Chapter 39 Ella
ELLA
We pull up to one of the hottest, most exclusive clubs in London. Sterling called ahead, and so of course we’re met with bouncers and the club owner as soon as the car pulls to the curb.
“Welcome, Mr. Langford and Mr. Langford.” The club owner turns to me. “And you must be Ms. Hale.” I nod and shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I’m Edmund Taylor. We have a VIP lounge waiting for your party. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do for you.”
The bouncers escort us through the pulsing club to a raised platformed floor with luxury booths roped off with red velvet ropes and thick curtains on either side.
It reminds me of the last time I went clubbing with Asher, which makes me smile.
How things have changed since that night.
Like last time, I’m holding Asher’s hand as we make our way through the club, but this time it feels natural, easy, and there’s no worry or stress over my coworkers seeing us and wondering what’s going on.
I love that I can hold his hand out in the open and it’s not weird.
I now recognize that protective, possessive edge that he showed toward me that night, even though he hardly knew me.
And I revel in it. What is it about him?
What is it about us that drew us together and made him fuss over me, even when I was merely his employee?
When Asher sits, I hold onto his shoulder to keep him from sliding across the booth seat, and instead of sitting beside him, I sit on his lap. His eyes light up, and he gives me an amused grin.
The waitress shows up, and I shoot my drink order over my shoulder, hardly paying her any mind. I’m not trying to be rude, I am just suddenly, completely consumed with Asher.
“What is this, Ms. Hale?” he whispers in a gruff voice in my ear as the waitress leaves.
I reach my hand along the back of his neck and lean in close to whisper back in his ear. “I was just thinking about the last time we went clubbing and how much I liked holding your hand. How much I liked your eyes on me that night.”
His hand slides up my spine. “I liked it too. I wanted to fuck you the whole night. Watching you on the dance floor was torture.”
“Hmm. Tonight, it doesn’t have to be.” I play with the short hairs on the back of his head. “Tonight, you can dance with me, touch me, however you want. No Emily, no coworkers, no messy boss and employee rules.”
“Fuck yes,” he growls.
He nips at my earlobe, and it sends shivers down my spine, then he runs his palm over my ass, gripping it.
His other hand brushes over my knee, teasing the hem of my dress, which is a respectable knee-length since we were just at a family dinner with his aunt.
But his hand doesn’t stop at the respectable knee-length hemline.
It continues beneath my dress and his fingers trace teasing circles against my skin as his hand snakes its way up my thigh.
“I don’t think we finished what we started this morning in the shower,” I whisper.
“Do you two want to leave?” Sterling calls from across the table, over the loud music. “You don’t seem in the mood for the dance floor.”
Asher smirks and flips him off just as the waitress reappears with our drinks.
I take a long sip of mine. Oof, it’s strong.
But I don’t have to worry about that tonight.
I’m not here for work, and I don’t have to worry about stray men feeling me up or trying to take advantage.
There is only one man whose hands will be on me, and at this point, he can take all the fucking advantage he wants.
Asher knocks back his whiskey, and I finish my cocktail. The flood of alcohol warms me, giving me a perfect, giddy buzz.
“Let’s dance,” I say, climbing off Asher’s lap and pulling him up after me.
“Dance with me,” Sterling says to Maya, but it sounds more like an order than a request. She looks unsure.
And I can’t wholly blame her. Sterling is an imposing figure.
He’s a strange combination of quiet and playful, but I’m beginning to see that he’s only playful around his family.
Otherwise, he’s like a looming storm cloud—beautiful in his darkness, dominates anything in his way, and may strike at any moment.
I pull Asher to me and move to their side of the table.
“Don’t worry, Maya. You’re in good hands with Sterling. I don’t know if he’s a good dancer, but he’ll at least keep the assholes at bay. Let’s go have fun!”
“For the record, I’m an excellent dancer!” Sterling calls over the music in his deadpan, flat voice. He holds out his hand for Maya. She takes it, but I can tell she’s feeling shy.
“Take another drink!” I yell to her.
She tips back her cocktail and drains it.
“Let’s go!”
Asher leads me to the dance floor, then pulls me into him, my back to his front, and we start dancing.
His hands are on my waist, my hips, and I wrap one arm around his neck.
The bass bleeds through us, and we are soon lost to it, and become nothing more than two people fused together, moving as one.
I glance up and smile at Maya, who’s similarly wrapped in Sterling’s arms. I notice that like Asher, his hands don’t just rest on her hips, they’re planted there, possessive and communicating to the men eyeing Maya that they better stay the fuck away.
What is it with Langford men? Do they take classes on how to be dominating assholes? Or does it just come naturally to them?
I let the music carry me away, and soon I forget about Maya and Sterling.
I forget about everything that isn’t Asher.
The paparazzi doesn’t know I’m here in London yet, and by some stroke of luck, they haven’t been following Asher and Sterling tonight, so I plan to use that to our advantage.
Tonight is a night for fun and for dancing.
Tonight is a night to let go and get lost in him.
“Ella Bella can’t hold her liquor for shit,” Maya says in a sing-song voice.
“You’re drunk too,” I say. “Don’t lie, Maya Magpie!” I think my voice is slow and slurry. But everything is moving so fast around me that it’s hard to tell.
“I’ve got you,” Asher says, wrapping his whole arm around my waist. I lean into him. My feet feel heavy, and my legs are wobbly.
The car pulls up, and Asher helps me inside. Maya follows. Then Asher and Sterling climb in behind us. Asher reaches over me, grabs my seatbelt, and draws it across my chest, buckling it into place.
“You’re very strict with seat belts,” I say, inhaling the delicious scent of his cologne at his nearness. I’ve been pressed into him all night and yet I still can’t get enough. Even mixed with a little sweat from dancing, Asher smells intoxicating.
“We have to make sure you’re safe in your travels, Ella Bella,” he says, smirking.
“Heeeeyyyy, you can’t call me that.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s my childhood nickname. You have to call me something different.”
“Hmm. Like what?”
“I don’t know. I’m not the nickname decider. You have to make it up if you give it to me.”
I forget what I’m saying and just stare at his face. His perfect, perfect face. “You’re pretty,” I say, and I tap his nose with my finger.
Asher scoffs. “I’m not pretty.”
“You are, too. You should hear what the girls at work say about you.”
“And what do they say?” He lifts a brow.
“They say you’re like a god. And they all want to fuck you.”
Asher bursts out laughing. “And what do you say?” he whispers now.
“I say they’re right. Except the fucking part.”
“You don’t want to fuck me?” he whispers, pinching my side.
I yelp in surprise. “I mean they don’t get to fuck you. They can think you’re a god, but they don’t get to touch you.”
“And why is that?”
“Because you’re my sort-of-fake-sort-of-not-fake boyfriend,” I whisper, so only he can hear me. “If anyone gets to fuck you, it’s me.”
“And do you want to?”
“Yes. Too much. But we’re not supposed to. We’re supposed to keep boundaries is what you said.”
“I think I’m an idiot for saying that, which is why I proposed new terms, remember?”
I laugh. “Did Asher Langford just admit to being an idiot? It must be cold in hell!”
I think my whispers are getting louder because Sterling flashes me a wolfish grin.
Damn those two delicious cocktails.
“Ugh, goddammit!” Maya says, tossing her phone in her purse.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“Nothing.” She’s fuming.
“That’s noooot nothing.”
“It’s one of my damn dorm mates again. There’s a loud party in the building that’s just getting started. I’m just not in the mood to listen to it till four a.m.”
“See?” I say. “You need to move out! You’re twenty-eight! You shouldn’t be dealing with dorm parties; you’re officially too old for that shit.”
Maya sticks out her tongue, and Sterling studies her.
“You can come stay with meeee. Wait, where are we staying?” I ask Asher. “I don’t remember. We were at a hotel this morning, right?”
Asher snorts. “It’s a good thing you’re not navigating your way on your own tonight, you don’t even know where you’re staying, you little drunkard.”
“Heeeyyyy. I’m not a drunkard.” I curl into his side and rest my head on his shoulder, a little dizzy.
“And I knew I didn’t have to worry about it, being with you.
I can drink as much as I want when you’re around.
No men will touch me or drug my drink. And I don’t have to worry about being assaulted on the way home.
I know you won’t let anything bad happen to me. ”
“You’re right, there,” he says, pulling me closer. “I told you—I take care of what’s mine.”
He runs his hand along my thigh, and I brush my hand up his chest. God, this man is like a fucking dream.
“Ya, I’m not staying with the two of you in a hotel,” Maya says, eyeing us. “I’d rather not hear or know what the two of you will most definitely be up to tonight.”
Sterling chuckles darkly.
“You should stay with Sterling then,” Asher says. “He has like twelve extra bedrooms in his manor.”
Sterling flips him off at the term.
“Yes!” I shout in agreement. “That way there’s no dodging handsy, pimply undergrad boys while you’re drunk.”
“Does that happen often?” Sterling demands.
She rolls her eyes. “Ella is exaggerating.”
“I am not! I’ve heard your stories!”
“Okay,” she concedes, holding up her hands in surrender.
“So that does happen regularly,” Sterling growls.
“Remember what kind of idiots the two of you probably were at that age,” she says, motioning to him and Asher. “And then imagine living with those idiots as a more seasoned adult.”
Sterling shudders. “Fucking hell, that sounds like torture.”
“I’d rather stab myself,” Asher adds.
“So, can she stay at your house?” I ask Sterling. “I mean, your manor?”
He rolls his eyes. “Of course you will stay,” he says to Maya. “I’m not going to let you go to a packed dorm party with handsy, pimply undergrad boys, and suffer until four a.m.”
“You’re not going to let me? As if you have any say?” Maya asks, narrowing her eyes at him. “Why do you even care? I’m practically a stranger.”
“I’m filled with altruism. It’s one of my shining characteristics,” Sterling deadpans. “Also, my mother would have my head if she knew of the situation and found out I did nothing.”
“A true gentleman,” I say. “Catherine Langford deserves a medal for her efforts in raising three boys.”
Asher chuckles, and I love the feel of his rumbling chest against my side. “That she does.”
“Then it’s settled. You’ll stay with Sterling tonight. And while I’m here in London, we’re moving you somewhere suitable.”
Maya tries to argue.
“Don’t even think about arguing with me, Maya Magpie! I’ve been worrying about you for three years, and I’m done with that shit. I can fix the situation now, so we’re fixing it.”
“What dimension am I in, and what the fuck is going on?” she mutters to herself.
I smile at her defeat. “You’re now in the Langford dimension, and buckle up, because it's a whole different kind of ride.”
Now both Asher and Sterling laugh.