“You are sexy as hell in that dress, and I can’t help it.” He stalks toward me with dark intent, licking his lips and undressing me with his eyes.
I hold up my palms, screaming at my rapidly pounding heart to calm the fuck down. My body hasn’t gotten the memo this asshole is part of the reason my life is one giant shit show. “Step back, dickface. Don’t come any closer, or I’ll drive my heels into your balls killing any chance you have of ever fathering kids.” I lift my leg a little, showcasing the pointed black stilettos with the sharp silver spikes all over them that clasp around my ankle. They cost a small fortune, and I’m not even sure I can walk in them, let alone dance, but I guess we’ll soon see.
He chuckles, and I glare at him. “You know your threats turn me on.” He shrugs. “Sue me for being obsessively attracted to you if you want, but at least I’m being honest. You’re still pretending you don’t feel the same.”
“Fuck this.” I grab my purse and stride to the door. “I’m not doing this bullshit with you again.” He is constantly showering me with compliments and making sleazy jokes. It’s messing with my head, which I’m sure is the intent.
“I think I love the pink more than the silver-purple,” he says, trailing me out of the house.
“Quit touching me,” I snap, shoving his hand away as he fingers my newly dyed hair. I got it done this morning purposely for the party. Plus, I know it will piss Mom and James off. I cling to the railing as I inch my way down the steps. Not an easy feat when my short, tight, strapless leather dress barely leaves space to breathe. The skyscraper heels don’t help.
“Holy shit.” Ares slams to a halt when we reach the bottom of the steps. “Did you buy a Harley?”
“How do you know it’s not Bree’s?”
“Because it’s parked in one of our spaces.” He moves over beside my new bike, tracing his fingers reverentially along the bodywork. “You should have told me you were thinking of buying a motorcycle. I would have helped.”
“I don’t need help. As you can see, I did fine by myself.” I did my research and visited a few showrooms.
“Have you taken her out yet?” he asks, and I shake my head. “I’ll take you out tomorrow. Give you a few pointers. We should stretch her legs and see what’s she got.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him to piss off when Julia pulls up in her stupid pink Porsche.
“Ares, darling.” She prances toward us wearing a bright red minidress with a giant bow over the lowcut chest. “I haven’t seen you in ages.” She places her hand on his chest. “I’m crutch free.” She glares at me before pressing herself up against Ares and giggling. “You can help me to celebrate.”
My blood boils, and I’m seconds from digging my new heels in her crotch, destroying her pussy so she can stop hitting on my men.
Huh? What the fuck, Ash?! Ares isnotyour man.
“No thanks.” Ares pries her body away from his. “You couldn’t pay me enough to let your skanky ass near me again.”
Stepping back, he wraps his arm around my waist in a protective gesture. “Now, fuck off. Ashley and I were having a private conversation about her new bike.”
Julia narrows her eyes at my motorcycle before throwing back her head and laughing. “Oh my, this is priceless. I can’t wait until Daddy hears about this.”
“Run along and tell him then.” I flip her the bird, glaring daggers at her back as she totters off.
“You shouldn’t let her get to you. It’s obvious, and she gets off on it.”
I remove his arm and chew on my lip. “Thanks for those words of advice, oh wise one. Now if you don’t mind, go fuck yourself.”
I walk up the steps toward the enemy lair, conscious Ares is still behind me and most likely staring up my short dress. “Stop ogling my ass,” I toss over my shoulder.
“Can’t help it when it’s right in my face,” he says from way too close. “Maybe I should do like someone else I know and take a big bite.”
I yelp when his teeth nip my ass through my dress, almost losing my balance on the top step. But Ares is there to steady me, wrapping his arm around my waist from behind and pushing his warm, hard body up against my back. “Someday soon, this ass will be mine.” He squeezes one cheek before nibbling on my ear just as the door opens, revealing Jase and Chad.
Wow. Their timing couldn’t be any worse.
I freeze, going numb as they rake their gazes over me, before noticing the jerk at my back.
“Yeah, just what I thought.” Chad glowers at Ares before turning that hate-filled lens on me. “You look like a whore.” He sways a little on his feet as he swigs from a bottle of beer. “And I can see your panties.”
Jase clamps his hand down on Chad’s shoulder. “Come on, dude. Don’t do this.”
“Why the hell not?” Chad turns the daggers on his best friend. “She has the nerve to show up here withhim, and I’m not allowed to call her on that bullshit? Why the fuck were they even invited?” He storms off without waiting for a reply.
Pain cuts me in two at the reminder he hates me. I’m sorely tempted to turn around and go home. Yet, I came here for a reason, and I am dressed to the nines so I would at least look composed on the outside. I’m not falling apart at the very first hurdle. It’s not like I didn’t know this was coming
