Then he leaned down and pulled her into a scorching, toe-curling kiss. Complete with tongue and hoots and hollers from the others.When he finally released her, she was dazed and wore a stupid grin. She turned to the others with that goofy smile, joy filling every part of her heart.“You guys! I can’t believe this!” she exclaimed.“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Ash said, coming forward to hug her.One by one, all the others came to wish her a happy birthday, hugging and kissing her until she was aglow with happiness.Jace caught her hand and tugged her toward the table.“There’s another reason to celebrate at this party, but first you have to open your present from me so we can get to that part,” Jace said with a huge grin.There was a mischievous glint in his eyes and he looked excited and . . . happy. Then he handed her a square wrapped present with a gorgeous ribbon and bow arrangement.“Open it!” Chessy squealed. “Oh my God, I can’t wait to see what you got!”The others chimed in w
She took a step back, her frown deepening. “Your Dom waiting for you?” Her eyes widened and her fingers automatically went to the collar where his fingers had been just seconds before. “What’s your name?” he asked, when she remained silent. “I gave you mine. The polite thing to do is return the favor.” “Josie,” she said barely above a whisper. “Josie Carlysle.” “And who owns you, Josie?” Her eyes narrowed then and she clutched her bag, shoving the remainder of her pencils into it. “Nobody owns me.” “Then did I misunderstand the significance of that collar you’re wearing?” Her fingers brushed over it again, and it made him itchy. He wanted to remove it. It wasn’t right for her. A collar should be carefully chosen for a submissive. Something that matched her personality. Something made especially for her. And not just any woman. “You didn’t misunderstand,” she said in a husky voice that sent shivers down his spine. Her voice alone would seduce a man in a matter of seconds. “But
After a few minutes, the man had taken down the last painting and started toward the desk in front of the gallery. Then he paused and turned, a thoughtful look on his face.“I have one more. In the back. She just brought it in two days ago. I didn’t have the space to hang it, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her no. Not when I’d already told her I wouldn’t be able to take anything else until I sold something.”“I want it too,” Ash clipped out.“Sight unseen?”Ash nodded. “If she did it, I want it. I want every piece of hers you have.”The man’s expression brightened. “Well, then. Perfect. She’ll be thrilled! I can’t wait to tell her.”Ash held up his hand, halting the man before he went to the back to retrieve the painting.“You tell her whatever you want, but you do not give her my name or any information about me. I want complete anonymity or the deal is off. Understand? Furthermore, I’m going to leave you my card. If she brings in anything else, you call me. I want whatever she
Jace frowned. It was evident he didn’t quite swallow Gabe’s explanation. It didn’t wash with Ash either, but Gabe’s face was implacable. And him saying it was a business decision was bullshit. It was personal. Ash didn’t know what the hell had gone on in Paris, but whatever it was had turned Gabe solidly against Charles Willis. The man had dropped off the face of the earth after being cut loose from HCM’s operations.Ash shrugged. All he cared was that they’d salvaged the whole bloody mess. He wasn’t going to get into what had gotten Gabe’s underwear in a knot over the whole thing. It was behind them. No harm, no foul.“Now if we’re done, I’d really like to get home to my future wife,” Gabe drawled.Gabe rose and Jace followed suit. Christ, they really were getting old. It wasn’t even ten yet, and they were already folding up the tent for the night and schlepping home. But then, they had women to go home to. In their position, he wouldn’t be so eager to spend a night out with friends
Surprise gripped him at the earnestness and urgency in her tone. He leaned forward, his gaze narrowing at her.“You want out. What does that mean exactly, Brittany?”“I want away from them,” she said shakily. “All of them.”“What the hell did they do to you?” Ash demanded.She shook her head. “Nothing. I mean nothing more than usual. You know how they are, Ash. I’ve always envied you so much. You tell them to fuck off and you’ve made your own way. All I’ve done is marry a man my mother wanted me to, try to make the best of a bad situation and fail miserably. I got nothing in the divorce and I was okay with that. I just wanted out. But I have nothing without Mom and Dad’s help. And I don’t want it anymore. Because their help comes with strings. I’m thirty years old and what do I have to show for my life? No life, no money. Nothing.”The desolation in her voice hit Ash deep. He knew exactly what she meant. It could have easily been him in this same situation. His brothers certainly were
The pawnshop had been the very first place she’d gone after depositing the check into her bank account. And she’d sworn to herself that no matter what, she’d never part with the jewelry again.Only now it was gone, and so was the last link to her mother.She left the shop, stepping onto the busy street, uncertain of where exactly she was going next. As she turned to the right, she was stopped by a familiar face. She blinked as she stared back at the man she’d met in the park several days earlier. He was standing there, not looking surprised. In fact, he looked as though he’d been waiting for her. Crazy thought, but she didn’t get the impression he was startled at all by the unexpected meeting.“Josie,” he murmured.“H-hello,” she stammered out.“I believe I have something that belonged to you.”He held out an opened box and as soon as she saw inside, her breath caught and stilled in her chest.She raised her gaze back to him in confusion.“How did you get this? I don’t understand. How
“Sounds like one big happy family,” she murmured.“Of sorts.”They arrived at the restaurant and the maître d’ immediately ushered them to the table always reserved for himself or Gabe or Jace when they chose to eat here.Josie sat across from Ash, but she didn’t fully relax. She was perched on the edge of her seat and her gaze kept darting left and right and beyond Ash. She looked ill at ease and like she’d rather be anywhere but here with him. His ego was taking one hell of a beating. Women didn’t normally have to be blackmailed in order to agree to a date with him.“Would you like wine?” he asked when a waiter immediately appeared.She shook her head. “No. Water will be fine. Thank you.”“Make that two,” Ash murmured to the waiter.“Don’t let me keep you from enjoying wine if that’s what you prefer,” she said. “I just don’t want to drink and then have to get back home. Alcohol makes me pretty fuzzy. Last thing I need to do is be stumbling around Manhattan after dark.”“So you can’t
Given time he’d prove himself to her. If she only gave him a chance.“Deep, dark secrets, huh. I fear you’re in for disappointment. I’m frightfully boring. I’m married to my business, and I despise my family almost as much as they despise me. My real family are my business partners and their women.”“Except that your sister came to see you recently. Have you reconciled?”This time he pulled his hand away, leaning back in his chair. His gaze went beyond Josie for a moment before he allowed it to drift back to her face.“I suppose you could say that. I’m not completely convinced of her sincerity as of yet. I’d like to think she’s finally making a break from the wolf pack, but only time will tell.”“What did they do? To you both?”Ash sighed. “Gave birth to us? Hell if I know. My mother has zero maternal instinct, and yet she had four of us. It baffles me that a woman that self-serving would continue to have children she considered a burden.”Josie’s nose wrinkled and her eyes flashed wi