Page 24 of All That Glitters
Hot and cold.
Ashton Glitterati to a T.
But this Ashton was different. This Ashton was someone I wasn’t familiar with and deep down I knew I shouldn’t trifle with him. He was controlled, but not. He was calm, but…not.
This unknown Ashton was even more of a danger to me and my resolute, but traitorous heart.
He pressed a hand to the wall beside my head. He didn’t say anything, he simply stared down at me. I tried to hold his stare, I really did, but I couldn’t. If I did, he’d eventually realize what he was doing to me, the hold he had on me that had nothing to do with physical touch.
“Ashton…” I breathed.
“I like my name on your lips. I’ve always liked it. In fact, I like everything about your lips.”
His words caught me sideways and absently, or self-consciously, or stupidly, I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and the smile that crossed his mouth could only be defined as feral.
My heart beat wildly and I let go of my lip, but then, even more stupidly, my tongue darted out to lick where I’d bitten down a little too hard.
“Naughty girl, Helen. I wasn’t sure you had it in you.”
“Had what in me?”
I immediately regretted the word choice.
“Now isn’t that a question… Hm. I look forward to finding out the answer.”
I was afraid to breathe, to move, to speak. There was something so hypnotic about being with Ashton like this, outside in the dark, a house full of our friends and family inside. I was also confused. I had no idea what was going on and was completely out of my element with him this way.
“Are you all right?” he asked softly.
That was an interesting inquiry and one that seemed out of place.
“I… Yes.”
He pushed off the wall and put distance between us, not only physically, but when I chanced a look, lights from the house showed me what I had wanted to know. His eyes were cold, distant and I shivered.
“Good. As you said, we should get back to the party.”
6
Helen
My heart stopped. At least, that’s what it felt like with Ashton’s voice directly behind me and the touch of his hand at my elbow. Even through the fabric of my suit jacket, his fingers were like a brand. When our eyes met, his were devoid of anything resembling emotion. Gone were the things I believed I’d seen when he’d come to see Hale.
I drew myself up. Posture perfect. Aloofness taking up residence in my body. “I’m fine.” I tossed the words over my shoulder. “Thank you. I can take care of myself.”
Neither man looked convinced.
Ashton didn’t let go of my arm. Instead, his fingers tightened. It was a slight pressure, but the insistence was unmistakable.
Brax didn’t make a move to intercede, but there was concern written all over his face. I didn’t know how to reassure him any more than I knew how to reassure myself that I’d be okay alone with Ashton.
“Still… Let’s get you some fresh air. Whiskey on an empty stomach can have adverse effects.”
“How do you know my stomach’s empty?”
“An educated guess. You’ve been to my mother’s parties before. You know she always has enough food for an entire European country in the kitchen, so no one ever eats before arriving.”
She never spared any expense when it came to her dinner parties. She treated everyone invited like they were the most important person, like they were royalty. Like they were part of her family.
