I wouldn’t mind kicking his ass right now.
“We’re in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, not the French-speaking part,” I remind him before letting out a yawn.
Not that I’m still sleepy. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I slept so well.
“Well, the woman I spoke to at the front desk seemed to understand my French perfectly,” Asher says.
I get out of bed and put on my robe. “Let me guess. She was the one who gave you the key to my room.”
His wide grin tells me yes.
I exhale. “Didn’t I tell you to behave yourself here in Switzerland?”
And yet, what’s the first thing he does when he arrives at the hotel? Flirt with the receptionist. I should have known.
“Well, someone clearly didn’t behave himself last night.”
He holds up a pen, on the tip of which is a torn condom, the one I didn’t get to use last night. Shit. I must have left it lying around. But Asher didn’t have to pick it up. In fact, I can’t believe he did. Doesn’t my brother have a shred of decency?
He smirks. “You should have taken the ones I was trying to give you. This brand isn’t very reliable.”
I try to take it from him, but he hides it behind his back.
Jackass.
“Hope you had an extra. Or is Dad getting his wish?”
I manage to grab the rubber sheath on my second attempt. I go to the bathroom to toss it into the trash can.
“Don’t you have better things to do?” I ask Asher as I wash my hands. “Like get ready for your presentation?”
“I’m ready.”
“Or stay in your own room?”
If I remember correctly, it’s two floors up. For a reason. If I wanted him in mine, I would have booked the one across the hall.
“And do what?” Asher asks. “Order room service and watch TV?”
There’s an idea. And I can think of more.
“Take a nap. Shower. Hang out with Ryker instead.”
“He’s downstairs having breakfast. I’m not hungry. And I’ve already done all the other things. I’ve watched TV, slept, showered, changed.”
I step out of the bathroom and take a good look at him. His suit does look like something that hasn’t been slept in.
My eyebrows furrow. “What time did you arrive?”
“Oh, last night,” Asher answers. “We left ahead of schedule. I was going to drop by your room but I thought you might be busy.” He grins. “It seems I was right. Want to tell me all about it?”
“No.”
Asher pouts. “I should have just dropped by.”
I’m glad he didn’t. If he had, Stella would have panicked and left in a hurry, in shame.
I glance at the empty bed. I guess she still did that. A part of me applauds her for being smart, careful. Another part feels let down. I would have preferred to wake up with her by my side than with a robe being thrown at my face, hearing her voice instead of Asher’s.
I wonder if she’s alright.
That train of thought gets interrupted as my gaze falls on the clock on the nightstand. I assumed it was still early, but now I realize I have just a little over an hour left before the meeting.
Shit. No wonder Asher’s all ready to go. I’m not. If he was going to wake me up, couldn’t he have done it sooner?
I go back to the bathroom and step into the shower. I start in a hurry but decide to slow down and take a deep breath. The building where the meeting is taking place is just ten minutes away and I’ve already made all the preparations. I have time. All I have to do is put on my suit, grab my laptop and maybe a cup of coffee and head over there.
Oh, and get Stella. I shouldn’t forget about her.
I haven’t. Even as the water washes away the traces of last night, I remember every second, every inch of Stella’s perfect body, every exquisite sound she made, from that very first high-pitched sound to that final strangled cry. It was even better than I imagined.
But it’s over now.
Last night, Stella and I both decided to take a break from our roles, to forget about work and just enjoy ourselves as men and women do. I made the decision to invite her over. She made the decision to let me kiss her, to have sex with me. Amazing sex. But now, we have work to do. We have to go back to being boss and employee and pretend as if we were never anything more.
I think I can do it. The question is: Can Stella?
I finish my shower and head to the closet to get dressed. When I’m done, I find Asher still in the room.
“Don’t you have to go get your things?” I ask him as I put on my watch.
“Miller will get them,” he answers, referring to his assistant. “Besides, you haven’t given me any details about last night yet.”