“I’m fine. Honestly, I probably just drank that last glass of champagne a little too quickly.”
“If you’re sure? They’re about to start announcing the awards. I’d hate to miss it if George wins.”
“Of course. Go. Please tell Joseph I’ll be back in a minute. He worries too much as it is.”
“Okay.” As she walks out the door, I hear the low rasp of Ryder’s voice.
“Is Aspen in there?”
“There was no one else in there. Just me and my friend, Danielle.”
“Sorry to have bothered you, ma’am.”
“I hope you find your friend.”
“I will.”
I’m going to be sick. I can’t just stay in here all night. I lean over the sink, dipping my head as I fight to control my breathing.
“Aspen, I know you’re in there.” Shit.
I turn on the faucet and splash some cold water on my face. What am I going to do? How can I explain being here?
Before I say anything, the door opens, and Ryder’s imposing frame knocks the wind right out of me, his eyes wild as he takes in the sight of me.
“You can’t be in here. Please, I’m begging you to leave.” He steps inside and twists the lock.
“What the fuck is going on? Why are you here with some fifty-year-old Hugh Hefner wannabee?”
“Please just go, Ryder.”
“Are you okay?” He looks me over, his anger dissipating at my pallor.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re fucking not. What the hell is going on? You’re cheating on me with that piece of shit, Joseph Brooks?”
“I’m not cheating on you. I’m… working.”
“You’re a fucking hooker?” He slams his fist into one of the mirrors, and I watch it shatter into a million pieces, along with my heart.
“That’s what you think of me?”
“Tell me I’m wrong! The woman you came in here with doesn’t know your name, so I’m assuming you’re going by something else tonight. You didn’t tell me you were going to be here. In fact, you explicitly told me you had other plans when I asked if you were free tonight. Now you’re on some other guy’s arm. That sounds like a whore to me. I should have known. You don’t know what it takes to be in the lifestyle. The commitment.The fucking honesty. You want a cheap thrill.”
I straighten my back, steadying myself before turning to face him. “You’ve already made up your mind about me, so why bother defending myself? You think I’m not good enough for you. That’s what all of this has been about. Not that you want to shield me from your fucking perversions. I’m not good enough to be your submissive, so I must be someone else’s whore. I’ve been trying to be what you need, and you keep holding back. This…” I gesture between us, “… has nothing to do with me being at a black-tie event with a man I’m not fucking sleeping with.”
The rapid rise and fall of his chest betray the cold growl in his voice. “You want to know how perverse I can be, baby girl?”
“Yes!” I scream at him.
He’s on me in seconds, his mouth claiming mine in a harsh, unforgiving kiss, our tongues twisting and tangling in a frenzied fuck. He slams my back against the wall, his lips never leaving mine as he hikes up my dress and tears my lace thong off.
I wrestle with his belt and zipper, reaching my hand into his pants to unleash his rock-hard erection.
“You fucking want it, baby girl?” he asks as he buries his face in my breasts.
“I want it all.”
