spiraled toward her release. “Harder,” she groaned, needing just a little more pressure to come. When he pinched her clit, she exploded. Black spots danced in her vision as she shuddered. “Ash—Asher.”

  Afterward she was so limp, she was barely aware of him helping her from the shower and drying her off with a towel. She sighed in pure bliss a few minutes later when her body met something soft and she burrowed down into it. After a few minutes, she opened one eye, looking up at him. He had his huge dick in one hand, stroking it from root to tip. “I’ve been dreaming about those lips, baby.”

  Suddenly her fatigue was gone and desire returned. If she’d been the subject of his fantasies, then she wanted to show him that the real thing was more than he could ever imagine. So she forced herself from the warm cloud she’d been lying on and went down onto her knees in front of him. He’d turned on one of the bedside lamps, so she could see the gleam of approval in his eyes as she glanced up at him before moving his hand out of the way and replacing it with her own. She gripped him firmly, impressed by his sheer size. She couldn’t believe that had been inside her not long ago. She licked up his shaft, circling the head before wrapping her tongue around the tip. He groaned low in his throat as she continued to tease him. When he least expected it, she took him deep in a single move that had him bellowing out loud. She applied suction and pumped her hand and mouth in the same tempo. He put a hand on the back of her head, guiding her until they worked as one unit, each completely focused on his pleasure. He was so deep he was touching the back of her throat. She struggled not to gag before managing to relax enough to give him all that he wanted. When he pulled almost all the way out, she let her teeth drag against the sensitive underside of his cock and he shuddered as he came in her mouth. She licked and sucked him dry until he moved back from her. She dusted her hands off and got to her feet. “My work here is done,” she joked. In truth, she felt as if she needed to retreat. This was Asher Jackson. He wouldn’t want her to stay and she wasn’t going to stick around for him to give her some trite line about having enjoyed their time together.

  Dana had everything all worked out in her head, so she was shocked when his hand landed on her elbow. “Where in the hell do you think you’re going?”

  She shrugged uncertainly. “It’s late and I’m tired. I’m going home. You should be happy that I’m not peeing on your towels or the floor.”

  “That joke is seriously getting old,” he grumbled. “You’ll sleep here,” he said as he pointed to the bed.

  Now she was just plain confused. “But—why? Don’t you usually want your women to leave rather than spend the night? If you think because I’m your fake girlfriend that you’re obligated to be nice, then don’t sweat it. I mean, I’ve already been on the receiving end of your rude side so it’s really not a big deal.” She crossed the room, looking for her dress.

  “For fuck’s sake, Dana,” he snapped. “I don’t want you to go, all right? Must you make me into an asshole when I’m actually trying not to be one? I fully expected that you would stay. Can you please let me be a decent guy for once? I’m trying here, but you’re making it damned difficult.”

  She could only gape at him. He was sincere; that much was apparent. He ran an agitated hand through hi
s hair as if awaiting her reaction to his words. She knew she should take off. No good would come of this. But he was putting himself out there, and dammit, she didn’t want to be the one to rebuff his attempts. So despite her inner voice screaming for her to run like the wind, she walked back to where he stood and nodded. “I swear, you’re going to have to deal with Rosa in the morning,” she warned. “Do you have an extra toothbrush?”

  They stood next to each other at the double sinks and it was so domestic that it was almost surreal. She ushered him out the door while she used the restroom, then he took a turn before joining her in the bed. She was curled on her side, already drowsy, when he pulled her into his arms. For a moment she froze, unused to the intimate feeling of sleeping in a man’s arms. It wasn’t that she’d never shared a bed with anyone before, but she usually much preferred to have her own space. And she’d certainly never figured Ash for the cuddling type.

  She still couldn’t believe that he’d all but insisted that she stay for the night. This added a whole level of uncertainty to their encounter that she wasn’t ready to deal with. Sex wasn’t supposed to be so complicated, but if she wasn’t careful, things with Ash could get that way fast. She hardly expected him to declare his undying love for her while begging for her hand in marriage. Quite the opposite really. It might be her doing something crazy if she didn’t watch out. Even when he was being an ass to her, she was still more drawn to him than she’d ever been to anyone else. She didn’t stand a chance against this kinder version of him. More than anything, she needed to keep things light and make a clean escape in the morning. She wouldn’t give him the power to hurt her.

  This was just another one-night stand. Nothing at all to be worried about, right? Except as she drifted off to sleep, she knew she was lying to herself because Ash was far more than that. He was the man she’d fallen in love with even when he’d been at his most insulting. She’d hated the mean girls for so very long, but she’d given her heart to a mean boy almost a year earlier. She’d seen pieces of the man he truly was in how he treated his brothers and the resort employees. A few months after Ash had moved to Florida, Dana had been taking a walk out by the resort pool to stretch her legs. There had been a small boy near the poolside crying to his mother about not being able to swim as the other kids could. His mother had ignored him as she conversed with her friends. The child’s shoulders had drooped when he’d turned away. Dana had been shocked to see Ash rise from a nearby lounge chair and approach the child. He’d squatted to his knees and began explaining the basics of swimming. He’d then asked the mother if it was okay to take the boy into the pool for a lesson. Dana’s break had been almost over and she’d been forced to leave, but she’d taken the same route a few more times that week and had seen Ash once more giving instruction to the child. And a part of her had fallen hopelessly for him then and there.