Page 34 of Moonlit Thorns

Sixteen

ANABELLE

Iwake up sore between my legs, but not in a bad way. In a way that reminds me that last night was not a dream, not some fantasy I conjured up in my mind.

Last night… I don’t even have words for it. I’ve never had an experience like that. It was unexpected, and exciting, and the orgasms Asher gave me were mind-blowing.

I’m not a virgin. I slept with enough guys through college, I have experience, but Asher Voss was next level. College boyfriends gave me oral sex, but I could never finish. I was always too concerned with what they were thinking while they were doing it. I couldn’t get out of my head enough to relax and climax.

But I didn’t wonder with Asher. He was like a man possessed, and he knew exactly what to do to my body to get the response he wanted. Knew how to string me along until I thought I might die if he didn’t let me come, then rachet me even higher so that when I did, it felt as if a mini atomic bomb had gone off inside me.

There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to do it again. Wanted to do more. What would it be like to fuck a man like him?

But he fell distant afterward. Not cold or cruel like before, but it was obvious that he was in his head about what had happened. Most likely, our age difference was playing havoc inside him, since he’d mentioned it more than once.

I hadn’t wanted to push, thinking that might be the wrong approach. Maybe it was better to show him that it was no big deal. That I could handle an adult relationship without clearly defined boundaries. It wasn’t as though I thought the man was going to fall in love with me—I don’t think he’s capable of such a thing.

But if I can spend the rest of my time here having amazing sex and not have him be so mean and dismissive of me? That seems like a far better alternative than my situation before last night. I could never fall for a man like him anyway—so hot and cold, so mean and hurtful at times. It’s just our sexual chemistry that draws me to him.

There’s a tinge of denial in my thoughts, but I ignore it. Just because Asher proved he was physically capable of apologizing doesn’t mean that I don’t see him for the deeply scarred man he is.

A knock on my door has me sitting up and clutching the blanket to my chest. Is it Asher?

“Come in,” I call.

Marcel pokes his head in. “Good morning.”

I smile at him. “Morning.”

“I trust you had a good night?” He walks a few feet inside the room.

My brain flashes to images of Asher with his mouth between my legs, and I try to keep a blush from creeping up onto my face. “I did, yes.”

“Excellent.” He claps his hands in front of him. “Mr. Voss has asked that you be moved from under Finn to a different department.”

I frown. I wonder why he would do that. “Okay… where am I going now?”

Marcel smiles wide. “You’re going to assist him from now on. We’re working on setting up a desk for you in his office.”

Despite my earlier promise to myself, a seed of hope springs to life inside me, fed with sunlight and water by Asher’s request that I work by his side.

“Doesn’t he already have an assistant?” I ask.

He nods. “He does, but she works off site mostly. Mr. Voss plans to spend more days here working from home, and he wants you to act as his assistant when he’s here.”

“Okay.” I smile. It sounds better than scrubbing toilets and endless hours of polishing wood.

“You’re to meet him in his office in exactly one hour.”

I glance at the clock on the bedside table and nod. “I can do that.”

“Wonderful.” Marcel turns around to leave but stops and looks over his shoulder at me. “No update on when your room will be ready, but Mr. Voss said you’re welcome to stay here until it’s completely repaired.”

I blink rapid fire. “Really? He wasn’t too pleased when he found me here last night. Did you get in trouble?” I bite on my bottom lip, hoping not.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” He winks.

Then he’s gone, closing the door behind him. I spring out of bed and rush into the shower, wanting enough time to blow dry my hair and apply a little makeup. I want to look good the next time I see Asher, especially with what happened last night.

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