เข้าสู่ระบบBut it turned out I wasn’t reading into it at all.
That was exactly what he meant, as he made perfectly clear with his next words: ‘Do it more often.’
I wanted to roll my eyes again.
Could I say no?
Before I could even form a reply, Ashton shifted me off his lap and back onto my feet, his expression utterly matter-of-fact. ‘I know you’re eager, but whatever you have in mind will have to wait until we get home. Doing that sort of thing in the office looks unprofessional. Let’s eat first.’
His words made me burn with a mix of embarrassment and anger. ‘What do you mean, eager? What exactly am I being eager for?’
‘What do you think?’ Ashton raised an eyebrow, his expression loaded with meaning. ‘Last night, a certain someone complained I was too demanding. And yet, after less than three hours apart, here you are, chasing me to the office, dressed like that.’
My
But it turned out I wasn’t reading into it at all.That was exactly what he meant, as he made perfectly clear with his next words: ‘Do it more often.’I wanted to roll my eyes again.Could I say no?Before I could even form a reply, Ashton shifted me off his lap and back onto my feet, his expression utterly matter-of-fact. ‘I know you’re eager, but whatever you have in mind will have to wait until we get home. Doing that sort of thing in the office looks unprofessional. Let’s eat first.’His words made me burn with a mix of embarrassment and anger. ‘What do you mean, eager? What exactly am I being eager for?’‘What do you think?’ Ashton raised an eyebrow, his expression loaded with meaning. ‘Last night, a certain someone complained I was too demanding. And yet, after less than three hours apart, here you are, chasing me to the office, dressed like that.’My
I twisted my head to glare at him. ‘What else could you possibly want? The answer is no.’Who said I wasn’t tired? I was exhausted. I was only trying to leave to save myself from another round.‘What are you thinking?’ he asked, a fake innocence in his tone. ‘I just meant, if you’re tired, let me give you a massage.’ His hands settled on my waist, his thumbs pressing in with a firm, soothing rhythm.It felt surprisingly good.I wasn’t sure I trusted him, but after a minute of him just working the knots from my muscles, I relaxed and closed my eyes. Why shouldn’t I enjoy this? I was the one who’d been worn out.I’d forgotten a fundamental rule: never trust a man’s promises.Because Ashton’s massage slowly began to change. His hands drifted from my waist, his touch shifting from therapeutic to something else entirely, sliding lower.My eyes flew open. Be
His arm snaked around my waist, and in one smooth motion, he spun me around and pulled me back against his chest. My spine pressed flush against him, and I could feel the startling heat of his skin through our clothes. It was like fire, and it quickly began to burn away my own resistance.Was it the pregnancy making me feel this horny? My body was definitely telling me it wanted him, even if my head was still fighting it.‘I’d planned on the bedroom,’ he murmured, his voice low by my ear. ‘But if you prefer the bathroom, I’m happy to accommodate you.’‘I don’t prefer it! You’re the one who likes this, don’t put that on me.’Ashton nodded, utterly serious. ‘You’re right. I do like it. We haven’t tried the bathroom before.’‘I don’t want to! Let me out.’ I started to struggle in earnest, forgetting how dangerous that could be with a man already
Ashton pulled a stunning blue crystal from his pocket and dropped it into my palm.‘It’s a powerful anaesthetic. If you’re ever in trouble, use this. One drop will put most people on the floor.’I looked at the small blue vial. It was clear and glittering, looking more like a piece of fancy jewellery than anything else.‘The case is pliable. When it’s empty, you can take it apart and put it back together as a blade.’ He pulled another empty blue bottle from his pocket.He pried the empty one apart and slotted the pieces together into a thin, transparent dagger. It was so beautiful my hand moved to touch it on instinct. But his fingers closed around my wrist before I could.‘It’s razor sharp. You’ll cut yourself.’He dragged the tip lightly across the glass coffee table, and it left a deep scratch.A cold shock went through me. Hell, that could have been my finger. I sta
I studied her.After everything Ashton had done to her, how could she still believe she had a chance? Even back in my high school days, when my infatuation with Rhys was at its peak, I would have turned against him instantly if he’d tried to make me sleep with another man pretending to be him.Yet here was Genevieve, confronted with my marriage to Ashton and my carrying his child, still utterly convinced she would win him over one day.Was she that arrogant, or just profoundly delusional?‘I want you to leave.’ My hand hovered over the call button.‘Wait! Don’t you want to know why Ashton has always protected me?’My hand stilled. That question had been a thorn in my side for a long time, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of knowing it bothered me.Genevieve leaned forward. ‘I’ll tell you. My brother died for Ashton. Ash gave his word that he would take care of me.’
Rhys and Frank were in this together. They were the ones who had me kidnapped. Frank wanted the money, and Rhys wanted me.Their plan was to snatch me, rough me up just enough, then have Rhys swoop in as the hero. Frank’s men would stage a chase, forcing Rhys and me into hiding. They were betting that if I spent enough time alone with him, scared and vulnerable, I’d eventually fall for him.Once that happened, the plan was for Rhys to get me pregnant. I’d have to marry him then, and as my husband, he’d have a legal claim to my inheritance.Then, an ‘unfortunate accident’ would be arranged. After my death, Rhys, the grieving widower, would conveniently bump into Frank. Feeling responsible for his late wife’s father, he’d generously grant him a portion of my fortune.The whole scheme was mapped out over two or three years, starting with the kidnapping and ending with my death after I’d given birth.







