Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
No sense in keeping her out of here. She’s seen Michelle’s picture, which was really the only private thing in this space.
I don’t feel the need to let her know I’m capitulating on the weekend demands, feeling she’s smart enough to understand that since I just opened my personal office up to her cleaning schedule.
As I walk past her to exit, she asks, “Do you need me at the club tonight?”
Fuck, I need her right now, but I shake my head, determined to put some distance back between us. Giving into my needs means giving up control. “Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow.”
Yes, I need distance. It will help me get over the fact I feel like a fool for demanding time with her this weekend, just so I could win a battle with her. I feel like a fucking fool, of course, because she won that battle fair and square.
CHAPTER 12
Hannah
Nothing can stop my hand from shaking as I unlock the door to Asher’s apartment this morning. It’s not because I’m still unsure of my job standing, especially after our showdown yesterday. I stood my ground on the need for free weekends, and he respected it after I explained it was because of my daughter.
Thus, I am confident I still have a job.
The reason I’m shaking is because I wonder what type of job I now have. It’s clear he still wants me to clean for him, but I have no clue if he still wants me.
Why this is bothering me is slightly perplexing, and I’ve tried to break it down into something cognizable.
Asher did not want me last night. He knew he could have me at his whim and leisure, yet he declined. It could be that he doesn’t want me like that anymore, but perhaps still feels bound to keep me on the payroll. In fact, it even makes sense he didn’t want me at the club with him last night because he intended to avail himself of the multitude of women there who would drop to their knees for him. I’ve seen them before, and I’ve tried to ignore their hateful glares that I was with him and they were not.
The part that’s causing me a whole lot of grief and uncertainty is that I seem to be feeling a little unwanted. While I don’t have any aspirations of having Asher’s affections, I think I’ve gotten way too used to having his physical attentions. In just a brief period, he has me looking at sex in a completely different way.
Hell, he has me wanting sex like I’ve never wanted it before.
I’m slightly ashamed that I’ve come to like this part of my job so much, since I still have a slight disgust in myself that I might as well be a paid whore, but I push that aside. In the end, whether I enjoy what Asher does to me or not, he is paying me very well and that will help me get Hope back.
I guess that’s all that matters, so I need to be grateful for this opportunity and leave the sex out of it.
The apartment is quiet like it normally is, and I’m slightly disappointed Asher’s not coming out of his office to surprise me. With a sigh, I close the door and put down the pot I’d carried in on the marble stand in the foyer. It’s blue ceramic and holds yellow mums.
It’s a pathetic attempt to replace the Chihuly, which was done in blues and golds. While there’s obvious disparity in the value of the two items, I think his apartment is sad in its stark colors of black and white. The Chihuly was the only real color around, and I wonder why he bought it. It’s so out of character with his monochromatic tastes.
I put my purse and keys on the foyer table before heading into the kitchen. It takes me all of ten minutes to wipe down the already-pristine granite countertops and wash Asher’s morning coffee cup. I grab the dust rag and polish, heading back to the master suite.
Just as I’m crossing the threshold, Asher strolls out of the master bath with a thick white towel around his hips and his glossy black hair wet from the shower. Add in his contoured muscles and honey-gold skin, and it’s all I can do not to sigh in satisfaction.
Ignoring the slight watering in my mouth, I exclaim, “Oh, God… I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were still here.”
I even avert my eyes; otherwise, I’d be overtly ogling his half-naked body.
Asher chuckles with dark amusement. Before I can react, his wet towel is smacking me in the chest.
I grab at it, my head popping up. He’s grinning, totally relaxed in his nudity.
“Why so shy, Hannah?” His voice is sexy. Taunting, even. “You’ve seen me naked before.”