CHAPTER 16
Hannah
“Want to have a drink first?” Asher inquires as we step out of the elevator into The Wicked Horse.
“Sure,” I tell him, and he leads me over to the bar. After he has accepted a bourbon for himself and glass of wine for me, we head to a tall table in a quiet corner. The Social Room serves alcohol, but it doesn’t supply much seating as the goal is to encourage people to mingle and get to know one another.
“So what did you and Hope end up doing this weekend?” he asks, and another jolt of surprise hits me. I hadn’t thought Asher was interested in much other than my body.
“We went to the movies. Afterward, she convinced me into taking her to a pet store just to visit the animals, but then tried to talk me into getting a cat.”
Asher laughs, leaning an elbow on the table. “I’m assuming you stood strong?”
“I’m allergic to them,” I reply with a smirk. “It was an emphatic no.”
“Way to hang tough, Hannah.”
I give a wistful sigh. “Maybe a dog one day. If I get Hope back, I think a dog would be good for us.”
“What’s going on with that?” he asks, and it still seems like he’s genuinely interested.
I narrow my eyes at him. “You know you don’t have to do this, right?”
Asher frowns. “Do what?”
“Wine and dine me,” I say. “Well, wine me anyway. You know I’m a sure bet.”
He’s not offended, only laughs at me. Leaning in, he murmurs, “Trust me, Hannah. I know the terms of our agreement exactly. But I feel like relaxing a bit with a drink, so how about you indulge me and answer my question?”
It seems legit, so I try to ignore the uncomfortable feeling that gathers in my chest at the thought he’s interested in something other than my body. I give a frustrated sigh. “I can’t get the attorney to call me back. I mean, he said he’d file the motion after thirty days of consistent employment, which would be the end of this week. I’ve left a few messages for him over the last few days, but he won’t call me back.”
“That’s bullshit,” Asher growls as he straightens slightly.
I shrug. “I’ll call again tomorrow.”
“Let me call my attorney tomorrow.”
“What?” I exclaim. Taking in the solid set of his shoulders, I realize he’s not joking. “No. You don’t need to do that. Besides, I already paid a retainer to this guy and—”
“I’m calling my attorney tomorrow,” he says, completely talking right over me. “I’ll see what can be done.”
“Asher…” I’m stuck between wanting to repel his help because I don’t want any reasons to like him more than I already do… and dancing a jig for joy because I’m desperate to get Hope back and I’m tired of waiting.
He smiles at me, but then his gaze moves over my shoulder. I turn to see a very handsome man coming our way, his eyes locked onto Asher, who steps around the table to meet him.
They shake hands, and the man claps Asher on the shoulder. “Good to see you, man. You haven’t been coming in as much.”
That’s interesting. We haven’t been coming here together as much during the weekdays. I’d say about half the time, Asher seems to prefer me in his bed. If it’s not in the morning, then he comes home from work before I leave and drags me in there. And for the last two weeks, he’s taken to staying at my house so he can have his way with me on the weekend.
Both men turn my way, and the stranger doesn’t look me up and down as so many others in this club have. He only sticks his hand out and says, “Jerico Jameson.”
“Jerico owns this place,” Asher explains, then completes the introduction. “This is Hannah.”
I straighten as I shake Jerico’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you as well,” he says. With a twinkle in his eye, he adds, “I’ve been enjoying watching the two of you these last few weeks.”
My face flames hot, even as I realize the thought of this gorgeous man watching me with Asher turns me on.
An arm comes around my waist, and Asher pulls me to him almost possessively. “She’s not on the menu,” he almost snarls, which makes my brow crinkle in confusion. He’s acting as if he’s… jealous? Mad? No way.
Jerico throws his head back, his laugh a booming echo. Shaking his head, he gives me an apologetic smile before turning back to Asher. “Not meaning any offense, because your lady is incredibly desirable, but my wife is the only one I’m interested in touching these days.”
Gaze dropping to his hand, I see a shiny gold band on his left ring finger. I feel Asher relax, but then Jerico grins. “Doesn’t mean I don’t like watching, though.”
“We don’t mind you watching,” Asher replies smoothly, releasing his hold on me. He steps casually back up to the table, then picks up his drink.
“Just wanted to say hello,” Jerico says as he glances at his watch. “I have to get going, though.”
He inclines his head. “It was nice to meet you, Hannah.”
“Likewise,” I murmur, wondering what his wife thinks about him owning this place.
Jerico points at Asher as he starts to back away. “How about you bring Hannah over for dinner one night this week?”
My head snaps Asher’s way to see how he’ll handle this incredibly awkward situation. We’ve essentially just been invited on a double date, and Asher and I aren’t even dating.
“Can’t this week,” Asher replies without acknowledging my wide-eyed stare. “Heading to Florida tomorrow for business. Maybe next week.”
My jaw drops. I don’t even break my gaze from Asher when Jerico says, “I’ll get up with you early next week.”
I’m given an innocent smile when Asher turns to me. “What?”
My gaze drops, and I shrug. “Nothing. It’s just… we’re not…”
The words trail off as I realize I’m not exactly sure how to define what we are. We have sex. But it’s more than that… The level of intimacy we share with each other is beyond anything I’ve ever known was possible.
“Hannah,” Asher says softly to get my attention. “Would you rather me have declined and made it clear we’re just fucking?”
“Why doesn’t he just think that to begin with?” I ask curiously. “This is a sex club after all.”
Asher raises a brow, acting as if I’m the most naïve thing in the world. He sweeps his hand out to encompass everyone in the room. “Most of the people in here are in monogamous relationships, Hannah. But many of them enjoy swinging or engaging in group sex. This club and monogamy are not mutually exclusive. I haven’t been seeing anyone but you for the past three or so weeks now. It’s only logical Jerico would notice since I’ve never been with one woman for so long before.”
“Oh,” I say, fascinated by these revelations and more than a little warmed that he’s never been exclusive with someone before. I decide to satisfy my curiosity a bit. “Does Jerico bring his wife here?”
Asher smiles, taking another sip of his bourbon before he nods. “A few times a week. She used to work here.”
“That’s interesting.” I pick up my wine, study him over the edge as I bring it to my mouth. After I take a sip, I ask, “Do they swap partners?”
“Not that I’ve ever seen,” Asher replies. “Jerico was telling the truth. He only has eyes for Trista. Occasionally, he’ll double up on her with their close friend Kynan. That was the guy I talked to that first night I brought you here.”
I practically choke on the wine I was just sipping. “Double up on her?”
“Fuck her at the same time,” Asher says blandly, then leans in to me. His voice drops an octave. “You know… two cocks in her at once. One in her pussy, one in her ass. Or maybe one in her ass and one in her mouth.”
I swallow hard, wondering what that would be like.
Asher must see it in my eyes. “Do you want that?”
I quickly shake my head.
“Hannah… if you want it, I’ll make it happen.”
“You said I wasn’t on the menu,” I remind him.
For a moment, Asher seems flustered at the reminder of the words he spoke not long ago. Tipping his glass, he takes another sip. After he swallows, he says, “I have to admit I have pretty strong proprietary feelings about you. But if you want to feel two men inside you, I’ll make it happen.”
It’s then I realize… I don’t want another man inside me. The idea of it is all kinds of wicked and would make my panties wet if I were wearing any, but I don’t want any man other than Asher touching me.
“No,” I say firmly, tilting my chin up. “I’m quite satisfied with just you.”
I get a grin in return, taking note of the relief in his eyes. He nods toward my wine and asks, “You want another?”
“Um… sure,” I reply, enjoying the fact that Asher is willingly giving his time to me to have conversation.
After flagging a passing waitress and ordering another bourbon and wine, he turns to me.
“What did you do this weekend?” I ask pleasantly, feeling that’s a safe conversation to have.
He grimaces. “Met my dad’s fiancée.”
“You don’t like her?” I ask with a curious tilt of my head.
“I don’t like the fact that he’s known her less than two weeks, she’s thirty years younger than he is, and he might just be thinking with his dick.”
“Are he and your mom divorced?”
Asher’s gaze goes to his bourbon, a fond but sad smile on his face. “She died three years ago. Heart attack.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, reaching across the table to lay my hand on top of his. He’s had a rough time losing both his wife and mother in the last few years. No wonder he’s so guarded.
Asher raises his head, giving me a quiet smile as he pulls his hand back. He deftly changes the subject as the waitress returns with fresh drinks. “Are you sure I can’t talk you into coming to Florida with me this week? As your employer, I could demand it.”
Laughing, I shake my head at his persistence. I’ve already declined his offer twice when he asked last week. “I can’t. You’re not getting back until late Saturday, and I’m not giving up my time with Hope.”
“Never hurts to ask.” He takes a sip from his new drink.
I change the subject now. “Did you ever bring your wife here?”
Asher freezes, his gaze going slightly flat. “Why would you ask that?”
“Never hurts to ask,” I say, throwing his same words back at him. Besides, I can’t help but be curious about this man. “You’re a sensual man, Asher. You don’t hold back. I just assumed the woman you chose to spend your life with would be the same.”
I think he might deny me, but his shoulders sag slightly as he shakes his head. “No. I didn’t start coming to The Wicked Horse until after she died.”
I’m not sure what that tells me about this enigmatic man, other than he must have changed.
I can’t help but ask, “How did she die?”
Of all the things I’d expected a young woman might die from, I wasn’t prepared for him to say, “She killed herself.”
“Oh, God,” I exclaim on a horrified exhale. My hand shoots back across the table to grab his. He reflexively jerks against me, but I hold tight. “I’m so sorry. I don’t even know what to say.”
Asher doesn’t try to pull his hand back, but he does look everywhere but at me. Finally, he straightens, reaches for his drink with his free hand, and downs it.
I get a sharp tug and he’s leading me away from the table, my new glass of wine left untouched.
Not holding back, I let him lead me where he wants. The conversation about his wife is clearly over, and there’s a small tremor of fear that races up my spine as I feel waves of turmoil rolling off him.
He leads me straight to The Silo, through the heart of the room, and right to the glass room that’s furthest from the door.
I’ve seen this room before. Seen what’s inside.
The machine.
Asher nods toward it. “I want you on that tonight.”
“I don’t know.” It comes out faint as I instinctually back slightly away.
He gives me a jerk, pulls me closer, and positions me in front of him so I stare into the room. It’s already occupied as it’s a popular destination.
There’s a man and a woman in there, and the woman is on the machine. I clench my thighs together as I watch them, the woman’s legs splayed wide as a mechanical dildo drills into her. The man with her just watches with lust-filled eyes, idly stroking his hard cock.
Asher steps in close to me, his own thick erection hard against my ass. Wrapping his arms around me, he dips his head to state, “I’m going to let that machine fuck you, and I’m going to make you suck my cock while it does. Do you like the sound of that?”
God help me and my traitorous body, but I’m nodding almost frantically as I press back into him, rotating my hips.
Laughing darkly, he holds me tightly as we watch what’s going on inside. Before long, his hand has inched under my short dress, meeting no resistance since I’m bare beneath. I lean against him and close my eyes, knowing I’m in for a very wild ride tonight. Really, though, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing.