“Shelby will try to analyze him.”
Emmy handed me a floaty pink blouse. Pink? Really? Sighing, I pulled it on and stood in awe. She really was amazing. It actually looked good.
“So? Shelby analyzes everyone. It’s her thing. That’s not a reason to keep him under wraps. What’s going on?”
I stuck my head out of the dressing room. “I really like Kyle.”
“You said that.”
“I don’t want to mess this up.”
“That’s half a sentence. What’s the rest of it?”
Emmy knew me better than anyone.
“What if you meet Kyle and you love him but then the relationship doesn’t work out?”
“Do you think we’ll blame you? It takes two to tango. What is this really about, Ash?”
This time Emmy stepped into the dressing room with me as a few people were beginning to take note of our discussion and listening in. The one time people weren’t looking at their phones…
“What’s going on?” she asked again, but this time her voice was hushed. “I’ve never seen you like this. You’ve really fallen for him.”
I had and it scared me to death.
“We’re so different,” I finally replied. “How can this work?”
“Because you want it to?”
“That’s not enough.”
“Can I just say that your grandmother has really done a number on you? She’s so militant about those that don’t believe what she believes. That cuts out half of the population. That’s a lot of people, Ash. If you want something bad enough, you work for it.” Emmy leaned back against the full-length mirror. “Isn’t that what you’ve always said? You and Kyle might hit more rough patches but if it’s good it will be worth it. My feeling, though, is that you’ve already decided that it’s not going to work and are just waiting for it all to fall apart.”
“It’s almost too wonderful. When is reality going to smack us in the face?”
“It will when you least expect it but enjoy the wonder of new love while you can. It doesn’t last forever.”
“It didn’t for my grandmother.”
Emmy’s brows shot up. “What do you mean?”
“She and my grandfather are divorced.”
“I take it they had a nasty breakup?”
I nodded. “Gran always said that my grandpa was too different from her. That they didn’t agree on anything. By the time I came to live with her, they’d just divorced. He remarried about a year later.”
I’d seen him less and less after that until I stopped seeing him altogether. Gran hadn’t encouraged it and he’d been busy with his new family.
“And that’s why you’re so freaked out about you and Kyle. You think history is going to repeat itself.”
“Yes, I’m so much like my grandmother.”
“But you are not her,” Emmy said. “She made her decision and you are free to make your own. Listen, do you like Kyle?”
I did. So very much.
“I do.”
“Do you think you could fall in love with him?”
Easily.
“Yes.”
“Does he have some terrible habits? Does he smoke and blow it in your face? Does he flirt with waitresses and ignore you all evening? Does he run up wild tabs at expensive restaurants and expect you to pay the bill? These are all things that have happened to me, by the way.”
“He would never do any of that to me.”
Emmy rolled her eyes and sighed. “Then for the love of all that’s good and holy, give yourself – and him – a break. Just relax and enjoy yourself. This might work out and it might not, but if it doesn’t it may not be because he’s a tech guy and you hate cell phones. It might be for far different reasons that you can’t even fathom right now until you get to know each other better. He might cut his toenails in the kitchen. That would be a deal breaker for me.”
Giggling at the image my friend had conjured, I was feeling somewhat better. “That’s disgusting.”
“Damn right, it’s disgusting. So don’t assume that you know how you and your man are going to end. If you’re lucky, all his bad habits won’t be hygiene related.”
“You always make so much sense. How do you do it?”
Emmy gave me a smug smile. “I’m notoriously practical, almost annoyingly so. I consider it a gift. Now what do you think of that pink blouse?”
“I think it’s perfect. You were right again.”
I wanted to believe that Emmy was right about everything, and that Kyle and I were going to be fine.
Relax and enjoy it. I could do that.
* * *
Kyle
George and I were supposed to be going through the budget for the next fiscal year. It was a bright and cold Monday morning and he’d brought over coffee and donuts as usual. We’d spread all the paperwork out on the coffee table while Sam snoozed on his doggie bed by the fireplace. I should have been concentrating on work, but my mind was elsewhere.
Specifically? On Ashlyn, and even more specifically on the invitation I received.
George pointed to a line item on the page in front of me. “So I’m thinking that the marketing budget should be a thousand percent of revenue.”
Wait…what?
“What did you say?”
“Were you actually listening?” George smirked. “Because you’ve been a million miles away all morning. I suggested that everyone get thirty percent raises and you agreed. I’m going to hold you to that. At least for me. What is going on in your head? It’s a woman, isn’t it? It’s always a woman. Einstein wasn’t distracted by women.”
“Einstein was a horn dog. They say he slept with Marilyn Monroe.”
“Mozart?”
“A party animal.”
“Da Vinci?”
“It was the Renaissance, dude.”
“Tesla?”
“A major germaphobe and obsessed with the number three. So…no. But let’s not forget Picasso or Hemingway. They had a few distractions of the female variety.”
“So what’s your story?”
Did I want to talk about it? Why not? George wasn’t married or in a long-term relationship, but he might have some insight into the situation.
“Things have been going great with Ashlyn.”
I’d never felt this strongly for a woman in my life, but I wasn’t about to admit that to George.
“Is that a problem?”
“Not in the least. I was simply setting the stage. Anyway, things have been terrific. She’s an amazing woman.” I leaned back on the sofa, resting my head on the stuffed cushion. “She’s invited me to a board game night with her friends.”
“I’ll ask the same question. Is that a problem? I would think it would be a good thing. She likes you enough to introduce you to her friends. You’ve made it past the first hurdle. Good for you.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting her friends,” I assured him. “They sound like interesting people. But I kind of wonder…if maybe…this is some sort of test.”
“Test?”
“You know, do I pass muster? Will they be evaluating me? What if they don’t like me?”
George snorted and Sam raised his head from his pillow. “Everyone likes you. Especially females. You’re all charm and smiles when you’re supposed to be socially awkward and introverted. I bet Isaac Newton was socially awkward.”
“I have no idea. You should Google that.”
“Seriously, you’re thinking too much about this. Stop analyzing it all. That’s your problem, you know. You analyze everything to death.”
“That is definitely not my problem.”
“It is this time. Just go and have a good time. Aren’t you the tiniest bit interested in her friends and what they’re like?”
I was. It would give me more insight into Ashlyn. I was in that phase of falling in love where I wanted to know every single thing about her down to her shoe size and what color the flecks were around the iris of her eyes.
Gray and gold.
“We should get you a woman, George. You’re alone too much. That’s your problem.”
He shook his head. “My problem is that my boss is a workaholic and I never get any time off. Women don’t like that.”
“You should ask for a raise.”
“I already did. I’m getting thirty percent this year.”
Shit. I really needed to focus when George was around.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ashlyn
Never play Trivial Pursuit with a genius. Words to live by.
Kyle trounced all of us. It wasn’t even close. He knew the answer to every single stinkin’ question and the answers to all of our questions as well. I had never felt so stupid in my entire life. I have no idea what we were thinking choosing this game. We were tired of Monopoly. We’d played Uno last month. And Mia and Josh had most of the really good games at her place but since she was in Scotland at the moment we had limited choices. If I’d thought ahead I would have stopped at Target, but clearly I hadn’t thought this through.
It didn’t take him long to kick our asses, either. He’d won just as the pizzas arrived. Good timing. We could drown our sorrows in melted cheese. I filled my plate with pizza and topped up my giant margarita. Shelby was playing bartender. She’d made ’em strong and yummy.
Kyle and I sat on the floor in the living room with our dinner plates on the coffee table. I took a huge bite and hummed in appreciation. It was delicious. I’d been looking forward to this all day long. All I’d had to eat all day was a bagel in the morning and a package of cheese crackers in the afternoon.
In fact, it might have been a mistake to drink tequila on an empty stomach. The room wasn’t spinning or anything, but I was happy to be seated instead of standing. I need to eat pronto.
“I’m really sorry,” Kyle said softly into my ear. He smelled so good tonight. As always. I was already thinking about dragging him back to his place and having my wicked way with him.
Emmy had urged me to enjoy myself.
“What are you sorry for?”
“For winning.”
His gaze ran over my friends, who were also find a seat and settling down to eat. Shelby was there, of course, and Brad for once wasn’t on the phone. He was acting all pouty while sitting on the recliner in the corner. He didn’t like to lose. Emmy was there as well with her current boyfriend Mark, who was an art professor at the local university. He’d taken losing quite well, laughing it off. I was kind of hoping Emmy and Mark might become serious about one another. They appeared to be well-matched and he was an all-around nice guy.
“It’s not your fault you’re so smart. They know that. Don’t worry about it. We should have played gin rummy or poker.”
He shook his head. “Don’t ever play poker with me.”
“Why?”
“Just don’t. Trust me on this.”
Okay… I wasn’t a huge fan of poker anyway, so it was no great loss.
“You and Mark seem to be getting along well.”
“He’s a good guy.”
I took a sip of my margarita, loving the burn of the tequila and the tartness of the lime. Why didn’t I drink these more often? There was a pleasant warmth in my abdomen and I was feeling especially serene and mellow. I leaned close to Kyle, tugging at his shirt sleeve.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
My lips were so close to his ear I could have reached out with my tongue and taken a swipe at it. I was sorely tempted and had to concentrate on all the reasons I shouldn’t do it. There didn’t seem to be too many. I took a deep breath of his scent and a shiver went up my spine. Did I mention how good he smelled?
“You can, but should you?”
I leaned even closer, my gaze landing on Brad who had – surprise, surprise – pulled out his phone. Kyle wouldn’t do that. At least he never had when I was around.
“You are getting so lucky tonight.”
His brows shot up almost to his hairline and a grin spread across his face. “I am? What did I do to deserve that? I want to know so I can keep doing it.”
“Everyone likes you. I didn’t know how this was going to go,” I confessed, my tongue loosened by tequila. “But my friends wanted to meet you.”
“Your friends are nice people, honey. I’m glad they like me because I like them.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over mine. He tasted of garlic and beer. “Can I tell you a secret? I was nervous about meeting your friends. I thought this might be a test of some sort.”
“You’re good at tests,” I snorted. “You would have aced it.”
His expression sobered. “Was it? A test, I mean?”
“Maybe a little. I wanted them to like you, but if they didn’t it wouldn’t have changed my mind.”
My gaze rested on Brad again. I’d never told another living soul – not even Emmy – but I didn’t like him. I thought Shelby could do better.
His gaze followed mine and he nodded. “Ah, I see. You’ve never said anything?”
“Never in a million years,” I replied fervently. “It’s not for me to decide. If she’s happy then I’m happy for her. I think that’s how my friends feel, too.”
“Are you happy, Ashlyn Hill?”
There was hope in those eyes. Silly man…couldn’t he tell?
“More than I ever thought I could be. Now eat your pizza so I can make an excuse and get us out of here. You’re getting lucky.”
And so was I.
* * *
Kyle
We hit the door of her house like we were storming the beaches at Normandy. All the way there Ashlyn had teased me, running her hands up my thigh until my cock had a permanent imprint from the zipper on my jeans. By the time the door swung shut behind us and she’d flipped the lock on the door, I was ready to explode.
I had to have her. Now.
Later, I’d spend all night lavishing every inch of her flesh with attention but at the moment my only goal was to get inside of her as soon as possible.
Despite the freezing temperatures of February I was boiling from the inside out. This sexy, sweet, maddening woman had made me crazier than I’d ever been and we were never going to make it to the bedroom. For a split second I pondered the possibilities of the couch or the kitchen counter, but Ashlyn had already made the decision for me. Backing up against the foyer wall, she grabbed the front of my shirt and jerked me toward her. She didn’t have to pull hard because I was more than willing.
Hell, I pressed her against the wall until I could feel every inch of her against every aching hard inch of me. One hand slid up under her skirt to the satiny soft skin of her thigh while the other dived into her silky tresses, tangling in her golden curls so I could tilt her head up and further plunder those lips that never ceased to drive me absolutely wild. I was falling so hard and so fast for this tiny little female and for the first time in my life I didn’t fight it, content to jump off the cliff and see where I landed.
Burying my face in the fragrant hollow of her neck, I nipped at the sensitive flesh and then ran my tongue over the love bites. Ashlyn trembled in my arms and I was shaking as well, my senses overcome with pure desire.
The temperature in the room had to have gone up at least twenty degrees and our skin was now damp with sweat. My questing fingers slipped under the edge of her panties and I almost roared with anticipation and triumph. Wet and hot, my finger plunged into her as my thumb strummed her clit. A gasp and then a moan escaped from her lips as she clawed at the zipper on my pants. She was as desperate as I was.
Reaching between us, I yanked my fly down and pushed my jeans low on my hips along with my jockey shorts. My cock sprang free and her hand immediately wrapped around it, drawing a tortured groan from my throat. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I sucked oxygen into my starved lungs. Ashlyn literally took my breath away. I’d always thought that saying was silly but here I was…
Her talented fingers danced up and down my shaft and I simply couldn’t take i
t anymore. Reaching under her bottom with my left arm, I hiked her up and braced her against the wall as I pushed her skirt up as well. The crotch of her panties was no barrier and easily set aside. I thrust into her, her heat surrounding me snug and tight.
Ashlyn’s head was thrown back, her eyes heavy-lidded. Her hair was a tangled mess, her skin shiny with sweat, and her lips swollen from the ferocity of our kisses.
I’d never seen a more beautiful woman. She was perfection and – right now – she was all mine.
Our coupling was fast and not romantic in the least. We grunted and groaned in an indelicate manner, Ashlyn’s voice was hoarse as she urged me to fuck her harder. Her hands had burrowed under my sweater and her nails dug into the skin on my shoulders, the small pain no match for the immeasurable pleasure of being so deeply inside of her.
The pressure in my lower back had built to a painful level but I needed Ashlyn to go over first. Insinuating my fingers between our bodies I found her clit, swollen and ready. It only took a few flicks of my fingers and she was soaring into the stars with me following quickly after.
My toes curled and my teeth gritted together as my climax singed all of the nerve endings in my spine. I had to lock my knees to keep from falling into a boneless, mindless heap on the floor, but somehow I managed to keep both of us from spraining something vital. Our breathing was ragged and labored but we were both wearing goofy grins on our faces. I couldn’t see mine, but I could feel it.
Euphoria. That’s what it was. We were both high on endorphins. I wanted to do this six times a day for the rest of my damn life.
“Well…that escalated quickly,” she whispered, her lips against the sensitive skin of my jaw. I pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead and then her lips, scraping her damp hair back from her cheek.
“It did. Want to do it again? Maybe in a more comfortable location?” I let her feet slide to the floor, but I kept a hold of her in case her legs gave out. “After proper rehydration, of course.”
“Of course.” She fiddled with the hem of my sweater, her fingertips brushing my skin and sending arrows of heat straight to my groin. It was like I was a horny teenager again. “Meet me in the bedroom?”
Tease Him (ManTrap Book 2) Page 11
