I look at Ash in surprise and catch him throwing a ‘Why did you tell her that?’ glare at Kelsier.
“So you would have backed off if Kingston had staked a claim on me?” I ask Ash, a little hurt.
His face goes serious. “No. Absolutely not,” he says. “I didn’t want to have to fight Kingston for you, but I was prepared to do it if I had to.You’ve been mine for longer than you know.”
I blink at the earnestness in his expression, and it feels like Cirque du Soleil is doing a tumbling routine in my stomach.
“Awww,” Celena says, looking at us with a sappy expression on her face. “You two are adorable.” She looks at Ash. “I guess I don’t have to kill you and bury your body in a remote location after all.”
He smiles at her. “Thanks?”
“If you’ll excuse me,” Celena says, “I’m going to go work the room a little. One of these players has got to be willing to defy that asshole to take me on a date.”
Ash and Kelsier exchange a glance but then shrug.
“Best of luck,” Ash says. “Cote and Samsonov are married, FYI.” He points them out to her. “And Nilsen doesn’t play for your team.”
Ash points to one of the Norwegians across the room that I thought was Anders Aasgaard. They really do look alike.
“Did Novich and his girlfriend break up?” Ash asks Kelsier.
“Not that I know of,” he answers.
“Then avoid him too,” Ash says, pointing out the defenseman.
“You may also want to avoid the rookies,” Kelsier suggests. “They’re still a bit immature.”
Celena waves a dismissive hand. “No, they’re perfect. I don’t mind having to teach a man a few things, and maybe they’re dumb enough to defy this Kingston guy.”
She squares her shoulders and heads off with her champagne.
Ash looks at Kelsier. “I’m not sure you could’ve handled her anyway,” he says. “She would’ve eaten you alive.”
“I would’ve enjoyed it, but yeah,” Kelsier says.
They both look at me, and I raise a brow at them.
“And I say that with the utmost respect for Celena,” Kelsier tells me.
I roll my eyes at him, but shrug. “You’re not wrong,” I concede. “Celena is small, but she packs a punch.”
“I’m going to go mingle some more before I get myself in trouble,”Kelsier says. “You two behave yourselves.”
Ash gives him a look of feigned innocence. “What trouble could we possibly get into at a fundraiser gala?”
Kelsier shoots Ash a look that says he knows exactly what he means before he heads off.
As soon as he’s gone, Ash slips his arm around my waist and pulls me against him.
“How’s the plug feel?” he asks against my temple before kissing it.
I feel myself blush, and I turn my head away from the ballroom to hide it. “It feels fine,” I say. “You’re sure this thing won’t get lost up there? I can’t be one of those people who goes to the ER and has to explain that something I shoved up my ass got stuck.”
Ash chuckles. “It’ll be fine,” he says. “They’re designed to catch, but I plan to check it later anyway.”
I look up at him. “What?”
“You didn’t think I planned to go the whole evening without fucking you, did you?” he asks. “A little later when people are drunker and not as watchful, we’ll find an empty bathroom or closet, and I’m going to pull that gown up over your hips and fuck you silly.”
