Again, his gentleness despite the grip surprised me. His thumb stroked the side of my throat where my pulse beat a wild tattoo.
A hum of energy tingled from the point of contact.
Ash grabbed my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist. “Well, this is a surprise.”
He winked before shifting his attention to Rafe. “I didn’t get you anything.”
Rafe grunted and released my neck. “Make sure she stays out of trouble and does what she’s told. All articles are to be approved by myself or Bishop before they’re sent to your editor.”
“My editor has carte blanche when it comes to editing.” I hustled to cover my tracks. “Even if you read my articles, he’s allowed to change them as he sees fit.”
“Not this time.” Rafe met my eyes. “Either your editor agrees to publish what you’ve written, exactly as you’ve written it, or the whole thing is off.”
“I’ll tell him.” There was nohimbut it had sounded good, even authentic, to throw up a potential roadblock.
Rafe nodded and turned away. “I’ll be upstairs. I’m not to be disturbed.”
What had I gotten myself into?
I’d never envisioned myself in this situation.
How could I?
For the first time in my life, I was in over my head.
3
ASH
The delicious redhead tossed her hair over her shoulder and looked me up and down.
A curious tilt lifted her chin and she set one hand on her hip. “Well, who wants to be interviewed first?”
All that cocky swagger flooded straight to my cock.
I took in every curve from the swell of her breasts to her lush hips.
The bright red lipstick snagged my attention, and I had an immediate and visceral urge to see those bright red lips wrapped around my cock.
I flipped the toothpick from the right side of my mouth to the left, flicking my tongue over the pointed end as I imagined how she’d taste.
Bishop cleared his throat. “I’d better keep watch at the stairs.”
“Oh.” Noelle snapped her fingers like she’d suddenly remembered something. “There’s a couple in one of the roomsup there. Rafe seemed pretty upset that I stumbled into his office on accident, but if people are allowed to be up there having sex, he’s bound to get interrupted again.”
Bishop scowled so hard a line creased his forehead. “Upstairs is off limits to everyone.”
He shoved a hand through his hair. “Fucking Bryce. Dude can’t even keep watch for half a fucking hour.”
He clapped a hand to my back, the weight behind it almost knocking me into the table.
Fucker had no idea how strong he was despite how many times I’d pointed it out to him.
I firmed my stance and elbowed him in the stomach. “Guess you’ll have to do it yourself.”
I’d talked him into playing a game of pool with me while Bryce watched the back.
Noelle frowned. “Bryce? Wait, he’s the guy I talked to when I got here.”
