Into The Fire (10 page)

He tilted his head slightly. “Come on, you
know you want it.”

“Arrogance isn’t attractive to me.”

“But confidence is.” He leaned further over
the table. “Come on, I want it and so do you.”

“This relationship is strictly
professional.”

“Yeah?” he asked sarcastically. “Why did you
invite me over for dinner then?”

I didn’t even know. “We’re friends, aren’t
we?”

“Maybe we can be friends with benefits.”

I needed to get a grip. “I have a contract I
have to abide by.”

“Fuck the contract,” he snapped. “You think I
give a damn about a thin piece of paper? We’ll keep it between
us.”

“It’ll make everything weird later on.”

“Why?” he asked. “We both know what this is.
You know it’s meaningless and I don’t do the girlfriend thing. And
I know you think I’m an arrogant jackass that doesn’t understand
boundaries. Why can’t two adults just have a passionate night with
no strings attached? It’s a beautiful thing.”

I knew I needed to get laid if I was
seriously considering this. “No. I’m your escort and I’ll do my
job.”

He leaned back in the chair, a look of
disappointment on his face. “I’m fine with the answer but not the
reason behind it. When you do the things you want without thinking
about other people’s opinions, you’ll actually be happy. Stop
thinking too hard about things and just take what you want. I’m
telling you, you’re trapped right now. Loosen up and you’ll finally
be happy—really happy.” He grabbed his dishes then carried them to
the sink. He turned on the water and rinsed them before he placed
them in the dishwasher.

I remained in my seat because my thighs were
so tightly pressed together I didn’t know what to do.

***

“Did you and Ash make up?” Shelly asked from
across the table. She was on her second mai tai.

I was on my third. “Yeah. He apologized for
what he said.”

“And what did he say?”

“He made a rude comment about me being an
escort.”

“Well, it seemed like he really cared about
hurting your feelings since he ran all the way down to the office
like Road Runner.”

I smiled slightly. “I know he didn’t mean it.
He just blurts things out without thinking sometimes.”

“With a man that hot, he can do pretty much
whatever he wants.”

Amen, to that.

“So…why did you invite him over for dinner?”
She sipped her drink but gave me an accusatory look.

“I don’t know…wasn’t thinking.” That was the
honest truth.

“Are you two…you know?”

“No.” We almost did but I managed to find the
strength to say no.

“Really?” she asked. “Because you guys flirt
like crazy.”

“There’s definitely some chemistry there but
we keep it professional.”

“How?” she blurted. “He is such a fine piece
of meat. I would tear into him in a heartbeat.”

“Well, I do my job. And I can’t do that.”

“Well…he seems harmless.” She took a loud sip
of her drink with a meaningful look on her face.

“No.”

“Come on, we never get hot guys like that.
They’re usually losers.”

“Even so, I don’t want to get us in
trouble.”

“Just keep it on the down low. Come on, when
was the last time you got laid?”

I glared at her.

“That’s what I thought. And he looks like he
knows what he’s doing.”

“Let’s change the subject.” I couldn’t talk
about this anymore. I was growing warm all over again. My thighs
automatically squeezed together under the table.

“Whatever,” she said. “I would jump on that
if I could.”

I looked around the bar. “Maybe I’ll find
someone here.”

“That guy in the corner is cute.” She pointed
to a tall blond.

“Yeah, he’s good.”

“Go for it.” She nudged me across the
table.

“Ugh, I hate doing this.” It would be so much
easier to call Ash and just hook up with him. At least I was
comfortable with him and actually liked him, not to mention he was
the hottest guy I’d ever seen.

“Just get your feet in the water and the rest
will be easy.”

I adjusted the top of my dress. “How do I
look?”

“Like a bombshell. Now go for it.”

***

Too many drinks later, and I wasn’t even sure
what was going on. Tom leaned close to me, his lips near my ear. “I
was just about to walk over to you when you walked to me. What are
the odds?”

“You tell me.” I grabbed his beer and took a
drink. I’d had enough for the night but I couldn’t stop myself.

“You’re looking really fine in that dress.”
He leaned close to me, the scruff from his chin noticeable even in
the dim lighting of the bar.

“Why, thank you.” I chuckled even though I
wasn’t sure why. Tom was nice enough and he was cute. But I felt
like our conversation was forced. The flirting didn’t go right and
the chemistry wasn’t natural.

Not like Ash and I.

“How about we head to my place?” he asked. “I
live close by.”

Now that I put myself out there and landed a
guy, I realized I didn’t want it. I wasn’t a prude, but hooking up
with some guy I hardly knew just wasn’t me. I didn’t need their
life story but I needed something… “Tom, I really need to go. I’m
just not feeling it tonight.”

Disappointment moved across his face. “Come
on, baby. Don’t be like that.”

I grabbed my clutch. “I’m sorry. You really
are cute.” I kissed his cheek before I walked away. Shelly left an
hour earlier, so I walked out of the bar alone. I was glad I didn’t
slip and fall with my heels. It wouldn’t be my first time.

When I made it to the sidewalk, I stopped and
pulled out my phone. I had Ash’s number even though he didn’t have
mine. My thumb inexplicably wanted to hit the send button. It had a
mind of its own, and for some reason, I didn’t think it was a bad
idea.

“Yo.” Ash’s deep voice came over the phone.
“Ash speaking—sexiest man alive.”

“You really are the sexiest man alive.” I
would never be able to say that unless I was drunk off my ass.

“I’m glad you agree,” he said with a flirty
voice. “I’ve turned
People Magazine
down a few times. I’m
just not ready to share my beauty with the world.”

I leaned against a telephone pole. “You want
to share it with me?”

“Absolutely, sweetheart. But first, who is
this? I don’t recognize the number.”

“You really can’t figure it out?” I made my
voice sexy. I hoped it was coming off that way. In my head it was,
but who knew what reality sounded like.

Ash was quiet for a moment. “Alessandra?”

“Bingo. You win a prize.”

“I almost didn’t recognize you.” His flirty
attitude dropped and now he was serious. “You drunk?”

“On you.” I giggled at my own line.

“Yep…you’re drunk.”

“I want to take you up on that offer.”

“What offer?”

“Fuck me until I scream.” I would never have
the balls to say something like that if I were sober.

“Damn, how much have you had to drink?”

“Not nearly enough.”

“Where are you?” he asked. “I’ll come get
you.”

“Let’s just meet at my apartment.”

“No, your ass better stay there. Now where
are you?”

“Uh…” I looked around. “I’m outside of Ruby.
It’s a bar.”

“Okay. I’m coming to get you. Don’t
move.”

“I’ll be waiting.” I hung up and giggled
again.

***

Ash crossed the street then came my way.

I whistled loudly. “Damn…look at that hunky
man.”

When he was close to me, he grinned. “You
know, I like you better when you’re drunk.”

“I like you better when I’m drunk too.” I
stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck. “You smell
good.” I leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips. The touch only
lasted a second but it was good. His lips were full and soft.

“Whoa…you cut right to the chase, huh?” Ash
pulled away but his arms were still around my waist.

“Which is closer? Your place or mine?”

“Let’s just go to yours.” He kept one arm
around my waist as he walked me up the sidewalk.

“So, I’ve been thinking about the clit
piercing…”

“Yeah?” He leaned close to me and placed his
face near mine.

“You would do it for me?”

“Definitely,” he said. “And I would do it
right.”

“Would you blow on it for me?”

His eyes darkened in interest. “I’d blow on
it until you couldn’t come anymore.”

“Ooh…I like that.”

He chuckled. “Seriously, be drunk all the
time. You’re way more fun this way.”

“Maybe we can arrange something… I met this
guy tonight. He was cute and everything but…all I could think about
was you.”

“Yeah?” he asked with intrigue. “And what did
you think about exactly?”

“That I would much rather spend the night
with you than him.”

“Good call.” When we reached my building, he
opened the door for me and escorted me inside. He stopped in front
of the stairs. “Are you going to be able to handle this?”

“Probably not.” I wobbled on my heels.

“Alright.” He scooped me into his arms
effortlessly then carried me up the stairs.

“You’re so strong. I want to see you with
your shirt off.”

“We can arrange that.” He grinned as he
carried me up the flight of stairs.

“And I want to see your cock piercing…”

“I knew it.” He reached my floor then
approached my door.

“And I want to feel it too…”

“Shit.” He adjusted his jeans with one hand.
“You need to knock it off. I’ve had a hard-on the whole way
here.”

“Ooh…let me see.”

He chuckled. “You need to drink more often.”
He got the keys out of my clutch then opened the door. He carried
me inside then kicked the door closed behind him. Then he took me
into my bedroom and set me on my bed.

I lay back and kicked my feet up. “These
heels are killing me.”

Ash pulled them off without looking up my
dress. “They’re five inches. I’m not surprised.”

I sat up then ran my hands up his chest. “You
want to know a secret?”

“Always.”

“You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.”

“Well, that’s not a secret, sweetheart.”

“Ugh, you’re so cocky but you’re still
hot.”

“I know.”

My hands went to his jeans and I unbuttoned
them then pulled down the zipper.

Ash watched me with dark eyes.

I got his jeans off then saw his long
definition in his boxers. It was thick and moved all the way down
to his thigh. “Wow…”

“I get that a lot.”

I pressed my lips to this tip through the
material and gave him a gentle kiss.

Ash’s eyes widened and he released a deep
moan. “Whoa…sweetheart.”

I grabbed his boxers and tugged them
down.

He gripped the top and kept them up. “As
horny and flattered as I am, not tonight.”

I pouted my lips. “Why the hell not?”

“Because I’m not going to take advantage of
you.”

“Take advantage?” I asked. “I’m giving it to
you.”

“Even so, last week you told me no. I know
you’re only saying yes now because you’re drunk. That’s not how I
do things.”

I growled. “Come on, don’t be such a
pussy.”

He chuckled. “Excellent way to get into a
man’s pants.”

I growled again.

“I’ll tell you what.” He kneeled at the foot
of the bed with his torso between my legs. “If you still want to
when you wake up in the morning, I’ll rock you so hard your bed
will break. How about that?”

“But I want it now…” My hands moved down his
chest.

“I’m sorry.” One hand moved through my hair.
“Take it as a compliment.”

“You’re rejecting me. How is that a
compliment?”

“I’m rejecting you because I care about you.
I want to know you want me, not just because you had too much to
drink. And I don’t want to be something you regret.” He tucked my
hair behind my ear. “Even drunk, you can understand that,
right?”

I nodded.

“Good.” He stood up then pulled his t-shirt
off.

Oh my lord.

Ash was a solid slab of muscle. Prominent
lines of muscle divided the different areas of his body. His torso
was flanked with power and strength, and the muscle of his ribs
looked like lines of sand in the desert. His stomach contained an
eight pack, full of grooves and valleys. And his chest was wide and
expansive. Both of my hands couldn’t take up half the area. “I
usually sleep in the nude but I’ll sleep in my boxers tonight.”

“I want you to be comfortable…don’t mind
me.”

He chuckled then pulled the covers back.
“Come on. Get into bed.”

“With you?”
Seriously
?

“What does it look like?”

“Are you trying to torture me?”

That stupid grin was on his face. “Change and
let’s go to bed.”

I eyed his t-shirt on the floor then snatched
it. I pulled it over my dress then removed my dress from
underneath.

“That’s pretty impressive.”

His shirt reached past my thighs and made me
feel smaller than I already was. I crawled up the bed then lay in
the sheets beside him. “Your shirt smells good.”

“It’s my natural scent so I’m not surprised.”
He turned on his side and faced me. Then he wrapped his arm around
my waist and pulled me close to him. “For what it’s worth, I’m
going to be hard all night.”

“We can fix that…”

He chuckled. “I would love to—in the
morning.”

“I thought you were a dick?”

“I am.”

“Then why are you being so sensitive right
now?”

“I’m a dick because I sleep around and tell
women they aren’t getting shit from me. But I’m not an ass. I don’t
lie and act like I’m something I’m not. No woman ever has to wonder
where our relationship is going. And I don’t take advantage of
women. A little buzzed is fine, but totally drunk like this isn’t
right. And I don’t need to get a girl drunk to get her into bed.
Besides, I’m your friend. What kind of friend would I be if I
totally used you when you were most vulnerable? That shit is fucked
up.”