Tagged & Ashed (The Sterling Shore Series #2) (2 page)

The way he’s looking at me is so carnal, so predatory.  It’s enough to make the knot in my throat too big to swallow against.

“Not yet, but it will be,” Billy quickly adds, his arm sliding around my waist as he pretends to stake his claim.

Remembering why I’m here, I slip my arm around him, and then I lean in to kiss him on his cheek.  Tag’s smile lifts up slightly as one of his giggling bimbos returns with a whiskey for him.  His eyes don’t leave me though, further complicating my crumbling state.

“I need to go to the restroom,” I say with a surprisingly smooth, unshaken, unaffected tone.

I have to go compose myself.  It’s been too damn long, and this isn’t the type a guy I need to be around.

“Leaving so soon?” Tag asks.  “I haven’t even had the pleasure of making introductions.”

“Ash,” I quickly murmur, seeming dismissive and disengaging in my brisk tone.

“Well, Ash, do you have a last name?”

“Brander-”

Before I can finish, Melanie comes running toward us with a shrill pitch.

“You crazy kids!  Ashiara, I just spoke to you.  Why didn’t you tell me the two of you were finally dating?” she squeals as she throws her arms around me, almost suffocating me instantly with her clingy, jovial embrace.

Tag’s face tightens, his playful grin dissipating, as if he never believed I was with Billy until right now.

I laugh as I hug her back, and then a pang of guilt hits.  She’s always wanted us together, but Billy and I have zero chemistry in that sort of way.  Now I feel bad for being so deceptive.

“You’ll cut off all her air, Mother,” Billy teases.

A tall, broad shouldered guy walks toward us with a smile on his face.  I can tell by his features who he has to be.

“Mom, are you attacking the guests?” the guy, who I have to assume is Wren, says.

She giggles as she finally releases her suffocating hold.

“You two are such
men
,” she says while playfully swatting at her two boys.

Wow.  Wren is so much taller than poor Billy who has had a complex about his height his whole life.  I’m almost certain that’s why he’s so smitten with Rene.

She’s petite and barely five-feet tall.

“What’s all the fuss about?” Wren asks while pulling Melanie to him for a hug.

“Ashiara and your brother are dating—finally,” she says, exasperated, and then her eyes move to Tag.  “Oh my goodness!  How in the world did I miss you?” she gushes while ripping him forward in a desperate embrace.

He chuckles lightly as the abrupt jerking motion forces his drink to slosh and spill a little.  His eyes burn against mine as he returns her hug, but I cut away to avoid the lingering heat it forces.

When I disengage, I see Wren staring at me with complete bewilderment.

“
You’re
Ashiara?” he asks in exaggerated disbelief.

“I prefer Ash.”

His eyes fall all over me as his gaping mouth adds emphasis to his shock.  I’m not sure if I should feel flattered or what.

“Damn, Bity.  What the hell?” Wren coughs, choking on his own air.

Billy smirks, and then he wraps his arm around my shoulders again to play the part.  I’m growing a little tired of the charade now that I want to play with Tag, but it’s best if I don’t.  If nothing else, this ruse is keeping me from being a fool losing her dignity.

“I’m going to go to the restroom now,” I murmur, my eyes intentionally averting Tag’s as I turn away.

“Make sure you find us soon, dear.  There’re so many people I want to introduce my son’s girlfriend to,” Melanie giggles.

I force a smile and nod, and then I playfully blow a kiss to Billy who smiles all the broader.  He’s enjoying the charade a bit much, and it’s feeding his pitiful ego.  He needs a good confidence boost.

***

Tag

There’s no way in hell that magnificent creature who is swishing her hips as she walks away belongs to Bity.  This has to be a mistake. She's getting paid... which makes her an escort.  Even if she does know him, if she's getting paid, she's still a working girl.  There are very few other explanations for this combo.

Or... maybe she’s one of those girls with terribly low self esteem who doesn’t know how beautiful she really is.  Perhaps she doesn’t think she can do any better.  I can help prove her wrong.  I’ll do it
very
happily.

She gets stopped by some men who’ve obviously been admiring her and waiting for their chance, but she just graciously smiles and excuses herself each time.  She can’t be
that
in to Bity.

I could watch that ass all damn day.

She seemed completely indifferent to me.  She never acted the least bit affected by my usually irresistible charm.

I did all my usual stuff.  I stared her directly in the eyes, I showed interest in her, I very obviously stared her up and down to let her know I was undressing her with my eyes, but none of it worked.

I know I haven’t lost my touch, so I’ll just have to step up my game.  I’ve sure as hell got more game than Bity.

“Hey, come help me out with Alyssa’s cousins.  They’re dying to meet you.  That’s why I came over here,” Wren says just as Rene walks up.

Bity’s eyes fall on her, and his smile involuntarily spreads too big.  He’s still got it bad for her even though Ash is by far more impressive.  There’s no way in hell a sane man would give up a night with that exquisite piece of sex-in-heels to be with Rene.

If I nudge Rene in his direction, though, I could get my chance with Ash this weekend.

“Yeah, Wren.  Just give me a second,” I say with a devious grin as my scandalous plan forms.

“Hey, Tag,” Rene says while blushing.  “Hey, Billy.”

It’s rather obvious her panties get wet every time she sees me, but I don’t have time to fuck with her head today.  I’ve got a mission, and I’ve got a small window of opportunity.

“I just met Bity’s girl, and I have to say, for the first time ever, he outdid me,” I say while keeping my smile in place.

“Bity’s girl?” Rene asks curiously while turning her attention solely on the man who adores her far too much for his own good.

He makes it too obvious, and girls don’t like a mushy loser, no matter how much they say they do.  Every girl
claims
to want a nice guy, but they always fall for the bad boys.

Bity squirms uncomfortably, but not because he’s ashamed.  He just doesn’t know how to act around Rene - he never has.

It’s odd he’s so comfortable around the ravishing Ash, but around annoying Rene, he’s a timid little boy.

“Yeah, um… Ash and I sort of started dating.”

“I thought you were just friends,” she almost whimpers, suddenly feeling intimidated by the goddess that has captured Bity’s attention.

Step one complete.

I’ve apparently gotten Rene to focus on Bity, so now’s my chance to go occupy the girl who will be pissed when she sees them flirting very soon.

“Excuse me.  I forgot I had two dates.  I probably need to go find them.”

Neither of them acknowledge me as Bity plays down his new relationship to her.  I rush up the steps, avoiding all the scorned harlots' eyes as I pass by.

Damn I’ve fucked too many girls from this circle.

After Ash, I’ll let this circle breathe for a while and find a new one to dip into.  I have to have that tempting vixen though.

There are at least six bathrooms on just the ground floor, so I don’t know how in the hell I’m supposed to know which one she chose.

Instead of haunting the halls, I opt to stay in the foyer where I know she’ll have to cross back through.  Then I hear giggling.

It’s her.

I follow the adorable sound to the kitchen where Eduardo, Melanie's personal chef, is laughing and handing the sweet girl an appetizer.

“These are so frigging cute,” she snickers while staring at the oddly-sized thing in her hand.

“I know you like this one, too, Miss Ashiara” Eduardo says in his thick, Spanish accent.

She pops a new thing in her mouth, and I prop up against the wall to watch her as she moans in delight.

I’d love to be the reason she makes those sounds.
Mmm. 
I will be.

“Eduardo, if you weren’t married, I’d kiss you right now,” she murmurs with her mouth still full.

“You fun to feed, Miss Ashiara.  You always love my food.”

“Every time I eat your food, it makes me regret not moving in when Melanie asked me to,” she laughs while biting into a new piece and moaning out her ecstasy once more.

My pants tighten as I stiffen up.  She’s killing me with that damn sound.  I swear I’ve never heard something so hot.  Now I’ve got to fuck her.

How is it she’s so close to the Prize family - close enough for Melanie to invite her to live with her - yet I nor Wren have ever met her?

Bity’s been hiding her from me.  Smart little bastard.  It’ll do him no good now though.

“Mr. Tag, sir,” Eduardo says with a smile when he notices me standing in the doorway.

“Evening, Eduardo,” I murmur cordially, pushing away from the wall just as Ash swivels around on her stool to face me, still chewing on her food.

“I need to get these to the outside to Ms. Prize.  She want to taste my newest creation,” he says, struggling with his English a little.

She smiles softly while patting his arm on his way by her.

“Thank you for letting me sample them, Eduardo.  Tell Melanie they have my stamp of approval,” she kindly offers, her legs crossing as he blushes under her praise.

“You always make me happy, Miss Ashiara.”

I’d love it if she made me happy for a few hours.

He walks on by, holding his tray full of strange creations, and then I move into the room to stare at the beautiful creature who is gazing fearlessly into my eyes.  Why don’t I have any hold on her?

I’ve never had this problem before.

***

Ashiara

Damn it, Eduardo.  How dare you abandon me and leave me alone with him!

Why does he keep staring?

Damn, I hope he doesn’t see how crazy he’s making me right now.

“So, Ash, you never did tell me your last name,” he murmurs with a sexy, low tone.

With a steady breath, I reply, “Branderwood.”

I have to keep everything clipped and short, and never give him an opening.  That's an invitation for disaster
.

“That’s very matter-of-fact,” he says with a mischievous smile.

I shrug, casually trying to play off my nerves.

“You asked, I answered.”

His lips tighten, and he leans against the wall in his expensive suit.  I don’t have to know designers to see the perfect material begging to be touched.  I
try
not to envision myself rubbing my hands anywhere on his body.

“So, you and Bity—I
don’t get it.”

His confusion is genuine, and I don’t really understand that.  Billy is damn good looking.  If there was any spark between us at all, I’d go for it.

“Billy is a great guy.  What’s there to get?”

“Are you an escort?” he blurts out, offending me instantly.

My cheeks redden, but not from embarrassment - I’m furious.  What asshole has that sort of audacity?

“Excuse me,
Tag. 
I need to get back to my paying customer,” I growl while standing up and losing the wobbling effect he once had on me.

Now I just want to slap this creep instead of wanting to kiss him.

“Hey, whoa.  Sorry.  I didn’t mean for that to come out so… crudely.  It’s just… you’re smokin’ hot, and Bity doesn’t usually carry home a girl who looks anything like you.  Matter of fact, he rarely has a girl at all.”

Duh, dumbass.  He’s in love with Rene.  Blind fools.

“You’ll understand that I still have the right to be offended.  I’m going to get back to Billy now.”

He blocks my path when I go to walk by him, and he smirks as he stares down at me.  He thinks he's cute.  He is, but he's so smug and sure of himself.

“Any chance we can start over?  I didn’t mean to come off as such a jerk.  I’m actually quite charming, usually.”

I tilt my head, and using my sweetest vixen’s voice, I speak while taking a step toward him.

“I’m sure you can be, Tag.”  My finger begins trailing up his chest, and his breath hitches in response.  “But… I don't forget that easily.  Now move out of my damn way.”

The ice I just doused his sizzle with is enough to make his brow scrunch as he steps aside and lets me by.  I hold back a triumphant smile, though it’s hard as hell to do.

I can feel him watching me as I leave, so I add a little sexiness to my strut as I head out to find Billy.