Sweet Solace (The Seattle Sound Series Book 1)

by Alexa Padgett

“You seem really hot and bothered.”

  “I am,” I moaned. “It’s been seven years.”

  He leaned back, his eyes shooting to mine. “You’re shitting me.”

  I bit my lip, shook my head. My inner muscles clenched tight. Oh, I’d missed this. “But I would’ve waited longer. For you.”

  His smile was slow and devious as he pushed up my skirt. I gripped his shoulders for balance as he dipped his head and pressed an open-mouthed kiss to my bare thigh. He rubbed his nose against my damp panties. “You smell good.”

  “Asher. Let’s go. Now.”

  I tried to push him back but he pressed his thumb against my clit again and my muscles tensed once more. “It’s dark here.”

  I whimpered as the last threads of my self-control unraveled.

  He rubbed in a slow, easy circle, a little harder each time. His other hand slid under my skirt to knead the supple flesh of my thigh. He kissed my stomach, his breath warm even through the material of my shirt.

  He tipped his head back and met my eyes. “Come for me, Dahlia. You’re not waiting longer.”

  He wasn’t just talking about release. He wanted this, me. The orgasm rippled through my stomach as my thighs quivered and my knees gave out. Asher held me up, palming my bottom cheek, his other hand still between my spread legs, soothing now to bring me down from the pleasure still blooming through my body.

  He stood and kissed me, his teeth and tongue urgent. I floated against him, open and willing.

  “My hotel room,” he growled. “Now.”

  30

  Asher

  Finally. Dahlia was mine. In the parking lot of the hotel, I held her close to my side, loving the way she fit against me. She smelled of smoke and salt and desire. I ran my hand down her back to the dip in her spine, pulling her even tighter against me. Her taste lingered on my lips. I quickened my pace, needing her sooner than now, cursing the distance to my room where I’d finally get her completely naked.

  The elevator ride up was quiet. I held her hand, rubbing my thumb against the thrumming pulse in her wrist. Two floors from mine, she stepped in front of me. “I can’t wait.”

  She leaned forward so her mouth touched mine. Her tongue slid across my bottom lip and then she moved down and nipped the cleft in my chin.

  My muscles coiled tight as I struggled against the urge to shove her against the back of the elevator and take her now. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. She walked out into the hallway, her skirt showing off those toned legs. I couldn’t follow fast enough.

  She stopped at the door to my room.

  “Where’s the key?”

  “Back pocket.”

  Her eyes traveled down to the bulge in my jeans. Her nostrils flared as she reached out, cupping my aching dick in one of her delicate hands as she pulled the key card from my pocket. I braced my hands on the doorframe, biting back a moan.

  She turned her body to slide the card into the slot, and I trailed kisses from her ear down her neck. She arched back, her breathing ragged. She opened the door and I grabbed her waist and spun her to face me, pulling her flush against my body.

  Stepping into the room, I slammed the door shut with the heel of my boot.

  I grabbed the hem of her skirt and whipped it down her legs. My hands moved to her top. Dahlia raised her arms.

  Her skin gleamed in the soft moonlight, and I couldn’t help but run my thumb across the swell of her breast, just above her bra. I bent down and kissed the hollow between her neck and her collarbone.

  “Asher.”

  “Right here.”

  I stepped back and nearly ripped the buttons of my shirt as I kicked off my boots. I tossed my shirt and jeans onto the growing pile of clothes. Once I was in my boxers, I picked Dahlia up. I grabbed the comforter from the bed and carried her to the terrace. I pulled my hand from behind her knees, letting her slide down my body.

  She wrapped her long leg around my waist to nestle against my erection. I pressed my lips to her throat, using my teeth to make my way back to her breasts, which rose and fell in a ragged rhythm.

  “I’m on the pill,” she said.

  “I’m clean,” I replied.

  She raised an eyebrow. “You damn well better be.”

  I laughed. I trailed my fingers down her stomach.

  “You singing tonight . . . I felt like you were singing just to me, and it was so sexy.”

  “I was singing to you,” I said. “And just so you know, it’s not the first time.”

  I brought my hand back to her breast, rubbing and rolling the soft flesh in my palm. Her tits were just big enough to fill my palm, her cleavage slight. I loved her spare build. She was delicate and light. Soft and hot. I loved that she was mine.

  She brought my head down and kissed me again. We tangled lips, tongues, and even teeth. My hands were in her long hair, my thumbs against her temples, cradling her head like I’d dreamed for months. No, years.

  “I want to take you here. I want to see the moon caressing your skin while I slide in and out of your body.”

  “Yes.”

  “Next time I’m going to lick across your stomach until you scream for me to be inside you.”

  “Yes,” she panted.

  “And after that I’m taking you in the shower, from behind.”

  “Oh, God.”

  “Then in the bed, slow and sweet as we wake from sleep, hands clasped as our bodies fit together, finding our rhythm.”

  “Asher,” she mewled.

  “Just wanted you to know the plan.” I stepped around her and dropped the comforter onto the lounge chair. I pushed her down onto the thick blanket, dropped my boxers, and slid on top of her.

  “Okay?” I asked. My tongue traced her jaw. Her fingers were in my hair, her hips tilted forward to cuddle me right where I needed to be touched.

  I shoved her panties to the side, too needy to take them off. Her flesh was plump, her clit still swollen. She leaned forward and bit my shoulder when I rubbed my fingers against her.

  “Hard and fast. Now.” I slid the tip of my cock into her. “Taking you like this, it’s about us now, Dahlia. I mean that.”

  She shifted her hips, pressing herself up onto my dick. I groaned as her warm flesh clung to mine.

  “Don’t you dare stop,” she said.

  I splayed my hands over her hips and slid into her. She arched upward, an inarticulate sound tearing from her throat. I pulled in and out of her wet heat. She held onto my neck, her lips just touching mine as we both breathed in time with my thrusts.

  I pulled back, looking down at our joined bodies. Moonlight danced over her skin and I licked the brightest line across her breast, pulling her taut nipple into my mouth. She hooked a knee over my hip and slammed her body up against mine. I hissed as my cock slid deep into her warmth. She held me there, making small needy sounds.

  “More, Asher. I need more.”

  I slid out and thrust back in hard. I needed to come. I moved one hand between her splayed legs and pressed against her clitoris as I pumped into her. She clenched around me, her whole body tight.

  “Harder,” she whispered.

  I pushed my hips against hers, my cock as deep as she could take me. She unwound just like she had on the beach, making breathy sounds against my lips. I thrust again and my balls tightened high and hard against my body. And I was coming into Dahlia’s welcoming heat.

  We lay there, breath ragged, as the moonlight kissed our sweat-slicked skin.

  “That was so good,” she said.

  “You damn near killed me.” I pulled out of her and smoothed her panties over her vulva. I couldn’t help but caress her there one more time. She shuddered against me.

  I kissed the top of her head, the moonlight reflecting off the thick strands of her hair. This was one of those perfect moments.

  I should’ve known it would be tainted somehow.

  31

  Dahlia

  I clasped Asher’s hand, and he rolled onto his
side, making sure I didn’t fall off the lounger. He settled his head on his palm and looked down at me, trailing his fingers over my collarbone then down to my breast.

  I hoped I measured up to his former lovers. Asher was much more experienced in love-play than I was, and I didn’t like the shyness or inadequacy creeping over me.

  “I don’t know how we’re going to make this work, but I need to see you more than once a month. I want to wake up next to you, Dahlia. I haven’t wanted that in a long time.”

  Warmth filled my chest, pushing away the needle-sharp pricks of fear. I slid closer and wound my arms around his neck. “Just what are you proposing?”

  “A relationship. Monogamous, mutually satisfying. If all our lovemaking is like that, I’m going to die a very happy man.”

  Apprehension prickled again, so I forced myself to ask, “Is that enough for you?”

  His large palm cupped my cheek, and he tilted my face to his. The silence grew as he studied me. “I know you can’t tour with me all the time, but I want you there, as much as possible. I want you to tell me about your writing while we cuddle in bed.”

  “Cuddle? You like to cuddle?” I giggled.

  He licked his way across my collarbone before pressing a kiss to the pulse at the base of my throat.

  “With you.”

  I inhaled, trying to stave off tears. This man. “Just when I think I know you . . .”

  “I want you happy,” he said. “I want to make sure you don’t have a reason to panic again.”

  “This right here is me blissed out.”

  He smiled, his teeth flashing white in the moonlight. “I’m glad. I want to keep you that way.” His face settled into a serious line. “I talked to Pete after I left Simon’s earlier. On the way to the venue. They pushed up the hearing to Monday. I have a final meeting with my law team tomorrow.”

  The prickles of apprehension condensed into a hard knot next to my heart. “What about Mason?” I kept still, waiting.

  “The pictures weren’t enough. She has her own—of us. Plus the story in the paper. One of her friends said she stayed with Mason at that cabin. I can keep fighting this, but it’ll drag out for months. I decided to give in to her demands. We’ll sign the documents on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. Then I’m done with that part of my life.”

  I searched his face. “Are you sure?”

  He shifted so his cheek was against his bicep. “As long as I get Mason, I can live with the agreement.” He was quiet as his finger slid along the slope of my breast. “I want to build a life with you. The kids get along well. I think we can make this work.” He met my gaze, his eyes clear. “I need us to work.”

  “I know it’s your decision, but I hate that she’s taking so much from you.”

  Asher’s fingers plucked at my nipples. “You’re thinking too hard right now.” He tugged at my panties, and I helped him slide them down my legs.

  I rolled over so I straddled him. My hair fell over both of us and he smiled as he brushed it back. His hands slid down my cheeks and back to my breasts.

  “You are gorgeous, Dahlia. Better than I imagined.”

  “How about you focus on your favorite parts of me for a few minutes then?”

  “Just a few?” he laughed.

  I giggled. “As long as you can last.”

  He groaned as I wrapped my fingers around his growing erection. “Not long if you keep doing that.”

  He pulled my head down and kissed me as I positioned my body to take him inside. He pulled me back up his chest and ran his tongue across my stomach before his teeth nibbled at my hip bone.

  He kissed and licked his way to my other hip.

  “I want you inside me again,” I moaned.

  “Once you scream my name.”

  His tongue delved into my belly button, making me giggle. I tugged at his hair, wanting to kiss him. He ignored my efforts and traced each of my ribs, his hands sliding up and down on my hips.

  “Asher,” I moaned.

  He lifted his head, eyes glittering. “Not good enough. I said scream.”

  I ran my hands over his shoulders, down the smooth muscles of his back. He chuckled against my stomach. “Scream first. Then your reward.”

  I dug my short nails into his back, and he grunted as he feathered kisses over my pubic bone.

  “Asher!”

  “Close enough,” he said as he slid me down, guiding his erection into me.

  I clasped his hands in mine and stared down at him, arching back against his raised knees.

  “I love you,” he whispered before his lips took mine in a deep kiss.

  I rocked my hips, reaching my lips toward his.

  We lost ourselves in the moment, and it was beautiful.

  I didn’t leave the hotel until we’d fulfilled Asher’s other requests. The shower. The bed. I was still smiling as I let myself into Ella’s house, hair damp, body sore and well loved.

  “Good night, darling?” Ella asked, eyes dancing.

  “Very,” I purred. “Everything fine here?”

  “Mmm. The kids are outside.” She passed me a cup of coffee. “Didn’t expect you for a while. If at all.”

  “Asher has a meeting with his lawyer in about an hour.”

  My phone beeped. I set my coffee cup on the counter and pulled it out.

  “Holy mother of God,” I whispered.

  “What?”

  I blinked, shook my head. “Jessica sent me a text. How did she get my number . . .”

  I could feel the tension building in my chest, forcing the air from my lungs. Ella plucked the phone from my hand.

  “That bloody stupid cow. I’m going to rip her hair out. It’s probably the only part of her that’s still real.”

  I sucked in a deep breath, trying to get enough air so my brain could function. “Why would she send me a text and say that to me?”

  Meet me in the lobby of the Fairmont. Unless you want the rest of the pictures released.

  The picture below was from last night on the beach. Asher was on his knees, looking up at me with so much love tears filled my eyes. That was supposed to be private—ours. Jessica had stolen that and was more than willing to leverage it for her own purposes.

  “And we watched her son for her,” Ella snarled. “How selfish can the bitch be?”

  “Where’s Briar?” I asked.

  “On the deck with the kids.”

  I raced out there, barely fitting through the sliding door in my haste. “I need your help,” I panted.

  Briar looked up, her face screwed up in a frown.

  “Get inside and change into real clothes. Hurry up!”

  “What the hell, Lia? You’re wound up so tight. I’m coming.”

  I practically shoved Briar into the bedroom we were sharing.

  Anxiety reared back up, trying to roll over me. Should I call Asher and tell him Jessica was trying to blackmail me?

  No time. I’d figure that out later. I ripped off my skirt and top. Running to my suitcase, I pulled out a pair of nice jeans and a spring sweater.

  “I need you to be sneaky like you used to be. I need you to film something for me.”

  “What? Are you crazy?”

  I showed her the text and explained my plan. She scratched her head, considering me. “It may work.”

  “It has to. Please, Bri. I need you to help me. I can’t let Asher lose Mason because of public opinion. I’m the other woman in these pictures. He told me he was going to sign over most of his money to her. And that’s still not enough. She’s still going to try to keep Mason. Just to hurt him.” My eyes filled with tears. “Think about if it was Abbi. I couldn’t stand not seeing her every day.”

  “I’m coming, too,” Ella said from the doorway.

  Abbi peeked out from behind her. “Me, too,” she said, her jaw set in stubbornness.

  “No, Abbi. This is sordid. Nasty.” I swallowed hard. “And very personal. I don’t want you to see or hear about this.”

 
Abbi moved into the room and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “Mom, I’ve waited a long time to see you happy. I’m seventeen. I don’t need you to protect me from everything. I can help deal with that lying b— er, witch’s butt.”

  “Damn straight,” Briar said. She pulled on her jeans and slid her feet into a pair of strappy sandals. “We’ll need Abs to make sure we get the whole thing covered.”

  “Simon will stay here with the boys,” Ella said.

  I nodded my thanks. “Time to move out, ladies. We’ll lay out the strategy while Ella drives.”

  My girls were all in their places. I’d forwarded each of them Jessica’s text, so they had the evidence in case something happened to my phone. I sucked in a breath, trying to calm my racing pulse. I really hoped Briar’s plan would work.

  Jessica strolled into the lobby in a halter-top sundress. Her makeup was as perfect as her hair. She wore an expensive watch—I wasn’t good with brand names—and a large diamond pendant. A man walked behind her, his eyes never leaving her swaying hips.

  He was somewhere between a lapdog and a rutting stag. His hair was thinning and light brown. I had no idea what color his eyes were because they were glued to Jessica’s rear. He had that middle-aged stomach fluff going on, but he was dressed in an expensive pair of slacks and a blue button-down. He looked familiar. Ah. Dale.

  I waited, hands clasped on opposite elbows, trying to look even more pathetic and panicky. Not hard when my hair had dried naturally and I wasn’t wearing any makeup.

  “So you’re Asher’s latest fling,” Jessica said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. I knew what she was thinking. Her eyes cleared when she decided I wouldn’t keep Asher’s interest.

  “You must be Jessica,” I said. “Mason’s mentioned you.”

  “I bet he has. Loves his mama, that sweet little boy.”

  She smiled, her eyes lit with pleasure. Did she actually want Mason?

  My anxiety spiked. Maybe I’d demonized her because on some level I considered her my enemy. I couldn’t be the reason a mom and son lost a connection, but neither could I let Asher lose custody of Mason. My chest clenched as the waves of panic rose.