Tagged & Ashed (The Sterling Shore Series #2) by C.M. Owens

my normal self.
    “I’m not boyfriend material.  It’s just easier to tell girls up front what I can offer, and that’s just it.  After a few ‘dates’ we part ways, usually on friendly terms.  You ready to run away now?”
    Her face gives nothing away, and my breath catches in my throat when she takes far too long to respond.
    “So you just take them to your house, screw them a couple of times, and then send them on their way?” she bluntly asks.
    “Never my house.  I learned a long time ago that some women are crazy.  It’s their house, a hotel, or a car.”
    Why the fuck did I just say that out loud?  Christ.  I need a padlock for my lips.
    She pulls back, and my eyes look up to see Bity snarling at us as he sips his whiskey - alone.
    “I need to go check on Billy.  I’ll catch up with you later,” she says a little distantly.
    This isn’t one of the girls I’m used to dealing with.  She’s the type of girl who can crumble a man - even me.  I don’t know whether to dive in and give it a try, or back off before I hurt her.
    I’ve never cared about what I might do to a girl, but with her, everything is different.
    “You’re mad at me for being honest,” I mumble while catching her hand.
    She looks down at our contact, and then her eyes come back up to meet mine.
    “No, I’m just worried about Billy.  I really will see you later.  You still have a debt to collect,” she says with a forced smile, and with heavy unease, I release her.
    “I don’t expect to collect.  If you want me, you know where to find me.  If you don’t, then at least I got to… well, you know,” I say, making her cheeks flash a red glow.
    “Believe me, I know.”
    She smiles more sincerely before walking off toward the sulking man on the stairs, and I run my fingers through my hair as I watch her without waver.
    All fucking day long I’ve thought about her - not just having sex with her either.  I’ve wanted to talk to her, hold her, lie beside her the way we did last night.  It felt so good to wake up with her in my arms.  It felt even better when she kissed me because she couldn’t resist.
    I just don’t know if I’m ready to be the kind of guy a girl like that expects.  I sure as hell would hate myself if she ever hated me.  Maybe I should just forget about all this and walk away while I can.
    The problem is, I really can’t.
    My eyes finally break away just as she reaches him, and then I see the far lesser creature that is Rene stalking toward me with her devious intentions plainly etched on her face.
     
    ***
    Ashiara
     
    Billy looks disgusted as I walk toward him, and I get a little sick when he looks away, shaking his head.  I can always tell when he’s pissed at me.  I hate it because he never holds back.
    “Hey,” I murmur softly while taking a seat beside him.
    “What?  Tag decide to fuck you later?” he snaps, breathing heavily.
    “Billy, I don’t deserve that.”
    “Don’t you?” he growls while sipping his drink.
    This is even worse than usual, and my eyes lift up to follow his gaze.  Tag is gracefully trying to escape Rene’s clutches, and Billy’s jaw clenches in response.
    “I don’t want you around Tag anymore,” he says in a low, deathly grim whisper.
    “Look, I know what kind of guy he is, but-”
    “But nothing.  Look at that shit.  Rene has been talking about him nonstop since the two of you were here alone today.  Now she’s chasing after him.  I brought you to help me get her, not help raise his stock that much more.  You know how fucking jealous she is of you.”
    Ah .  That hurts like hell.
    “So this isn’t because you’re worried about me getting hurt or played; this is because Rene is some crazy bitch who wants whatever guy she thinks I want?  Really?  I can’t believe you, Billy,” I hiss, though my voice is almost drowned out by the loud orchestra.
    “Ash, look, that’s not-”
    “Yeah, it is.  You’re a piece of shit friend, Billy