“Come for me, Ashton,” she cries out as her orgasm crashes into her. I let go, falling apart right after her. An electric current spreads up my body and my cock pulses uncontrollably as I empty myself into the condom.
When we both catch our breath, Allie swings her legs over and hops off the desk. Neither of us says a word. I want to tell her that it was the best sex I’ve ever had. That it was the hardest I’ve ever come. But I don’t want to scare her away, so I stay quiet.
Allie puts her panties and blouse back on before padding back over to me. She unties my hands, but when I reach for the condom, she bats my hand away, sliding it off herself and throwing it in the trash. Then she pulls my boxers back up. Before I can get off the desk, she reaches up and pats my head a couple of times like I’m a labradoodle. I’m so lost in the daze of what just happened that it takes me a few seconds to register.
“What the hell was that?”
“It’s called aftercare, Ashton.”
“That’s your idea of aftercare?” I chuckle.
“Well, what do you want from me? I’m not going to braid your hair and cuddle you. That’s just not…it’s not my style.”
“Okay, no hair-braiding. No cuddling. Got it.”
Her eyes soften. “Are you okay?”
I slide off the side of the desk and grab my pants as she continues to put the rest of her clothes on. “I’m fine.”
“Good. So then…I’ll see you tomorrow.” When I don’t respond, she steps into her shoes and grabs her purse.
“Look, Allie, I’m not an expert on this stuff, but I’m pretty sure aftercare is for both of us. It doesn’t matter who was in control and who submitted. We’re both coming down from a high.”
Is this how she always operates? She leaves directly after sex? I guess that would explain her disappearing act after the bonfire.
“I got what I wanted. I don’t need anything else.”
I sigh. She’s not going to make this easy, but then when does she ever?
“Okay, but I do.”
“You just said you were fine.”
“I meant I don’t regret anything we did.” I blow out another breath. “Can you just sit with me for a minute?” I motion to the floor. I’m not sure why, but that seems like what I need right now, so I go with it. She hesitates, but she eventually nods and we both walk over and slide down to the floor, our backs to the wall. We sit side by side, my legs kicked out in front of me while hers are bent at the knees.
It’s silent for a few minutes, but it’s oddly comfortable. Allie stretches her legs out in front of her, mimicking me, and places a hand on my upper leg. My head swivels to meet her gaze, but she’s looking down at her lap. That’s okay. One step at a time. Iput my hand on top of hers, and she turns it over, offering it to me. I take it without hesitation. I’m holding Allie Montgomery’s hand. Our fingers aren’t even interlaced. We’re holding hands like two kids in elementary school, but it’s somehow the most intimate thing I’ve ever experienced.
“Don’t tell anyone,” she says quietly.
“About the hand-holding?” I ask innocently, and she laughs. It’s a real laugh, and it makes my chest fill with pride. I made Allie Montgomerylaugh.
“No. Well, yes.” She looks off to the side. “I mean about what happened with Craig. If Nate or Luke finds out about it, they will skin him alive, and I can’t have that on my conscience.”
“What about what happened after?”
“That’s nobody’s business.”
I nod. “I wanted to kill him.”
She turns her head, her eyes darting back and forth, searching mine. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Because you would miss me too much if I went to jail?”
A hint of a smile pulls at her lips. “No, because I don’t need a man to do my dirty work. I can take care of myself.”
“I know,” I say gently, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. “I think that was the only reason he walked out of here.”
Her gaze drifts down to our clasped hands, and suddenly the warmth is gone, my hand empty, still curved in the shape of hers.
