Chapter Five

Ashton

Massive pink bubbles floated up from the steam to tickle my cheeks as I slipped underneath the hot, soothing water. A random text had come in from Quinn within minutes of getting settled in the hotel room. One that made my blood boil. How dare he not leave me alone after the way I’d just left things?

Even though the invite was from Mr. Albertson, I knew that Quinn had something to do with it. Something nefarious. He wanted to see me tonight and was not going to take his obnoxious foot of the gas until he reached his destination. He could wait until hell froze over. Or at least until I’d soaked some of the tension from my neck and back. The stress that he’d caused with his lips and tongue.

Damn Quinn Andrews.

Even more, damn my body and its natural reaction to him. This bath was a way to relax and clear my mind. After everything that I had been through today, I desperately needed a time out. A moment to myself to reflect over what had already happened and what I was not going to allow to happen again.

My suite at the Albertson’s hotel was top notch, despite the tackiness of the trademark exterior pink color. The honeymoon suite had been miraculously vacant for the duration of my stay. When I’d arrived to the hotel, a gift basket waited for me. Stuffed with luxury bath products, I’d selected a strawberry scented bath bomb that fizzed and bubbled when I’d tossed it in the tub. It smelled amazing.

Inhaling the fruity concoction, I couldn’t stop thinking about Quinn. He cleaned up nice. No. He’d looked like some irresistible, hot as hell corporate raider. I had never seen him in a suit before and it showed off his broad shoulders and tapered waist to perfection. Add some long legs and you had the perfect recipe for panty dropping. Then there was the smell. Divine. A combination of citrus, musk and feral man. What in the world was wrong with me?

My head rested on a rolled-towel behind me, and I squeezed my eyes shut in a futile attempt to block out the disturbing images. Of ripping his belt out of the loops so I could pull his pants down. In my fantasy, Quinn’s mouth moved in another apology. Did he deserve the second chance he’d demanded?

Several candles that I had plundered from the gift basket were now slowly melting down to pools of wax inside the massive bathroom, the dancing flames casting a warm glow around me. The scent of the fresh beach air combined with the intoxicating smells of vanilla and strawberries had lulled my mind into a mellow haze of relaxation.

I let my hand drift down my slick body as I thought about that kiss. If I went to dinner with him tonight, would he try it again? Would Quinn run his hands through my hair, tugging it as he plunged his tongue into my mouth? Walking a fine line between pleasure and pain?

I slid my middle and index finger into my swollen folds, letting out a moan as I brushed my clit. Just the way I liked it. After he’d left me, my only intimate partners had been my stash of vibrators and my fingers, so I’d become an expert in self-pleasuring.

The tight muscles in my thighs trembled at the raw contact. I settled into a slow rhythm and continued to stroke my most sensitive parts, thinking about Quinn and what I’d like him to do to me. I imagined him nibbling my neck and leaving a cool trail with his tongue all the way down to my collarbone. I felt Quinn taking my pink nipple in his mouth, gently suckling at first, then biting and soothing the onslaught with his talented tongue.

The strokes against my clit quickened and I held a thought of Quinn slowly making his way down my body – licking, sucking, kissing – until he reached that most coveted point between my legs. He’d never put his mouth there, but God, how I’d wanted him to. I’d never felt it before and I wanted to feel it now. But only with him. In my mind, his tongue plunged inside of me while his fingers explored my sensitive folds.

His impressive member teased my opening before he slid the length inside of me. I wondered if he still looked the same without his clothes. He’d be more solid now. More filled out with muscle and sinew. I thought back to our first time when Quinn pumped into me, my hips matching his every thrust. How I felt when his cock slipped in and out of me, sending vibrations throughout my body. I’d been reaching. Searching.

But I hadn’t met my destination.

Somehow, I knew that wouldn’t be the case today. We were both older, wiser. My clit swelled and strained between my rapidly stroking fingers. I called out Quinn’s name as waves of pleasure overcame me, the orgasm shattering every thought in my mind. Except him.

A buzzing in my ears brought me back to reality. I launched myself out of the tub, suds and water dripping from every curve, when I realized it was my cell phone letting me know I’d missed a call or text. I quickly dried off my hands on the fluffy hotel towel, picked up my phone, and scrolled to the most recent notification.

Quinn: I’ll pick you up at six-thirty. We’ll have a drink before dinner.

I figured he had waited long enough for my response

Ashton: See you then.

It only took a few seconds for his reply.

I wasn’t sure what Henri would think about me having dinner with the seller and seller’s attorney so I didn’t tell him. As long as Albertson agreed to the terms and signed all the legal documents, I didn’t think it would matter. He would want me to do whatever it took to seal the deal, within ethical bounds of course.

Henri desperately wanted to add Destin, Florida, to his impressive list of real estate investments. I didn’t want to be the one to let him down. I would call him as soon as I was dressed and give him an update.

The clock on my phone read five-thirty, which didn’t leave me a lot of time to get ready. I pulled out my suitcase to see which outfits I’d packed for the trip. Tonight I wanted to look so hot that Quinn would regret ever leaving me. Of course, when I’d thrown things in my suitcase, running into Quinn Andrews hadn’t even been a blip on my radar.

Luckily I always packed a little black dress. Since I traveled so much for business, dinners and drinks such as this evening’s popped up often I had to be prepared to look feminine and still remain in control. One or two dresses and matching stilettos always made it into my suitcase for casual or business dinners. This particular dress was a favorite of mine and could be dressed up with accessories.

It was a black lace sheath with a cutout in the back. I could wear it with a tailored jacket to hide the sexy back or wear it with just a pretty rhinestone necklace for a sexier look.

First, I slid on a silky black slip and a matching thong. I was pressed for time, but I made sure to be careful and deliberate with my hair and makeup – I wanted to look my best. I didn’t have time to straighten my curly blonde hair, so instead I let it dry naturally into ringlets. I used a rhinestone clip to pull back the front section and let the rest fall naturally. Since it was a beach town, and casual seemed to be the dress code in Florida, I went with minimal makeup. A swipe of mascara, a touch of blush, and my favorite mango-scented lip gloss finished the look.

The black dress clung to my curves like a second skin. I blamed the post-holiday madness at work, when I should’ve been going back to the gym and working off the extra pounds caused by my mom’s Christmas cookies. My boobs overflowed the low-cut neckline. I tugged the dress down but it didn’t help. Quinn was going to get an eye full.

When Quinn Andrews saw me tonight, he was going to wish he hadn’t waited ten years for the pleasure. And I knew just how to tempt him into desiring me so I could lay the hammer down on him. I knew that thought was kind of petty of me, but he had hurt me so deeply, it was justified in my opinion.

I had just slid on my heels when I heard a knock on the door. Quinn was a few minutes early. I took one final look in the mirror and held my breath as I swung it open, preparing myself for the look on his face when he saw me.