High Strung (Power Station Book 1)

by Gephart, T

  “Dan, this is really—” I didn’t get a chance to say unnecessary before he interrupted me.

  “I said where and when, babe.” His voice softened, the edge was still there but I could hear he was trying to rein it in. “If you want to make something harder than it has to be, I’ve got something between my legs that would love the attention. If not, then tell me what I need to know.”

  I wasn’t going to argue. Dan had a way of talking until he got his own way and I was having enough trouble keeping check of my own emotions. If he wanted to drive me home, then fine, he could drive me home. But that’s where it would end. I would be sleeping alone tonight. As for his something special between his legs, he would be tending to that himself as well. I wasn’t a doormat, no matter how well intentioned he might have been.

  “Fine. Two a.m. Garro’s. It’s a sports bar in Lower East Side. Don’t expect me to be friendly or give any part of you any attention.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m not your type. Got it. See you then.”

  I ended the call more confused than when it had started. I had never met a man who pushed all of my buttons like he did, all of my buttons. He infuriated me and yet excited me. Gah! I was a hot mess and I didn’t know if Dan Evans or I was to blame.

  ****

  It was another busy night at the bar. My arms were getting a work out from the numerous pitchers of beer I was putting up on the bar. It was easy to forget my earlier annoyance, getting lost in the noise of the crowd. They commiserated, consoling each other after a Giants loss, the replay from the earlier game being piped through the big screens adding insult to injury. This only fueled the alcohol consumption.

  “Another, sweetheart,” Mack slurred, his crumpled fiver extending over the bar. Mack and his crew were regulars. Hardcore New Yorkers and sports fanatics, they had been coming to Garro’s since the day it opened.

  “Going to have to cut you off, Mack. Why don’t you let me buy you and the boys a round of soda instead?” I smiled knowing while they were loud and rowdy they weren’t the kind of guys to start trouble. Still, rules were rules and they were all on the other side of sober.

  Mack swayed unsteadily on his feet. “My boys let me down tonight, Ash. A man needs to drown his sorrows.”

  “I know, but if I serve you another beer we are probably going to end up sharing a cell together and as exciting as that sounds, Rosie would probably have my hide.” I shot him a quick wink.

  Rosie was not only the love of his life, but a tough-as-nails housewife from Long Island. I wouldn’t want to be on her wrong side or have to make the call that her husband had been hauled off on a public intoxication charge.

  “You’re lucky I’m not younger.” Mack smiled, his light blue eyes twinkled hinting at the trouble I knew he must have caused in his youth.

  “She’s a handful, buddy. Lot’s of trouble.” Dan’s smug face beamed as he took a seat at the bar. I did my best to ignore him, turning my attention to polishing wine glasses. I clearly needed the distraction, because these glasses were rarely used, no one ever drank wine. It had just turned midnight; I hadn’t expected to see Dan for at least another hour.

  “The best ones usually are.” Mack nodded in agreement. “She your girl?”

  “Nah, she’s too smart for that. I’m just her ride for the night. My name’s Dan.” Dan stood and held out his hand. He looked good. Too good. His leather jacket was unzipped revealing a Black Flag T-shirt underneath, finishing his look with a pair of faded blue jeans.

  “Mack.” He clasped Dan’s hand firmly. “Good to see someone is looking out for her.” Mack turned to look at me, grinning approvingly.

  “Doing what I can, but she isn’t making it easy.” Dan eased into his seat, doing little to hide the fact his response had been directed at me rather than Mack.

  “Okay you two. I’m right here.” I tossed the dishrag aside. They both now had my attention.

  “Well if you aren’t going to serve us any more beer, might be time for me and the fellas to call it a night.” Mack shot me a wink. “Think I’m about done. Nice meeting you, Dan.” He tipped his head to Dan before strolling off.

  “Likewise, Mack.” Dan nodded, watching Mack shuffle away. He waited until Mack was out of earshot before leaving across the bar. “You flirting with the customers to make me jealous?”

  “Come on, Dan, Mack is like sixty.” I rolled my eyes wondering if he was serious.

  “Makes no difference to me. Do I need to lay him out?” I watched the smile spread across his face. He had such an amazing smile, why had I never noticed? I needed to concentrate on the fact I was still mad.

  “You are such a tool. I’m still mad at you by the way. Don’t think you can come in here and be all charming.”

  “I’d rather you be mad at me and know you’re safe than the alternative.” He didn’t offer me an apology or explanation.

  “I’m not the kind of girl who needs a man to tell her what to do.” I planted my hands on my hips. If he was going to be standing here then he might as well know how I felt. I didn’t need a hero.

  “Look, Ash. I’m sorry I snapped at you but this is not something I’m going to back down from. I’m not trying to own you or order you around. If you want me to go wait in the car, I will, but you have no chance of me letting you go home alone tonight.” His voice softened but was still resolute. His dark smoldering eyes didn’t break contact with mine. There was something else I saw within those dark expressive pools. He wasn’t trying to be possessive but protective.

  “It was Lexi, right? Your friend.” I felt myself relent. He was trying to be kind and while his execution wasn’t great, his motives were sound. It was the why of the motives that still confused me.

  “That’s not my story to tell, Ash. Sorry.” He reached across, his hand grazing my knuckles. The sincerity was not missed, nor was the sweetness in his tone. There was no way I could stay angry.

  “Maybe I overreacted.” I gave him a slight smile before warning him. “Don’t start any fights with the patrons and you don’t have to wait in the car.”

  “I won’t start any fights if you stop flirting with other men.” He gave me a cheeky sideways glance. It was our way of calling a truce.

  “I don’t know, Dan. That old-timer in the corner has been giving me the eye all night and I have to admit I’m kind of tempted.” I fanned myself, biting my lip to suppress my smile.

  “Just point him out to me, babe, and I’ll set him straight.”

  The bar was deserted except for a few other staff members and the security. The doors had been shut half an hour ago but they had let me wait inside as I was driving Ash home and it didn’t hurt the bouncer was a fan of the band. I signed the back of his security shirt and handed him a guitar pick I had stashed away in one of my pockets, and he was grinning like a kid who’d just touched boobs for the first time.

  Despite this being a bullshit job I knew that she hated, she refused to cut corners and she worked her ass off making sure the place was immaculate before she punched off the clock. I watched Ash move around the bar, the boring, shapeless uniform she was wearing trying to hide the smokin’ body she had underneath. Fuck, she was beautiful. Not just in the I-wanted-to-get-her-under-me sense, but also in I-could-look-at-her-all-day. I watched as her perfect ass swayed toward the staff locker room, the thought of taking her to the shithole apartment she lived in made me want to break shit.

  “I’m good to go.” Ashlyn pulled on her coat, her purse in her hand.

  “Let’s roll then.” I waved to the bouncer as I guided her out toward the door. Yeah, there was a lot on my mind right now. Sleeping alone was not one of them. I didn’t even care if she didn’t want sex, not that my throbbing dick would listen to reason, but I needed her tucked up beside me.

  We walked outside, our feet hitting the sidewalk as the blast of the night air licked us in the face. It was October and the chill was starting to move in. She shivered as we made our way up the street to where I’d parked
my ride.

  I moved in close and pulled my arm around her waist. The feel of her body hitting me harder than any fucking breeze ever could. “Cold?”

  “No.” Her body shook in my arms as we rounded the corner, my car parked at the curb.

  “So why are you shivering?” I moved my other hand around her waist, gently pushing her body against the hood of my car.

  “I’m just tired.” She sighed. I wasn’t convinced and the thought I made her edgy made me all kinds of uncomfortable.

  “You’re not nervous around me, are you?” I tilted her chin toward me, hoping like hell I didn’t, or worse, that she would lie about it.

  “Don’t flatter yourself, Dan. It’s been a long day and I just need to get to bed.” She yawned, relaxing in my arms.

  I moved in closer, wanting to kiss her. “Well I’m all about getting you into bed.”

  “You know I’m not going to have sex with you, right?” She didn’t pull back so I moved in closer. My body up against hers, there was no way she couldn’t feel the hard-on I had going on.

  “I know, but I still want to sleep with you. Come home with me, Ashlyn. I won’t put the moves on, I swear.” I took her face in my hands my thumb playing with her bottom lip. Even tired, sweaty, and smelling like stale beer, she was the sexiest girl I’d ever seen.

  “You like torturing yourself, don’t you?” She gave me a weary smile. “I haven’t got anything to sleep in.”

  This was not a legitimate problem. In fact, if anything, I saw it as one hell of a positive. “So sleep naked, I won’t mind.”

  “Nice try, but no.”

  “So I’ll give you a T-shirt to sleep in. Come home with me.”

  I had never had to beg a girl to come home with me and I wasn’t about to now. Still, if there was one I would get on my knees for, it would be the one standing right in front of me. Mind you, I could think of something else I’d rather get on my knees for and the begging would be coming from her, telling me not to stop.

  “I’m wearing a T-shirt and a pair of your boxers and there is going to be no sex.” She gave me a look that meant she wasn’t kidding. I didn’t care what look she was giving. It looked like victory to me.

  “Yeah, yeah. Whatever you want. Can we go now?” I smirked, wondering how fast I could get from here to my apartment. Thank fuck it was at some bullshit hour in the morning and the traffic was light.

  “Okay we can go.” She nodded as I fought the urge to fist pump. Not only did it mean I got another night by her side but also that I had the home field advantage.

  I hit the keyless entry and opened the car door. She slid into the passenger seat, her legs stretching out in front of her. I closed the door, trying not to imagine those legs around my hips. Ash was right about one thing - tonight was going to be torture.

  “This isn’t what I thought you’d drive.” She smiled as I slipped into the driver’s seat.

  “Hey, pick on me all you want, babe, but leave my ride out of it.” I hit the ignition and pulled out on the street.

  “No, that’s not what I meant.” She giggled and man, if that sound didn’t make me feel warm inside. “I mean, I thought you would drive something more pretentious, like a Porsche.”

  “I don’t need to compensate. I like style and comfort.”

  I had always owned an American car and when we got our first big check I went and bought myself a sweet Corvette. I still had it, it was kicking around in my mom’s garage but it just didn’t feel right to me. The Mercedes SLK 55 AMG spoke to me. I drove up to the dealer and saw this baby parked on the lot. Looking all badass with the top down with all those sexy curves, I just knew this was the car I needed to be driving.

  “You just continue to surprise me.” Ashlyn nestled into the soft leather seat and I swear I heard her purr.

  We drove the rest of the way in silence. It wasn’t forced or awkward, just an easy ride with no need for dialogue. I saw her eyelids droop, fighting against her long blinks as we pulled into my undercover parking garage. I needed to get her out of this car and into my bed ASAP.

  I flicked off my seat belt and ejected myself from the car. She sat unmoving until I popped open the passenger side door, the noise startling her awake.

  “Shit. I must have drifted off.” She blinked under the bright halogen lights.

  “Let’s get you into bed.” I leaned inside the cabin, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her out.

  “I can walk, Dan. You don’t have to carry me,” she protested, wriggling till her feet hit the floor.

  “Okay, babe. Let’s walk then.” My hands found their way around her hips and guided her toward the elevator.

  She mumbled something I didn’t quite make out, leaning into me as we climbed up the belly of the building till we reached my floor. It was the top level, which only housed two apartments. Mine, with the other belonging to my brother, Troy. Having your best friend as your neighbor had been the coolest feature of this place so when the two penthouse apartments opened up, we didn’t even think twice about signing on the dotted line.

  We slid out of the elevator and made it to my front door, her hot little body molded to my side. I managed to open the door, while holding Ashlyn in my arms, kicking the door closed behind us the minute we’d stepped through it. Last thing I needed was for Troy to take an interest and poke his head outside his door.

  “I need the bathroom. I can’t sleep unless I wash this bar smell off me.” Ashlyn stirred awake.

  “Mmmm, you’re going to need help washing your back.” My dick punched out against my jeans in appreciation.

  “No. By myself.” Ashlyn struggled to keep her eyes open. “I mean it, Dan. I’m locking the bathroom door.”

  “Okay. Okay. I promise I won’t look but leave the door unlocked. If you fall and crack your head on the tub, I want to be able to get to you.” She could barely stand straight; I’m not sure how the whole showering herself was going to work.

  Still, I knew I had to pick my battles and this one wasn’t one I had my heart set on winning. She was obviously trying to prove a point and I would let her do that. End result would be the same. Her. Me. In my bed. I half-carried her to my bedroom, stepping into the large en-suite and flicking on the overhead lights.

  “Here are some towels.” I placed them on the tub beside her. “You sure you don’t want me to stick around?” I gave her one last chance to think it through.

  “No, I’m good. I’ll only be a few minutes.” She yawned, leaning up against the bathroom sink. “Go!” She pointed to the door, slightly more awake than when we had walked in. Well at least now she wouldn’t drown.

  I begrudgingly walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I heard the spray of the water hitting the tiles of the bathroom stall as I made my way back into my bedroom. I laid out a pair of clean boxer shorts and my Ramones T-shirt on the chair in the sitting room between my bedroom and my closet. I figured she would work it out, having no other way to walk to get to the bed. I wasn’t going to risk pissing her off by barging in on her.

  I pulled off my clothes and shoes, leaving them in a pile in the corner. It had been a long-ass day for me, too, my sheets felt fucking amazing as I slid between them. My body relaxed between the layers of Egyptian cotton. No shit, as douchey as it sounded, you really could tell the difference between thread counts. I thought for sure the sales lady at Bed, Bath and Beyond was just flirting with me when she fed me that line.

  No crashing sound came from the bathroom, so I assumed Ashlyn was doing okay. I closed my eyes and tried to not think about the fact she was naked and wet not more than ten feet away. Fuck. I squeezed the bridge of my nose. This was not going well for me. The water shut off and I rolled to my side, figuring it was probably better she didn’t see the massive hard-on I was packing. I would keep my promise and not touch her but I couldn’t stop biology from happening.

  After what seemed to take forever, Ashlyn walked in, toweling off her hair. My Ramones shirt looked huge on
her tiny little body. I rolled onto my back to watch her. Fucking mesmerized by her.

  “Thanks for the clothes.” She shot me a smile that hit me square in the balls.

  “Don’t mention it.” No really, don’t mention it ’cause the more I think about her skin touching my stuff the more I was likely to combust.

  “They smell of you.” She slid into the bed beside me, her hair still wet. Her leg brushed up against me and I tried to remember to fucking breathe.

  “Is that a good thing? I promise they’re clean.”

  “Yeah, it’s a good thing. I like the way you smell.” She moved her face close to me on the pillow. I was struggling not to kiss her.

  A kiss should be okay though, ’cause I only promised no sex. Kissing was definitely allowed. I leaned and lightly touched her lips, my hand moving up her leg. The edge of the boxer shorts she was wearing hitting my fingertips as I moved up her thigh.

  “I like that your pussy is currently sitting where my junk used to be. Please tell me you aren’t wearing panties.” I couldn’t help grin. That thought alone almost made me come, hotter than imagining her in sexy lingerie.

  “Dan.” She smacked me across the chest. “You always have to take it that step too far.”

  “Ashlyn, I’m fucking dying here. I know you said no sex and I’m going to respect that, but you’re fucking beautiful. As far as my balls are concerned, I’m not taking it far enough.” I kissed her neck, slowly. I didn’t want to scare her off but there was no way I could not touch her, even if it was just with my lips.

  “You know, there are other things we can do other than sex.” She gave me a slow smile.

  My heart fucking stopped beating as I looked down at her, those gorgeous green eyes boring into me. “Yes, whatever it is, yes.”

  “You haven’t even heard what it is yet.” She giggled, scrunching up her nose. She had the tiniest freckles just below the bridge and fuck if that didn’t make her more adorable. I wanted her in whatever way she would let me have her.

  “I don’t care. Whatever you are suggesting I’m down for.” The realization of what I was saying hit me square in the nuts. I’d never wanted a woman enough to just have her any way she’d let me. Fuck, most of the time if the girl wasn’t down for what I was suggesting, there would be ten others waiting in line to take her place. But with Ash it was different, and apparently now I was different.