Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
ANABELLE
Iwake up sore between my legs, but not in a bad way. In a way that reminds me that last night was not a dream, not some fantasy I conjured up in my mind.
Last night… I don’t even have words for it. I’ve never had an experience like that. It was unexpected, and exciting, and the orgasms Asher gave me were mind-blowing.
I’m not a virgin. I slept with enough guys through college, I have experience, but Asher Voss was next level.
College boyfriends gave me oral sex, but I could never finish.
I was always too concerned with what they were thinking while they were doing it.
I couldn’t get out of my head enough to relax and climax.
But I didn’t wonder with Asher. He was like a man possessed, and he knew exactly what to do to my body to get the response he wanted.
Knew how to string me along until I thought I might die if he didn’t let me come, then rachet me even higher so that when I did, it felt as if a mini atomic bomb had gone off inside me.
There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to do it again. Wanted to do more. What would it be like to fuck a man like him?
But he fell distant afterward. Not cold or cruel like before, but it was obvious that he was in his head about what had happened. Most likely, our age difference was playing havoc inside him, since he’d mentioned it more than once.
I hadn’t wanted to push, thinking that might be the wrong approach.
Maybe it was better to show him that it was no big deal.
That I could handle an adult relationship without clearly defined boundaries.
It wasn’t as though I thought the man was going to fall in love with me—I don’t think he’s capable of such a thing.
But if I can spend the rest of my time here having amazing sex and not have him be so mean and dismissive of me?
That seems like a far better alternative than my situation before last night.
I could never fall for a man like him anyway—so hot and cold, so mean and hurtful at times.
It’s just our sexual chemistry that draws me to him.
There’s a tinge of denial in my thoughts, but I ignore it. Just because Asher proved he was physically capable of apologizing doesn’t mean that I don’t see him for the deeply scarred man he is.
A knock on my door has me sitting up and clutching the blanket to my chest. Is it Asher?
“Come in,” I call.
Marcel pokes his head in. “Good morning.”
I smile at him. “Morning.”
“I trust you had a good night?” He walks a few feet inside the room.
My brain flashes to images of Asher with his mouth between my legs, and I try to keep a blush from creeping up onto my face. “I did, yes.”
“Excellent.” He claps his hands in front of him. “Mr. Voss has asked that you be moved from under Finn to a different department.”
I frown. I wonder why he would do that. “Okay… where am I going now?”
Marcel smiles wide. “You’re going to assist him from now on. We’re working on setting up a desk for you in his office.”
Despite my earlier promise to myself, a seed of hope springs to life inside me, fed with sunlight and water by Asher’s request that I work by his side.
“Doesn’t he already have an assistant?” I ask.
He nods. “He does, but she works off site mostly. Mr. Voss plans to spend more days here working from home, and he wants you to act as his assistant when he’s here.”
“Okay.” I smile. It sounds better than scrubbing toilets and endless hours of polishing wood.
“You’re to meet him in his office in exactly one hour.”
I glance at the clock on the bedside table and nod. “I can do that.”
“Wonderful.” Marcel turns around to leave but stops and looks over his shoulder at me. “No update on when your room will be ready, but Mr. Voss said you’re welcome to stay here until it’s completely repaired.”
I blink rapid fire. “Really? He wasn’t too pleased when he found me here last night. Did you get in trouble?” I bite on my bottom lip, hoping not.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” He winks.
Then he’s gone, closing the door behind him. I spring out of bed and rush into the shower, wanting enough time to blow dry my hair and apply a little makeup. I want to look good the next time I see Asher, especially with what happened last night.
Once I’ve showered, dried and styled my hair, and applied a little makeup, I go over to my bag to see what I’m going to wear.
I don’t have many options suitable for being the assistant to a billionaire.
My things arrived at Oak Haven from Nashville, though, so I’ll have to make sure to go by and grab some of the outfits I wore for my interning job.
I settle on a black wrap romper with shorts. It’s not exactly professional, but it’s not casual either. I can make it work.
With ten minutes to spare, I rush from the room to head to Asher’s office.
I’m finally getting better at finding my way around Midnight Manor, so I arrive a few minutes early.
He’s not in his office, so I go inside to wait for him, spotting the new desk that has been set up in the far corner from his.
My nerves set in. I was too distracted getting ready for anxiety to be an issue earlier. But now I can’t help but wonder how he’ll greet me.
I’m assuming, just from the fact that he’s brought me here to work with him, that he’s not going to push me away, but I can’t be certain. Maybe he wants me with him every day because he wants to do a little secretary/boss roleplaying. I don’t hate the idea, I’ll admit.
When footsteps enter the room, I turn with a smile on my face, but it falters when I see a beautiful blonde standing beside Asher.
I clear my throat. “Good morning.” I put on my most professional voice and don’t show that I’m disappointed he’s not alone.
“Morning,” Asher clips out. “Miss Boudreaux, this is Clarise, my assistant at the head office. I’ve brought her here this week to help you get acquainted with what I’ll need from you while you’re here.”
Recovering, I step forward, hand held out. “Good to meet you, Clarise.”
She takes my hand and shakes it, studying me for a beat.
I’d put her in her late twenties. She’s taller than I am, with green eyes and a willowy frame that reminds me of a model. Dressed in her sophisticated office wear, she makes me feel like a child playing dress-up in my romper.
As if reading my mind, Asher says, “We’ll have to get you more appropriate clothing if you’re going to work for me now. I’ll have some things left in your room.”
I nod, trying my best to hide my embarrassment. “Thank you.”
“I’ll leave you two to get started.” He doesn’t say another word before he goes over to his desk and gets to work on his computer.
“Do you have any experience assisting a man like Mr. Voss?” Clarise asks me.
There’s a challenge in her voice, and I wonder if it’s because she’s territorial about the man himself or her job. Maybe both.
“I was interning at a publishing company in Nashville before I… came here.” I doubt she knows how or why I’m here, and Asher would probably prefer to keep it that way.
Clarise blows out a breath. “Well, we better get started then. I don’t want to be away from my girlfriend any longer than I need to be.”
Guess that answers my earlier question.
The week passes quickly, and as he said he would, Asher has some more appropriate clothing left in the closet in my room. I’m still staying inside the manor as the work to repair my original room continues.
When I ventured home on Saturday night, I picked up a few outfits from what had returned from Nashville. I had a nice visit with my family, and I was surprised to find my mom out of bed, hanging out downstairs with them when I arrived.
Luke told me it had been a good week for her. While she wasn’t exactly talking while I was there, she at least seemed to be following the conversation. It gave me hope that soon she might be back to her old self.
I didn’t get a moment alone with Asher last week, and I wondered if that was by design. Though I suppose Clarise was there the whole time to train me.
Today will be the first day she won’t be here, and I can’t help the giddy feeling that rises inside me. The anticipation of being alone with him again is all I could think of. Will he kiss me? Will we do more?
It’s hard not to skip like a schoolgirl through the manor as I make my way to his office.
When I arrive, I’m disappointed to see that he isn’t there yet. No matter, I’ll get to work, and he’ll be happy when he comes in.
But when I step over to my desk, I see a note in the middle of my desk.
I’ll be out of town on business all week. Contact Clarise each morning for your list of tasks to be completed.
A
That’s all it says?
I flip it over to find the back blank. It’s so… impersonal. Maybe he was afraid someone else who works for him would see it if they were in here cleaning or taking out the garbage?
With a frown, I sit at my desk and reach for the phone to find out from Clarise what I need to be working on. This week is not going to be what I hoped.