8. The Morning After
Chapter 8
The Morning After
Ori
I stretch, a low groan escaping my mouth at the effort. Blinking my eyes open, I scan the room, a momentary rush of panic shooting through me.
Where the hell am I?
Then I remember—the basement beneath my bookstore.
Where I spent the night with Asher Hammond.
Not just any night, either. That man certainly lives up to his reputation, and then some.
Damn, what a talented tongue. What a talented … everything.
Glancing to my left, I see the man of the hour is still asleep, his breathing soft and even. After our second round, we created a makeshift bed on the floor, complete with couch cushions and a blanket I swiped from my decorations box.
Let’s just say it saw its share of action last night.
I skew my mouth to the side, taking a moment to drink in the man who rocked my world the night before .
“You, sir, are trouble with a capital T,” I whisper, dragging my finger down his nose and holding back the giggle when Ash grumbles under his breath.
I slide from under his arm and pad to the bathroom to assess the damage. Thankfully, my headache is tolerable, even without coffee.
Guess amazing sex cuts down on hangovers.
Flipping on the light, I glimpse my reflection and realize amazing sex does wonders for all parts of me.
Instead of looking haggard, my face is rosy, my eyes bright. Okay, my hair is a bit of a disaster, but a few pulls through my long locks help to tame the massive length.
Not too bad.
When I roll my neck to work out the kinks that set up residence, I spy Ash’s handiwork in the mirror. Large and purple, the hickey stands out in bass relief against my pale skin.
“Monster,” I mutter with a grin.
Thank God it’s winter and no one will question me wearing a turtleneck.
Spying a bottle of mouthwash, I take advantage. It’s not a toothbrush, but at least my breath won’t wake the dead.
When I exit the bathroom, Ash is awake, his head propped on his hand, a smile playing across his handsome face.
“Damn, but you’re even more beautiful in the morning.”
As the flush climbs my cheeks, I wave my hand in his direction, dismissing his compliment.
Ash, for his part, is undeterred. “Don’t do that. You know you look good.”
I kneel on our makeshift bed and reach over Ash to grab my bra. “I know an epic romp certainly increases the blood flow.”
With lightning-quick reflexes, Ash grabs my waist, rolls on top of me, and tangles his tongue with mine in a greedy, possessive kiss. “Epic, huh? I like that description.” He moves his mouth along the column of my throat, while his fingers drift between my thighs to find their mark. “I see someone is ready for another round.”
Two can play that game. I drag my gaze down the length of Ash’s body, resting on his fully erect cock. “Seems I’m not the only one.”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been ready.” Ash reaches for his wallet, pulling out a foil package.
I’m beyond grateful Ash carries ample protection because we’ve made use of them, although another part of my psyche shudders to know how often he has to restock his supply.
Brain, you are not welcome in this moment. You can chastise me later. Right now, I’m all about the pleasure.
“How many of those do you carry at one time?”
Ash smirks as he rolls the condom down his impressive length. “This is it, so any additional epic romps are going to be raw, darling.”
I hate how incredible that sounds.
Incredibly dangerous. Reckless. Delicious.
What is it about this man that makes me want to throw caution to the wind?
Ash settles between my thighs, his cock gliding against my skin and once again awakening every cell in my body.
“Do not make me wait, Asher Hammond.”
A cocky grin stretches his face before he buries himself inside me. Then he claims my mouth, swallowing every whimper as my legs tighten around him.
So good. So amazingly good.
The man was right. Cock rings are an amazing invention.
Then again, his cock would be remarkable with or without a piercing.
“Fuck, but I love your pussy, Ori.” Ash growls out the words against my neck, his breath hot against my skin.
“She’s kind of fond of you, too.”
“Good thing, because my appetite for you is insatiable.”
The man is relentless, pulling back to tease my entrance before filling me again, his hands wrapped around my hips for added leverage.
I fist the sheets, meeting his every thrust, my body being pushed ever closer to the edge. I’m right there.
Right there?—
“Hey Ash, are you down here?”
We freeze mid-stroke at the unexpected—and highly unwelcome—male voice echoing down the steps.
Seems our fun little interlude is over.
Ash huffs out a breath before shooting me a look of resignation. “I’m down here, Braden. We got locked in last night. Have to fix that door.”
Heavy footfalls sound on the wooden stairs as Ash scrambles to pull the blanket over our naked forms.
“Braden, give me a minute, okay?”
Too late.
“Why? What are you doing?”
Glancing up, I watch the bemused expression crossing Braden’s face when he spies us together.
Talk about being caught with our pants down. Or in this case, scattered all over the floor. Hey, we had priorities, and laundry wasn’t one of them.
“Never mind. I see you two … are busy. Good morning, Oriana.”
“Morning, Braden.” Holy hell, my face is on fire. “We’ll be right up.”
“Take your time.” Braden’s smirk widens, earning glares from Ash and me. “I’ll let Mina know you’re okay. She came into Black Lotus this morning, panicking because the window display wasn’t finished. When she realized your truck was still in the lot, she went into full on meltdown mode.”
Crap, the window display. Looks like I’m pulling a double today. “Let her know where I am.”
“No problem.”
Braden is halfway up the stairs when Ash calls out to his brother. “Braden, no need to tell Mina or anyone else all the details, okay? Use some discretion, please.”
I don’t know why, but Ash’s demand for secrecy sits as comfortably as my ass on a bed of porcupine quills. Pushing myself to sitting, I snatch my shirt, pulling it over my head.
Ash, meanwhile, rolls onto his back, scrubbing his face with his hands. “So much for a morning fix. Unless you want to make your customers wait a few extra minutes.”
Oh no, you don’t get an encore now, Mr. Hammond.
“You wanted to keep this situation discreet, Ash, and I’m hardly a quiet lover.” I wrap my hair into a makeshift bun, certain I look like I’ve survived a hurricane, but desperate to get upstairs and away from … whatever this was.
One-night stand, Ori. That’s the term you’re looking for.
Why does that knowledge even bother me? Must be the leftover glow from several orgasms. Ash is a fantastic lover, just like all his women claim, so of course I’m going to want more than one helping.
But, if Ash’s reputation with women is to be believed, the man doesn't have a taste for leftovers.
I am now a leftover.
Yuck.
“Hey, get back here. You don’t have to fly upstairs. They know we’re okay, so there’s no need to run away from me.” Ash grips my upper arm, but I shirk his grasp and tug on my pants in a frenzied bid to escape.
“I have a business to run, as do you—a business with customers who don’t appreciate waiting, especially when the delay is because of the owners being caught sans clothing.”
He stands in all his naked glory, and I do my best not to ogle his muscled physique. I fail in said quest. Sue me. He’s beautiful, and he knows it.
Ash closes the small distance between us, hoisting my now dressed form into his arms. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Ori. You’re not some secret I want to hide away, but I believe my private life should be just that—private. Who I spend my time with, and how we pass that time, isn’t anyone’s business but ours.”
Damn, but he’s good. Seems Asher has damage control on lockdown.
The worst part? I don’t want him to know how disappointed I am that our time is over. I don’t want to be that woman—fawning all over this tattooed god.
He has enough of those women, and I have my pride.
Forcing a smile, I steal a kiss, pulling back before Ash has a chance to lock me into another embrace. “I agree. The last thing either of us needs is anyone giving us crap about last night.”
“You’re not mad?” His look is questioning, trying to gauge if my reaction is real or a thin veneer to protect hurt feelings.
“Not at all. Just craving caffeine.”
“I hear you make a mean cup. I’ll have to drop in at some point and try it.”
“On the house.”
Ash sets me down, nodding toward the stairs. “Go ahead. I’ll be up soon.”
Ah, can’t walk up together, either. That would be too obvious. Yet another fact that sticks in my craw.
I pause at the bottom of the stairs, knowing this is my last chance before our moment is past.
How do I do this? I’ve never, not once, engaged in a one-night stand. Hey, I love having a good time, but I reserve my affections for people who want me for more than one round.
But what if Ash is as nervous as I am? What if he’s waiting for me to make the first move?
What the hell. I’ve always been a woman who goes for what she wants. Why stop now?
With a steadying breath, I prepare to make a total ass of myself, whilst sending up a silent prayer that I don’t. “I had a wonderful time. Actually, I don’t remember ever having this much fun before.”
“Me, too.” Ash’s gaze focuses on me like a laser, but I must push through.
“We should get locked in together again sometime. Or try something different, like dinner. ”
Ash nods but averts his gaze as he pulls a hand through his hair. “Always a possibility.”
And there it is, the official blow-off.
I have joined the ranks of countless other women and, just like them, failed to be anything more than a footnote in Asher Hammond’s black book.
Talk about mortification at its finest.
“Right. Well, bye.” A full body flush breaks out across my body at his response, but I manage a last smile before dashing up the stairs.
Once inside One More Page, I make a beeline for the bathroom. Staring in the mirror, I blink away the tears welling in my eyes.
Don’t you dare, Oriana. You knew what kind of man Asher Hammond was. Hell, he told you he doesn’t believe in love or relationships. You just didn’t listen.
“You will not be one of those women, moping about after a man,” I hiss at my reflection. “You’re going to go home, clean up, and then hurry back here to get your ass in gear. You have a store to run and a life to live. Asher Hammond was a one-time deal. The deal is done.”
Time to get my head on straight and back to the business at hand.
Namely, pretending last night never happened.
How hard can it be? Sure, it was great sex, but it’s not like I’ll never have incredible sex again.
Maybe it was only memorable since I haven’t had a decent lay since arriving in Sparkwood six months ago. Yes, that’s got to be the reason.
And now, I can pursue an equally brilliant fuck with a far more attainable conquest. Asher Hammond is not the last of his kind .
Easy come, easy go.
What a complete and utter load of horseshit.
With a deep, centering breath, I yank open the bathroom door.
“Morning, Mina. Sorry I worried you,” I call out toward the main part of the store before dashing to my office.
“I suppose I’ll forgive you. On one condition.” Her voice echoes down the hall, but I note the lilt in her tone.
No way, my darling friend. I’m not having that conversation right now. The sting of Ash’s blow-off is far too fresh to discuss.
I grab my purse and head for the main entrance of One More Page. “Can you watch the store for an hour? I’m going home to change.”
Mina ducks her head out from behind a shelf of books, a smile splitting her face. “Not until you tell me everything, and I mean everything .”
Time to play the events of last night off as nothing because let’s be honest, at the end of the day, that’s all it was. An interesting way to pass the time.
Still, it sure rates higher than arguing or ignoring one another for twelve hours.
I shrug, digging for my keys in my bag to avoid Mina’s heady stare. “Nothing to tell.”
“Well, that’s not true, is it?”
I raise my gaze and meet her smirk, a flush climbing my cheeks as she motions to my neck.
It’s then I remember the souvenir Ash gifted me the night before. A souvenir I’ve half a mind to parade around his shop, just to watch the man squirm.
Petty? Absolutely, but I’m not too concerned with his well-being at the moment. Especially not after I asked him out, and he shot me down.
He didn’t even have the decency to agree to a date and then renege on it later. No, he flat out refused another go with me.
Bastard.
Mina strolls closer, her smile widening with each step. “And what a story you must have, my friend.”
I huff out a breath and shake my head. “Don’t start.”
But Mina has no intention of letting this discussion lie. “Be sure to wear a turtleneck … unless you want to show off his handiwork to the world.”
Mina means well, but I’m in no mood this morning.
“Is that a yes to watching the store?”
She shrugs, shoving a few books into their proper space on the shelf. “Is that a yes to telling me all the juicy details from last night?”
I rub my hand against my chin and bite back the rising frustration. “We survived, okay? End of story. Please don’t ask me about it again.”
The smile slides from Mina’s face, replaced by a look of concern. She rarely sees this biting, dour side of me, and I can tell she’s none too fond of it. “Are you okay? Did he do something to you?”
Where to begin.
But all I manage is a shake of my head, as the tears back up on me again. I need to leave now and collect myself.
Wash all reminders of Ash away.
I reach out and give Mina’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t mind me. I’m just grumpy from no sleep or coffee. Ash did nothing wrong. No worries there. I’ll be back and get that damn window decorated. Otherwise, it might stand vacant until New Year’s.”
Of course, my friend knows I’m full of shit, but lucky for me, she lets the matter drop. “I’ll get started on the window. Drive safe. It’s icy out there.”
Much like the interior of my heart now.
I force a smile and dash out the door. Only when I’m safe in my vehicle do I dare peer through the windows of Black Lotus, but there is no sign of their fearless leader anywhere.
No doubt he’s well acquainted with the morning after walk of shame.
Then it hits me. How many other women have spent the night with Ash below our stores, snuggled together on that old couch?
Biting back the nausea, I shake my head, determined to clear it of any lingering thoughts of Asher Hammond.
Back to reality, and one thing is clear. His reality and my reality will never intersect, save for one night when I foolishly believed differently.