The Arrangement (14 page)

Ariadne heard giggling behind her
. Face burning, she snatched the bustier from her cousin and shoved her along so that they were moving toward the cash register. “Thanks for advertising my business,” she hissed.

Sierra laughed. “What? You didn’t think we’d all notice? Besides, your mother’s telling everyone about how she walked in on the two of you going at it on the stairs.”

She buried her face in her hand. “We weren’t having sex,” she defended. But they would have been given a few more minutes. “And I was in my own house.” Her mother had used her key and barged in as usual. Though after that incident, Aurora had promised to use the doorbell going forward.

“Here, get these, too.” Sierra gave her a handful of lacy thongs in a rainbow of colors.
“Greet him in just these, and you’ll have him on his knees begging you for it.”

Asher didn’t have to beg her. All he had to do was give her that slow, sexy smile and she grew wet.
If she thought his laugh affected her before, it was doubly effective now because she knew how much pleasure he could give her.

“You never said. Is this for a special occasion?”

“No.”

“Well it sure as hell can’t be because he’s losing interest.”

Ariadne shook her head. Though she harbored more than a small bit of fear that that’s exactly what would happen. She’d watched Asher go through
numerous girlfriends over the years. She’d never seen him with the same girl twice. She had every reason to believe that he would tire of her. She was nothing like the exotic and bold beauties he’d dated over the years. He’d even admitted to breaking women’s hearts. She didn’t want to add hers to the pile. Sure, he told her he loved her often, but she didn’t know how many other women had received the same words. Anyone who knew his history couldn’t blame her for being cautious. She was head over heels in love with him but she couldn’t trust him or what they had enough to tell him.

“He’s taking me out to dinner tonight. I just thought I’d surprise him.”

Sierra grinned. “Well, aren’t you being the perfect little naughty wife.”

“Oh, my God, Asher Hollister, is that you?”

Ariadne could tell from the wince on Asher’s face that the woman approaching their intimate little table for two was one of his exes. Sadly, it wasn’t the first time that they’d run into one of his previous bedmates. And it surely wouldn’t be the last, but Ariadne was hoping that the news that he was off the market would spread soon because none of these women were in the least bit deterred by the sight of another woman on his arm. Since Ash didn’t tend to stay in relationships long, they figured they only had to b
ide their time until he was available again.

The tall, curvy brunette bent and hugged him. “I haven’t seen you in forever. How have you been?”

“I’ve been well. And you?”

“Good, good.” She finally turned her head to look at her and her eyes widened in surprise. Ariadne was also taken off guard. She remembered this woman from high school. “Ari? Hi.” She glanced back at Asher. “What are the two of you doing together?” Taking in the setting for two, she asked, “Are the two of you planning something for Ted and Erika?”

“No, Sandy
. Um, Ash and I got married.” She held up her left hand and smiled.

Sandy’s eyes almost popped out of her head and her knees wobbled. “You’re kidding?” Several heads turned their way at her exclamation. “But the two of you hated each other?” She stared at Ash and then she laughed. “Oh, hell, why didn’t I see it before? I always thought your obsession with teasing her bordered on obsessive. I remember one time when I-”

Asher cleared his throat. “So, Sandy, what have you been up to since high school?”

“I opened a boutique with my cousin Mary.
The two of you just have to visit. I got married and divorced.” She shrugged. “These things happen. But life is good. So how did the two of you get together?”

“It’s a long story
. Suffice it to say, we couldn’t fight the attraction anymore,” Ash said. “Anyway, it’s been nice seeing you again, Sandy. We’ll have to catch up more some other time. Ari and I are still newlyweds. I’m sure you understand.”

“Certainly. I’ve got to get going anyway. It was good seeing you. You’re gorgeous as ever.” To Ari, she said, “And
, please, tell Erika I said hello.”

Ariadne looked down at her salad and sighed. Suddenly her appetite was gone. She hadn’t talked to Erika since their argument. It was the longest time the two of them had ever gone without talking to each other. Even when she’d been in the Bahamas with Ted on her honeymoon, Erika had called her several times.

“Baby, I’m sorry about that. I wish I could promise you that we won’t run into anymore of my exes, but I can tell you that none of them-”

She waved a hand. “I’m not upset about Sandy,
though that wasn’t exactly thrilling. No, it’s Erika.”

“Oh. You miss her?”

“I miss her. And I’m still mad at her, too.”

“I’m so sorry, baby. I feel like it’s my fault that the two of you are arguing.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s not you. I’ve thought about it until my head hurts. It was just plain selfish and petty of her
.”

“Ari, I’m over it.
” He reached across the table and took her hand. He linked their fingers. “I’ve got you. I don’t care. There’s no need of you to stay angry with her on my behalf.”

Ariadne was nervous as Asher’s fingers undid the buttons to her blouse. His mouth was fused to hers even as he worked to get her undressed. He always got rid of her clothes first since she had on more clothes than he did. She’d learned to appreciate his propensity for sleeping naked and not wearing underwear.

His tongue swirled around hers and she moaned. He yanked her blouse down her shoulders and undid the zip
per of her skirt. When he stepped back to admire his handiwork, he froze. “Oh, fuck.” His eyes flashed over her in the black bustier. He groaned. “Damn, baby, you’re so beautiful. Are you trying to kill me?” His hands trembled as he reached out to grip her waist. He turned her around, his hands never leaving her body.

She watched him over her shoulder. His gaze was on her ass as he bit his lip, his sharp incisors digging into the corners. He caressed her sides and then gripped her hips. His voice was a deep guttural growl as he ordered, “Get on the bed, baby.” He gave her a little nudge.

Once she crawled on, she rolled over to watch him. He practically ripped off his shirt and tie. He was only slightly more careful as he undid his fly. His pants dropped to his ankles. She was immediately riveted by the sight of his cock, thick
and wet at the tip. He took a moment to kick off his pants and remove his socks and shoes.

Naked, he climbed on after her
, the hungry look in his eyes making her feel like the main course for a predator. “You like it?” she asked, breathless as she reacted to his obvious desire.

“Oh, yeah. I love it.” He covered her
and kissed her once more. He rolled onto his side. He trailed his fingers over the curves of her bosom where it pushed out above the bustier. “Did you buy this for me?”

She nodded.

“Thank you, baby.” He explored the lacy cups, his thumb tweaking her tight nipples. He bent and kissed and nibbled the sensitive tips through the material even as he reached behind her to undo the bindings. When he had it loose enough he tugged it down until he’d bared her flesh. Groaning, he sucked a nipple into his mouth.

Ariadne held his head to her breast and arched into the wet suction. He flicked, kissed, and sucked her nipples until she was writhing on the bed, rubbing her thighs together to relieve the throbbing in her pussy. She knew the thong was soaked even before he slid his broad hand beneath the tiny scrap of material. He teased the seam of her wet pussy lips with one thick finger before circling her clit.
When he drew his finger out and popped it in his mouth, she knew what was next. He was already moving down her body, his green eyes dark with passion. He fisted the sides of her panties in preparation to pull them down. In a minute, he’d be eating her out and driving every other thought but having him fuck her from her mind if she didn’t stop him.

“No, Ash.” She shoved at his shoulder, toppling him over onto his back. He gazed up at her in surpr
ise. He took control so quickly and effectively that she rarely got the chance to explore his body. And what a body it was. She ran her hands over his chest. His eyes narrowed and he growled when she flicked his nipples. So she did it again, ending in a pinch. His hips arched an infinitesimal amount, drawing her attention once more to his cock. “You’re so beautiful, Ash,” she said, sliding a hand down his cobbled belly to grip his erection. “Would you mind…if I tasted you here?” She gave the tip of his cock a squeeze.

He
groaned and bucked his hips. “I’m yours. Whatever you want to do to me, I’m yours.”

She grinned at him. “Good.” He watched her as she stroked him up and down. She licked her lips before leaning down to swirl her tongue around the swollen head of his cock. He was salty and sweet. She licked him from base to tip before settling on the tip. She sucked him in and Asher groaned.

“That feels so good, baby.”

Slowly, she took more of him into her mouth. He was too large for her to take all of him
so she continued to pump him with her hand. Asher started to lift his hips, thrusting himself into her mouth.

“Harder,” he rasped. “Suck me harder.”
He placed a gentle hand on her head as though he couldn’t resist but he didn’t push her down or direct her movements.

Ariadne obliged as best she could and received a rewarding gasp from Asher for her efforts. She changed her angle
so that the back of the head of his cock slid across the top of her palate. Asher swore and shivered. She did it again and again and skated her tongue in the slit at the tip so as to gather more of his sweet flavor.

Asher writhed beneath her. Panting, he tugged on her hair. “Stop, baby. I’m about to come.” She could feel him swelling in her mouth. He shifted as if to move away from her, but he couldn’t seem to stop his hips from thrusting. She held on to him, suckling hungrily until he swore. Groaning loudly, he capitulated to her, his essence bursting
forth from him in a hot geyser. She didn’t catch all of it. It ran down the sides of his staff in erstwhile streams and she licked him clean as best she could.

When she finished, she sat up. Asher lay on his back panting and looking as though he’d been slayed. She couldn’t help but grin at him. She was proud that she could reduce him to a quivering mass of pleasure as he did to her every night.
She licked her lips, savoring his flavor.

His eyes narrowed on her. “I saw that look. You’re thrilled that you made me lose control.” He lifted himself onto his elbows. “But guess what?”

“What?” she asked, turning wary as that slow smile tipped up his lips.

“It’s time for payback.” He pounced on her and with a few tugs rid her of the bustier and sent it sailing over the side of the bed. He feasted on her nipples for scant minutes before moving down between her thighs.
Spreading them wide, he made room for his broad shoulders. He licked the seam of her pussy through the barely there panties and she felt every bit of pressure from the flat of his tongue. The heat of his breath teased her and she arched for more.

Asher gripped the sides of her panties and yanked them down her hips. They went the way of the bustier. He spread his palm over her belly and she got the brief opportunity of continued lucidity to enjoy the contrast of their skin tones. And then her hold on reality splintered as he lifted her with a hand at her spine and lowered his mouth to her pussy. His tongue fluttered over her clit
before circling it to draw it between his lips. Then he teased her with flicks of his tongue that had her hips dancing for more contact. She tunneled her fingers into his hair to press him closer, but he only backed off, keeping her frustratingly on edge.

“Please, Asher,” she whimpered when he continued in this same vein for some time.

“Please, what? What do you want?”

She didn’t hesitate to beg him.
He had her on the knife’s edge of pleasure. Sucking him and hearing him come had her more than ready. “Please suck me.”

“Anything my baby wants.”

She cried out as he suckled. He thrust two fingers inside her pussy, curling them so that they stroked over her g-spot. Ariadne convulsed and flew apart. Before she could come down from the high of her orgasm, Asher was flipping her over onto her belly. He positioned her hips up in the air and plunged inside of her in the next instant.

Ariadne screamed. The sudden invasion pushed her orgasm to the next level and made her hungry for more. She clawed at the sheets to brace herself for his thrusts. He slid deep, hitting her g-spot with every slam of his hips. She couldn’t k
eep in the raw moans tore from her throat.

He held her hip with one hand, helping her move herself on and off his cock. His other hand roamed her body, first pinching her nipples, then spreading across her belly, and last snaking between her legs to pluck her clit.

She was so wet that she could feel the moisture sliding down her thighs. But she didn’t care. All she cared about was the man buried so deeply in her belly. He fucked her harder and harder and she took him eagerly, spreading her thighs wider so that he could have as much of her pussy as he wanted.

Behind her, Asher was groaning and his thrusts were growing wilder. She felt him swelling and knew he was about to fill her with his heat. And suddenly, she couldn’t take any more. Her pussy clamped down on his dick. Asher growled
loudly, slammed deep one last time and exploded. He didn’t pull out, just ground himself into her as he spilled his warm seed.