Asher was peeved, Kathy had stolen Joan from his arms and had left him alone in the company of her young friends. While he knew Kathy took Joan to help ease her into socializing with other women in the room. It still rankled him that Joan was not by his side. He especially hates how the eyes of more than a few men followed Joan around the room.Kathy finally letting him stay in one place without the constant fraternizing from table to table gave Asher a chance to take in the room.There was no shortage of people seated at the tables, ingesting the fare before them. There were others to the side of the hall socializing with new acquaintances or catching up with old friends. Needless to say, there's a considerable amount of chatter floating around the room.Yet Asher found that to get the really important discourse you have to be around or at the bar. After all Imbibing on spirits always loosens the lips.And so here he was standing close to the bar in a conversation with the group Kat
'Asher is kissing me, Asher is kissing me? Asher is kissing me!' those were the thoughts bouncing through Joan's head as she melted into Asher's arms. She knew it was coming too, she expected it, yet it was so sudden. He hadn't just launched himself at her. No, he'd eased himself into her embrace and had brought his face ever slowly, deliberately to claim her lips.And he did claim it. At first, she was unyielding, but after the first few seconds of his ministration, she closed her eyes and surrendered herself. A moment later and she became potty in his hand. His kiss was just enough to make her forget her troubles, the world, and Dylan. All she could feel was Asher. His warm embrace, his hands encircling her waist, his hot breath. It seemed like everything in her world revolved around him at that moment.It was so ridiculous, she could feel her heart racing, and her breath ragged as the kiss lingered. The kiss was perfect until it was snatched away.As she lost contact with Asher's
Joan groaned for the umpteenth time. She lay on the bed restless. She'd spent most of the night awake contemplating how knotty her life had become.She was frustrated by how quickly her seemingly normal life had unraveled. Months ago she was a young normal industrial designer, who was just starting to become financially stable. She'd made sure to pay off the little debt she owed, and she had hope for the future.Her father's death has ruined all of that. Not only is her job as an industrial designer gone, but her life is also now muddled with quandaries she could have never fathomed.It didn't help that the latest of these quandaries are two handsome, successful young men. One was her ex, while the other is her fiance-albeit a contractual one. But what drove her crazy was Asher and Dylan's attempt to entice her. She was especially concerned by the little fight that erupted between both men after she and Asher's kiss the night before.In a way what happened last night while it distress
Mabel cringed her nose in disgust at the number of greasy foods on display as she scanned the room. She could not comprehend the reason Nolan Evans would choose such a location to meet. Nolan had instructed her to come to a restaurant located in lower Manhattan, Mabel had no idea it was a fast food dump. "Mrs. Hargreaves?" a big bald man in a cheap suit asked Mabel as she continued to look around the room. "Yes I am, who are you?" Mabel asked, she had no idea who the strange man was. "Follow me, Mr. Evans is waiting," The man said and walked off to a row of seats by the joint's large window at the far left corner. Mabel followed after the man, who she was now sure was one of Nolan's minions. It didn't take long for her to spot Nolan seated at the sixth-row table. Nolan had on a sleek black suit, a white dress shirt, and a blue tie. She considered Nolan handsome in a silver fox way with piercing green eyes like his nephew. High cheekbones and angular jaw. He had a tall frame and
"Excuse me, you're Joan Hargreaves, right? Hello, I'm Cassidy. Cassidy Myers." Cassidy said giving Joan a sly grin."Yes I'm Joan, how may I help you miss Myers?" Joan asked the strange woman. She had no idea who this woman was or what she wanted but Joan decided to at least hear her out."There are a couple of things I'd like to discuss with you about an acquaintance of ours," Cassidy said taking a closer look at Joan.Joan wondered who the person Cassidy was referring to was, "and who is that?""Can we find a place to talk? This could take a while.""Well, there's a pastry shop nearby, it's just around the corner," Joan offered."That would be perfect, lead the way.""I see why he chose you, other than your family name I mean," Cassidy said appraising the young woman before her. The two of them were seated outside of the pastry shop. The color of the day has taken a darker luster."Excuse me?" Joan said visibly offended. She had no idea what the stranger before her meant by her word
Asher sighed as he approached the door that led to the one he earnestly seeks. He was nervous. He doesn't do nervous. At least that's what he thought. He had to wait out at the apartment lobby to confirm Francesca leaving the building. When he was sure Francesca had left Asher called and texted Joan just before he boarded the elevator on the ground floor. And he was once again left with no response. Armed with no other choice, he resolved to eradicate whatever Joan's grievances were.He heard the shuffling of feet from inside the apartment after he pressed the door button. A moment later he noticed movement behind the door but it remained closed."Joan I know you're inside. Would you please open the door?" Asher directed at the metal door in front of him. It would seem Joan has no intention of seeing him. "I'm not going anywhere I'll be here when you decide to open the door."After some minutes had passed Asher heard the door crack open, just enough for Joan to stick her head out. Th
"Ooh! Uh...." Joan mewled as Asher probed into her warmth. His touch teasing spots that sent sparks up her nerve endings.It has been so long since she's felt pleasure like this from someone else. Not since Dylan.While there has been a plethora of suitors over the past three years. She had not taken any of them seriously. Nothing past a few dates.She would tell herself she was too busy to date. Too busy with her final exams. Too busy with work. But the truth is she was scared. Scared she would end up like her mom. Forever in love. Forever pining on a man who wouldn't be there. A man who would move on conveniently after her death. She knew it was one of the reasons she broke up with Dylan.The joke didn't escape her. The fact is all the men she's had congress with, as few as they are-Dylan and now Asher-had many attributes her father had. The fact that she is naked and writhing under the tongue of Asher. A man that not only embodies the ambitious and successful character of her fathe
The Nouveau-Riche Romance Chapter twenty-nine The brightness of the day filtered into the room. Illuminating it with its soft glow. The illumination was just enough to rouse Joan from sleep. Her body felt relaxed, she felt mellow really. It felt like she was coming down from a drug high. No, it was a sex high. Sex? Sex... Joan abruptly opens her eyes as she remembered the events of the previous night. She had sex with Asher. Now that she thought about it it was a crazy night and she wouldn't believe it if she hadn't experienced it. Still, she could remember it all, his kisses, his teasing touch. Good lord, Asher going down on her, their congress, and her climaxes. The picture of Asher's lust-filled eyes seared into her brain. The bumps and contours of his hard body on top of her body as he took her, bringing her to unbelievable highs. She shivered at the memories of the previous night, reminiscing about it made her body feverish, and it excited her. She however had to keep her ex
Asher walked the stairs to the second floor one step at a time. He had Joan wrapped around him, her arm around his neck, her legs wrapped tightly around his torso. And his hands on her buns. Their passion for each other communicated in their kiss.Asher addled with lust was careful as he dragged both of them to the top of the stairs landing on the second floor.They both of them disconnected from their kiss to take in breath before they had their lips mashed together again. Their tongues exploring each other.It was a struggle for Asher but he managed to carry them into his bedroom, navigating them to the bed. He set Joan down gently on the bed, stopping their kiss.A look into each others eyes conveyed their feelings. A frenzy of sensual passion burned in their heart and they would take their pleasure.They had not the patience to take things slow and with nothing but a moment, they were naked. Asher stared at Joan's sensual body. Her full breast, round buns and tapered waist all cal
"You're wrong," Asher said leaning over toward his uncle. "Don't be delusional, Nolan. Nothing is going according to your plan, you're in my trap now. This is my game, I rule and control how it is going to be played and you are nothing but a pawn in it.""Pawn, did you called me your pawn?" Nolan asked almost shouting. Asher's words and demeanor has earned him his uncle's ire. Nolan contemplated if he should just abandon any negotiation with Asher and have his fun with Joan instead."Yes I did. You've been playing my game all night and you didn't even know," Asher bluffed, everything he's done since he received Jackson's message was bluff. A bluff he was using to fool his uncle.The fact is he is scared. He was so close to losing Joan tonight. And he wasn't even sure if she was safe yet. Jackson had only sent him a message, informing him they were ready to breach the warehouse where Joan was held. It was not like she has been rescued yet"That's it," Nolan said and stood up. "Perhaps
Jackson walked briskly but silently behind a unit of the rescue team as they approached the side entrance of the abandoned warehouse. The rescue team had done a surveillance of the warehouse to ascertain Joan's location inside the building. Jackson and the team concluded that Joan would most likely be confined in a section of the warehouse, used as offices.Since Joan's rescue was paramount they'd decided to approach the building with as much stealth and speed as was possible while not getting found out.The warehouse had two points of entry, both through concrete paths to the side and front of the building. They broke the team off into two units with the first unit attacking from the front while the other charged from the side. Since the section Joan was held at was closer to the side entrance. It was decided that the second unit assaulting the building from the side would attempt her rescue.Both teams were to attack while concealing themselves from Nolan's goons. The first unit wou
"I've got you now, little bird, and there would be no escape," Cassidy said to Joan as she became drowsy. Slumping against the man sedating her. Cassidy had a triumphant smirk on her face as Joan slipped into a temporary coma. Joan's kidnapping was a success. She'd spent the last month fine-tuning her strategy, she was glad everything had gone without a hitch. Before Joan's abduction Cassidy and the men with her had taken care of both teams protecting Joan. That was the challenging part of her little plot, however, they had an advantage in surprise and numbers. Now the two teams of four guards are having a blissful sleep. "Bring the cars around, we need to get going," Cassidy said to one of the two men working for her. The other man had Joan drooping in his arms. "I have a message for you from Mr. Evans," One of the goons working for Nolan that he sent to provide support said. "A message? What message?" Cassidy inquired of the man. "He said this is the end of the line for your pa
Joan and Asher intertwined their hands, as they walked through Central Park. They were on an evening date and are strolling through the park before Asher drove Joan back home. Asher had his eyes on Joan who was smiling brightly. Central Park without a doubt was her favorite place, not only because she could reminisce about the good times she shared with her mom. But also because it was the one place she could exist without worry. It has become even more special now that she shared it with Asher.Joan felt a bittersweet sensation as she thought about all that has happened the past few days. She was glad to finally get her family's company from Mabel's clutches. As well as getting her revenge for Mabel ruining her family and manipulating her with her father's death.While she felt that Mabel deserved what came her way, still she felt unease. And it grew with Mabel's fretting dialogue with her as she was dragged out of the emergency meeting. She never pictured Mabel being that scared of
Mabel huffed and puffed before the door of the conference hall where the emergency meeting would hold. Her stepdaughter was the reason for her grief. The bothersome brat was running late and the meeting would soon commence. She had put all her eggs in one basket and that basket was Joan. Mabel would suffer through more minutes of irritation before Joan appeared, alone without Asher as she'd asked. Mabel had also instructed Joan not to tell Asher about her plans for the meeting. She didn't want him ruining her work. "I'm so sorry for my tardiness Mabel, I lost track of the time while getting ready," Joan recited her fake apology as she neared her stepmother. She had intentionally arrived late, in a bid to both piss off and scare Mabel. "Hello Joan darling, you came at just the right moment. Come, walk with me," Mabel muttered barely suppressing her gall. Joan smiled, she could see the fruit of her work by the crease on her stepmother's forehead and her visibly troubled face. Seeing
It was a chilly evening, the sun had set a few hours ago and it was getting late into the night. The cold of the night was starting to get to her, she knew she should have brought a jacket. The full-sleeved t-shirt she wore was proving to be useless against the biting cold.Joan sat in front of the pastry shop near her aunt's apartment, where she was waiting for the bane of her existence, her stepmother.The pastry shop was the site of her fiasco with Cassidy Myers, just weeks ago. Joan chuckled at the absurdity of the altercation-if she could call it that-but she was happy at how things turned out. Especially with Asher. She found that thoughts of him were always enough to warm her heart."You must be happy to see me. That's a hell of a smile right there." Mabel said to her stepdaughter with a fake smile of her own, just as she took the other seat at Joan's table. She wondered what the broad smile on Joan's face was for."Do not flatter yourself," Joan rebuked her stepmother, she was
Jacob stared at the multi-floor home before him with some apathy. The night was still in its youth, the sun had set not too long ago. It was evident that Jacob was weary as he stood before the brownstone townhouse a frown creasing on his features. Visiting a townhouse in the West Village, alone, was not part of his schedule when he rose from bed that morning. Needless to say, the townhouse before him is an annoyance, it was not a place he wanted to be, nor did he have any business there. However he had no choice but to come, it was the location his blackmailers gave him. His unknown blackmailers had sent him details about his and Mabel's misappropriation of company funds that hit too close to be ignored. They had given him the location of the townhouse and he had come with the hope of striking a deal, probably to pay them off. As he steps closer to the house, Jacob thought it silly, who in their right mind would use a townhouse for such a base act as blackmail? On the other hand, he
Joan since Nolan's sudden visit to Asher's apartment finds herself constantly anxious. She acknowledged that trouble was coming for her. Nolan coming to Asher's apartment had marked that. Still, she had no idea what form the storm coming would take but she knew why it was coming. She has flown too close to Asher's sky. And just like with Emily, the sun that is Nolan probably wanted her burnt.She was anxious, yet, at the moment she felt confident and safe. She recognized that her confidence perhaps came from Asher who at present had his right hand intertwined in her left one. He was driving them to Maven, and he'd personally come to pick her up. She knew he was being protective of her, it was odd, but gestures like this made Asher more appealing to her.Asher's sideways glance was met with Joan's amber eyes focused on him. It seemed he'd caught his lover taking sneak peeks of him. This was made evident by the sudden turn of her head to the other side and the bright crimson on her chee