“You don’t know,” I cut her off. “You have no fucking idea how hard it’s gonna be to watch you walk away from me.”

“I do know,” she whispered. “We’re ruined.”

No truer words had ever been spoken.

“Yeah, baby, we are.”

I pulled out and rolled to the side, angry as fuck I’d given in.

My eyes greedily swept over her naked body before I leaned over and kissed her forehead, then exited the bed and walked across the room.

“Asher,” she called.

“Yeah?”

“I take it back,” she said to my back. “I’m not sorry. You might be but I’d rather have what we shared just once than never have it all.”

I remained frozen. Sloane however did not. I heard her footsteps approach and I braced for a touch that never came. Though the sight of her in my tee as she walked past me into the bathroom was just as, if not more, effective.

Fucking hell, I was screwed.

18

I was still in Asher’s shirt when I walked out into the living room. I’d given myself a pep talk while I cleaned up. Well, it was actually a suck-it-up-and-be-a-big-girl talk. And part of that talk was to remind myself I was a grown-ass woman, and it was perfectly acceptable for me to have sex and it did not make me a slut—even if the other occupants, who happen to be men heard. Another part of my talk was to prepare myself for any looks or comments directed at me by Wilson or Cole. And the final part was to resign myself to the fact I needed Asher’s protection and I wasn’t going to argue. So, it wasn’t so much of a talk as it was a short chat.

I’d spent the rest of the time mildly annoyed that I had finally experienced ten out of ten sex and Asher ruined it by bringing up what happened at the club. I knew we needed to discuss it, but he’d screwed up my afterglow. Something I’d never experienced and was luxuriating in until he started talking.

Cole lifted his gaze from his laptop when I entered the dining room. After careful consideration, I decided he wasn’t looking at me any differently than he did before Asher got home.

“So, you think they’ll wait?” I heard Wilson ask. I’d obviously come in on the middle of a conversation so I waited to see who he was speaking to.

“I think Lorenzo’s a fucking idiot and Will isn’t too far behind,” Asher replied.

“That’s not an answer.”

“It might not be the answer you want but the truth will piss you off more so it’s the only one I’m gonna give you.”

“You don’t care—”

“Oh, I fucking care,” Asher interrupted. “I want Will Evans put down. I want Lorenzo’s ass in jail and I want to find and rescue the girls they have. I want Elise found. And I want Samantha Price clear of the club. But right now, my concern is getting Sloane safe. After that, I’ll come back.”