beyond his duties as a tutor. I may not have been his girlfriend, but I was enough for him to be kind to.
His cheeks lifted in a smile as he stared at me. Jimmy took another sip. “I think you’re a diamond in the rough, just like I was when I came up against an unexpected opponent named Rosemary Spencer. I think Sir Ashton knows that, too, which is why I ask, again,”—He tucked his fist beneath his chin—“why are you here? Why did he make these unusual, inconvenient, and costly arrangements for a young woman whose name isn’t Aivery Renee Cooper?”
As I stared deeply at Jimmy, my chest heaved. I was out of breath and speechless. It was the way Ashton always left me. Breathless and confused and without words to make sense of his actions. No, someone like Jimmy couldn’t understand what Ashton saw in me. Neither did I. I wasn’t rich, pretentious, polished, and sexy.
But still…
I was happy—was thrilled—by what Ashton Spencer made me feel. I was sure he didn’t treat me like he did his girlfriend, but he made me feel alive and less confused about the mess that was me after Paul stripped me of desiring human intimacy. Before Ashton, I was clueless about my femininity and ability to enjoy my body…and someone else’s. Ashton awakened a craving in me I thought I was incapable of and was actually fine with. Now I craved human, physical connection…with him. And Ashton knew it. He enjoyed getting me off then teasing me with the carrot that was him not being available because he had a girlfriend. He knew my handicap, made it so I was okay with accepting what he gave in attention, sex, and time. Ashton understood my condition and knew I was okay with the terms he provided.
Now, how could I explain that to this man who seemed to know Ashton Spencer better than most?
My lips parted and I inhaled, prepared to answer.
“You still smoking, little Jimmy?” The sinister in that deep baritone made my nipples tingle. “I thought we talked about that.”
The beetle’s face opened in a smile, unsurprised by the insult. “Sir, Spencer.” His eyes were on me as he sang. “It’s nearly three in the morning. I think it’s a safe time for me to explore my only vice.”
“Only?” Ashton scoffed from behind us. “Let’s not front for Ms. McNabb here.”
Finally, I turned around to find him. Ashton’s slanted eyes locked with mine. He looked good in a black motorcycle jacket, gray t-shirt, black jeans, and black Timberland boots. The space between his thighs left room for what swung there. He shifted to lean into the wall, then tossed his chin my way and motioned me to him with the flicking of his fingers.
My legs moved before my brain did. I smiled sadly at Jimmy, who I officially decided I liked.
“Night, Jimmy,” I murmured uncomfortably. “Thanks.”
“You’re very welcome, dear heart.” Jimmy winked. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I returned before turning to take off.
The closer I stepped toward Ashton, the more I could feel the heat of his need. How? Was this normal? I could sense his anger and desire, and it terrified and excited me. Thrilled me. When I made it to Ashton, I didn’t speak. I headed toward the foyer for the stairs. But he intercepted me with his long arm. His other hand lay over the small of my back possessively.
“You serving alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age, Jimmy?” Ashton made the tsk sound as he chuckled.
“Of course, not, Sir Spencer,” Jimmy answered, once again, unperturbed. “We’re going to rectify that in the morning when I card her and she proves she’s twenty-two. I have two of them in the house this holiday season, you know?”
If my body wasn’t so chaotic, I’d laugh at how Jimmy masterfully managed Ashton’s asshole persona. But I couldn’t with the controlling human this close to me smelling like sin.
“She’s nice,” I heard Jimmy call out behind me. “Tori’s a lovely young lady, Sir Spencer. You should make a friend out of her.”
I couldn’t help but look at Ashton. His heavy eyes were on me. Then he leaned in to graze my neck with the tip of his nose. I whimpered as my whole body shivered.
“Tori doesn’t want to be friends with my kind, Jimmy.” His palm moved further down my ass and Ashton clamped a chunk of me. “That’s probably why you think she’s ‘nice.’” His eyes squinted and Ashton grinned. He shifted