Trent
IWASN’T SURE HOW LONGI stood there listening to her conversation with half an ear when Ashrika interrupted my reflections.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Standing at the dresser, she tried lifting the hairdryer and flexed her fingers a couple of times, her grimace a clear indication she was still in pain.
“Can I help?”
Shaking her head, she walked to the kitchen and pointed to a bottle of Vodka. “Care to join me or would you prefer coffee?” Her smile was slight, but I didn’t miss the appraisal as her eyes raked over my body from head to toe. I nodded. “Do you mind grabbing the bottle and two glasses?”
“Sure.” Shoving aside my competing reflections, I did as she asked while she moved to a stereo system. A second later, soft music filled the air. “Let me take a look at your hands.” I set the bottle and glasses on the coffee table.
When I reached out, she pulled back. “It’s nothing really. Probably just numb with the cold.”
“Ash, I’ve just seen you naked, touched your body, I think we’re beyond being shy now, don’t you?”
With a roll of her eyes that had me smiling, she held out her hands. I pushed up the sleeves to her robe, checked her hands, arms and elbows then gave it a gentle massage. When I looked up it was to find her gaze on me, curiosity shimmered in those gray depths. I raised a brow.
“Why do you want to be my friend, knowing I’m married?”
Her question caught me off guard for a moment. I joined her on the leather couch, poured the drinks then handed her a glass before sipping my own. “Are you saying married women shouldn’t have friends?”
“Not the type that is blatant about wanting to fuck her,” she retorted.
I chuckled. “Touché.”
“Is it your mission to fuck all the women at Enigma? First Tia and now me. Who’s next? What do you do? Ask each of us to arrange the next after you’re done?”
Swallowing my drink, my insides roiled, wavering between anger and shock. “What gave you that idea?” Lips thinned, I narrowed my eyes. “What do you think? I sleep with every woman I meet. I love fucking, but it doesn’t make me a manwhore and I don’t believe in arranged relationships of any sort.” My words came out a little harsher than intended and the blood drained from her face. I sighed. It was senseless being angry with her. She had no idea of my intentions and I was restricted by what I could offer her. I tried a less antagonistic approach. “Ash, when I saw you at the restaurant, don’t ask me why but I had to meet you. Only, Tia made it clear you weren’t ready to meet me or anyone else for that matter, so I forgot all about it.” Her eyes widened. “Then, when I saw you at Dr. Landers’ office, looking as vulnerable and afraid as a little doe that lost its mother, I thought you could do with another friend.”
“Oh.” It looked like my revelation left her speechless. I smiled. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
I met her gaze head on. “For what? Assuming I’m an arrogant ass who can’t control his cock or a man who takes advantage of hapless women?” Eyes the color of liquid silver roamed my face. “If it’s any consolation, my marriage has been over for years and Tia is a good friend, more like a sister.”
“Sister?” Her mouth opened, but she swallowed her shock. “I didn’t, ahem, I didn’t...” she trailed off unable to put her thoughts into words.
“I didn’t expect you to.” I pretended not to notice the mortified tinge to her cheeks by downing my drink. When I poured myself another, she held out her glass. “Nice place you’ve got here.”
“Not a dump, right?” There were no signs of anger in her expression which gave me a measure of comfort.
“I never said it was.” She eyed me above the rim of her glass. I grinned when her face contorted at the bitter taste of the alcohol. “Not much of a drinker, are you?” She shook her head. ‘Then why drink it?”
She stared out the window. “Hoping it would give me the courage to handle that.” She gestured to the raging weather outside.
“It’s just a storm. It will pass.”
“You don’t understand.” Her gaze riveted on the rain pelting the glass, she shook her head. “It’s what I experience every morning I wake and realize I don’t know who I am, my personality traits, or even my damn name. Whether I was a nice person or someone full of shit. Then I put on a brave face, mimicking a sunny day for those around me, yet inside the storm still rages.” She looked at me. “Incognito.” I was surprised at her mention of Zayne’s club. Had she been there? What were her thoughts about it? “It’s how I describe myself.”
“I don’t understand.”
