Gerard is looking at me as well. His eyes are filled with admiration.
Luca and Mozorov are looking at me, their eyes filled with hope. That I have mercy in my soul.
I look across the table.
“I think if you can pay for dinner, we can call it a day,” I say with a smirk.
“Done,” Mozorov says, raising his glass and holding it out.
“Deal,” I say raising my scotch glass. We clink and drink.
I turn to Ashley. I don’t even fucking care that there are people around me as I look into her eyes.
“Ash,” I say. “I’m sorry…”
But she doesn’t let me finish. Instead she places her index finger over my lips. She holds it there for a second, and then gives me a smile.
I can’t fucking help it at this point. I reach over and bring her face closer, drawing her in for a kiss.
When we come up for air, the people around the table are smiling.
And the world has been made whole again.
Ashley
Happy endings… They are real. Forget everything you have ever read about the cold harsh world where no happiness can be found: it’s all bullshit. If you know where to look, it’s there, waiting for you. Sure, it doesn’t show up on your doorstep with a bow wrapped around it, but it exists. If I found happiness—and love—why can’t you and everyone else?
It started when Arsen Hawke entered my life out of nowhere, hijacking my taxi. And now here we are, checking in at the Hilton, barely able to keep our hands off of each other. We left the restaurant in a hurry, all thoughts of business vanishing the moment our lips touched—all that mattered was the heat in our bodies, the incessant desire that wrapped itself around both of us. Our minds and bodies burning, there was little else we could do than leave Del Frisco's and head straight for the closest hotel; lucky for us, all it took was a short stroll to the other side of the street.
“I love you so damn much,” Arsen says, stopping right in front of the door to our room. “You can’t imagine how much, Ash.” I smile, taking one step forward and pressing my body against his. I look into his eyes, resting one hand on his face and leaning in for a gentle kiss.
“I know… And I also know how much,” I tell him, whispering each word. “Because I feel exactly the same. I’m sorry it took me this long.” Before I can say anything else, he presses his finger over my lips, just like I did to him before.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re here now, just the two of us.”
“Yes, just the two of us,” I repeat, licking my lips unconsciously as the same thought crosses our minds. Grinning, Arsen turns to the door and slides the magnetic key across its slit, turning the handle and walking inside the room. I follow after him, closing the door behind me. Still smiling, I walk past him, making an enormous effort to not jump on him right away. I want to do this right, after all. It’s time for us to be able to enter an apartment or a room and get past the hallway.
I sit on the edge of the bed, my eyes locking on his. He comes over to me, going down on one knee as he holds my chin between his thumb and index finger. My heart is racing, lust and love mixing into one dangerous combination. This time there are no worries, no consequences to consider… Arsen and I, we’re finally one.
I rest my hands on his face and pull him in, my eyelids drooping as I lean in toward him. Our lips touch slowly, our mouths fitting as if they were matching pieces of the same set. We barely move; we just stand still, our slightly parted lips brushing against one another while we let reality sink in. This is really happening and I’m not even talking about the sex right now.
“Forever, Ash,” he whispers, his lips leaving mine. “I’m yours forever.” There’s a smile on his face, one full of tenderness and grace.
“Promise me that,” I whisper back at him, pressing my forehead against his as I take a deep breath.
“I promise you, Ash. Forever,” he says, his fingers once again under my chin. He makes me look up at him, his smile slowly turning into a grin. “But you know what that means, don’t you?” He continues, my heart beating faster as the tone of his voice changes. “It means that you’re also mine… Mine to do as I please.”
“I wouldn’t want it another way,” I tell him with a grin of my own. I hesitate, but then I say something that crosses my mind, something that reminds me of the hours I spent on the phone with him. “Sir.”
“Good girl.” His grin widens and he goes up to his feet, his crotch right in front of my face. I can’t help but notice the bulging there, the contour of his cock calling to me. Looking up at him, I slowly raise my arm and let my fingers fall on his crotch. I press slightly, feeling his thick cock with the palm of my hand. It’s almost insane to think that this cock right here is now mine… Only mine. Yes, this is my life now, getting to fuck the perfect guy with the perfect cock for the rest of my days.
I curl my fingers around his thick shape, my eyes never leaving his as I start stroking him over the fabric of his dress pants. Flicking my wrist softly, I move my hand back and forth, his fingers threading through my hair as the atmosphere around becomes heavier.
“I never wanted to fuck anyone as bad as I want to fuck you right now,” he says, his fingers turning into hooks and wrapping themselves around long locks of hair. I gasp as I feel his fingertips running over my scalp, and then he yanks on my hair, forcing my head back.
“What are you waiting for, then?” I shoot back at him, my heart pounding violently as I anticipate what’s to come. “I’m right here. Yours to handle, yours to do whatever you want to.”
“Is that so?” He asks mockingly, still keeping my head in place. I grab his cock hard, my fingers wrapped tight around it as his shaft pulses.