Dirty Obsession (Dirty 1)

m to her, like the gentleman that I am. “Hungry, or should I take you to the beach first?”

Sloane walks toward me. Her hips sway as she does, and I have never wished I were standing behind a woman like I do right now.

I think she is going to take my arm, but she stops short.

“Beach. I don’t have an appetite for food.”

She walks past me and toward the door, and I finally get the view that I was desperate for a second earlier. Her tight ass moves from side to side, just barely covered in her tiny shorts, making the fact that she isn’t holding on to my arm so that I could feel her skin worth it.

“You coming, or do I have to go myself?”

I grin. “Definitely coming.”

Sloane is beyond independent. She doesn’t let me do anything for her as we make our way out of her condo building. I don’t get to open a door or press an elevator button or rest my hand on the small of her back to guide her. She avoids me at every turn.

Her surfboard is waiting for her in the lobby when we get down. How they managed to get it so quickly, I have no idea since she just texted them that she needed it when we got into the elevator. But, somehow, they managed or knew that she would need it. Because here it sits.

I run forward to take it off their hands before Sloane is able to.

“Relax, Asher. I appreciate the help, but I can carry my own surfboard.”

I hold it up high over my head, so she can’t reach it. “I don’t care if you can. You shouldn’t have to.”

She frowns and crosses her arms. “I don’t need a man to take care of me. If you think that’s why I’m marrying Wes, you’re wrong.”

“I realize you don’t need a man or anyone else to do anything for you. But that doesn’t mean you should stop every man from doing something nice for you.”

She rolls her eyes and then begins walking toward the parking lot. I can’t tear my eyes away from her ass as she walks. I’m too focused on Sloane to notice another woman in the room, one that I should have been paying attention to.

I feel the slap before I notice the girl. I grab my stinging cheek as I look at the woman who just slapped me.

“You’re an asshole! I can’t believe you had the nerve to come back here. Leave me the fuck alone!” she screams at me before turning and walking out of the condo.

I glance up at Sloane, who has her head cocked to one side, her arms folded across her chest, and the cutest grin ever on her face.

“Who was that?”

“Nicole,” I say, realizing why I had a familiar feeling while I was in Sloane’s condo. I’ve been here before—with Nicole.

“And why did she slap you?”

“Because I’m an asshole.”

Sloane laughs.

“Did you bring your surfboard? If so, we can just surf right out here. It’s a private beach.”

“No, I didn’t bring it.” I think that is the first time I have ever spoken such a sentence. I always bring my surfboard. This is exactly why I always bring my surfboard and swim trunks with me.

“My car is just over this way. I can drive you to wherever you want to grab yours.”

I smile when she mentions her car. Of course she wants to drive. She wants to do everything herself. And, since I’m trying to appease her and make her forget about how sad she really is, I’m not going to argue, no matter how much I want to show her how well I could take care of her if she let me.

I follow her to her pristine white Jeep that doesn’t look like it has ever been driven.

“Is there something wrong?” Sloane asks when I stop and stare at it.

This woman is the epitome of contradiction. She works for a nonprofit, giving money to those who need it most, but also has more money and spends it like she enjoys showing off the money she has. She likes surfing and adventure but dresses like she never leaves the business room. I can’t understand her.