Page 48 of The Chase

“Good morning madam, sir.”Ash nodded to them the next morning from behind the reception desk. When they finally emerged Ash looked fresh faced, clean shaven. He still had his long, skater boy hair but was otherwise crisp in his freshly pressed suit.

Colt glanced sideways at April. She looked freshly fucked. He was very proud of himself, and stuck his chest out like a prize peacock. Ash flicked his blue eyes between them both knowingly.

“Morning.” Colt nodded, trying not to smile smugly.

“Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Black.” Colt turned to see the douchebag manager from last night scurrying over. Colt simmered at the sight of him.

“Can we see some of the classes and experiences you offer, please?” April took over. Colt ground his jaw, maybe April could hear his teeth gnashing together already. It was probably for the best that she was organizing things, if he wanted to avoid punching the manager in the face anytime soon.

“Yes, of course.” The manager bustled forward. Ash raised his eyebrows.

“With your concierge,” April added firmly.

The manager looked crestfallen. "Ah, of course.”

“Privately,” April added. “We have a delicate request.” She smiled sweetly, and it was the manager’s turn for his eyebrows to hit the ceiling. Ash smiled like the cat who had got the canary and professionally swept them into a meeting room behind the reception area.

Colt cleared his throat. “How did you end up working here with your uncle?”

Ash flashed them both a devilishly handsome smile. “My parents banished me basically, it was work here or go to conversion therapy at the local church…”

“That sounds positively draconian.” April looked concerned. Colt loved it when she used fancy words.

“What did you do?” Colt asked quietly. He settled into a chair to hear the story, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing them at his ankles. He crossed his arms over his chest and regarded the younger man in front of him.

Ash shrugged, kept his expression neutral and cocked his head to the left. “I fucked the girl next door.”

Colt didn’t blink.

Ash tilted his head to the right. “And the boy next door on the other side.”

Colts eyebrows flickered.

“At the same time,” Ash continued. “And took photographs of it, then submitted it for my college photography competition. Then got kicked out of college…”

Colt was going red in the face from holding in his laugh. He pressed his lips together and his cheeks puffed out until he could take it no more. A guffaw burst out of him. He turned to look at April, who was looking at Ash with a surprised but amused grin, too. She flashed Colt a smile. All three of them laughed together.

“Well, fuck,” Colt said immediately, humor in his voice.

“So, do you want to hear the yoga schedule?” Ash said, not missing a beat.

Colt smiled. Ash had an attitude, too, unashamed. Shit, he’d make a great Prospect, if Colt was still running the MC, he’d welcome Ash into the fold. But he wasn’t. That sobered him. He listened while April and Ash talked animatedly about the facilities and the yoga schedules. Silently mulling things over in his head. Thinking of how Ash could benefit from a sponsor, how the MC life could have helped to focus himself, what an asset this open minded, personable guy could be… It stabbed him in the gut, how much Colt missed the MC.

“Okay, so I’ll book you in for the intermediate level morning sun salute... and Colt you’ll be in the beginner warrior warm up...”

“Wait, hang on... me... doing yoga?” he stuttered. How much had he tuned out for?

“Yes, don’t worry, there’s a gift shop here that we can buy you some yoga leggings in,” April said with a coy, playful smile.

“I-” he began to argue, but April cut him off.

“We can also get you a speedo for the spa, no board shorts, remember?”

Colt opened then closed his mouth. “Spa… Speedo...” He repeated as if they were foreign words.

“Yep.” Ash popped the P and ran a glance down Colt. “Couples massages, too, for today, you’ve got extra deep tissue for tomorrow, as well, Mr. Black-”

Colt gritted his teeth. So many rules, and a schedule to follow. How did some people come here voluntarily on vacation?

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