Page 97 of All Bets Are Off

“Ashton, what the fuck?” she stammers, wiping her mouth where she spilled some of what she was drinking. I inhale deeply. Whiskey.

I study her face and see the same dazed expression I’m starting to get used to seeing on her face. It reminds me of Halloween night.

“How drunk are you this time, B?”

She rolls her eyes, closing her flask and slipping it back into her purse. “Yet another inquisition? I already told you I have no answers.”

I roll my shoulders back, dragging my finger up the sleeve of her dress. “I won’t ask anymore questions,” I murmur. “Instead, let me tell you what I’ve noticed. The pieces are starting to come together and I’m not a fan of the picture.”

She tenses, her eyes glued to where my fingers drag along her sleeves. “You’ve been wearing only long sleeves for months now,” I start.

“It’s been cold,” she defends. I hum as I start to lift the sleeve of her dress but she bats my hand away. I leave it for now. Choosing to continue instead.

“You get awfully defensive, real quickly now.”

“You piss me off a lot quicker now,” she fires back, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

I step away from her, giving her room to breathe, but block her path to the exit. “You don’t give us any real answers, but there’s sadness in your eyes when you try to push us away. There’s no love when you look at Carson. You don’t lean in to his touches unless you’re trying to put on a show for us. You contradict yourself. You drink more often. You flinch when Carson makes a move towards you. You skip a week of classes and no one knows where you disappeared to. I don’t think you’ve realized this yet, but your mask drops when you think no one is watching and you just look exhausted and lonely.”

She’s shaking her head. “Just stop, Ash.” She might be wearing her mask perfectly, but even the black lace can’t hide the tears gathering in her eyes. I know I’m on to something. I lean into her, forcing her to look up at me.

“You miss us. You want us. More than I ever thought you did,” I whisper, my hand coming up to wipe away a tear as it escapes her mask. I push it up to sit on top of her head so I can see her face. She looks broken. Desperate. Her eyes drop to my lips and her tongue runs over the seam of hers. Her thighs clench together and I feel myself hardening at the sign that I’m right. She won’t admit it though. Too stubborn for her own damn good.

“You want me right now, don’t you, Baby?”

She shivers and her eyes get wider, her pupils dilated, and her mouth parts open, no doubt to spill more lies to me. More denials. “Shh,” I cut her off, pressing my finger to her lips. “I saw you after you kissed Elias. Saw the desire and the fear of that need on your face. Saw you run away from what you really wanted. Just like you ran from Zaiden and Hudson after you pushed to touch them, to be touched by them.”

I drop my hands to her hips, entranced by the wild need I can see on her face. Her blue eyes shining up at me with so many emotions I don’t even know what to respond to. “What is it you’re trying to forget? What has made you so needy for their touch?” She sucks in a sharp breath as my fingers find the slits in her dress and begin to caress her thighs. “Are you needy right now, Baby? Need to forget for a little while?”

She nods, almost hypnotized by my touch and words. Fuck. This isn’t how this was supposed to go, I was supposed to stay in control. I berate myself even as I drop to my knees in front of her. “Are you going to lie to me again?” Her body freezes and she gives me no answer, but it’s okay. I have another way to find out. “Your mouth can tell me lies, but your body will always give away the truth.” I lift her dress and bare her lace clad pussy to me.

I groan at the sight of the vibrant red lace. So delicate against her smooth skin. I run my thumb over the lace and swallow as I feel her wet heat through it, the fabric already damp with her need. “Hold your dress for me,” I command in a whisper, my voice coming out far huskier than I’ve ever heard it before. She does as she’s told, widening her legs to make it easier for me and it sends carnal want through me, making my cock ache in my slacks.

I use both hands to grip her thong and slowly pull it down her legs, studying the expanse of her exposed skin as I do. Bruises. Not as many as I had feared, but definite signs of bruises on her thighs that would be hard to explain from just bumping into something. I press my lips against the marred skin, a need to soothe, to comfort, to ease her pain riding me.

Rage pours in to mix with my lust. I’m almost positive that bastard has put his hands on our girl. She whimpers as she steps out of the thong and I ball it up in my fist and put it in my pocket. Everything about this girl is intoxicating, but her scent just might be my new addiction. Her pussy glistens, ready to be touched, begging to be licked.

I shake off my thoughts of Carson and what he’s done to our girl. For now, I’ll make her forget everything but her pleasure. I can’t act too rashly or I could only end up making things worse for her, but this will be the last night she’s on Carson’s arm if I have anything to say about it.

I push my own mask off my face and lean forward and run my tongue up her center. The sound of both our moans mix together to create my new favorite melody. She tastes sweeter than anything I ever could have imagined. I take out my building aggression against her clit, laving it with attention until she’s writhing against my face. Her hands find my hair and she uses her grip to press me closer to her. Fuck. Lifting one of her legs to rest on my shoulder opens her up even more to me and I can feel her dripping down my chin. I shake my head, pressing my tongue harder against her clit as I moan at her taste.

I palm myself through my slacks and give my dick a hard squeeze to try and alleviate some of the pressure building. I can only imagine what Elias would say if he saw us now. Would he join, sandwich her tight body between the two of us and kiss down her neck as I drive my tongue in and out of her cunt? Kiss her deeply, stealing her moans as I use the tip of my tongue to run circles over her clit? Or would he scoff at my lack of self control, call me a hypocrite for being angry with the guys when I fell to my knees for her the very first chance I could?

I might even be the worst out of all of us. She didn’t push me, didn’t entice me, didn’t have to beg for me. I was more than willing to get the truth out of her anyway I could. Even if it meant stealing it from her with an orgasm.

I slide my hand up her thigh, and she bucks her hips against my face in anticipation. Using two fingers, I enter her slowly, careful not to hurt her, but it isn’t necessary. She’s more than ready for the intrusion. I piston my fingers in and out of her, keeping pace with my tongue as I continue to flick it against her clit. Her body tells me exactly what she likes, what she needs more of. It isn’t long before I feel her tightening around my fingers as waves of pleasure wrack through her body. She gushes around me, soaking my hand and face with her release and I growl against her cunt as her body continues to tremble.

“Ash,” she cries out my name and I’ll never stop hearing that sweet moan echo in my ears for as long as I live. Everything about her is perfection.

Her body calms, her legs stop shaking. I help ease her back onto her own feet and steady her as I fix her dress and stand before her, my hands on her hips.

“Tell me you don’t want me, Bri.”

She licks her lips, staring at mine, no doubt noticing her come on them. I let my tongue trail over my lips, tasting her on me once more. She swallows thickly. “I can’t,” she admits in a pained whisper.

“You’re playing a game none of us know about, but you shouldn’t have to do it alone.” I cup her face and run my thumb over the apple of her cheek. Her pupils are blown as she looks up at me. “Please don’t turn your back on me again,” I beg.

Her eyes drop. “I have to, Ash. I just need…” She shakes her head as if her thoughts are running away from her. “I just need a little more time. It's almost ready. Just wait a little longer, it’s all going to make sense.”

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