Taylor’s POVThe smell of smoke drifted around me as I took a long drag, the tip of my cigarette flaring red. Ivy. Even her name made my skin crawl. Just thinking about her prancing around like some kind of perfect princess made my blood boil.She didn’t deserve to be there, in my place, with the life that I deserved. I let the smoke roll over my tongue before I blew it out, letting it spiral into the air. And here I was, shuffling off to Max’s dumpy place. Maybe she was right after all. I coveted everything she had, even if it was her terrible ex-boyfriend.Max’s place was a far cry from what I was used to, with his stack of dirty dishes in the corner and the constant stale smell of alcohol that clung to the air. It looked like he hadn’t done a thing to clean since the last time I was here.Not that I’d complain. I had too much on my mind already. Max didn’t waste any time as he shut the door behind me, his eyes flickering over my face. He must’ve seen the rage practically radiating
Asher’s POVI looked into the mirror as Ivy adjusted my tie, her fingers brushing against my collar. She had this focused, gentle touch, and her lips were pulled into a serious pout. I could barely look at her—her perfume filled the air between us, making it hard to think.“You know,” she said, giving my tie a final pat, “you actually clean up really well.” She smiled at me, and I felt that familiar warmth building in my chest.“If dressing up like this is what it takes to get a compliment from you, I’ll do it every single day,” I declared.She stifled a blush. “It doesn’t have to take so much,” her voice was barely above a whisper.A smirk tugged at my lips. Was Ivy flirting with me? Was it just the magic of the night, or were her defenses slowly stripping away? I caressed her cheek and stared as she leaned into my touch, her eyelids fluttering shut. A small gasp escaped her lips.I slipped my hand around her waist. “You’re going to make it hard for me to let go of you, Ivy…” I glanc
Ivy’s POV.I giggled at something Asher said. My hand was resting on the crook of his elbow as we walked back to our hotel room. The energy between us felt different tonight, and it wasn’t because of the alcohol. I had purposely stayed off it; I didn’t want to be the desperate person I used to be when I was drunk and around him. It was embarrassing how much my body desired him when my senses got dulled.It wasn’t like I didn’t desire him. Even now, as I listened to him and stole glances at him, as our bodies slightly touched, I did - in a way that I hadn’t desired any man before. But I could control it and pretend I wasn’t feeling anything. I could ignore all the sparks that went off whenever we touched.“Janine was the worst of us, I tell you…” he was saying as he punched a couple of keys on the elevator panel. As we walked in, the guards that had followed us at a safe distance tried to enter, but he stopped them. He glanced at me and then back at them.“I need some time alone with m
Ivy’s POVMy core throbbed as he whispered in my ears. I could feel the wetness in my panties. My whole body had been tightly wound up; it had been so long since I felt pleasure. Without the alcohol, my body still felt the aching need for his touch, the need that made me desperate. I wanted to tear off all our clothes until our bodies were naked and touching, and I could feel his cock inside of me, filling me up.He leaned back on the bed so he could gawk at me, slowly taking in everything.“Look at me,” he whispered in a deep voice when I tried to look away.I did as he asked and looked into those beautiful eyes. Those eyes that spoke volumes long before he opened his mouth and uttered the words, “I want to worship you, Ivy...”Jolts of pleasure traveled all over my body, desire washing over me. He lifted me up and placed me on the bed, turning to face me. He held my feet in his hands and stared for a moment before slipping off my shoes.His eyes were fixated on me as he brought my f
Asher’s POVI walked through the VIP room, flanked by three mean-looking bodyguards. They were tall and muscular, dressed in all black with dark sunglasses. I scanned the area, looking for Luca. It wasn’t hard to find him, as the club wasn’t full that day, with not many people showing up on a Sunday night.I walked up to him. “Luca.”He was nursing a drink and spun around. “Goddamnit, Asher! What are you doing here?”I pulled out a stool and sat across from him. “What do people do at clubs, Luca? I’m here to chill and drink...” I gestured to the bartender. “The regular, please.”The bartender nodded and began to fix my drink. Luca glanced at the hefty men standing behind me. “You don’t look like you’re here to chill at all. You brought the bodyguards in?”I nodded. “There’s no way in hell I’m coming to your club without security. Someone’s got to watch my back while you’re doing whatever the hell it is you do... Why are you at the club on a Sunday, Luca?” I asked after a second though
Max’s POV“I hate it when you’re pacing around...” Taylor began, “And can we do something about your dingy apartment? Do we really have to meet here?”I stopped in my tracks, “I’m sorry, Taylor Simmons, I can’t afford pricey hotels for us to stop for a chat. When I was with Ivy, she had no problem handling that...”“Oh, no! That’s not gonna be me, honey. That kind of foolishness is Ivy’s forte, not mine,” she replied. “If you really want us to continue meeting, you’ve got to do better about our meeting place. That is, if you still want to win her over.”“Well, I don’t know how I’m supposed to win her over if you won’t use the one weapon we have against them!” I yelled. “They are getting closer. You saw them at that fashion show? How did it feel watching them together? Being all lovey-dovey with each other, how did it make you feel?”She slowly broke into a smile. “I don’t care for either of them, Max. I don’t have feelings for Asher Sterling. I just like the idea of him. He’s a hot ma
Max’s POVFlashback cont’dI drove into the parking lot of the hotel just behind Taylor. I jumped out of the car and rushed towards her. "Taylor! You’ve got to give me a fucking explanation. I just drove a high man in his own car after abducting him from the club to a hotel—we are going to get arrested!"She got out of my car and slammed the door. "If you keep yelling at the top of your voice, the police are going to come in earlier, and the arrest is going to happen quicker than you think!"My heart was beating faster in my chest. She had a point. I had to calm down. There could be CCTV. I glanced around nervously and looked away the moment I caught a glimpse of one, subtly hidden away from view. I took a deep breath."If you want me to act calmly about this, you’ve got to give me an explanation that makes sense at least," I told her in a controlled voice. "What did you do to him?""I slipped something into his drink," she answered simply. She walked up to Asher’s car and opened the
Max’s POVFlashback cont’dI didn’t respond. What could I say? That my replacement and Ivy’s husband was hot? I didn’t care; I would smother him in his sleep if I could get away with no consequences.She got closer and tugged at his shorts, the last piece of clothing he had on. “Oh, and he’s packing too!” She hummed in satisfaction and bit her lower lip. “I see what Ivy likes about him now, really.”I frowned. “What are you doing, Taylor?” I was still confused about what she planned to do. Nothing made sense; nothing had made any sense since she called me earlier.She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she pulled a phone from her pocket. My phone and tossed it to me. “Take pictures.”I stared at her in confusion at first, wondering how she had gotten a hold of my phone in the first place. My brows furrowed in confusion. “What?”“You heard me, Max. You’re going to take pictures—"“Why?” I interjected. “Are we going to blackmail Asher with nudes of him? Really, what’s that going to get
Asher’s POVMy heart leapt the moment Ivy sauntered into my room, wrapped in a pale pink robe. Though we were still officially sleeping apart - her decision, not mine - I had asked her countless times to move in.Something was holding her back, but that didn’t stop us from spending nearly every other night together. I always looked forward to those evenings. I rushed home early every day, eager for our routine: a movie before bed or simply talking until we fell asleep.Tonight was no different.She beamed as she entered; her smile lighting up the room. Slowly, she slipped off her robe, revealing the flimsy nightdress underneath.“I had quite the day…” she began, climbing into bed.My gaze locked onto hers. “Tell me all about it,” I encouraged, my voice low and eager.She tucked her hair behind her ear, leaning closer. “It was Taylor,” she said, her tone exasperated.I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply. “What did that bitch do this time?” I muttered under my breath.Ivy laid back, resti
Taylor’s POVI had a grin on my face as I walked into the dressing area. It had been there since the moment I woke up that morning. My mind danced back to the week’s events.It wasn’t every day that I pulled off something as spectacular as blackmailing Asher Sterling. Of course, it had taken a whole week of careful planning and luck.Luck had been on my side that evening at the formal dinner. Walking up to Marcus Sterling had been a gamble, but it paid off. Luck was what made him listen to me. Not that I had to say much.The dick fucker was sold the moment I told him I was a friend of Ivy’s. Odd, wasn’t it? Did he like his brother’s wife?I shook my head. None of that mattered now, though it had been my golden ticket to the Sterling event. Sure, it meant enduring Marcus’s endless chatter, but it was a small price to pay for the look on Asher’s face when he saw me on his brother’s arm.I could still see it - his pale expression, his eyes desperately trying to piece me together and figu
Asher’s POVI sat absentmindedly at the table, the faint sounds of silverware clicking and the low hum of conversation filling the grand dining room. I forced a polite smile, nodding at something one of the guests said, though I wasn’t paying attention.I wasn’t even sure if I was expected to respond. Thankfully, the man who had spoken to me turned back to his plate.Across the table, Taylor was smiling, her expression tinged with amusement. She was clearly enjoying this - watching me struggle to focus on anything.Then I felt it— a nudge against my foot. Subtle at first, then firmer.I stiffened, glancing up. Taylor was looking directly at me, her expression as innocent as ever. When no one else was watching, she winked, her lips curling into a smug grin.I pulled my foot back, forcing myself to focus as Marcus, seated next to me, leaned in.“Asher,” Marcus said, his tone light but probing, “what’s the progress on Sterling Winery? Any new wines in the works?”I blinked, realizing I h
Asher’s POVI tried to walk away, but Marcus stopped me. “How’s Ivy?” he asked.I had a smartass reply at the tip of my tongue, but I decided against it. “What is it, Marcus?” I didn’t want to deal with him any longer than I had to.He shrugged. “A lot of people would love to see her. I, for one, would love to see her. If she doesn’t show up for important family events like this, then it has me thinking, is something up?”I couldn’t help but grin. “Marcus, Ivy and I are fantastic. If you would like to know, there’s nothing…”He turned around. “Meet my plus one, Asher. Isn’t she a beauty?”I looked up and stared in the direction he was pointing at. It was Taylor. She was wearing a shimmery black halter neck dress, her hair tied back in a slick bun, with a wide smile on her face as she sashayed towards us.What the heck? I cursed under my breath. How? How was she with Marcus? Where did they even meet? Wasn’t she just with Luca the other time? My eyes widened. Could she have told him?Ta
Asher’s POVIvy leaned closer to me on her tiptoes as she tried to fix my black bow tie. She was so close I couldn’t help but inhale her scent. She smelled of the loveliest flowers, her scent was intoxicating. I brought my nose to the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply.She inched away, giggling uncontrollably. “That tickles…”“You really can’t come?” I asked for the umpteenth time, giving her the puppy dog eyes.She smoothed my dress and pulled back. “I told you I can’t. I have a shoot in the city in a few hours,” she glanced at her wristwatch, “2, 3 hours. It’s a simple shoot, and also Janine and I have a coffee date for later in the evening. So yes, I have quite the commitment.”He exhaled and shook his head. “You know Janine is hanging out with you as an excuse to get out of a family event?”She flashed me a wide grin. “Is she now? I’m flattered she’s picking me over family?”“Hey,” I knew she was joking, but I still needed her to know it. “You know I’d ditch them in a heartbeat
Asher’s POVI hesitated, then turned to her fully. “I want you to be proud of me.”She paused, her hands resting lightly on my arm. “Asher, I am proud of you and of what you’ve done so far. You are a good man, and you’re going to do great things with this,” she gestured around. “You don’t have to prove anything to me.”Her words, so simple and sincere, unraveled something in me. I didn’t deserve her faith, not with the secrets I was keeping, but in that moment, I wanted to believe her.We stood there in the quiet, her gaze locked with mine, until the weight of it gave way to a shared grin. Moments later, we were giggling uncontrollably, slipping on the juice-slick floor as we tried to balance.Once the grapes were pressed, we poured a small glass of the fresh wine and tasted it. Ivy made a face. “You know what would make this better?” she asked, tilting her head thoughtfully.“What?”Her grin widened as she leaned in. “What if we added this to the wine from our dinner in the garden—th
Asher’s POVI held out a hand to her. “Are you ready?”She grinned at me. “What’s this? Take your spouse to work day?” she teased.I smiled at her as she slipped her hands into mine, and I shrugged. “Something like that.”Ivy was the one who had offered to follow me to the company today. I had woken up to breakfast already set at the table. It was a gesture that warmed my heart, but nothing compared to when she told me she would call in sick from work and follow me to the office.I led her through those glass doors, and as soon as we walked into the reception area, all eyes turned in our direction. Well, they were mostly looking at her. It wasn’t every day a hot model strode into work. And by God, she looked hot today.She wore a simple white dress that clung to her in all the right ways. It stopped mid-thigh and made her legs look longer. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She had light makeup on and a simple piece of jewelry. It was minimal effort, and yet she looked the most
Luca’s POVI stared at her, my eyes twinkling with admiration. “You look...”“What?” she asked, blinking rapidly.I pulled her closer until she was pressed up against me, tucking her hair away from her face and cupping her cheeks. “You look like a snack, Janine, and I want to eat you up.”She giggled. “Okay then?”“Okay?” I asked, unsure. With Janine, I always took my time. She wasn’t like the other girls. She meant so much more to me. I was afraid to hurt her, afraid to do anything she didn’t like.She nodded, her eyes shining brightly.I gripped her jaw and drew her in. I kissed her tenderly at first, savoring the feeling of her soft lips against mine. My hands slipped around her waist.Then, before I knew it, she stood on her tiptoes, her hands wrapping around me as she deepened the kiss. Her tongue probed my lips, and I let her, surrendering to her. With the other women in my life, I was always in charge. Not with Janine. She was like an enigma to me. Apparently, Janine didn’t fee
Asher’s POVThe table was set perfectly. Candlelight flickered softly in the cool evening breeze, casting shadows on the ivory tablecloth and the bunch of roses I had picked out earlier for her. The garden was quiet except for the soft sounds of the night breeze.I sat, trying to seem relaxed, nursing a glass of red wine that tasted bitter in my dry mouth. It was a wine from Sterling Winery. We were trying to perfect a new wine. I was not satisfied with the results yet; there was something missing, and I couldn’t quite figure out what it was, neither could the rest of my team.But I wasn’t relaxed.Taylor’s words echoed in my head. “There’s so much pressure with this. You’re a billionaire; there are many things I could want, but I can’t make up my mind.” Her voice had been soft, almost pitying, as if she hadn’t just threatened the happiness I had just found in my life, like she wasn’t enjoying this. And those photos.God, the photos. Every time I blinked, I saw them, burned into the b