Page 88 of Moonlit Thorns

She shakes her head. “No.”

“Because it was a sex club night, and I had no interest in fucking anyone. No one. On the night that I was looking to find a distraction in anyone’s body, all I could think about was you. You and what a fucking temptation you are. You and how young you are and how I should just send you home to your estate and call off our whole deal. You and how no matter what, I couldn’t stop thinking about you, wanting to know more about you, wanting to fuck that sweet cunt of yours.”

Her mouth falls open, and I don’t miss the way she presses her thighs together.

“The only reason I asked Madeline to that event was to try to push you away. Nothing happened between us, and nothing will ever again.” I push my hands into her hair on either side of her face. “You have ruined me for anyone else, Anabelle Boudreaux. It’s you or no one.”

She sucks in a breath and tears glisten in her eyes. Happy tears, I hope. I press my lips to hers, and the feeling of rightness, of coming home settles into my bones.

Before we can get too carried away, the phone on her desk rings. She pulls away, and I settle my forehead on hers.

“I should get that,” she whispers.

I pull back and stare at her. “Not until I know that you get it.”

She smiles at me. “I get it, Asher. And I feel the same.”

Christ, this woman. She’ll be the death of me.

I sit in my chair and dial up Preston Wallace. This is the first time I’ve ever been happy about firing someone.

“Preston Wallace,” he answers.

“It’s Asher,” I announce myself, although he already knows it’s me.

“What do you want?”

“Well, I wanted to inform you that your services are no longer needed.” I tap my fingers along the desk like they’re doing a happy dance.

“What? You have no authority.” His tone is bitter, and I knew he never did keep track of his shit. The man thought he was golden sitting at the top of his company, ready to reign when his old man died.

“Oh I do. I own over half the company now. We’re making some cuts so apologies, but the first one is to you.”

“You can’t do that!”

“I just did,” I say, the smile growing the angrier he becomes.

“My dad will never allow?—.”

“Has no control over it. I have all the control now Preston. So be a good boy and pack your cardboard box. Security is waiting outside the door for you.” Something hard smashes against the wall. “I hope that was a personal item. I’d hate to bill you for destruction.” Keeping my voice even-keeled is hard when I want to tell him exactly why he’s getting what he deserves.

“You’re an asshole.”

“I know.”

“This isn’t going to stand! There’s no way!”

I shrug although he doesn’t see me. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be for yourself.”

“You’ll get yours, Voss, just wait.”

“I don’t think so.” There’s a knock on his door echoing through the receiver. “Now answer that and be civil so they don’t have to throw you out on your ass. Have a nice life, Preston.”

“Fuck off, Voss.”

I laugh and hang up the phone with a grin. Anabelle swings around in her seat on the other side of the office, looking at me with concern.

“Why are you looking at me like that? You should feel as jubilant as I do right now. Preston Wallace finally got what was coming to him.”

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