Indulgence (40 page)

Swirling my thumb on her hot little wad of nerves and biting
down on her nipple had her arching and screaming out her release. I held my
other hand over her mouth to muffle the sound as best I could. She bit my hand
but I held on, pumping into her roughly, extending her pleasure and finding my
own.

“I love fucking you,” I whispered through clenched teeth.

A few more thrusts and I was coming into her hot tunnel. Her
legs held tight around my waist pulling at my body. It was a good five minutes
of taking huge gasping breaths before we both calmed.

“Jesus, Hank. You undo me,” she whispered, placing light
kisses along my neck and face.

“Good. I want to be the only one who does. You got that?” I
rubbed my softening dick against her. “Only me from now on.” I punctuated with
a thrust and a deep kiss, fucking her with my mouth as my lower half relaxed.

She kissed me and tugged on my body. “Keep that up, Angel,
and I’ll be fucking you again.” My dick was already getting hard within her.
That’s how much this woman affected me. Once wasn’t nearly enough.

“You’re crazy, you know that?” She laughed and pushed me
away. My cock slipped out of her along with a gush of our combined fluids.

“Crazy ‘bout you, Darlin’.” I grinned while buttoning up my
shirt, then fixed my tie.

She cleaned herself up and put herself back together sans
panties. Those were in my pocket for safe keeping. I had a duffle bag full of
these ripped pieces of lace. Her hair was a lost cause though.

Aspen inspected herself in the bathroom mirror. Long fingers
tugged through her sex-hair. “Oliver’s going to be pissed that you pulled my
hair down.”

“I don’t give a shit what he thinks. I’ll sick Dean on ‘em.”

“You really like Dean?” she asked. Her fingers ran through
her golden hair. It still looked perfect to me. Then again, everything about
her did.

“I do. He’s a good guy. Man’s man, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it. You have more in common with Dean than with
Oliver. I’m glad you’ve made a new friend. I think you’d really like Tripp,
too. He’s a mix between a manly man and a chick. You never really know either
way. One moment he’s kissing a woman, the next he’s taking it in the ass from a
hot male model.”

“Whoa, Angel, too much info. Jeez. You gotta keep that shit
to yourself,” I told her, smiling wickedly and squeezing her ass.

We exited the bathroom and went back to our group. Food had
been served and there were two plates sitting at our table. After the bathroom
acrobatics, I was starving and the pain in my shoulder was thrumming. Nothing
another beer wouldn’t fix. ’Sides, I’d gladly take a little pain for a lot of
Aspen.

“You had to fuck with her hair, didn’t you, Hank? Damn it!
That took me forever to get just right.” Oliver pouted and gave me the evil
eye.

“I’d say I was sorry, but we both know I’d be lying, so I
won’t. Had to be done.” I told him as I pulled out Aspen’s chair for her to
sit.

Dean, London, and Tripp laughed so loud other tables were
staring.

“It had to be done or she had to be done,” he quipped. Oh,
my Buddy wanted to play. Yeah, I was definitely warming to the fella.

“Both,” I grinned and he gave me a fish face.

“I’ll take note that you prefer her hair be down when you’re
going to go all macho on her.” He harrumphed and took a sip of his wine.

“Are you kidding? Aspen, tell him it was you who attacked
me!” I clasped my beer and chugged the entire thing down smiling like a loon.

“Shut the hell up, Ollie.” Aspen pinched Oliver in the
shoulder.

“Ouch!” He moved closer to Dean and out of her reach.

“Such language, Aspen. You realize who’s here tonight. You
should be minding your manners,” said the cool voice of Aspen’s mother from
behind her.

“Oh, Mother. Not everyone is as perfect as you are.” Aspen
downed the rest of her wine and held the glass out to me. “Another, please.”

I jumped up, not wanting to participate in a battle of words
with Aspen and her mother. I wanted to take my angel home and fuck her until
morning, and then start all over again. Fighting with her about her mother was
not going to fit into that plan.

Dean and Tripp followed me to the bar.

“God, that woman is insufferable.” Tripp was the first to
break the silence.

“I’ve never understood why she was such a bitch to Aspen.
Out of the three children, Aspen is by far the most successful. You’d think
she’d be singing her praises, but instead she finds every opportunity to prod
her.” Dean jumped into the first seat on the Hate Aspen’s Mother train.

I just let the two men vent, listening intently to their
opinions on the mother-daughter dynamic.

“Oh great, and then the party takes a complete nose dive,”
Dean gestured over to Aspen. A nice-lookin’ fella in a suit was standing next
to my angel. His hand was on her shoulder, his thumb creeping along her bare
neck. I could see her visibly shrink back.

Oh, hell no.
I saw only red.

I made my way through the crowd coming up behind Aspen. With
my good arm I flicked the man’s hand off Aspen and circled her waist with my
hands possessively. I pulled her tight against my front. She leaned against me
willingly. Kissing the soft flesh of her neck where the man had touched her
gave the added oomph I needed to make the man’s eyes widen in shock.

“I missed you, Angel.” I kissed her neck once more.

Her mother’s eyes were blistering with anger as she took in
our comfortable body language. Instead of letting her go, I reached out my hand
to the space invader. “Hank Jensen. And you are … ?”

The man’s composure turned from shock to perfectly composed
in mere seconds. “Grant. Grant Campbell, I’m Aspen’s—”

“Business partner on Bright Magazine,” Aspen completed his
sentence. I knew who the fucker was and I already hated him with a passion. He
had hurt her not once, but twice. That alone was worthy of a beat-down, but his
smug “I’m better than you” tone was a close second contender. Though at that
moment, I wanted to hurt him just for shits and giggles.

“So who are you to Aspen, Mr. Jensen?” the man asked a sneer
twisting his lips.

“I’m the boyfriend.”

My eyes must have been the size of baby elephants. Hank just
announced in no uncertain terms that he was my boyfriend.
Holy shit!
Grant’s reaction almost matched my mother’s horrified expression, except hers
was delivered with a gasp. Next time she’d think pretty hard about inviting my
house guests to her events in the future.

“I can’t help but say that I’m surprised to hear such news.”
Grant was always good under pressure, but his jaw was his tell. He had a tick
and a small vein that ran up his neck that proved his anger.

Something about the way he said he was surprised made my own
jaw twitch. “And why’s that? It took no time at all for you to choose a new
flavor of the month.”

Grants mouth twisted into a scowl. That’s right buddy, suck
on that. I held Grant’s gaze as his eyes shone bright with fire.

Hank’s arms squeezed my waist. “Hank, are you ready to go
home?” I asked over my shoulder. One of his hands met the tender skin at the
nape of my neck, really sealing the deal of his possession. I still wasn’t sure
if he’d claimed boyfriend status to help me save face in front of Grant, or
because he’d genuinely meant it. One way or the other, we would discuss it.
First, I needed to get away from Grant and Mommy Dearest.

“You live together?” Grant snorted in disgust.

“You got a problem with that, pretty boy?” I didn’t like the
sound of that. Hank physically moved me to the side; Dean placed an arm around
my waist.

“What makes you think you have any right to her? You’ve
known her what? All of two weeks?” Grant hedged. Hank stopped dead in his
tracks. Grant knew he had the upper hand and continued to press his luck by
coming closer to Hank’s face. “You’re just a convenient fuck to her. She
spreads those legs nice and pretty, doesn’t she?” Hank gritted his teeth, his
hands turning to fists. The tendons in his strong hands popped out and showed
white as he clenched them. I stared in horror completely taken aback by Grant’s
harsh words.

His eyes were cold and his lips curled into a snarl. “What
are you going to give a woman like Aspen? Or maybe it’s not about what you can
give her, but about what she can give you—with her mouth and her money.”

Oh no. This is not good.

“I’m sorry, Angel. But he had it comin’.” Hank said as he
pulled back and decked Grant in the jaw. Hard. I think I heard Grant’s jaw
crack at the blow. The man fell back and was knocked out cold, barely missing
the pool’s edge by an inch. My mother jumped to Grant’s aid, but knowing full
well the power behind Hank, the man may have a concussion. He’d need a doctor.

“You barbarian!” my mother shouted.

“Jesus, Hank! What the hell were you thinking?” I covered my
face in my hands.

Even if Grant deserved it and the nice fat bruised face to
go with it, this reaction was completely undignified. The President of the
United States was sitting at a table just behind us, body guards off to the
side, ready to jump in if the situation worsened. So many of the cities elite
were watching the show, all aware that Aspen Reynolds ex, the Senator’s son,
was decked by her date.

This night started out so perfectly. Had me believing in the
possibility of something more for Hank and me. This spectacle just proved how
different we were.

Out of nowhere, my father joined the group. He clasped Hank
on the shoulder and I thought for sure he was going to escort him out. Instead,
he jerked out his hand and gripped Hank’s in a firm handshake. “Hank, it seems
I owe you again. Rumor was that jerk broke my baby girl’s heart some time ago
by being unfaithful to her. I think you have honor and know how to treat a
lady.”

“I’d never stray from Aspen, sir. You have my word.” Hank’s
smile melted my heart a little. “I’m sorry about causing a scene at your party
Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds. I’d understand if you want me to leave.” God, Hank was
such a kind and caring man. He was also possessive, ornery, reactionary and
completely untamable. A life with him would include more occurrences like this.

“Are you kidding? I’d been hoping someone would shake up the
party! Let’s have a drink together, son.”
Son.
My dad was falling for
Hank’s charm and charisma. It was really hard not to. There was just something
so special about him.

Hank turned around to me, his gaze searing mine. There was
such sadness and apology in his now bright-green eyes that I physically
couldn’t move, caught once again under his cowboy spell. His eyes also held
adoration, fear that I was angry, and something else. Something I was not yet
ready to even attempt to decipher. I couldn’t help but smile at his beautiful
rugged face, a shadow of hair darkening the skin around his jaw.

“Angel?”

“Go, Hank. It’s okay. We’ll talk later.”

He pulled me against his chest and rested his forehead
against mine. “Tell me we’re okay?” he whispered against my lips. Tears pooled
at my eyes. I’d never had a man care so much, worry about what I was thinking
and feeling.

I nodded against him and he kissed me in front of the entire
party. It wasn’t a heated kiss at first, but it held so much promise. His hands
twined into my hair, gripping me at the nape as he kissed me with more intent.
I pulled away first, knowing that if I didn’t, we’d both be lost to the
sensation. The two of us pressed together was a heady mixture that intoxicated
us both beyond reason.

He stepped out of my arms and gestured to Oliver. “I like
the hair down,” he said, with a sexy grit to his voice. I laughed out loud.

“I see that, Macho Man,” Oliver snapped with the slightest
hint of mirth in his tone.

I looked over at my father, who had the biggest grin on his
face I’d ever seen. He looked utterly thrilled. My mother looked like she’d
eaten something raunchy. My inner bitch was hooting and hollering in the
background, lifting a trophy above her head proudly.

Even though I didn’t approve of Hank’s approach, Grant did
have it coming. The things he’d said were vile. I’d only wished Hank was able
to control himself at a social event. If we were going to consider being an
official couple, he’d be attending countless charity events and galas. It was
just part of my world.

Even as we spoke there were photographers quietly snapping
pictures from a distance, their giant camera lenses pointed at Grant’s sprawled
form. Hank didn’t understand what this would amount to. I’m certain that the
second Grant came to, he’d contact his lawyers.

“Ollie, call Legal.”

He flipped out his phone and snapped some pictures of Grant
lying on the ground. He then typed quickly into the keyboard and started
talking. He’d take care of the repercussions, though it was going to cost me a
pretty penny. There was no doubt Grant would want to make me pay.

“Jeez, Pen, if I knew you’d be this much fun at parties I’d
have invited you to more of mine,” London laughed. Tripp gave her a dirty look
but silently agreed with her by way of nodding.

Dean came over to me and pulled me into a hug. He spoke
softly into my ear, “He means well, you know that right? He wouldn’t have done
it if he hadn’t been provoked and your honor at stake.” I closed my eyes and
breathed in Dean’s sweet-smelling cologne. It matched Oliver’s. “Don’t break
his heart, Pen. He’s more fragile than he looks.”

I pulled back and Dean’s eyes held no accusation, nothing in
those pearly blues but concern. “You think
I’m
going to hurt
him
?”

“You’re easy to love. My Oliver is hopelessly in love with
you.” I opened my mouth to object. “He is in love with you. He’d do anything
for you, as would I by extension of his love. You’re just lucky I’m willing to
share.” I nodded, realizing that this was by far the most honest Dean had ever
been with his emotions and affections in all the years he’d been with Oliver.