“What was that all about?” I ask while I trace figure eights on his stomach.
“That was Hunter. He, Andy, and a few others are going to a club tonight and want to know if we’d like to go along.”
“And it sounded like you agreed. Very reluctantly.”
He sighs again, “I did. In all honesty, Hunter kind of made me feel guilty so I agreed. Plus, you brought up doing something with them a couple times so I knew you wouldn’t mind.”
“I don’t,” I tell him.
“I know, but I do.”
“Well, how about we go, make an appearance, stay for a brief time, and if we aren’t having fun or lose interest or merely want to be together, we leave?”
“Cool. Plan on being there five minutes and then we’ll take off.”
“Asher!” I admonish with a laugh but he just grins that drop dead gorgeous smile of his and kisses me.
Hours later I walk out of the bathroom ready to go. When Asher’s mouth drops open at the sight of me, I twirl for him. “Holy shit.”
My outfit is two pieces. A navy blue halter that almost looks like a twisted scarf. Two pieces of fabric cover my breasts, and a string runs across at my collarbone holding the pieces together but the deep v showcases my breasts. The fabric then crisscrosses under my breasts before they tie in the back in a bow. The navy blue skirt is form fitting and reaches my ankles, with a deep slit up one leg. It certainly showcases my curves in a big way. I was hesitant to buy it, but Katie insisted I rocked it. Given the look on Asher’s face, I need to thank her a thousand times over. “You like?”
He points to the bathroom, “Go change.”
“What?” I ask stuttering over the word, shock clear in my voice.
“No way I am taking you out in front of my horny friends looking like that.”
Rolling my eyes, I walk to him and place my hands on his chest before lifting my head up, offering my lips. He lifts a brow, but kisses me, his lips soft on mine. “I could care less what any of them think. I dressed up for you.”
“All I’m going to be thinking about is undressing you.”
“Even better,” I wag my eyebrows at him making him laugh.
“Alright, let’s get this over with.”
“You sound so excited.”
“The only thing that makes me excited is you,” he kisses me again, but this time, it’s a deep kiss, his tongue stroking against mine. My arms wrap around him and I press my body closer to his. He breaks from my lips and kisses his way down my neck, groaning, “You smell amazing,” he rumbles in my ear before biting my earlobe in a way that generates responses all the way down to my toes.
Reluctantly I pull away, “Come on, we need to go or we’re never going to leave this room.”
“Fine with me,” he murmurs not removing his lips from my neck.
“Asher,” I say with a slight admonishment to my tone.
He pulls away with a sigh, “Okay, fine. But I’m warning you, my patience isn’t going to be long. I’ll be counting down the minutes until I can get you underneath me again.”
With that we head out of our resort to go to another. Half hour later we’re walking through the doors of Infusion, my hand in Asher’s, his eyes roaming the club looking for his friends. He must locate them, because he raises his hand in a wave. With a kiss on my cheek, he begins leading me through the throngs of people. When we arrive at a table, eight others surround it and greet Asher with varying comments.
“Wow, so you weren’t kidding he is still in Cabo,” a blonde woman says rolling her eyes at a man that’s wrapped around her. He smiles and kisses her on the nose. Before he turns to Asher, “Good to see you, man.”
Asher nods and says, “How is the honeymoon, you two?”
They each smile and kiss one another, making the others around them groan in response. “Well that answers that,” Asher comments pulling me up next to him. I didn’t realize I was a little behind him.
“Well I don’t believe my eyes, is that Asher Charming?” Andy says with a lopsided smile and a drink in his hand.
“About time you join us, man,” a dark haired guy says with a smile and Asher fist bumps him.
“I told you he said he was coming,” Hunter says to a brunette that looks at Asher with clear desire in her eyes that immediately makes me uncomfortable. The girl standing next to her eyes Asher too, but with less intensity.
“Looks like the sunshine and sand agree with you, Asher. Looking good.” The brunette says and I want to pull her hair. Hard.
“I don’t think it’s the sun and sand, Spring.” Asher says with a smile at me and I grin back shyly. Ha, take that, Spring.
“Everyone, this is my wife, Gabriella. Ella, this is everyone.” I wave and then Asher points at each one, “You remember Hunter and Andy,” I nod.
“Hi, Ella.” Andy says with a smile, “You look amazing,” he says with starry eyes.
“Gabriella.” Asher says sternly to him in response to him using my nickname. I jab him in the side, but he just lifts a brow at me. Rolling my eyes I say, “Hi Andy.” Hunter gives me a tight smile, but I don’t expect anything more.
“That’s Rob,” he says pointing at the dark haired guy that is now grinning at me.
“Well, well, well, it sure is nice to meet you,” he says and Asher points at him. “No.”
Rob just grins at Asher making Asher narrow his eyes at him before he moves on.
“The newlywed’s that can’t keep their tongues out of each other’s mouths are Joe and Carolyn.” They pull away from each other and both grin at me. “Hi,” they chime and then Carolyn says, “We’re glad you are joining us tonight.”
“Thank you, and congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you,” they say at the same time and I grin. They’re clearly in love and it’s sweet to see.
“Then, you probably heard me say that’s Spring.” Asher nods her way and she gives me a wiggle of her fingers and a strained smile in a weak hello. So of course I smile widely hoping I can annoy her more. “And that’s Monica,” he says pointing at the woman standing next to Spring. She gives me a closed mouth smile and turns away quickly to talk to Carolyn and Joe.
“What would you like to drink?” Asher asks me and takes my order before moving away to get the attention of a waiter. While he does that I look around the club. It’s eclectic, with random art all over the walls – everything from street signs to huge plastic fish hanging on the walls. The dance floor is in the middle of the place, tables all around and a bar on the opposite end of the entrance. Waiter and waitresses walk all around taking orders. A second floor is visible from where we are standing. It appears another bar and more tables and chairs are up there.
Music is pumping from the speakers and many dancers are already moving together on the floor. The energy is high and I think of Katie knowing she would be in heaven. The people watching here is crazy awesome, not to mention the girl loves to get her dance on. I grin when I think about the text I sent her earlier. All I said was ‘operation unicorn a success’. Her response was immediate and demanding of details. It made me laugh, but I told her it would have to be later because I was ‘otherwise engaged’. She called me a ‘lucky bitch’, before I powered if off.
“So, Gabriella, what have you and our Asher been up to?” Spring asks me and I don’t miss the pointed remark. And of course Monica at her side has now zeroed in on me as well, her eyes going back and forth between Spring and I.
“All kinds of things. We went out on wave runners, visited the Rosé and hung out at their pool. Asher rented a boat for the day and we went for a ride and snorkeled. We saw some amazing fish and coral.”
“That’s cool,” Andy says with enthusiasm. “I’d like to do that before we leave.”
“You should, it’s totally worth it. We’ve also eaten so much food, it’s insane. I’m not used to eating out so much, but everything we’ve had has been so good. I’ve definitely indulged.”
“Oh, that expla
ins it,” Spring says.
“I’m sorry?” I ask not understanding.
She leans toward me and mockingly whispers, “Feeling a little bloated?” and gestures toward my stomach. Monica next to her flashes a smile before trying to wipe it off of her face, but it’s too late, I already saw it. Women are such bitches – but that’s okay, I can handle them.
“Spring!” Carolyn says in shock having heard her. A glance around the table shows Andy and Rob glaring at her, Joe looking at Carolyn and Hunter pretending he didn’t hear anything by swirling his drink and looking around the room.
Resisting the urge to give her satisfaction by looking down at myself, I shake my head. “No, Summer, those are called curves.”
“It’s Spring,” she says in anger while Andy and Rob bark out a laugh.
“Sorry, Fall,” I reply again just as Asher walks up and hands me my drink. Taking a few large gulps, I set it on the table before turning to him, “Want to dance?”
“Absolutely,” he says and swallows a few gulps of his own drink before taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor. “You okay?” he asks me concern lining his brow.
“I’m fine, why?”
“I know that Spring and Monica are bitches. It’s part of the reason I didn’t want to come out with them. If they say anything stupid, tell me right away, okay?”
“I can handle a couple of bitchy girls, don’t worry.”
“I’m sure you can, but you shouldn’t have to.”
Without another word, he pulls me to him and starts moving his hips in a way that’s so decadent I’m about to overdose on pleasure right there in the middle of the dance floor. “Where did you learn to move like that?” I ask.
He throws his head back and laughs at the look on my face, pulls me closer to him and puts his hands on my hips. Placing my hands loosely around his neck, I’m immediately lost in him. I feel nothing but his body against mine. The sound of the crowd is lost because all I hear is the rhythmic noise of his breath in my ears. Sneaking kisses here and there, I taste his sweat-slicked skin. I inhale his musky scent, as my eyes trail over his body, seeing nothing else. All my senses are poetry in motion, each ode a sonnet just for him.
His eyes are burning into mine and I couldn’t look away if I tried. This time, when his lips meet mine, it isn’t in a sweet chaste kiss, rather it is the kind of kiss novels are written about. It’s a spine tingling, toe curling, stomach fluttering kind of kiss. His lips are hard on mine, his tongue demanding, his fingers are digging into my hips and there isn’t a whisper of space between our bodies. When we pull apart we’re both breathless and I almost laugh because this keeps happening to us. “Asher.” I say and he nods. “Yeah. We’re leaving.”
“Okay, I just have to go to the bathroom first.”
“Alright, but I don’t want you to go alone.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Please, Ella.”
Not wanting to argue, especially when I see the concern in his eyes, I nod, “Okay.”
He pulls me back to the table and everyone is staring at us, so I’m sure they were watching us on the dance floor. Maybe I should care, but I don’t. Andy and Rob look amused, Hunter annoyed, Spring and Monica are spewing daggers of hate from their eyeballs and the newlyweds are oblivious to everyone. As it should be. “Carolyn, Ella has to use the restroom but I don’t want her to go alone. Do you mind going with her?”
“Jesus, Asher, I could have asked her,” I tell him feeling a little embarrassed he asked someone to hold my hand to the bathroom.
“I’m sorry. I’m just being protective.”
“I’ll go with her,” Spring says and my eyes widen in surprise, as do Asher’s and Monica’s.
“Okay, thanks,” I say and we both head off.
We don’t have to wait long, thank goodness, and we do our thing quickly. As we’re walking back, I’m honestly not surprised when I feel Spring’s claws digging into my arm as she pulls me to a stop. “Look, I don’t know what game you’re playing here, and God knows what the hell Asher sees in you, but when this week is over and you run away back to your little life, stay the hell away from him.”
“Excuse me?”
“Maybe he just needs to get you out of his system, maybe he’s just lost his damn mind, I don’t fucking know. But I do know, that long after you’re gone, I’m still going to be here. You’re interesting to him right now, the flavor of the week, but that’s all you are. Don’t think it’s more than that for one second.”
“Listen up, Winter. I’m not scared or intimidated by women like you. So you can take your advice and shove it up your ass. Whatever Asher and I do or don’t do, or feel or don’t feel, or decide to do, has nothing to do with you. You’re just a jealous bitch trying to make herself feel better by trying to bring me down, but it isn’t going to work.” Leaning forward I lower my voice so she has to ease in closer to me, “And just so you know, he’s even better in bed than whatever little scenario your sad mind has tried to conjure up to keep you warm at night.” Her eyes widen and I feel satisfaction run through my veins. “Now if you’ll excuse me, my husband is waiting.”
Spinning on my heel, I walk back to the table. He’s in a conversation with Hunter, but as if he senses I’m near, he looks up and into my eyes, so I walk straight into his arms. Kissing him, I smile, “Are you ready?”
“More than ready.” Looking at everyone, he gives a salute, “Alright gang, thanks for inviting us out. We had a good time, but we are out of here.”
Hunter holds up a hand, “Asher, wait, we weren’t done talking.”
“Yes, we are. I don’t have anything else to say about it right now.”
“Because it doesn’t matter now, right? I mean, who cares how hard you’ve worked.” Hunter’s tone is angry and I look from him to Asher. Everyone at the table is quiet and it’s clear I’ve missed something here. Asher looks irritated, but when he sees me watching, the tension in his shoulders falls.
“We’ll talk later, man. It’s all going to be fine.”
“It was great to meet you, Gabriella,” Carolyn says which begins a round of goodbyes. Spring of course hangs on to Asher a little too long which makes him look uncomfortable, his eyes meeting mine in apology. I smirk and wink at him, “Bye, Winter. Enjoy the rest of your time in Cabo,” I add making Asher, Rob and Andy all laugh out loud.
With a wave, to everyone, Asher guides me out of the club with a hand on my back. We hail a taxi and tell him to take us back to the resort.
Asher is quiet on the way back, his arms wrapped around me. I’m feeling annoyed by the interaction between Asher and Hunter. It’s clear that Hunter hasn’t gotten over his doubts about me. “You okay?” I ask Asher.
“I’m perfect,” he says kissing my forehead and pulling me closer to him.
We remain in separate worlds of thought the rest of the way to the resort, but all worries or insecurities I’ve created get shed one at a time with each piece of clothing Asher strips from me when we get back to our room. As he pulls me into his arms, presses his body to mine, and places me on the bed, everything else is forgotten, my only thoughts once again lost in him.
My time with Asher is almost over. It’s the first thought that enters my mind as soon as my eyes open this morning. How has it gone so fast? I’m not ready. The time with him has been better and meant more than I ever thought possible. A week at work feels a hell of a lot longer than a week on vacation, that’s for damn sure. Whenever I think about leaving, about saying goodbye, I get an ache that leaves me pained in my chest and my stomach hurts so much I want to throw up. I feel ridiculous, so I do my best to push it aside and not think about it.
“A penny for your thoughts,” Asher says startling me.
Lifting my face to his, I’m surprised to find he’s not only awake, but that his sparkling blue eyes are focused intently on mine. Smiling automatically, my gaze falls to his exposed chest then I look back at his face again, before my eyes drop to his lips. “You’r
e awake?”
“I haven’t been for long. I’ve just been enjoying the view in my bed. Then your eyes opened and I watched more emotions fly across your face than I could count. More importantly though is that I can’t interpret them. So tell me what you’re thinking about.”
Hopping out of bed, not at all embarrassed by my nakedness I round the bed and head to the bathroom. “I’m thinking I need to brush my teeth so I can kiss you.”
Maybe it’s my imagination but I swear he looks disappointed. Not in my wanting to kiss him, but that I’m clearly avoiding the question. I almost ask him why he’s bothered, but my thought fades away when he smiles, “You know I don’t care about that. Get over here and let me give you a proper good morning.”
“I care,” I tell him. “I don’t want to gross you out.”
“Not possible,” he calls behind me. I quickly relieve my bladder and then brush my teeth only to be joined at the counter as he retrieves and brushes his own teeth. I can’t contain my smile behind my toothbrush.
Beating him back to the bed, I watch his body as he emerges from the bathroom and makes his way back to me. I could never get tired of looking at him. It’s a thought I have frequently, but it can’t be helped. “Enjoying the view?” he asks me with cockiness.
“Are you?” I retort saucily because his eyes are devouring me just as much as mine are him.
“Hell yes I am.”
“Me too.” I say as I watch him lay back down. “But I’m game for a hands on viewing if you are.”
Before he can respond I shift quickly to straddle him. Looking down into his smiling face, I move my hips suggestively making him growl, “I like this idea.”
Lifting up just enough to position myself, his hands squeeze my hips, causing me look at his face instead of our bodies. “Just a second.” He reaches in the table and grabs a condom with an expression of regret likely due to the interrupted activity, but it’s a necessary interruption and I feel silly for not thinking.
Charming: A Modern Day Sexy Cinderella Story Page 17
