* * *
Adam took the bottle of beer Ashley handed him, then watched her sit down across from him with her glass of soda. She looked so pretty in her snug jeans and floral top that accentuated her full breasts, revealing just enough cleavage to be alluring but not blatantly sexy.
Except she was always sexy to him.
“So how do we start this time?” he asked.
“I’m not really sure. Maybe I could just direct you to clean the apartment.” She smiled. “The carpets could use vacuuming.”
“I think I’d just take the punishment then.”
“So that’s how it’s going to be? If you don’t like what I suggest, then you’ll just disobey? How will I learn that way?”
He laughed. “I suppose once you really have the hang of it, you’ll be able to overcome my willful disobedience.”
“Yeah, thanks. I think I need a little more cooperation while I’m learning.”
“All right. Why don’t we do like last time and repeat what you did with your mentor.”
His smile faded as her cheeks blossomed a deep rose tone and she glanced away, taking a quick sip of her soda.
Fuck, she’d had sex with Dare. Adam’s stomach clenched at the thought. God damn it, he’d kissed her the last time they were together, giving him the perfect opportunity to pursue a relationship with her, but he’d fucking backed off. Now she was fucking Dare.
Dare, of all people!
Jealousy blazed through him.
“Ash, are you getting involved with this guy?”
She curled her legs close to her body. “I don’t know.” She compressed her lips. “I mean, no, not really.”
“You don’t sound very sure.”
“I don’t really want to talk to you about this.”
“Why? I thought we were friends.”
She glanced at him, their gazes connecting for a second, then she tore hers away. But for that brief moment, he thought he saw a need in her eyes. Could it be that she wanted their relationship to be more than it was, too?
She placed her glass on the table and sat up straight. “You’re right. You are my friend and there’s no reason we can’t talk about this.” She looked at him. “I find him attractive. And we … uh … slept together. But he says it will only last as long as he’s in town, which is only another month.”
Adam’s gut clenched. Even though he’d already figured it out, hearing her admit that she’d had sex with the man had a profound effect on him.
He was relieved that Dare didn’t want a long-term relationship with her, but the thought of him touching her, even for a temporary tryst, was sheer torture.
“So break it off, Ash.”
“What?”
“Stop seeing him. Continuing will only be harder on you when it ends, and if he doesn’t see a future for the two of you, why put yourself through it?”
She stared at him, her face drawn tight with determination. “No, I’m not willing to do that.”
Damn it, she was falling for him. He could see it in her eyes.
Fuck, was he going to lose her before he even had her?
He understood the pitfalls of pursuing a relationship with her, but … Fuck, the thought of never holding her in his arms or feeling her sweet body pressed to his—never being buried in her velvety depths—made him ache. He wanted to guide her to the blissful ecstasy of complete surrender where she left herself totally vulnerable to him. He wanted to own her, body and soul, and to show her the sweet release only he could give her.
He stood up and walked toward her, then took her hand and pulled her to her feet. Then she was in his arms and his mouth was covering hers. She stiffened at first, clearly in shock at his action, then she relaxed, her soft body melting against him. His tongue nudged against the seam of her mouth and she opened.
The feel of the velvety warmth of her mouth sent his need rocketing. He glided his tongue deep into her and she … God, she sucked on it, drawing it deeper.
He pulled her closer, his growing cock squeezed tight between their bodies.
She must have felt it, because she flattened her hands on his chest and pressed. He immediately eased back. But he didn’t release her from his embrace.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “When we kissed last time … You already told me you don’t want me.”
“Don’t want you? Fuck, Ash, I’ve wanted you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.” His lips brushed hers in a light kiss, determined to convince her.
“But you said you were worried about the fact you’re older than me. And it’ll be complicated because you’re my boss.”
He stroked her hair back. “Maybe I’ve just been an idiot. Maybe none of that matters.”
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
He cupped her head then drew her face to his and took her lips with passion. When he released them, she was breathless.
She smiled.
“I can’t believe it. I’ve wanted you for such a long time.” She stroked his cheek, her hand soft against his whisker-roughened skin. Her big, blue eyes were filled with joy and she leaned closer. Her sweet mouth beckoned and he brushed his lips to hers. She opened, then glided her tongue into his mouth. He sucked it lightly at first, then harder, pulling it deeper. His hands wandered down her back, then he pulled her tight to him as their tongues tangled.
Her breasts heaved against him and his cock swelled thicker.
“God, I want you, sweetheart. I want to drag you into the bedroom and overwhelm your senses until you surrender to me completely.”
He could feel her shiver in his arms.
“Oh, yes, Adam. I want that, too.”
He couldn’t believe this was really happening. He was about to have his dream come true.
He grabbed her hand and led her to the bedroom.
“Wait! What about Dare?”
“What about him?”
She tugged his hand back and he stopped and turned to her.
“Adam, as much as I want this, you’ve got to understand … I’m not willing to walk away from Dare.”
His jaw clenched and he coiled his hand in her hair and tugged her head back, exposing her neck. He pressed his lips to her throat and nuzzled, delighted at her gasp of pleasure, then he nipped her skin.
“But you’re willing to walk away from me?” His hand stroked down her spine and he pressed it flat to the small of her back and he pulled her tightly to him. His hard, swollen cock dug into her belly. “I can leave you a melting puddle on the floor.”
She gazed up at him with wide eyes, desire heating the blue depths.
“I believe you.”
“So it’s settled.”
She pressed against his chest, forcing distance between them. “No, it’s not. It’s only fair for me to be honest with you, Adam. Dare’s here for another month and I’m going to keep seeing him as long as I can.” She bit her lip as she gazed up at him. “After that, then we could—”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Are you really asking me if I’ll wait?”
She didn’t answer, but the hope in those wide blue eyes told him that’s exactly what she was asking.
He gritted his teeth, staring deep into her eyes as if he could convince her to change her mind by sheer force of will, but it became clear she wasn’t going to. Finally, he released her and stepped back.
“I’m sorry, Adam. I don’t want to risk losing your friendship, or the chance for us to explore a relationship between us.”
He glared at her. “But that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
* * *
Ashley knocked on Dare’s door. A moment later, he opened it.
“What are you doing here, Ashley? Our session isn’t until Friday.”
“I know, I…” She sucked in a breath. “I had a fight with … my friend.”
He held the door wide. “Come in.”
She scooted into his elegant foyer. He closed the door behind her, then when he turned to her, she stepped into his arms.
“Would you like to stay here tonight?”
She nodded, her head resting against his chest, hearing his heart beating. And hating herself for hoping he’d sweep her into his bed and show her the same passionate loving he had the last time they were together.