"My ex came begging," I called back.
Ash just walked right up to my side, then reached up for the back of my neck. "You ok, Cyan?"
"Mm, I am now, Magenta."
Before I could make a move, Ash leaned in and kissed me. Not a fucking peck on the lips, either. He pulled my mouth to his and took, kissing me hard, deep, and fast. When he pulled away, he turned to Kindle, and that dangerous glint was in his eyes.
"Well, he's pretty," Ash said, clearly talking to me.
"I thought so. Figured he was a good replacement."
"Little leaner than you usually go for, though," Ash went on.
I just nodded. "I liked his version of pretty well enough. He also has impeccable taste. It reminded me of someone."
Ash looked at me and smiled. "Me or her?"
"Good point."
The whole time, Kindle was sputtering. "Were you cheating on me the whole time?"
Ash laughed, the sound a little cruel. "What, you don't like that idea? Sitting there, wondering if all those times he went out for something it was to meet up with me in a fancy hotel room? Yeah, I bet that sucks."
"Ash," I said.
He just threw up his arms. "Ok, fine." Then he looked at Kindle again. "Cy dumped me, ok? Didn't want to wait while I toured the country with a woman I wanted to fuck. And that he wanted to fuck."
"Ash!" I groaned. "I'd rather not put everything out there, ok?"
He caught my eye. Slowly, one side of his lips curled higher proving that he understood what I was getting at: I didn't trust this guy. He'd already betrayed me once, and the last thing any of us needed was our personal business getting out there.
"I was paraphrasing," Ash said instead, turning back to Kindle. "Ok, how's this? Cy was the first man I ever loved, I never forgot him, so when I heard he'd come home, I hurried back to suck up my pride, grovel, and get him back." He pointedly ran his eyes over my ex, clearly judging the man. "I got here first, and I'm not letting him go.Ialso never cheated on him."
"You knew him?" Kindle asked. "You actually knew this guy the whole time?"
"I never explainedwhyI had your picture," I told Ash, starting to understand the enjoyment he got out of being an asshole.
Ash nodded. "Yeah. Kinda getting that impression. And here I would've thought you'd brag about having me first."
"Didn't really talk about Southwind," I admitted. "Or her."
"That's complicated," Ash agreed.
"Her who?" Kindle asked.
"Violet Dawson," Ash said. "The color-splashed pinup girl? Considering that you look like you know fashion, I'm sure you know who she is."
"The Risqué model," Kindle said, nodding.
Ash smiled. "Yeah, Risqué's my company. She's my model - and the reason we got together. That woman's our best friend. She pulled us together."
"Told you it was complicated," I said, enjoying watching my ex melt down before my eyes.
"And you're pissed atmefor making a mistake with Jonathan?" Kindle snapped. "Were youwithhim this whole time?" Because we hadn't exactly told him no yet.
So I gave in. "Nope. Webroke up. I was looking for something to come close," I told him. "Never found it, but I was hoping you'd do because I was pretty sure I'd never get a second chance. Now, I have."
"So you were cheating on me!" Kindle gasped, refusing to actually hear a damned word I'd just said.
