Chapter 20: 20.

t’s cute as fuck to hear her add to the total I owe her every time she nearly falls. I’m already out forty-eight hundred and we’ve barely made it inside the club Nate wanted to meet at. With

people now watching, Ash clings to me tighter and focuses harder on staying upright. “They have a VIP booth,” I say over the music. “This way.”

I guide her over to the table, catching her before she busts her ass and costs me a grand. She shoots me a murderous expression that has me chuckling. As soon as Nate and Perry look our way, possessiveness tightens its grip on me.

She’s hot.

I know this.

I just don’t like seeing the fact that they know this too.

“Nate, Perry,” I greet, nodding at them both. “This is my new assistant, Ash Elliott.” Perry grins at her and pats the spot next to him. “Nice to meet you. Sit. I won’t bite.”

He won’t bite because I’d rip his teeth out one by one if he even tried. Rather than threaten my baby brother, I steel my features and assist Ash into the booth. Nate watches with amusement gleaming in his eyes. Once she’s seated, I scoot in beside her.

“I ordered a round,” Nate says as the waitress drops off four beers and eight shots.

I knock back my first shot, eager to numb some of this jealous rage burning inside me. The alcohol calms me, and I gulp down my other shot right after. When I glance up, Nate is smirking at me. Fucking prick.

“So we’re both newbies,” Perry says to Ash. “We both have to work for this tyrant.” She laughs. A genuine laugh. For my brother.

“At least he pays well,” she replies, flashing me a saucy grin that makes my dick harden instantly.

Perry starts asking her a million questions about her age and where she lives and whatever else he can ramble on about. All I seem to focus on is the way he checks her out every three seconds. And when I look over at Nate to complain, he’s doing much of the same.

I get it.

She’s shiny and young and mesmerizing. But they can find their own goddamn toy.

Nate asks Perry something, stealing his attention. I lean in, brushing my lips against Ash’s ear. “Five thousand for your panties.”

She turns to look at me, a warning glinting in her stare. It’s cute that she thinks she gets a break from our games.

“Take them off now. Be discreet. Don’t let them see what you’re doing, or they’ll only want you more. Those fuckers already think they have a chance with you, but you’re mine, little girl. I want your panties off and in my pocket within five minutes.”

“Fine,” she hisses.

Perry starts talking to her again which means she’s ignoring me. But I focus on every shift and movement. She’s trying to be subtle, but both Perry and Nate are distracted by her fidgeting. To help her out, I ask

Nate about his newest acquisition and Perry’s part in it. While they animatedly discuss it, Ash pushes her dress up her thighs. I’m crowding her so I have up-close access to peer down between her and the table to see what she’s up to. The moment her hand disappears underneath, I have the urge to whip my dick out and impale her on it.

The table goes quiet, all three of us focused on Ash. She starts rambling about Columbia University, but no one is listening. We’re all watching as she squirms, trying hard to get her panties off.

“Need some help?” I ask against her ear, running my palm up her bare thigh. “I could assist.”

She shudders when I tease my finger along the edge of her panty line under her dress. I hook my finger under the flimsy string at her hip, tugging it down. I have to pull it roughly to get one side off her ass and to her thigh. Reaching over, I do the same for the other side. Once her panties are sitting at her upper thighs, I run my fingers on the inside, pleased as fuck to feel the wetness there.

“You may continue,” I rumble.

She straightens her dress to keep herself covered and then she pulls the material toward her knees. Nate is grinning, but Perry looks like he might ask her to marry him. Fucking chump.

The rest of her task is smooth sailing. As soon as she has them fisted in her hand, she shoves them against my crotch. I groan at her touch on my dick.

“There. Happy?” “Elated.”

She sticks her tongue out at me and then proceeds to ask Nate about his position at Halcyon. I bring the

black panties up to my nose and inhale her sweet, sexy scent before pocketing the material. Nate simply shakes his head, stifling a laugh. Perry is too busy staring at Ash like God dropped an angel beside him and told him it was a gift.

Over my dead fucking body. “Want to dance?” Perry asks Ash.

She shakes her head in vehemence. “I can’t.” Both Nate and Perry look at me in question.

“She can dance,” I say in a smooth, unaffected tone. “I must warn you, though. She has two left feet. Your funeral.”

Perry shrugs. “Can’t be half as bad as the people dancing here.” “Whatever, man.”

Ash shakes her head at me as crimson paints her cheeks. She doesn’t want to dance because she can barely walk in her shoes. It’ll please me to watch her make a fool out of herself. Maybe then these fuckers will stop looking at her like she’s the Queen of motherfucking England.

I slide out of the booth and offer my hand. She eyes it like it’s a snake, huffing in irritation as she makes her way out. When she wobbles upon standing, she smacks at me the moment I try to assist. Perry, the real Prince Charming around here, comes to her rescue. With eyes filled with venom for me, she takes his offered arm. They make their way to the dance floor, and my eyes track them the entire way.

“Someone’s in love,” Nate says, cackling like a bitch. “Fuck off, douchebag. I’m not in love.”

“You just made your assistant take her panties off in front of us. She has you by the balls, man.” He grins like an idiot, clearly enjoying this.

“She’s my assistant. She does what I say. Mind your own business.”

“Perry has his hands all over her,” Nate tattles. “Are you going to beat his ass? I always wanted to see two Constantines fight.”

I flip him the bird, darting my gaze over to Perry. He’s dancing with Ash, but nothing too crazy. Nate’s just trying to rile me up.