Meredith squealed.
“Shhhhh.” Alice gripped Meredith by the arm and squeezed.
“Owwwww!” Her friend widened her eyes and pulled free from her grip.
“I told you to be quiet. I really don’t want this getting out. This isn’t like me.”
“You’re allowed to have a life you know. You’re allowed to have sex.”
“Shhhhh!” Alice looked around them, praying that no-one had heard. The door to the storage room was thin. The salon was small. “Still, I’d prefer it if it didn’t get out.”
“Fine. So what happened, he showed up and then, you guys …?” She waggled her brows.
“Pretty much. There wasn’t much time, so—”
“But it was good though?” She was so giddy she even jumped up and down as she asked the question.
Alice nodded and Meredith squealed. “I knew it. So you don’t regret it? You acted all mad that I gave him your address, but you didn’t mean it did you?”
“I did mean it.” Alice put her hands on her hips. “You can’t just go around giving strangers my address.”
“Admit it, you would have been mad if I hadn’t given that gorgeous shifter your details!”
“That’s not the point.”
“Yes, it is.” Meredith looked at her pointedly. “You would have been seriously pissed off. And I wouldn’t have blamed you. I could see that you had some serious regrets about leaving the Dark Horse alone.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Yeah, nothing,” Meredith said.
Alice rolled her eyes. “Okay, you’re right. You got me.”
Meredith laughed. “I knew it and it all worked out in the end.”
“Don’t do it again though.” She narrowed her eyes, pretending to look stern.
“I won’t unless of course, it’s another gorgeous shifter.”
“Like that’s going to happen.” They both laughed.
“So that’s one thing you can cross off your bucket list.”
Alice didn’t say anything. She still hadn’t decided yet whether or not she was going back the next month for a repeat.
“What is it?” Meredith looked at her like she was trying to look right into her. Like she was trying to read her mind.
Alice frowned. “Nothing. Why?”
“You were thinking something over just now. When I mentioned crossing ‘sex with a gorgeous shifter’ off of your bucket list.”
“It was never on my bucket list to begin with, so nothing to cross off.” Alice shrugged, trying to act cool about the whole thing.
“What’s going on?” Meredith narrowed her eyes.
“What, what?” Stay cool, Alice. “There’s nothing going on.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Meredith pressed.
Someone knocked on the storage room door and then opened it immediately after. Stephanie stuck her head around the jamb. “Your eleven-thirty is here, Alice.”
“Thank you,” she replied. Stephanie nodded once and walked away, leaving the door open.
“I’d better get going,” Alice said.
“Not so fast.” Meredith grabbed her upper arm, preventing her from leaving. “Spill the beans and do it now.”
Alice sucked in a deep breath, holding it in her lungs for a beat or two. “Ash kind of invited me to the Dark Horse again next month.”
Meredith shrieked.
“Be quiet, dammit!” Alice whispered under her breath.
“Please tell me that you’re going.” Meredith grabbed both her hands and squeezed tightly. “Please, oh please, just tell me that you’re going.”
Alice smiled, she could feel tension coiling inside herself. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“You have to go,” Meredith whispered.
“I’ll think about it. I need to get to my eleven-thirty.” She tugged out of Meredith’s hold. Thing was, if she didn’t go, she knew she would regret it, but if she did go, she might regret it also. The question was, which would she regret more? The going or the not going?
6
One month later …
What the hell was she doing there again?
She must be completely off her rocker. What if he had forgotten all about her? What was she thinking, he probably had. Make that, he definitely had. She pulled in a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before letting it out. Since when did she lack confidence? This was silly. All of it was. They’d been together a month ago, of course Ash was going to remember her. The guy had invited her here. It hadn’t been the other way around. He had stalked her. Not the other way around either.
What she wasn’t going to do was look around obsessively, or pull down on her skirt, which was a tad shorter than she normally wore. She wasn’t going to obsess over her hair, or make-up, or her outfit any longer. What she was going to do was have fun. So what if he was here, so what if he wasn’t? It didn’t even matter if he was here with another woman. Even though her stomach tightened into a knot, she ignored it. Alice didn’t give a shit. It wasn’t like that between them anyway. What she was going to do was make the most of being here. Meredith and Bella were on the dance floor, somewhere, so she wasn’t alone. This was going to work out just fine.
She took a big long sip of her drink. Feeling better already. Oh shit! There he was. Their eyes locked and recognition flared in his. Alice quickly looked away, feigning disinterest. Had that been the start of a grin on his lips? Her heart beat faster.
Alice smelled him before she saw him. Hints of sandalwood, notes of pine and a good solid dose of man. Seriously masculine, clean, delicious. Not reacting! She could also feel his heat radiating off him. Not looking! Absolutely not looking! Even though she wanted to and badly. Then he was there, right there at her side, his mouth at the shell of her ear. “Let’s get out of here.”
She had to suppress a laugh or at the very least a smile. She didn't know very much about this man, but this was typical nonetheless. “Not even a hello?"
“What’s the point?”
“It’s good manners.”
“Hello,” he breathed out the word, it tickled against the sensitive shell of her ear. Her nipples tightened, and her skin broke out into goosebumps. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Thanks, but no. I’m not interested.” She turned and walked away, her bottom lip between her teeth. Would he follow? She sure as nuts hoped so.
His grip tightened around her elbow. He used the slightest pressure to turn her around so that she faced him. She'd forgotten how gorgeous he was. From the darkness of his eyes to his full lips. He wore another one of those collared shirts, black this time. Black looked good on the man, especially with the thick stubble across his jaw.
“Is that how it’s going to be?” He released her, folding his arms. She watched in fascination as his shirt pulled tight around his chest and biceps. He was huge in every way. Alice wanted to agree to everything. She wanted to beg him to throw her over his shoulder and to have his wicked way with her. Then she noticed the gleam in his eyes and the way the one edge of his mouth curled up at the corner ever so slightly. Ash was loving every second of this. He seemed to like that she was putting up a fight, even if they both knew it was an act.
Alice nodded. “Yes, this is how it’s going to be, seeing as I don’t even know you. Do you really think I’d leave with a complete stranger?” Utter nonsense and they both knew it.
“You know my name,” he said, his voice a rasp. Ash leaned in and gripped her arm again, his check brushed against hers, his stubble catching. It felt remarkably soft. “Even more to the point, you know how I feel inside you. Deep inside.”
Holy hotness. Her panties flooded with wet just as her mouth dried up. What the hell did she say to that? “Doesn’t count,” she blurted, her voice a bit shrill.
“What do you mean it doesn’t count?” He pushed out a deep breath. “Of course it counts.”
“That was then and this is now.” She paused. “You just automatically assume that I
It must have worked because his grip on her tightened. “You damn well better be here for me.” His jaw tightened as well. Ash went from sexy to sexy overloaded and in minus three-seconds flat. He looked pissed, and for some reason it made her feel good seeing him all tied up in knots. She got the feeling it didn’t often happen to a guy like him.
“Well, I’m not here for you.” Alice fought the urge to laugh. The look on his face was just that comical. Instead, she turned and walked away and almost crashed straight into another shifter. At least he looked like a shifter to her. He was tall, although not as tall as Ash. He was broad, although not nearly as broad as Ash. He would probably be considered more good-looking than Ash, only she didn’t find him nearly as sexy. Not even close.
The shifter craned his neck and looked down at her, his blue eyes lighting up with what looked like interest. “Hello, human.” He smiled. “Were you looking for me?”
She really shouldn’t, considering she could feel Ash’s presence behind her but she couldn’t help herself. “Yes, I think I may have been.”
The shifter grinned broadly. “Good. I’m glad to hear it. My name is—”
“Step away from the human,” Ash growled. It was an honest to god growl from somewhere deep inside his throat.
“Oh, I didn’t realize that she was with you.” He inclined his head for a moment. “My sincerest apologies.”
“I’m not with him.” It just came out. She could feel Ash move behind her. Could hear his sharp intake of breath. Alice wasn’t sure why she said it. Maybe it was the need to establish boundaries. She’d stayed far away from sex because she feared all the shit that came along with it.
The blue-eyed shifter frowned, he looked from Ash, who was standing right behind her, back to Alice, and then back again. His frown grew deeper. “I'm not sure—”
He let the sentence die. Alice half expected the shifter to walk away but he didn’t, he just stood there staring at her. Interest flaring in his eyes. She was just about to take a step back when Ash growled a second time, this time much lower and deeper. It was aggressive sounding. She’d even go so far as to say possessive. She shouldn’t like the way that he had reacted, but she did. Maybe even a little too much.
“The female is here with me. Don't make me repeat myself.” Definitely pissed.
The blue-eyed shifter’s face seemed to pale before her eyes, he didn't say anything, simply turned on his heel and walked away. It made her wonder who Ash was. Was it his sheer size that was so intimidating, because he was bigger than most of the shifters? Or, was it something else? A shiver of excitement rippled down her spine. She shouldn’t be enjoying this so much.
She turned to face him, narrowing her eyes at him. “You don’t own me, you know. Just because we had sex once doesn’t mean—”
“You shouldn’t play games. You’re liable to get someone hurt.” His eyes were dark, so intense they took her breath away. “Now, admit you are here for me … for my cock,” he quickly added, “and not for anyone else.”
“And if I don’t?” She couldn’t help herself. It was like goading him had become her new favorite thing. There was a definite air of danger surrounding Ash. He knew what he wanted and what he wanted was her. She couldn’t help it that it excited her. “What if I still maintained that I wasn’t here for you?” She didn’t plan to.
His nostrils flared and his throat worked. “I will have to put you over my lap and spank you. I’ll spank your ass until your pussy is glistening wet. Until it’s running down your thighs and then I’ll fuck you right here in front of everyone.”
Her chest rose and fell in quick succession. Her eyes felt huge in her head. Her heart beat faster. Much faster. She could feel her pulse jumping at the base of her neck. Her armpits felt clammy. By now, her panties were soaking wet. If her nipples got any tighter, she would be able to cut glass with them. She had never been this turned on in her whole life. She licked her lips, preparing to deny it all. She even started shaking her head but stopped.
Ash’s eyes narrowed and the edge of his lips curled up into a half-smile that had her holding back a groan. “Oh my fuck!” he whispered, then he breathed out through his nose, leaning in, his chest against hers. His cheek against hers. “You like the idea of that, don’t you? You like the idea of me hitching your skirt and fucking you in front of everyone?” She heard him sniffing. She felt the soft panting noises he was making, right between her legs. “You’re so aroused right now, you can’t think straight, can you?”
There was no use denying it. Even though a part of her wanted to just to see what his reaction would be. “Yes.” The word sounded breathy and needy.
“It wouldn’t take much to make you come would it?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“You need to come right now, I’m right aren’t I?”
Alice gripped his shirt, feeling his hard chest beneath her fingers. “Yes.”
“Would you prefer my hand, my mouth or my cock?”
Oh god! This wasn’t happening. Ash pulled back and his dark eyes bore into hers. Since when had breathing become optional? How the hell did she answer that? Was he serious?
“This is not the time to be shy, sweetheart. Tell me what you want.”
“Your cock,” she whispered.
“Done.” The way he said the word almost had her coming. Ash gripped her hand and led her through the masses of people. He stood tall, jaw clenched. The crowd seemed to part before him.
“The exit is that way,” she tried to yell above the noise, pointing behind them. Music blared. Where was he taking them?
He didn’t answer with words, just squeezed her hand and kept walking. They reached some kind of hallway. There was a sign that read ‘Staff Only.’ After looking left and right, Ash walked down the hall.
Alice looked back over her shoulder. “But we can’t—”
“Don’t lose your nerve now.” His voice was deep and no-nonsense. His hand hot against hers. Ash pushed her against the wall and pressed himself against her. “You said you wanted to come, right now and on the end of my cock. I’m about to make that happen.”
“Um … okay.”
That half-smile popped out of hiding. “Alright then.” He continued walking, then stopped at the first door they reached. He opened the door and pushed her inside. Within seconds, there was a click and the light came on. They were in some sort of storage room. Shelves were lined with bottles of alcohol of all different kinds. There were filled crates on the floor and beer boxes stacked in the far corner. There was also a freezer.
Ash gripped her hips and lifted her easily, her butt landing on the freezer. “I take it you do this often?” He seemed to know his way around.
Ash put a hand on either side of her, he leaned in and kissed her neck until he reached her ear. Then he took her lobe into his mouth and nipped. Alice moaned.
“Nah. I’ve never been back here before. Never been so out of my mind for a female before either.”
The knowledge made her feel really good, even though this was just sex and nothing more. Heck, Ash hadn’t even asked her how she was. He hadn’t said anything about the weather. The guy made it infinitely clear why he was there. Why they were there. Just sex. That’s it.
He cupped her breasts and squeezed lightly through the material of her shirt. Then he ran his thumbs over her nipples. Alice moaned again.
Ash cursed softly. “I’m going to make you come and then we’re getting out of here. I want you naked.”
“Sounds good to me.” Her words were strained.
“Want to taste you,” he said as he lifted her skirt up around her hips. “Stick my tongue inside you.”
She made a sound of agreement but couldn’t actually say anything since he was shoving her underwear aside and sliding a finger over her clit. She groaned softly.
“Put your legs over my shoulders.” He pulled at the clasp on his jeans.
“I’m not sure …” she objected, stopping as he lifted them and slid them over his shoulders. Just like he said. Easy peezy. His finger kept up it’s strumming on her clit. Alice put her hands behind her and leaned back on them. Her eyes felt like they might have gone back in their sockets as well as he kept up the slip and slide over that bundle of nerves. There was a soft tearing noise and by the movement Ash made she was sure he was sliding the condom onto himself. Then he was pushing into her, one finger still on her clit. He was big. Very big, but she was oh so very wet. Within a few thrusts, he was balls deep.
“Fucking amazing,” Ash rumbled as he thrust in and out of her. His skin looked taut. He was frowning heavily.
She was crying out with every thrust. How could she not? It was that good right from the start. Her orgasm right there already. That feeling starting to take residence deep inside her.
Ash had this look on his face. Tense, angry … so damned hot that she could barely breathe. “Shhhh,” he soothed as he bent down, closing his mouth over hers, eating up her moans.
Then his thumb was between them, pressing on her clit. Ash fucked her hard and fast. She could hear the music, the people. All of it. Anyone could walk in at any time. Anyone would catch them fucking like animals.
His thumb suddenly moved. Rub, rub and she was tickets. Ash swallowed up her cries. He groaned, jerking into her. His other hand held her in place. He slowed down. Easing in and out until he stopped moving completely, letting her legs off of his shoulders but staying inside her. He pulled her close, holding onto her for a few seconds before letting her go.
She could barely catch her breath. Ash removed the condom. He tied it off and threw it in a nearby trash can. Then he pulled up his pants, tucked himself away and did them up.
Alice felt a bit fumbly from having come so hard. Her skirt was bunched up around her hips. She was still breathing hard. Probably looked like a hot mess but she couldn’t find it in herself to care. He walked back over to her, since she was still on the freezer. “You okay?” He gripped her around the waist.
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