“Already handled,” Ash says. He nuzzles his face into my neck, making a wave of goosebumps rise on my arms. “I told him me and the doc were dating.”
I shift on Ash’s lap, my skin hypersensitized, and he lets out a low murmur as his hand tightens on my thigh.
“Well, that’s one way to do it,” Bouchard says. “But if that gets out, then you’ll have to do the whole fake breakup thing later.”
“I’ll deal with that if the time comes,” Ash says. “Right now, we manage the current issue.”
“So what are we dealing with?” Kelsier asks me. “Cheater? Did you dump him, or did he dump you?”
Ash’s hand inches higher on my leg as it also drifts inward, and my mind empties of thought as his thumb strokes the inside of my thigh.
He lifts his lips so they’re against the shell of my ear. “Is this okay?” he asks softly, his breath tickling me in a delightful kind of way.
I catch the faint whiff of beer on his breath. I was late getting out tonight, and I wonder how much he’s had to drink already.
All I can do is nod a couple times. It’s been a long time since I’ve been touched like this, and the feeling has short circuited whatever part of my brain controls speech. My nipples are almost painfully tight right now, and I’m getting wet.
With some effort, I pull my attention back to the group. “No cheating,” I manage. “Or at least, none I know of.”
“He break up with you?” Kelsier guesses hesitantly.
Normally I wouldn’t want to tell these guys the sordid details of my time with Drew, but Ash’s thumb is still slowly rubbing my thigh, and I need to focus on something besides it burning my skin.
“Who broke up with who sort of depends on your perspective,” I say, forcing myself to focus. “I technically broke up with him, but only after he canceled plans with me four separate times. Maybe I just wasn’t taking the hint.”
The looks of shock and outrage on the guys’ faces are morehumiliating than comforting, and I wonder once again how I could’ve held on for so long to someone who, in hindsight, made it that obvious he didn’t want to spend time with me.
The fresh wave of shame is smothered by the tingling I feel down my entire body when Ash brushes my hair back from my shoulder. I’m wearing it down for a change, and his fingers against my neck cause goosebumps to bloom anew all over my arms.
“Your skin is so sensitive,” Ash says into my ear as he trails his fingers down my forearm. “And smooth. Also, Drew hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you sat down on my lap.”
I resist the urge to look at Drew. I don’t care anymore if he’s watching.
“Teach, why would you let a guy do that to you?” Mack asks. His voice is pained. “When I’m dating someone, she gets one cancelation for extenuating circumstances. Twice in a row, and I’m done.”
“Hey, don’t blame her,” Kelsier says. “He’s the asshole who kept stringing her along instead of just letting her go.”
“I’m not blaming her,” Mack insists. “I’m just saying the teach shouldn’t take that kind of crap from anyone.”
They begin to argue about whether or not Mack was blaming me for letting the thing with Drew go on too long.
“Can you hand me my beer, please?” Ash asks, and I lean forward to take his beer off the table. I hand him the bottle, then pick up my own glass of wine and take a deep drink. I’m going to need more alcohol to get through this night.
I feel odd sitting on Ash’s lap, but my back is stiff from trying to hold myself up, so I give in and lean against him. There’s something hard digging against my backside, and I shift, thinking I’m pressed against a fold of fabric from the fly of Ash’s jeans. He groans as his hand flexes on my thigh and inches higher.
I freeze, realizing the lump isn’t fabric.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper quickly. “I didn’t…”
I trail off, not sure how to apologize for his erection.
Ash’s thumb is under the hem of my dress now, and I can’t help thinking how close it is to my clit. He must be able to feel the heat pouring from between my legs, because I certainly can.
Ash trails his lips along my neck, and another shiver works its way down my body. A noise that’s part sigh, part moan escapes my throat, and I resist the urge to press into his touch.
“You can tell me to stop if you want,” Ash whispers against my throat.
No, I really can’t. Every nerve in my body is alive and acutely aware of Ash’s hands and lips. I’m soaking wet between my thighs, and I just pray the black fabric will hide it.
