Movement from the second floor caught his attention, and he looked up to see Jase helping Ashlynn down the stairs. That was his cue to get back to work. Leyton had asked him to escort them to the penthouse, so he had to take his leave.
But before he did, he looked over at the angel in white and smiled. “Don’t go anywhere,” he growled.
A small smile tilted her pretty pink mouth, making her eyes crinkle slightly. “I’m not usually good at taking orders,” she said in that sexy rasp of hers.
Ah, hell. His dick twitched.
Seeing that Jase and Ashlynn had made it to the bottom of the stairs, he knew he had to go, but he leaned in once before he walked away. “You’ve never had orders from the right man, then.”
With that, he left her staring after him, that beautiful smile on her mouth. And while he made his way across the crowded dance floor, he prayed like hell she’d be there when he got back. And maybe then he’d be smart enough to get her name.
Chapter Twelve
Fucking hell.
Jase knew after her second drink that Ashlynn was wrestling with her demons tonight. He should’ve cut her off before now, but two hours, five mojitos later, she was fit to be tied, ready to take down anyone and everyone around her. It had actually been a blessing that Leyton had summoned her, because convincing her that the people in the club weren’t out to get her was beginning to get old.
No one said Ashlynn didn’t have any flaws. The woman had lived a brutal life, having endured a hell that most people didn’t even know existed. And while she attempted to numb the pain with booze and sex, Jase knew, beneath it all, there was a vulnerable woman who needed someone to take care of her. He had easily stepped into that role, and it wasn’t a hardship, because during the time they’d been together, Jase had fallen in love with her, even though he knew she didn’t feel the same for him.
Not entirely, anyway.
Yeah, he got the impression she cared about him. She wouldn’t allow him to sleep in her bed if she didn’t. But as far as loving him, he wasn’t sure Ashlynn Adorite was capable of love.
Then again, he’d thought the same thing about Max, and the man was now married, so what the hell did he know?
Helping Ashlynn out of the elevator on the top floor of the building that connected to Devil’s Playground, Jase nodded at Sal, who was standing guard, watching the monitors outside the penthouse suite that Max owned.
“Let him know we’re here,” Jase instructed.
“He knows,” Sal told him. “He said for you both to go in.”
Jase was surprised that Leyton was inviting him inside as well. Ashlynn he understood, but him… They hadn’t said a single word to one another since Jase had walked out of Max’s office on Sunday. No matter how many times he replayed their conversation in his head, Jase couldn’t help but think he’d fucked up. That he’d pushed Leyton too far. It didn’t seem to matter that he couldn’t see it happening any other way than how it had.
Opening the door, Jase held Ashlynn steady on her feet. She wasn’t belligerent anymore, thank Christ, but the alcohol had definitely dulled her senses, and she was leaning into him.
“You got her drunk?” Leyton growled when they stepped inside the penthouse, the door closing behind them.
“Yes,” Jase snapped. “I got her drunk.”
“He doesn’t tell me what I can and can’t do,” Ashlynn slurred. “I got myself drunk, thank you very fucking much.”
Jase watched Leyton. The man was studying Ashlynn as though trying to figure her out. He could’ve told him that wasn’t possible. The woman was an enigma, and he never knew what to expect from her. Like tonight. They’d had dinner at the house with the rest of Ashlynn’s security team, but then, when he thought she would retreat for the evening, she’d somehow convinced him to bring her to Devil’s Playground.
“Why’d you summon us here?” Ashlynn asked, pulling away from Jase as she moved over to the window that overlooked downtown Dallas. “Are you finally ready to give in to your dark side?”
Leyton shook his head as though trying to dislodge his brain. Jase understood what he was going through. More often than not, he felt lost, but that was because he found himself in awe of Ashlynn most of the time.
“I don’t have a dark side,” Leyton stated.
Ashlynn laughed without mirth. “Tell me you don’t really believe that shit.”
Jase couldn’t hide his smile.
“Drink?” Leyton asked him.
Jase declined with a shake of his head. He had to get Ashlynn home in one piece, and since she was three sheets to the wind, he had to remain sober.
“Quit stalling,” Ashlynn demanded, turning around and glaring at Leyton. “You’ve got ten seconds before I get naked.”
Okay, that wasn’t what he’d expected her to say, and clearly Leyton was just as surprised as he was.
Once again, Leyton shook his head. Jase had spent the last couple of hours with Ashlynn, so, honestly, at this point, nothing out of her mouth should surprise him.
“Sit,” Leyton encouraged. When Ashlynn narrowed her eyes at him, he added, “Please.”
Jase took a seat on one of the leather sofas.
“We need to talk about … whatever the two of you seem to be after.”
Wow. Jase was surprised Leyton was so straightforward. He’d actually expected the guy to hem and haw before getting down to the reason they’d been called there.
That got Ashlynn’s attention as well. “I was thinkin’ we needed to chat about your voyeuristic tendencies. They’re gettin’ a little outta hand, if you wanna know the truth.” Ashlynn didn’t bother to sit. She crossed her arms over her chest, making her breasts swell over the top of her strapless dress. If Jase had to guess, she didn’t have anything on beneath that skimpy black dress.
“The same could be said about your public exhibitionism,” Leyton countered, carrying a tumbler of scotch with him when he took a seat on the sofa across from Jase.
“Is that what it’s called when I like to fuck in public?”
Jase knew she was simply being crass, but he watched the interaction between the pair. It was quite possibly the highlight of his evening.
“Ashlynn…” Leyton sounded as though he wanted to reprimand her, but he stopped.
“So, which of us has the problem?” she probed. “You for wanting to watch me fuck Jase, or me for wanting you to watch?”
Leyton’s eyes widened slightly, clearly shocked by her blunt question.
“Do you wanna watch now?” Ashlynn moved toward Jase. “Is that why you beckoned us up here?”
Leyton cleared his throat.
“I think that’s a yes.” Ashlynn smiled at Jase as she stopped directly in front of him.
“That’s not—”
Leyton didn’t get the words out before Ashlynn lifted the hem of her dress, baring her ass for Leyton and giving Jase a remarkable view of her waxed pussy. He’d been right, she didn’t have a stitch on beneath that tiny bit of cloth that had covered the bare necessities.
His mouth suddenly watered with the need to taste her.
She turned to face Leyton, and Jase peered around her to see Leyton’s face. As Jase’s had, Leyton’s eyes slid right to the apex of her thighs.
“You like what you see?” she taunted.
“That’s not it,” Leyton acknowledged, his words raspy, his cock tenting his slacks.
Jase knew then that this was a bad idea. If Leyton thought he’d had any control whatsoever over Ashlynn, she was about to prove him wrong, and Jase was going to have a front-row seat.
Things heated up more when Ashlynn pushed the top of her dress down, freeing her breasts. Jase didn’t bother to move when she eased down onto his lap, still facing Leyton. She leaned back against him, spreading her legs wide while Leyton continued to eye her.
His dick hardened beneath her ass and throbbed as she ground against him while getting situated.