Page 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

Ashley

Isaac was killing me.

He was an absolute beast in bed and in general, controlling, particular, and extremely possessive. But he was also sweet. And caring. And he toyed with me, giving me the little adrenaline rushes I craved like oxygen.

He’d wake me up from a sound sleep to ravish me, barge into the bathroom as I showered to shove me to the floor and thrust his dick in my mouth. Then he’d have dozens and dozens of blood-red roses delivered to me here at the penthouse while he was at work. When he found out I loved apple pie flavored coffee, he forced the hotel to start serving it.

In the evening, when he wasn’t grilling me about my day, we’d sit in the living room and he’d stare at me, watching. He reminded me so much of Micha it was both horrible and comforting. I made the best of it I could, but I didn’t want a decoy. Isaac said he knew everything about me, so he likely had looked into Micha and found out the things I wanted to keep hidden.

Every now and then Isaac would do something that sent a dagger straight through my heart. The couple times he’d called me “angel,” and then the way he took care of my hair. The worst was biting me on the same breast. He had the nerve to leave the marks precisely where Micha had bitten me, almost like he knew what it’d meant to me and had to erase him.

Despite all of that, I was doing better and becoming acclimated to my new life. I feared the moment the thirty days were up because despite Isaac’s brutish ways, I’d come to care for him. He wouldn’t tell me much about the past, but he’d divulged he been hurt badly in the past by a woman he’d loved and remained single afterward for a very long time. Until he met me. Or rather, until he saw me. He’d said he knew instantly he wanted me.

It was as flattering as it was disturbing but life was good. When he was too much for me, I left messes behind for him.

“What?” Isaac knotting his tie. It was Saturday and he was taking me to get a dress in a few minutes for a gala he was required to attend tonight. It was last-minute, as he’d been busy, but he reassured me that everything would work out on pain of death.

“Nothing,” I giggled again.

“Ashley,” he drawled, a hint of warning in his tone.

“I was just remembering you following the trail of coffee beans into the kitchen.” I couldn’t hide my smirk.

“Is that so? You should recall you paid for that.” Dark amusement colored his eyes while his lips twitched as he held back his smile. “Your mouth did; for laughing at me.”

“I’ll never forget how confused you were.”

“Evil woman,” he muttered, tugging on his suit jacket.

I feigned outrage. “How am I evil? You’re hogging all the evilness in the universe.”

Isaac tilted his head before clutching my shoulders. “I’m never evil to you.” He pecked my forehead. “Let’s go. You’re about to be so beautiful I’ll have no choice but to slaughter anyone who so much as looks at you from the corner of their eye.”

“I kinda feel like you’d enjoy that.”

“You know me too well, love,” he grinned.

The car brought us to a side road off Fifth Avenue and I stared out the window at the boutique storefronts, watching the minimal foot traffic and admiring the frocks on display behind gilded windows. Eventually, we stopped, pulling alongside the curb for Mason to open our doors.

We entered a dress shop, and an attendant fawned over me, Isaac hot on her heels. “You’re so pretty darling,” she cried out, examining me head to toe.

“Thank you,” I replied, watching my sponsor eye her with distrust. “I need a gown for tonight.”

“Let’s go through our choices. I know just the thing for your skin tone and hair.”

She led me to a rack and began flicking through the dresses. “What about this one?” I shook my head. “This one?”

“Do you mind if I browse a little bit on my own?” I asked. She’d overwhelmed me with her instantaneous enthusiasm, and I was feeling a little crowded between her and Isaac.

The woman gave a soft smile and backed away reluctantly. I took a deep breath; my shoulders relaxing and began picking through the choices. A navy-blue dress stood out to me, and I held it up to my reflection. Next thing I knew, a deep gold-toned dress was handed to me.

“This one,” Isaac stated. He glanced down at his phone, brows furrowing over whatever it was he saw.

“I like this one though.” The dress I held was gorgeous, a soft silky material and I knew the bodice would make my boobs look good. Best of all, it was flowy.

“I know what looks good on you. You’re getting this dress.”

In disbelief, I watched him march it over to the shop assistant the same time he answered his phone. There was no way I was letting him get away with this, he’d already taken over my whole life. Yes, granted he bought and paid for me—but I was still a person with hopes and dreams. We got along great and had fun together, even started sharing personal stories. We’d spent enough time together he should have known better than to think I would just sit back and let him lord over me in everything.

I rushed up to the counter and flung the gown I liked on top of the other. Isaac’s phone rang and he answered it before quickly walking away. His voice was raised but I couldn’t make out the words as the woman started small talk while packing up both gowns. I opened my mouth to stop her but then shut it. He’d seen me toss the dress on top of the other and didn’t bat an eye.

“These will be delivered as arranged,” the woman said, hanging them on a rack against the wall.

Isaac’s voice sounded in the distance again, my shoulders tightening at the sound of his tone. “Sorry about that,” I apologized to her, nodding toward the front of the shop.

She gave me a tight smile and I spun around just as he was putting his phone back in his pocket.

“Everything okay?” I asked, meeting him by the door.

“Yes,” he clipped, as we stepped outside.

“Do you want to talk about it?” It seemed like he didn’t, if his stiff posture and staring out the window were any indication. But it was only polite to ask.

“No.”

One thing I hated was when people wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. Especially when I thought I was the cause. Was the second dress too much? Logically, I knew his mood had nothing to do with me, that it was the result of the phone call, but what if ?

I was also aware that these feelings welling up inside were a byproduct of my ex, who’d successfully made me feel like his extracurricular activities were due to my lack.

Lack of beauty. Lack of attention. Lack of whatever esoteric and just out of reach quality he was looking for in a woman.

I’d come a long way. A very long way. But sometimes, the past reared its ugly head.

Isaac was loaded; a second dress wasn’t a big deal, and he’d have put a stop to it if there was a problem. He’d committed himself to me and shown me he was serious. As I’d told him more than once, I was still getting used to the arrangement and the wall he’d just erected had thrown me for a loop. It very likely had nothing to do with me.

So, I pushed the intrusive thoughts away and reached for the hand he’d placed on his leg. With a surprised glance, he clasped mine in return, giving me a light squeeze before resuming his window-staring vigil.

Taking a deep breath, I relaxed. I had every reason to be content and proud of myself for how I’d been handling all the curveballs life had been sending my way.

* * *

When I stepped out of the limousine, lightbulbs flashed everywhere, and I shielded my eyes. This was not what I’d been expecting when Isaac said I was accompanying him to a gala. I wasn’t even certain what a “gala” was, but I’d pictured a fancy hall and rich people sipping champagne somewhere in privacy.

Turned out the event was for charity to raise money for an experimental cancer medicine from a pharmaceutical company I’d never heard of.

Issac snaked an arm around my waist and guided me across the carpet. Several of the guests exiting other vehicles were instantly recognizable, having seen them at Ipomoea, and some once at an event I’d attended while employed with the company. He seemed to recognize my discomfort and held me a little tighter as we climbed the stairs.

An invitation was passed to the attendant when we checked in, Isaac glaring at the man. With a nod, we were ushered inside and quickly became a part of the crowd, blending in.

“So, now what?” I asked Isaac, plucking a glass of champagne from a passing tray.

Soft music played in the background, under the gentle flattering lighting. Glancing around the space, I noted the soft, old-world colors and fine detailing. Crown molding and painted frescoes on the ceiling created the atmosphere of an ancient building and it felt separate from the rest of New York City, almost like a secret society. I’d driven past the building we were in several times and never really paid it much attention, ignorant of the beauty it contained.

Sipping my drink while Isaac fiddled with his cufflinks, I watched the crowd. Many people mingled and from the conversations I overheard as people walked by us, I knew the majority were involved in the medicine business.

“What is it you do, exactly?” I glanced up at the man beside me. He’d told me, “Acquisitions”, but that covered a lot of ground.

“Mostly imports,” he answered, not meeting my gaze.

“Importing what?”

“Different products; whatever is needed.”

I lowered my glass a little. “Isaac...”

He grabbed my waist and tugged me closer. I placed my drink on a sideboard just on time to protect my clothing and slid an arm around him. “Don’t you know enough? All you need to know is that I will provide for you. Anything your heart desires.” His gaze flicked downward. “Even this blue dress.”

I grinned. “It's pretty and I know it looks good on me.”

The feeling of being watched skirted over my skin and I twisted around to see Micha’s friend Kiam staring. Despite Josiah’s orders, he met my gaze head-on before focusing on the man by my side. I was uncertain if the directive to ignore me applied to Kiam, but I’d assumed it had since he was their associate.

Tearing my eyes away, I began searching for Micha. It would make sense if he were here, considering the types of guests in attendance. I’d also seen several people I recognized from Angels, and I knew this wasn’t a human-only event.

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t spot Micha.

“What was that sigh for?” Isaac leaned down, speaking softly in my ear. “Do I need to pay you more compliments? I’m still dripping down your leg.”

My face flushed and I fiddled with the dress skirt. My inner thighs were sticky after he refused to allow me to clean them. It’d surprised me, considering his obsession with cleanliness, but he’d said it would send a clear “sign”.

When I looked back up, Kiam was in front of us, the air crackling with tension between the two men. I backed away slightly as he dragged his gaze up and down Isaac.

Isaac had gifted me the small knife currently strapped to my outer thigh. The blade was only six inches long, and had a beautiful handle carved into flowers and vines and studded with garnets. It was a work of art and shortly after he’d affixed it to my leg, telling me how sexy I was, that was when he made sure to leave his release painted between my thighs.

The weapon was absolutely gorgeous. I’d hate to see it get dirty.

But I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on Micha’s friend, and I was starting to think that’s how the evening would unfold but then Kiam said, “Sure glad I’m not you.”

“Fuck off and mind your own business,” Isaac snarled.

Kiam slid his fierce gaze from Isaac to me and I rolled my eyes before I could think better of it. I thought he was going to walk right into me as he left but all I felt was the air stir by my shoulder.

“What was that about?” I clung to Isaac’s arm, watching the other man thread his way toward the entrance. Was he leaving? I sure hoped so.

His eyes darted around the room as if searching for something or someone. “Perhaps we should mingle,” he said, taking me in hand. “Don’t worry about that man; he was probably drunk.”

“He didn’t seem drunk to me. I’ve met him before.”

“Have you?” he asked, his tone suggesting he didn’t expect or want an answer. “Are you hungry? There’s food this way.”

Isaac led me down a wide hall. “I’m not, but we can eat if you like,” I offered.

His throat bobbed. “I’m always hungry for you,” he whispered softly. “Always.”

The way he said it, laden with heartache sent a twinge through my chest. I rubbed my thumb against the back of his hand, and he squeezed mine in return. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem a little off; you have since we left the dress shop.”

“No,” he rasped.

After he glanced right and left, he shoved a door open and led me down a smaller hallway before stopping in an empty nook. I heard a door open, some laughter, and then a couple passed by, shy smiles on their faces as the woman tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

Suddenly, the man stopped in his tracks and spun on his heel. “You,” he said, pointing at me. “You’re that sex worker from Angels.”

“Honey, I’m going to go get some more champagne,” the woman called out, oblivious, and possibly deaf.

Stunned over the man’s words and the woman’s seeming ignorance, my jaw dropped.

“I’m afraid you have her confused with someone else,” Isaac stated, motioning for the man to leave.

“No,” he shook his head and glanced back at me. “You’re Ashley.”

My blood ran cold. Was this the reputation I’d garnered by working there? I’d never heard a negative word about any of my coworkers, or from any of my friends, about the type of employment the club featured. It was a safe, respectable place and the biggest issue was some of the clientele, not the actual job itself.

“I’m not a sex worker,” I retorted. “Please leave us alone.”

He snickered. “You work there; you’re a sex worker.”

My blood pressure started rising. “Not everything is what it looks like, asshole. Leave me alone.”

Isaac stepped in front of me. “I believe she asked you to leave.”

The man reached around, snaring a clump of my hair in his hand. “I’d know this hair?—”

Whatever else he was about to say cut off suddenly and his body dropped to the floor.

Isaac moved his feet out of the way, and I backed up, moving to the other side.

When I glanced back up and at Isaac, it took me a moment, but I quickly realized he held the man’s heart in the palm of his hand.

Then, he chomped into it as if it were a plum.