side of him.
Breathing in his scent—and without thought—she slid her arms over his shoulders and lowered her head as he craned his neck, seizing her mouth in a hungry, possessive kiss. Telling him to stop never crossed her mind. Ever since their first kiss, all she’d been wanting was Smokey’s lips on hers again.
His ragged breathing shivered into her ear before his tongue darted inside. Tingles scattered through her body and a low moan vibrated along her throat. Running a hand up her back, his fingers grazed the back of her neck and squeezed, forcing her closer. She didn’t care that she could hardly breathe, reveling in the sensations of their tongues teasing, mingling together.
“Ashley,” he rasped.
Butterflies fluttered around her stomach as Smokey dragged his lips from hers, trailing hot kisses along her jaw and down her neck. Running her fingers down his back, she traced the thick muscle on either side of his spine.
Bucking his hips against her, a feral grunt exploded from his throat. Raking his teeth down her neck, he bit gently sucking an earlobe between his lips. Ashley groaned and threaded slender fingers through his hair.
“Fuck, baby,” he growled as his mouth returned to hers, his tongue sweeping inside.
His hands wandered down her back and over her hips before sliding underneath her tank top to cup her breasts.
Burning pleasure shot between her legs, and she stiffened. She wasn’t ready to take the next step, even though her body ached to feel him inside of her.
“Let me make you feel good,” he whispered, as he skimmed his lips along her jawline.
Reluctantly, she untangled her arms from around his neck, dragging her fingers over his strong shoulders to his firm chest. His hard pectorals felt nice under her hands, and for a moment, she wondered how they’d feel against her bare breasts, her tingling nipples. Stop it! Pushing against his chest, she squirmed out of his grasp and got to her feet.
“I’m sorry, Smokey, I’m not thinking straight. It’s my fault—I got carried away.” She bent over and scooped up her backpack.
“Bullshit,” he said. A deep frown marred his face as he rose to his feet with a sharp sigh.
Avoiding his stare, she shook out the blanket and began folding it up.
“What the fuck’s your problem?” The anger in his voice could cut glass.
“Nothing. I just came to my senses.”
“Bullshit again. Tell it to me straight.”
Ashley pressed her lips together and met his gaze. “I don’t want to be another notch on your work belt.”
“I told you I don’t fuck my employees.” He held up his hand just as she started to reply. “And you’re just doing a gig for my company, so you’re still Zach’s employee.”
“So if Ivy, Georgia, Sabrina, or Katrina were just doing a gig, you’d be all over them?”
Scrubbing his face with his hand, he shook his head. “No, I wouldn’t be. I’m not interested in them.” The muscle in his jaw tightened as he looked away, then back again. “I’m not like you’re dad. That’s the real problem with you—you think I spend all my time chasing tail. I bet you think every guy’s a cheater.”
Winding the end of her ponytail around her fingers, she tugged on it lightly and released it. She stepped back and folded her arms across her chest.
“How many serious relationships have you had?”
He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “None.”
“I didn’t think so.” Lifting her chin, she tossed her ponytail over her shoulder.
“Don’t be so fuckin’ smug about what you think you know about me. When was your last relationship?”
“I’m trying to make partner, okay?”
He rocked back on his heels. “That isn’t what I asked. But I’m guessing the answer is either a long time ago or never.”
She fought against her anger, pissed that he could see right through her. But most of all, she was mad for revealing too much about herself to him. The anger she carried inside had been boiling beneath the surface for a long time. How could I have let my defenses down?
“I have to go.” She turned away and walked toward her bicycle.
“You can keep running, or you can face your demons head-on. I bet you got a few more you didn’t share with me.”
After attaching the backpack to her bike, she looked over her shoulder at him. “I’ll see you at the office on Monday, and we’ll discuss the marketing campaign.”
“Fuck, Ashley, you’re so tightly wound. You need to relax.”
“I’m fine. We” –she whirled around and waved her hand between