Page 20 of All That Glitters (Endurance #1)

Helen

I nearly passed the turn off. Wildly kicking up dirt and pebbles, and barely keeping control of the Jeep, I made it.

Before long I saw the outline of a roof, then the cottage came into view.

It was mostly hidden by wild grasses, and a few trees.

Seeing it again and the memories came flooding back of the four of us spending hours within its walls playing games, watching old races, talking about the future plans we had.

I smiled. Everything was simple back then.

Ashton was standing in the doorway when I pulled up out front.

I couldn’t tell anything by the look on his face. I couldn’t tell what kind of mood he was in. He appeared almost bored, but I knew I wouldn’t be that lucky. Not after last night.

I hadn’t slept a whole lot and when I did sleep, he was there. His hands were all over me, his voice was in my ear, his lips were stealing every breath.

And his eyes were cold.

That vision had stayed with me through three cups of coffee and some cold toast. I’d spent the day questioning what I had gotten myself into and for the duration of my meeting earlier, I’d been so distracted that my assistant had to take over.

I wasn’t able to concentrate on anything.

I wasn’t able to focus and that’s what I needed.

I had a job that needed my attention and I couldn’t spend hours obsessing over Ashton, but I had a feeling that after whatever happened with him for the rest of the day, that obsess was exactly what I’d be doing.

When I got out, he didn’t move. He continued to lean against the doorframe, hands tucked in his pockets, bare feet crossed at the ankles.

Casual.

Lethal.

The two words shouldn’t go together and normally wouldn’t, but used to describe Ashton Glitterati, they fit perfectly, like puzzle pieces waiting to be matched.

“Did you have trouble finding the place?”

“Only a little trouble finding the road.”

For a moment longer, he regarded me with a look that was unreadable. I didn’t fidget. I didn’t shift my weight. I didn’t move at all. On the outside.

Inside I was shaking so hard I was afraid I’d come apart.

“Strip.”

“Excuse me?”

I heard him plainly. I heard the one word. I just didn’t want to believe he meant it.

“Strip.”

“Ashton…”

“Take your clothes off, Helen. You don’t get to come inside until you’re naked.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“That’s my rule, ridiculous or not.”

“It’s cold out here.”

“Then I suggest you do it quickly so you can come inside where it’s warm.”

“Why are you doing this, Ash?”

“Because I can.”

“That’s not a reason.”

“Maybe not, but it’s the only one you’re gonna get. So, either strip or leave.”

“Jesus, Ashton.”

“I prefer Lord Glitterati.”

“How about asshole?”

“Is that an invitation?”

Fucking asshole. I wouldn’t say that out loud because I had a feeling he would take that as an invitation.

I knew I was going to meet him today just as we’d planned, though I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to give in to his demands. I didn’t want to need him, to want him, to feel more of what he made me feel in my room.

What he was asking, beyond my helping him get comfortable being in a car again, was wrong.

I was his friend, not his enemy.

He was treating me like neither. I wasn’t sure what he was treating me like. It was new to me and I couldn’t say I hated it. And that made me wonder what in the hell was wrong with me that I’d go through with it, that some part of me wanted it.

Did I want his attention that much? Did I want him that much?

Some part of me wanted to strip naked in the yard of his family’s cottage in the freezing weather.

Some part of me wanted his gaze on my body.

Some part of me wanted to give him everything, anything… All the pieces of me I’d never given anyone else.

At the same time, I wanted to be the one that ended what was left of our friendship and be done with it.

“I’m not going to wait much longer, Helen.”

With frustration at him and at myself, I dropped my purse to the ground and pulled my sweater off over my head. The bra followed.

My nipples had hardened the second I got out of the Jeep, but now they were a bit painful in the biting coastal breeze.

It didn’t take long for my fingers to shake with the cold and I had to fumble with the snap on my jeans a few times before it finally gave way and I could push them down my hips. The wide bottoms allowed me to slip them off over my feet and I stood naked but for my ankle boots.

I didn’t want to imagine what I must look like, so I didn’t waste the time or mental energy. I simply unzipped them and slipped them and my socks off.

When I straightened, I was completely naked and shivering in the sand.

“Say you want me.”

“Ashton, come on. It’s freezing.”

“Say it.”

“I want you.” It wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t a fib. It wasn’t a half truth. It wasn’t just repetition for his satisfaction. No, it was all truth. I did want Ashton.

“Louder.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered.

“I couldn’t hear you, Helen.”

“I want you,” I yelled into the wind. I wondered which way it would carry.

It didn’t really matter, either way. Not at the moment. Not when I would say anything so he’d let me in.

Later, though. Later I would care. Later I would worry that someone would find out about us, about what we were doing. But not right now. Not with my teeth beginning to chatter and my knees knocking and my body shivering uncontrollably.

“Are you wet, Helen?”

“I…”

“Come here and let me see if you are.”

I glanced down at my clothes and purse, making a slight move to grab them up, but thought better of it. Instead, I walked toward him as quickly as I could. My bra and panties might blow away, but my purse and sweater and jeans and boots would stay where they were.

Up on the porch, I inched as close to Ashton as I could, until I could feel the heat coming off his body, until I could smell the scent that was only and ever him.

He reached between my thighs and the contrast of his heat against my freezing skin was night and day, was winter into summer without the easing of spring between.

And yes, I was wet. His fingers slid against my clit, against my slit, through the wetness inside me.

He held me impaled on his finger, cupping me with his palm and my body began to heat from the inside out.

My nipples ached for reasons other than cold.

My legs and arms and belly trembled for reasons other than cold, too.

My heart beat fast, my breath came in short gasps…

And he watched me.

He watched my eyes, my mouth. His gaze traveling between one and the other.

The longer he fondled me and watched my facial expressions, the more turned on I became, the wetter.

My hips moved, seeking his hand every time he pulled back just a little.

He didn’t go far and he didn’t intend to.

I knew that by watching him. He intended to keep fingering me on the front porch.

Would he let me come? I didn’t really care in the moment.

I just didn’t want him to stop what he was doing between my legs.

I didn’t want the wicked sensations to ever end.

Even if Hale drove up right then I wouldn’t want it to stop, that’s how damn good it felt.

I’d wanted Ashton for so long and he was giving me what I wanted. What I’d wanted since we were teenagers.

He didn’t know my true feelings for him, but he knew how he affected me. He knew how much I wanted him and now he knew how much I wanted this, how much I was willing to do to get it.

“How long until you come?”

“I… I don’t… I don’t know.”

“Maybe I should ask how long you can hold off. Can I do this for another five minutes? Ten? Or if I start playing with that clit of yours will you come immediately?”

“I…” He moved his thumb to tease me with light circles and my hips bucked closer, bucked more obscenely.

“What if I suck your nipples? Will you come, then?”

“Ash…”

“Let’s try it.” He leaned down, his mouth hovered over one nipple, blew warm breath against it, flicked his tongue against it, bit it with his teeth and tugged it into his mouth. The sensations fell down through my belly and directly into my clit.

Both throbbed.

Both ached.

Both wanted something, wanted more…

I started to lift my hands, to grab hold of him to keep myself from falling, but he shook his head against my breast. My arms dropped back to my sides.

Dragging his teeth across my skin, he let my nipple go. It felt as though it might freeze.

I didn’t care. His hand was still between my legs, still fucking me with his finger, still teasing my clit with his thumb.

“What would you do if we had an audience, Helen?” he whispered against my ear before biting the lobe, tugging on the earring pierced through it. He tugged so hard I was afraid he would rip it out.

“Would you want me to stop? If I told you someone was watching from the drive, would you try to pull away? Would you try to get around me to hide?” My body tensed with each inquiry, and his hold between my legs tightened, a second finger entering me.

I groaned and thrust my hips forward, seeking more.

“Apparently not.” He chuckled low and deep.

“Such a dirty girl, Helen. Such a dirty fucking girl.”

He found pleasure in teasing me and I found pleasure in being teased.

“I think I should’ve done this at dinner last night, don’t you?

I should’ve made you come between dinner and dessert surrounded by all your friends and your brother, my parents…

” I whimpered at the image he painted. “Would you have kept quiet, Helen? Would you have been able to come without making a sound? Would you have been able to keep your composure?” He pressed a kiss to my lips, just a small kiss, just his lips hovering over mine.

“Ash, please…”

“I thought you’d never ask… I thought you’d never say please, Helen.”

“Please…”

“Tell me you’d choose me, Helen.”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t finish… Tell me you’d choose me over Hale.”

My eyes widened and I sobered a fraction. “Ashton…”