Page 54

Skylar’s gaze shot to me. That luscious shade of pink rose across her cheekbones again before she once more faced Ash.
He looked at me, and I could all but hear his question.
Do you mind if I kiss her?
I nodded, bracing myself for whatever negative feelings attempted to tear me apart from the inside out.
20
Skylar
Ashton touched my cheek and leaned in, erasing all thoughts of anything but the softness of his lips, the sweetness of his exhaled sigh.
I could feel the potency of Rhett’s stare as powerfully as I did Ashton’s tongue when he licked into my mouth. Arousal swept through my blood, thoroughly heating my core, and I whimpered, trying to shift closer when we already touched thigh to thigh.
My pussy contracted at the gentle nip of Ashton’s teeth over my lower lip, and I realized my wine glass tipped.
“Oh shit!” I pulled back, righting the glass even though a healthy swallow or two had added to the pool water. “Sorry. You kind of made me forget I was holding this.”
Ashton chuckled like he didn’t care I’d spilled wine in their pool I’d lazed around in the day before. “I’m not sorry.”
I smiled from the radiant joy washing through me, knowing too many feelings shone in my eyes. “Then I’m not either.”
We laughed again, and the silence from the other side of the patio drew my focus.
Rhett held my gaze while finishing off his wine, and I swallowed hard, my upturned lips losing their ability to stay that way.
He hadn’t been nearly as mean or cutting at dinner as I’d expected for someone with his personality type—especially considering all the stupid shit I’d said when we first met. I appreciated he seemed to be giving me the opportunity to prove myself to him, but that only intensified my itchy feet and jittery insides.
“I’m heading in to bed,” he announced, standing to his feet. Ashton shifted away as though to follow him, but Rhett held up his hand. “I don’t mind if you stay up later,” he told Ashton, “and even though the sight of the two of you kissing is hot as fuck, I just can’t keep my eyes open any longer.”
He turned and strode into the house.
Ashton sat on the seat’s edge, poised to move, yet he stayed put as Rhett had suggested.
“You can go,” I said even though I wanted to beg him to remain with me.
He hesitated another moment but shook his head and slid back into place, his thigh against mine. Ashton retrieved his glass from where he’d set it on the pool’s ledge. “It is still early, I’ve got a gorgeous woman beside me, and the weather couldn’t be better.”
“It’s California—the weather is always perfect,” I stated, shivering over the thoughts of winter winds across the plains.
No way in hell I would ever go back there.
“Were you serious about helping me make a resume tomorrow? I’m not sure there’s much to brag about with my work history, but I guess I should have one anyway.”
“We’ll find you something, Sky. But in the meantime, I hope you’ll treat our home as your own. You definitely acquainted yourself with the kitchen.”
“And the rest of both floors,” I declared before thinking I ought to keep my explorations to myself even though he had suggested I do so.
“Did you open every drawer and cupboard you found?” he asked, his eyes telling me he joked.
“Spent too much time rifling through your underwear drawers and bedside tables,” I shot back, giggling.
“So, you found our stash of sex toys.”
I choked on the wine I’d sipped, coughing while Ash laughed. “N-No,” I sputtered since I hadn’t gone that crazy in my nosiness.
“Sometime soon you’ll get to play with us.” Ash held my gaze while swallowing some wine.