Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
He wasn’t wrong. Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t get any special treatment as the owner’s daughter, and if someone found out I was fucking Ash, they’d remove me from my position as the A&R Repertoire manager and who knew what else, while he would continue on as if nothing happened. My position could be filled quickly, but no one could replace Ash in a world-famous band.
“It’s not like we’re in a relationship and have opportunities to get caught. Besides, you’re Asher Killian and Asher Killian doesn’t get connected to women, which means you’re safe. And I get to take the edge off without any complications.”
“That’s fair.”
“Why do you do it?” I turned the question around. If we were going to play twenty questions, then I didn’t want to be the only one answering.
“I don’t want to surprise you with this, but I’m not one to turn down willing pussy from someone as fiery as you. Even when you try to be cold, you make me hot as hell.”
I laughed, despite the pinch of anxiety at his word choice—fiery. Besides, what else could I say? It’s not like I was fishing for compliments, and his answer was about what I expected. I emptied the bottle of wine between our two glasses and sat back with a sigh.
“So, do you want to tell me what happened that made you invite me over?”
“Why did something have to happen?”
“Aspen,” he deadpanned. “This all started because I stumbled upon you when you needed some stress relief.”
“God, that was the worst,” I groaned, recalling the situation that led to us first sleeping together. “It was my first world tour with you guys, and I was already so freaking anxious.”
“And when the guy at the venue threatened to not pay, you handled it,” he assured.
“Yeah, after I told him you guys weren’t playing.”
“What?” he exclaimed.
“I had to do something, and he would have been insane to let all that money go. I knew he’d call me back and stop trying to get out of the contract he already signed. But waiting for that to happen was the longest two hours of my life.”
“Hell, yeah,” Ash agreed. “But then I walked in to save the day.”
I scoffed.
He’d found me in my room, rubbing my chest, and struggling to breathe. I masked well enough in the moment for him to give his devilish smirk, suggesting we find a way to not think anymore, which had been exactly what I needed—just not the way he imagined. Despite my ludicrous requirements, he agreed and continued to agree each time we got together.
“And I’ve been here ever since for every time you need to take the edge off. So, what pushed you to the edge this time?”
I emptied my glass and sighed, figuring I might as well get it all off my chest. Our sex may have been shallow, but our friendship forged deeper.
I told him about the day and how I discovered my dad was selling away my dreams to an arrogant ass named Lucian Daire.
And when I finished, Ash laughed.
Full on laughed. With his head thrown back and everything.
Of all the reactions I expected, laughing didn’t make the list. I assumed he’d have concern over what it meant for his band or offer suggestions on how to take the asshole down, or maybe sympathy. Instead, he laughed.
“What the hell is so funny?”
He wiped his eyes and collected himself. “I never thought I’d see the day that a man would be able to ruffle the Aspen Quinn’s feathers.”
I took scoffing to a whole new level. Scoffing again and again to buy myself time to find a response. Because Lucian Daire didn’t ruffle my feathers any more than anyone else.
Except for when the memory of him almost had you coming.
That didn’t count and probably wasn’t even factual; I denied like I was in some kind of mental battle with myself.
“Men always ruffle my feathers with their arrogance and misogynistic ideas,” I explained. “This man was nothing new—nothing different.”
“Oh, this feels awfully different, Aspen,” Ash rebutted with tipped lips before they pinched tight. “I never knew you were one to lie to yourself about what’s really going on.”
“I don’t.” He laughed again, pushing me to defend myself harder. “I do not lie about my reality.”
“Of course not,” he assured with false sincerity, pulling himself together.
But I saw the lingering glint in his eyes.
He was wrong.
Completely.
Lucian Daire did not ruffle my feathers, and I would not be thinking about him ever again.
CHAPTER 4
LUCIAN
The click of her heels across the hardwood warned me of her impending arrival. I even heard it over the employees having a conversation outside the office door. Each tick, tick, tick tugged my lips a little higher, imagining the defiant scowl she’d round the corner with. I hadn’t been back to Quinn Music Group offices since our last encounter, and I had to admit, part of me looked for reasons to return in the hopes I’d see her again.