Riku is quick to nod, and we find a space of blank wall to lean against. I can’t stop my foot from tapping, and I know from the copper taste in my mouth that I’ve chewed through my lip.
“Hey, don’t do that.” Riku reaches up a hand and frees my lip from my teeth. “He’ll be back in a moment, don’t worry.” I’m perfectly fine with him misinterpreting my stress. I’m not about to explain that I’m nervous he won’t find me any more coke.
“Jacinta, hi! I called you. Why didn’t you wait?” Selena Cross is suddenly in my face, and she’s dragging along Evangeline, who mouths, “Sorry,”to me. “Who’s this? Are you cheating on Ash already? I have no idea why he would have chosen you over me.”
“Selena!” Evie gasps. “Sorry, she’s rolling again, and she tends to lose all social filters.” Evie has always been a bit too nice. Selena, the bitch, doesn’t have any social filters when she’snotout of her mind on drugs.
“God, Selena, you’re so oblivious. This is Riku, my bodyguard. He’s been everywhere I have for the last month. Ash has just gone to get us drinks,” I tell them. And I swear if he doesn’t return soon, I’m going to have a full-blown meltdown.
“Well, aren’t you delicious? How would you like to guard my body?” She simpers at him, running her hand down his front. A burst of uncontrollable anger flows through me. How dare she proposition my bodyguard? I’m about to smack her hand away when Ash returns and gets between us.
“There you are, love.” He kisses me hard on the mouth, which is the first time he and I have done that. Up until now, we’ve kept the physical touches to hand holding and hugging. To say I’m surprised is an understatement. The anger completely drains from me as he passes over a bottle of something pink. “Here, I got us a drink, but they are doing shots in the kitchen. Some of our friends are there. Shall we make our way to them?”
“Hey, Ash, how are you? We missed you at Lazlo’s yacht party this weekend.” Selena runs her hand up and down his arm, and the anger quickly returns.
“I’m a popular man, Selena. I was attending the opening of Neighpalm Luxure in Hawaii. I’ve got to put the little lady first, after all.” He thickens his posh accent, and Selena eats it up, giggling.
“You’re so silly!” She goes to touch him again, and I step between them.
“Shall we? Maybe if we find a spare closet between here and the kitchen, I can give you a quick blow job to get this party started.”
Oh my god, what the fuck is wrong with me?I cannot believe I said that. But Ash chuckles and smacks me on the ass.
“Lead the way, babe.”
We push our way through the crowd, Selena and Evie with us and Riku following behind. We pass a bathroom, and Ash pulls me into it, winking at the girls. “We’ll catch up in a minute.” Selena glares at me, but Evie pulls her away, and Ash and Riku exchange a nod.
Closing the door behind us blocks out some of the noise, and I can take a semi-normal breath for the first time since we entered the party. I lean against the door and take a long pull of my drink. It’s sweet and tastes like cherries, and before I know it, half is gone. While I’m doing that, Ash uses the lid of the toilet as a table for us, making some lines from the baggie he pulled out of his pocket. I scrunch my nose up, and he rolls his eyes when he hands me the straw. “We can’t be picky. Plus, I bet it’s the only thing this toilet has been used for since the maid cleaned it before the party.”
He’s probably not wrong, so I place my drink down on the sink, take the straw, and inhale, one in each nostril, before passing the straw back to Ash. The chemicals burn the inside, and it instantly starts to drip. I grab a piece of toilet paper and dab at the liquid. Ash does his two lines and tucks the bag, straw, and his card back into his pocket.
“All good?” he asks, and I take a couple of deep breaths in and out, feeling the coke take effect. A slow smile spreads across my lips as everything finally starts to feel good again.
“Yeah, I am now. Thanks.”
He nods then reaches out and grabs me. Pulling me to him, he slams his mouth down onto mine. A surprised squeak escapes my mouth before he slides his tongue into it, tasting and teasing, and his hand grips my ass, making it easier for him to grind against me. As shocked as I am, I’m all in, returning the kiss with equal enthusiasm. My fingers run through his hair, messing it up.
Suddenly, he pulls away and looks me up and down. “Perfect, you look like you’ve had a quick fuck in the bathroom.”
I wipe a finger over my lips, seeing how my lipstick is smeared in the mirror, but he pulls my hand away before I get it all. “Leave it. Let people think whatever they want. It’s a good cover.”
“Right, a cover, sure.” I’m slightly dazed as I reach for my drink, and Ash gets his smug playboy grin firmly in place before he opens the door.
ChapterThree
Jacinta
In the kitchen, we find a group of people. Matthew is there, surrounded by a group of guys who might be slightly familiar, but I can’t put names or TV shows to their faces. To my surprise, Chase and Anna are there, but the couple is definitely giving him the cold shoulder. They are chatting with Selena and Evie when we arrive.
“Oh yeah, my man Ash!” Matthew holds his hand up for a high five. “Getting some early action. Jacinta, I had pegged you for a cold fish, but you really aren’t, are you?” He leers at me while Ash smacks his hand down.
“Shut the fuck up, man. That’s my girlfriend you’re talking about. Have a little respect.”
Matthew chuckles and winks. “Sure,girlfriend.” He waves a hand at the dude bros behind him. “We’ve got a pool running for how long it’s going to last.”
“You’re a fucking pig, Matt,” Anna spits at him.
“Yeah, and you’re a best friend stealing whore, so we can’t all be superheroes like Chase here, can we?”
