Ashton Scott

Her grip on me tightens.

When she doesn’t reply straight away, I wonder if she’s going to run again.

And then her body relaxes, and a smile teases her lips right before she presses those lips to mine. “That’s how you compromise. I knew you had it in you.”

“You’d be surprised what I’m capable of for the right woman.” I move my hands to take hold of her hips. “Now, I want you on that bed, on your back with your legs spread wide.” When she opens her mouth to speak, I place my finger against her lips to silence her. “No negotiations, Lorelei. I’ll consider your suggestions for tomorrow, but tonight, you do what I say.”

I’ve done all the compromising I’ll be doing tonight. What Lorelei doesn’t need to know is that I’ve never once in my life given a woman this much.

27

Lorelei

“What time is he picking you up?” Sienna asks over the phone on Friday night.

I balance my phone between my cheek and my shoulder so I can free my hand and close the suitcase I’ve just finished repacking. “We were supposed to leave at lunch, but Jessica called to change it and said he’d be here at five.”

“Is it weird he’s late? Ashton doesn’t strike me as a man who would be late. Especially not for this.”

Her thoughts echo mine. It’s just after six a

nd I haven’t heard from him. The nerves that have been swimming in my belly all day are only intensifying with every passing minute. I finish zipping my suitcase closed and take hold of my phone again. “Yes, it’s weird. I tried to call him, but his phone has been engaged. Jessica’s phone has also been busy.”

“Something must have come up at work.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.” I pad into the lounge room and sink into the couch. “Tell me what you’ve got planned for the weekend.”

“I’m hanging out with Jack. He called me today after making me friend him on Facebook last night and then begging me for my phone number. We’re going to take a drive up to Nelson Bay tomorrow.”

“Is this like a date?”

“God, no. Jack might be hot, but he’s not a guy I want to date. I think he’ll be a lot of fun to hang out with, though.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to date him?”

“Are you serious, babe? Would you? The guy has some major baggage. I checked him out online last night and he’s into everything from what I can work out. Drugs, alcohol, women. No way would I go near all that. Plus, I don’t want to date a movie star that every damn woman in the world wants. And just on a side note, do you know just how famous he is? I had no idea.”

“Well, I know he’s won a couple of Oscars.” Sienna and I don’t follow celebrity news. We could run into the most famous celebrity in the world and neither of us would know.

“He’s one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood at the moment. They paid him something like fifteen million for his last movie.”

Before I get a chance to reply, a knock sounds on my front door. I practically jump out of my seat. God, Ashton has me eating out of his hand. “I’ve gotta go, Sienna. Ashton’s here.”

“Go. Get your dirty on, and don’t forget to do that thing to him I told you about.” I’d opened up to her this morning at work about feeling self-conscious with dirty talk. That led us to a conversation about sex, and Sienna has given me a heap of ideas on how to blow Ashton’s mind.

“Oh God, if I manage to pull that off, I’ll be the one who should get an Oscar.” I don’t consider myself a prude when it comes to sex, but the thought of doing what she suggested causes a rush of nervous energy to swell in my stomach. I’m not sure I have the confidence to pull it off with Ashton.

“Lorelei, that man is hot for you. He’s going to love anything you do to him. You’ve got this.”

I smile as I walk the short distance to the front door. “Have I told you today how much I love you?” She never fails to say just the right thing when I need it.

“No, I don’t believe you have.”

Laughing, I say, “I love you. But I need to hang up on you now.”

“Call me the minute you can and give me all the goss.” With that, she ends the call and I open the door to Ashton.

He stands on the other side staring at me through eyes that tell me he’s had a rough day. “Sorry I’m late,” he says, and in those words, I hear just how rough his day has been. Ashton is off, and I suspect something is very wrong with him.