I tried to make a clever remark, but oh, that chest of his. Though I had never seen him shirtless, I could tell just by looking he hid some serious muscle beneath those clothes.
After so many fantasies about him, I finally got to see it for myself.
His pants fell, then his briefs. Clearly, he was not shy about his nakedness, not like me. And why would he be, with a package like that?
Once he had torn open that shiny foil packet, he sank into bed and curled his arms around me.
“So how do you like it, hmm?” His lips found the sweet spot on the back of my neck. “You into that wild Kama Sutra stuff? 'Cause you strike me as that sort. Prim and proper in that shop of yours, but a freak in the bedroom.”
“I'm definitely not a freak.”
“Not yet.” He winked. “But I bet I can turn you into one by tonight's end.”
We were both too eager and ready for this to talk about it any longer. With the sheets thrown back we fell into a mound of pillows, a tangled mess of arms and legs as his lips again met mine.
Did he kiss all his lovers like this, I had to wonder? There was so much passion in it, like the eruption of a volcano that simmered for centuries before finally erupting. His desire was surprising, overwhelming, almost.
When he lifted my chin and let out this little sigh, a current of emotion wove through me. I was able to keep these feelings held back for years by pushing him away.
Now that I was here, naked and fully exposed to him, I couldn't do that. Not anymore.
He worked his cock into me slowly, same as he'd teased me with his mouth, until I'd had enough of the torture. My hands settled on his back and I made him enter me with one swift thrust.
Years it had been since I'd felt this connection with a man. No – it was more than just physical, as it was with Reagan.
Joining bodies with Asher felt special somehow, like this was how it should have always been and I'd been a fool to fight against it for so long.
Maybe it had something to do with our “marriage” plans. Maybe not. It didn't much matter, not right now.
Asher had promised me ecstasy. Tonight, I found out that the man certainly kept his promises.
“Oh, Sarah.” His forehead touched mine as he rocked into me. “To have you like this... It was worth the wait.”
“Yes,” I agreed, groaning silently as his skilled fingers found my clit.
“I always aim to please, you know. Tell me what you need and it's yours.”
“The only thing I need is you.”
The words slipped out in my lustful daze. For a moment I felt silly about it, but Asher growled and went at me like a man who had lost control.
As I neared a second release, a thought flitted into my head: I was going to be his wife.
That thought did something to me. I gripped his shoulders and let myself go again, the fantasies of him marrying me, of belonging to him, fueling my pleasure.
I couldn't understand, not even after I settled down from the high of it all. I would not be his real wife, only on paper. All just to save our businesses.
Yet...
Asher finished inside me, holding me tight to his chest as he came. He couldn't possibly have cared about me, not really, but I'd never felt so loved in a man's arms as I did then.
After, we lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. Both of us surely had a thousand thoughts going through our minds.
Mine oscillated between bliss and panic. The sex was incredible, but oh crap, did I really just sleep with the man I'd been fending off for years?
“So,” I said, talking only because the silence got under my skin. “This marriage ordeal. How's it going to work?”
“I'd rather not ruin the mood by talking about it.” He pulled me close to him with a playful smile. “We'll have to work on those nerves of yours. Don't you worry; I'll transform you from shy wallflower to sex goddess in no time flat.”
I gave him a doubtful look. “That so? Thought you never kept a girl around for too long. We all know variety is your favorite word.”
“You're gonna be my wife, aren't you? Easier than picking up chicks all the time, at least.”
“So you're just using me for sex because it's easier.”
He sighed and cradled me in the nook of his arm. “Lighten up, okay? And don't stress about the marriage. All we gotta do is make it look legit, sign on the dotted line, and boom. We're saved.”
I knew it'd not be that easy, but it was our only shot. For now, I'd have to do something crazy, something I never imagined possible.
I would have to put all my hope – what there was left of it – in Asher. I only prayed he didn't let me down.
Chapter 10 - Asher
Three weeks left until Christmas, then only one more after that until the new year. I was running out of time – but no matter, because Sarah and I had a plan.
She and I would get married. Of course. How dumb had I been not to think of that in the first place?
“How can you walk around with that dopey smile on your face?” Ken, my assistant manager, shook me as we passed by aisle six. “I heard the news. Slicker Image is closing down. We'll all be out of a job come January!”
A small flock of employees stood not far away. They gaped at us; I was horrified they might have heard Ken's blubbering.
I
