God, it felt so good to hear her voice.Worried, but he liked that she was worried about him. It meant shewas as deep in this as he was. “He’s gone. I’m at a hotel for thenight.”
“I’m so sorry. I hoped you’d call tonight.Zane holding up okay?” Her voice cracked in sympathy. She didn’tmiss a beat. He’d mentioned Zane with some of the stories he’d toldher about his time in the navy, but she’d paid attention. Knew itwould be just the two of them with Jack.
“Think he’ll be okay. I convinced him to comeup to Foothills; he just got out two fucking days ago. Nice way toreenter society. Anyway, I gave him two weeks to get his ass upthere.” He chuckled picturing Zane grudgingly, efficiently packinghis things. Maybe even tonight. He wouldn’t linger.
“Good. You both could use a friend close by.”He could hear shuffling in the background, the sound of her pullingup the blankets and settling in for the night. Hopefully in his bedlike usual, even if he wasn’t there.
“He doesn’t have someone like you. Sophie, Idon’t know how I’d be getting through this without you. Thanks forunderstanding I needed to be here. For letting me just be.”
“Of course. I’m so sorry you have to gothrough this.”
“Me too. I’ll help Zane with some of thearrangements in the morning. He’ll have to shoulder most of theburden, which I hate putting on him. But he’s a survivor. He’llroll.” Hopefully. “I’ll do as much of the legwork as I can by phoneand fly back down in a few days.”
Asher would be able to coordinate with thefuneral home for his cremation. Leave Zane with the sole task ofpicking up the ashes. Shit, and dealing with Jack’s belongings. Itfelt like too much to leave for Zane, but the timing just sucked,and Zane had insisted.
Kicking off his shoes, Asher quickly brushedhis teeth while they talked. Dead on his feet, he stripped downbefore sliding into the stiff hotel sheets. “Distract me. I’m notgoing to be able to sleep with my head on fire like this. Did Pippacalm down at all today?” He flipped off the light and sprawledacross the bed.
“A bit. It felt like one long, drawn-outgirl’s day like we had in our first apartment way too often. Seemedto be the old Pippa shining through; glad to see she’s still inthere. I love that girl, but holy crap she’s been a strangerlately. We went for a walk and baked cookies and painted our nails.Well, our toenails…”
The image of her glaring at her bitten downfingernails struck him. She bitched at herself every time shediscovered she’d started gnawing unwittingly. He found it anendearing habit; she didn’t see it that way.
“…Then, I sent her off to bed early to restup for tomorrow. For a bossy thing, she didn’t seem to mind meordering her around.”
They chatted about somethings and nothingsfor over an hour. Asher struggled to keep his eyes open, but hecouldn’t seem to disconnect from her. “If I fall asleep, I’m sorry.I’m enjoying listening to you. Keep talking.”
Her sexy, wholehearted laugh echoed throughthe phone. “I’ll try not to be offended. I know you must beexhausted. Hate to say it, but I’m out of conversation topics. I’mtired too.”
“Why don’t you talk dirty to me, then? Tellme what you’re wearing and all the naughty things you’re doing toyourself in my bed. I’m not sure I’ll be able to get any sleepotherwise.”
Her amused laughter tickled into his bones.“Yikes. Not my forte. Let’s just call it a night.”
“Please? I’m perfectly willing to beg.”
“It would take a hell of a lot more alcoholthan my small glass of wine after dinner.”
“Not even if I tell you I’m already hard justthinking about how you’re wearing nothing but that little blacklace thong? You don’t want to tell me about how you’re rubbing yoursweet, wet pussy and dreaming of me?”
With very little begging, she accommodatedhim and left him with much better dreams than he could possiblyhave imagined. Despite her initial hemming and hawing, she was anatural. Impressively creative with very little prompting.
Could run a fucking call service. Not thathe’d ever tried one, but if they sounded anything like Sophie, withher soft, soprano moans as she came over the phone…
19
The Big Day
Cheers of, “It’s my wedding day,” echoed through thehouse. Sophie glanced at the clock. She’d never seen Pippa up atsix in the morning without a very good reason. And she wascertainly never happy about it.
In the distance, Sophie heard a knock on adoor. Shit, her door.
Leaping out of Asher’s bed, she ran throughthe bathroom and into her bedroom. Realizing she was still wearingnothing but the thong he’d begged for last night, she tossed on anold shirt and shorts. She wasn’t overly creative and had to immerseherself in character last night.
It had taken forever to fall asleep lastnight after their dirty conversation, she was so wound up. With hisenthusiasm on the other end, getting off on her words and hervoice, describing her body, how she touched herself and how itfelt, she grew increasingly confident.
Hell, she’d about come just at the sound ofhis deep, rolling voice telling her all about what he wanted to dowith his tongue. Add that and a little manual stimulation and she’dcome three times over the phone. It would be a miracle if shedidn’t jump him on sight.
Quickly catching her breath, she opened thedoor.
“You look awfully out of breath for so earlyin the morning.” Pippa was still in her bathrobe with her hairstanding on end, in adorable disarray, but was all smiles.
