“You think he likes watchin’?” Jase asked, the question clearly rhetorical as well as loud enough for Leyton to hear. “Or does he wanna join us? I can imagine my dick in his mouth…” Jase trailed off, groaning as his grip tightened in her hair. She knew how much Jase wanted Leyton and how much he was holding back because of it.

Ignoring Leyton but enjoying the fact that he was still there, Ashlynn focused all of her attention on Jase. Within seconds, his hips stopped pumping, a deep growl rumbling in his chest as he came in her mouth. She hummed her approval.

“Swallow,” he ordered, making her pussy spasm with the need to be filled.

She swallowed every last drop, and when Jase helped her back to her feet, he lifted her skirt and maneuvered his fingers back into her panties, thrusting two fingers inside her.

“Oh, God, yes,” she hissed quietly.

“You like when I fuck you with my fingers.”

She preferred his dick, sure, but it hadn’t been a question, she noticed. Which was why she didn’t bother to answer. Jase kissed her, his tongue plunging into her mouth as he penetrated her deeply, his fingers thrusting and retreating until she was gasping and clawing at his shoulders.

“Come for me, Ash. Come on my hand.”

Closing her eyes, she gave herself over to the pleasure, letting her body take over until she couldn’t hold back.

“Aww, yeah,” Jase mumbled. “So sweet. I love watchin’ you come.”

When she opened her eyes, a quick peek down the hall told her they were alone again.

“Don’t worry,” Jase whispered, tilting her chin up before placing a kiss on her lips. “He’ll come around soon enough.”

Ashlynn wanted to believe that. She really did.

But Ashlynn knew something Jase didn’t.

Leyton was as loyal as they came. He owed his life to Max, and therein lay the problem. She got the sneaking suspicion that Leyton’s willpower was reinforced by her brother’s direction for Leyton to stay away from her. Which was the only reason Ashlynn hadn’t confronted Leyton directly. She respected Max. He was her brother, and no matter how much she wanted something, there was no way she would defy him.

Leyton’s wasn’t the only life Max had saved over the years. She owed him as well.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t willing to push and see how far she could get.

Chapter Seven

Talkin’ out your ass, are you?

After getting Ashlynn a drink and walking her back to the veranda to mingle with her family once more, Jase resumed his post, keeping an eye on her from close by but not too close. Unlike a few minutes ago in the hallway when she had…

Damn, the woman’s mouth should be categorized as a lethal weapon. No matter the time or place, she continued to blow his mind. Ashlynn was by far the most sexual creature he’d ever met. There wasn’t a time or place she wasn’t willing to go at it. And when it came to sex, she had no limits. None. Her carnal desires matched his own, though he knew there was still something missing for both of them.

For Ashlynn, her sexual cravings were vast and intense, as were his. However, there were times when he knew she needed something more than he could even offer. In the same regard, he needed something she wasn’t equipped to provide. And that something was a desire that most people wouldn’t understand. They’d openly discussed what it meant for her to crave the touch of two men, as well as what it meant for him to be bisexual, needing a man as much as a woman for true completion. Something he’d yet to find other than in a purely physical regard.

Suffice it to say, neither of them were completely satisfied, but they were working on that.

But now wasn’t the time to think about their idiosyncrasies, and this certainly wasn’t the place to let his fantasies run wild, though he was tempted. He needed to keep some space between him and Ashlynn. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be closer to her, but he had a better view when he kept at a safe distance. For five years, Ashlynn had entrusted him with her safety. His job was to watch her back, and he took that seriously. Even with at least five enforcers surrounding each member of the Adorite family—with the exception of Aidan, who had refused protection—at any given time, Jase still trusted few with Ashlynn’s safety. And these days, with the rumors going around about a rival crime family looking to move into the Adorites’ territory, it was imperative they keep their eyes open.

“Your job is to protect her.” The angry growl came from over his right shoulder.

Jase smiled. He’d just been thinking the same thing. “Exactly,” he agreed, keeping his voice low, not bothering to look directly at Leyton.

“Not an easy feat when your dick’s buried in her mouth.”

“Jealous?”

Jase had always known there would come a time when Leyton would confront him about his relationship with Ashlynn. He’d actually been waiting for the day. For the past year, he and Ashlynn hadn’t tried to hide their intimate involvement. And this was the very conversation he’d been expecting. Not that it was appropriate, considering Jase worked for Ashlynn and not Leyton, but he got it. Above all else, his job was to protect her. With his life. And he prided himself on his ability to do so. After all, he would lay down his own life for Ashlynn. She meant that much to him and not merely as a paycheck.

“You’re getting too close to her,” Leyton said, his voice low, angry.

“Says you. She doesn’t seem to think so.”

A lengthy pause ensued, the tension wrapping around Jase and threatening to choke him.

“Inside. Right. Fucking. Now,” Leyton ordered gruffly, his attempt at keeping his voice low failing.

Leyton stormed off, but several people, including Ashlynn, had heard his command. She turned to look at Jase, a question in her eyes. He shook his head, silently telling her not to worry, and then followed Leyton inside Max’s house. Clearly pissed, Leyton was waiting for him outside Max’s office, so Jase marched toward him, making sure Leyton saw his anger as well. He could endure quite a bit of shit, but being snapped at by a man he didn’t work for only pissed him off.

The door closed instantly behind him, and the next thing Jase knew, he was being jerked backward. At the first touch, instinct kicked in. He grabbed the hand on his shoulder, twisted, wrenching Leyton’s arm behind his back before slamming him against the wall, chest first. Leyton was only a couple of inches taller than Jase, but Jase was broader, and he had a significant amount of training that most people didn’t realize. Leyton knew, though, so his reaction had been fueled by emotion, which was how Jase had gotten the jump on him.

“Don’t do that shit,” Jase warned, instantly letting go and shoving away from him.

Leyton spun around, damn near slamming into Jase once again.

What the fuck?

“You think this is all fun and games?” Leyton roared, gripping Jase by the front of his shirt, jerking him forward until their noses were only centimeters apart.

A deep throb started in his groin, his cock thickening as their bodies collided. Jase inhaled sharply, stunned by his body’s immediate reaction to Leyton. Sure, he’d been aware of his attraction to the man, but he hadn’t anticipated how much.

“Depends on what you’re referrin’ to,” Jase taunted, trying to keep his voice steady.

“You know damn well what I’m talkin’ about.” Leyton’s voice held the same desperate edge that Jase felt. “You can’t protect her when you’re more worried about gettin’ off.”

“I’ve never failed her yet,” Jase countered, his voice dense with annoyance as he stared into Leyton’s bright green eyes. He knew the words would hit hard, because Leyton held himself responsible for Max being shot several months ago by the crazy bitch who’d almost convinced Max to marry her. Leyton had been there that night, and Max had nearly died.