Текст книги "Opening Up"

Автор книги: Lauren Dane

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“Hands over your head.” He loved the way that position accentuated the arch of her back, the beauty of her curves. The cant of her hips that opened her up perfectly to his mouth as he slid his lips over her pussy and then parted her with this thumbs, exposing her clit to his tongue.

The sound she made seemed to slice through him, letting all that yearning he felt for her spill out.

The span of his hands as they lay on her thighs, holding them wide for his mouth, made her nearly as breathless as whatever he was doing with his tongue.

He was so fucking big. In every way. It rendered her a little giddy each time he touched her. Even when he was rough or ordered her around, he never used his size against her.

Even today, when she knew he was really angry, she never felt unsafe with him. It made her feel… cherished. Adored.

One of his hands slid up her belly to her nipple. She blew out a breath when he pinched just shy of pain and then backed off.

She hummed at the heat sliding all through her. He was just so good at eating pussy, she didn’t know what to do with herself other than let him do whatever.

He nuzzled her clit until she was right on the very edge of climax and then paused, making her growl her dismay.

“Ah-ah-ah. I’ll let you come when I’m ready. I like to tease you until you get really demanding.”

She craned her neck to look at him better, without moving her hands, of course. He’d totally stopped fucking her the first time she moved when he’d told her not to. That had sucked. But only for about five minutes, because he wanted to come too.

His smile told her he knew she’d stopped herself from moving because she remembered that.

He got back to it, sliding his tongue deep and then swirling it up to her clit, circling over and over until she came so hard she was a mass of twitching muscles and warm, pleasured female.

He rolled her over to her belly, kissing her shoulder as he did. “I liked that,” she mumbled.

He rustled in the nightstand and she smiled, coming out of her stupor a little as she heard the cap of the lube click open after the crinkle of a condom wrapper.

“Mmm.” It seemed like that sound was better than any word she could have said. And since he’d left her sort of dopey postclimax, she’d happily leave it at that.

Then the lube, cool and slick, spread over her asshole and she made a markedly less enthusiastic sound. She’d withhold judgment to see what he planned to do with all that lube. Fingers, maybe. Cock? Nope.

He moved closer, pulling her hips up, also a very good sign. Until he circled the head of his cock around her asshole. This time her sound was a full-on no thank you grunt.

Asa, being Asa, must have taken that as a challenge, because he pressed in and as she’d remembered, it hurt, and not in a good way.

She made another sound, damn the man, and scrambled up the bed to her knees, facing him. “I’m on the train to nopetown with that.”

“I take it you object?” He smirked. Smirked. And it worked on him. He was delightfully mussed up. His hair was down and it managed to tumble over one of his eyes and make him look ridiculously hot.

Still, she needed him to know she didn’t answer knocks at her back door. “Asa, when it comes to butt sex, my philosophy is this.” She indicated her body, and his attention followed, his gaze blurring. “ ‘All these worlds are yours except Europa.’ ” She pointed to her ass. “ ‘Attempt no landing there.’ ”

He’d never in his life had a romantic partner quote any book to him while fucking, much less use a science-fiction novel quote to tell him no thanks to ass fucking.

It was just such a PJ thing that all he could do was burst out laughing, pulling her close. “There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing right this moment.”

It was her turn to laugh. “Nothing? Me saying no to anal is so amusing?”

He nodded, kissing her. “Everything you do is something I’m interested in. That you quote Arthur C. Clarke underlines my very good taste.”

He wasn’t so hot to fuck her ass that he was actually disappointed. He liked what he liked, and he had to allow her to feel the same.

“Joke time is over. Hands and knees. I’m all suited up, let’s not waste a condom.”

With a lazy smile, she complied, thrusting her ass out the way she knew he liked. He petted down her sides and over the curves of her hips, brushed kisses down the long line of her spine as he pushed into her balls-deep with a groan.

This was what he was meant to do. Exactly who he was meant to be with.

He let the pleasure build nice and slow. Or rather he did for several minutes, until he couldn’t stop going deeper and harder. She battered his control on every single level.

His fingertips dug into flesh and muscle at her hips as he held her, thrusting to the hilt over and over. The need to roll around in her, to rut and fuck, to bite and lick and mark forever crawled over his skin as he reached up with his right hand to grab a fistful of her hair, hauling her back as he pushed forward.

“Going to be soon. Make yourself come.”

There was no doubt she’d obey him, so he knew that first clasp of her inner walls was coming. He cursed as it did, that rippling squeeze that told him she was stroking her clit like he told her to.

Yes. His.

He lost himself in her. In the labyrinth of her beauty and sensuality, of the way she felt around him, and when she came in a hot rush, her body squeezing his cock, she pulled him in with her. He came so hard his teeth tingled, the sweat on his thighs sliding against the sweat on hers.

He pulled out and she stretched, watching him walk into the bathroom, then grinned as he returned her way.

PJ handed him a beer. “Let’s finish these so we can move toward round two.”

She truly was perfect.

Chapter Seventeen

Come out to dinner with me and my friends tonight.”

PJ looked up from the stencils she’d just laid down for the first layer of flames on the hood of the ’58 Ford Fairlane she’d been working on for the last day or so.

Even after eight months of knowing him, each time she caught sight of Asa it made PJ’s breath hitch. It didn’t seem to matter that they spent at least five days a week together since that night at the Ditch a little over a month before.

He still managed to get her worked up just by looking at her. Or really, if she was being honest, he still managed to get her worked up just by looking at PJ.

Even when they were both busy they’d find the time for a meal or a cup of coffee. It gave him the opportunity to glower at her if he thought she wasn’t taking care of herself. She found the kinds of juice she liked in the fridge at Twisted Steel, and there was never a shortage of chocolate-dipped-in-dark-chocolate ice cream bars in the cooler.

He didn’t make a big deal out of it, but he did the same thing at his house. Little touches here and there that made it clear he’d been thinking of her comfort or pleasure when he was grocery shopping or whatever.

The best, most intense thing was the way he gave her all his attention, even when they were just doing something simple.

Asa didn’t pay attention to too many things. It took a great deal to get him to stop thinking about fenders and engines. Most people and topics didn’t get that full Asa-Barrons-is-listening-to-you-with-all-his-being look. It made her feel special.

And slowly but surely she’d become part of his circle. They’d watched her carefully at first, these guys who looked like hard cases but had squooshy insides and big hearts. They didn’t know what to make of her, or of the way Asa had sort of claimed her and that was that.

By that point though, most of the guys at the shop talked with her or waved at her or included her in invitations for Asa. Part of it had been cars. Their shared language¸ she supposed. Duke had been great, and even Mick had loosened up.

PJ stood tall, stretching her arms above her head to loosen the knots from being bent over the tape-and-stencil application. Plus it made her boobs stick out and she never planned to miss a perfect opportunity to remind Asa what she brought to the table.

His eyes glazed over a moment and he smiled. “Naughty.”

“Will you discipline me?” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth.

He moved very close but didn’t touch her. “Funny you should mention that. I have some new toys. You should stay over after dinner tonight.”

Her breath caught and he groaned.

“You just full-on flushed. Your pupils got big. That makes you wet, doesn’t it? Trying something new?”

She nodded, trying to ignore the fact that just behind him, just outside the bay she worked in, there was a whole crew of guys doing their jobs too.

“Are you wondering what it could be?”

She nodded again.

“Good. I’ll pick you up and we’ll head over together. Sushi okay?”

“I’ll meet you at your place. I’m going over to Audra’s tomorrow, remember?” Her friend was having her wisdom teeth pulled in the afternoon and so PJ planned to spend the night there to keep her company.

He frowned, clearly unable to understand. It always seemed to confuse him when he couldn’t get his way. As if the idea of anyone not just giving him exactly what he wanted was incomprehensible.

Amused by how adorable he was and how annoyed he’d be if he knew she was thinking about his adorableness, PJ gave him a mock pout. “We’re at work or I’d pet your beard to soothe that frown away. Sushi is great. You get to drive from your house to the restaurant. That’s good, right?”

“You do realize I know you’re managing me, right?”

She laughed. “I should hope so. You’d be very stupid if you didn’t. I have better taste than to date a stupid man. What time should I be at your place?”

“I’ll leave here at six or so. We’re supposed to meet up at seven thirty.”

“All right. I’ll see you later.”

He gave her the super-hot Asa sex face. Every dirty thing he’d done to her and imagined doing in the future seemed to broadcast over his features, and it never failed to make her hot.

His smile told her he knew it too. “Come to my place with me now. I’ll make you a sandwich. After.”

She shook her head and took a step back. “Stop it, you. I have to get the orange down so it can dry. This is work. You can molest me later.”

“I plan on it.” He turned to go and she watched his very fine ass until he’d turned the corner.

PJ had been looking down, zipping her bag after she’d dropped her keys in it. She’d knocked on Asa’s door, but when she finally straightened it wasn’t Asa there, but a woman. A really pretty young woman.

“Uh…” PJ paused and the other woman smiled.

“Sorry! I’m Asa’s sister, Courtney. Come in. He said to tell you he’d be back shortly.”

PJ went inside and dropped her things on the bench in his front hall. “I’m PJ Colman. Is everything okay?”

“Our mom. She’s been having trouble with one of her faucets. She doesn’t need it right now, but it makes her happy to know he’d come over, and he likes to be needed.”

Well, that was pretty freaking sweet.

“I’m glad everything is okay. He sent you over here? He could have just texted me.”

“I was here when my mom called. I borrowed his tent and was returning it, so I said I’d stay and wait to tell you in person. Anyway, it gives me a chance to meet you.”

“Oh. Well, hi. I’m glad to meet you too.”

They settled in his kitchen.

“Can you believe this was actually a wall with a tiny window when Asa first bought the house?” His sister waved a hand at the wall of windows leading out to a deck spanning the entire length of the second floor.

“Why would someone do that?” The view was spectacular. Lake Washington glittered in the distance with the Cascades’ white-tipped mountains farther beyond that.

“Right?” Courtney shook her head. “It was dark and it seemed way smaller too. Asa has a way of seeing right to the heart of things. He has a great instinct like that.”

PJ grinned. “That was an awesome way to compliment and warn me at the same time. Bravo.”

Courtney tipped her head back, laughing. “He said you were smart and funny as well as pretty. Come on then and let me keep poking into your life. I need to report back on you to my mom and sister. We’re all dying for details.”

“He must love that.”

Courtney nodded. “Yes, of course. He’s so serious all the time. Always was. He worked extra jobs so he could help my mom get us into a better place to live. Even when he enlisted, he sent nearly all his money home to us. But we’re grown, my sister and me, and our mom is fine. He needs to lighten up in ways that don’t include driving too fast.”

“Ha. Don’t hold your breath.” Asa liked to live on the edge. Fast was like breathing to him.

“At least he has a thick skull. When he was a kid he was legendary for how crazy he was. We didn’t have a lot, but our mom found the money and the parts and stuff so each one of us had a bike. Asa rode his off the top of the roof of the church. He rode it off things. Into things. There was a public pool we’d go to all summer long. He and his friends would sneak in at night and ride into the pool on their bikes and skateboards. Then it was dirt bikes. He broke his arm twice. Anyway, then he went into the army and we worried, but it gave him direction and some control. He’s still crazy, but racing on a track is better than on a street.”

“Safer too. Have you seen him out there?” When Courtney shook her head, PJ continued. “They have an emergency team at the track for every race. A medical team, fire suppression crew. They wear some protective gear.” Not as much as she’d hoped, but she knew who Asa and his friends were. They’d be safe – within limits – but still push it as far as they could. “He’s really good at it. And when he comes off the track, he’s totally full of joy. It’s worth the nervousness when I see that expression.”

“He’s so fearless when he’s on wheels of any kind. But… I like the tone in your voice when you talk about what makes him happy.” Courtney paused and then went back to the subject. “Mainly I’ve accepted it. Drives my mom crazy, but he tries to shield her from most of what he gets up to.”

Ha! PJ bet.

“Anyway, so Asa says you’re amazing with custom paint. He showed us some pictures. He’s proud of you.”

PJ blushed. “He is? Well, wow, that’s nice to hear.” It was sweet that he showed her off like that. There was an Asa very few people got to know. One who was soft and tender all while being very protective. It was something she yearned for. Each thing he shared, every moment they reached a new level of trust and he let her in a little further made her greedy for more.

“It’s pretty cool that I get to do what I love. It pays my bills and that’s nice too. I get to be around cars, also a plus. Asa tells me you’re a dental assistant.”

“I am. I just work down in Burien. Did he try to get you to switch dentists? He does that a lot. I’m sorry.”

PJ laughed because he had. “I’ve had the same dentist since I was a kid. But I think it’s so adorable that he does it to everyone. If people only knew.”

“At my graduation he brought the biggest freaking bouquet of roses I’ve ever seen. And then he had to hold it the whole time and never complained.” Courtney smiled as she shook her head. “He was very proud of me, and my sister too. I’d say something like his bark is worse than his bite, but that’s not true. It’s just that he has a very small intimate circle. He hasn’t added a woman to it before. Which is why they never really hold on when he walks away.” She stood, moving to the windows. “You’re in it, though.”

“I think so. Yes.” It was why she wasn’t really that bothered by the fact that their larger circle included a few women he’d slept with. He never looked at anyone the way he looked at her. And that was more than enough to keep any worries away.

“I really have to ask you something. Is Asa as big a pain as he seems like he’d be to date? He’s so bossy. That must drive you nuts.”

“He’s actually pretty sweet. I mean, he glowers at anyone who looks at me sideways, but he doesn’t get too bossy about anything that’s important to me. Your mom did a good job with him. He’s a gentleman.”

Courtney looked dubious. “He gets into fistfights with his friends for recreation. Has he told you about that?”

PJ laughed. “He has, and that remains my reaction too. I’d rather get a new pair of shoes or a book. But he’s handsome and charming and he runs over to his mom’s house to fix her leaky faucets. I can’t complain.”

Asa’s baby sister smiled like PJ had just won a blue ribbon.

“Asa and our mom have a really deep connection. She fought for him. Years of her life she fought for him and never gave up until he was back home. He adores her.”

PJ swallowed. He hadn’t told her that story yet. And while she was hungry for details about him, she wanted Asa to tell her. To share himself by choice.

So she shifted the topic to something else, really liking Courtney Barrons.

Chapter Eighteen

There were already about ten people at the restaurant when PJ and Asa arrived. They liked this place and their group often came in on a weeknight to hang out.

Duke stood at the bar with Duane, one of Twisted Steel’s mechanics, and when he saw them both he raised a hand in greeting.

“Asa.” Duke tipped his chin before turning to PJ with a big teasing smile. “Delightful, de-lovely Penelope. Nice to see you both. Though one of you is nicer to see than the other. Just sayin’.” He winked and Asa groaned.

Then Duane made a comment about Mustangs that had Asa sputtering.

PJ joined in for a while, as she had her own very strong feelings on the subject, until the argument finally got down to some ridiculously esoteric level and she kissed Asa’s cheek, patted Duke’s forearm, and wandered off.

Mick arrived and joined them at the bar for a while as people came and went.

By the time Asa looked up, PJ was off with Duke and some of the others at a table halfway across the restaurant, already eating, smiling and apparently having a good time.

He wanted to be having a good time with her too. Asa began to extricate himself from the discussion so he could head over to her.

“Where’d your hot blond girlfriend get to anyway?” Mick looked around, and then once he caught sight of PJ he headed over like Asa wasn’t even there.

Asa followed. “For a guy who started out pretty much hating her, you sure have changed your tune.”

“I’ve had the time to get to know her and realize how wrong I was. I probably began to fall for her when she flipped me off. You don’t deserve all that youth and beauty¸ so I’m just hanging around waiting for her to figure it out. Then I’ll sweep her off her feet and you can eat shit.”

Asa flipped Mick off. “It’s nice for you to have dreams you’ll never achieve. You need to set the bar way lower, though.”

Mick flipped him off in return, but his attention had already shifted back to PJ. He bumped her fist as he slid into the booth across from her.

“You’re eating already?” Asa noted the little plates from the conveyor belt on the table in front of her.

She laughed like he was crazy. “Yes, of course! You were all high on Mustang talk so I came over here to have a drink and eat and let Duke charm me. Plus I was able to watch you from my seat. You’re very sexy when you get worked up about cars.”

Duke snorted. “Gross.”

Asa shot Duke a look. “Then get up so I can sit there.”

Duke moved a space over and Asa slid into the empty spot at her side. He grabbed some tuna and eel. She gave him the eye and he grinned. “Don’t tell me these are all California rolls.”

PJ sniffed, such a perfect haughty sound that he got hard.

“You can always have my share of eel. Just saying. I’ll also have you know California rolls are delicious.”

He laughed, leaning over to kiss her quickly.

“Don’t mind him. Asa is a sushi purist. Like an evangelist,” a female voice said.

Duke’s expression shuttered as Asa turned to catch sight of his ex-wife, Ellen, watching PJ like a bird watches a mouse.

PJ still smiled as she took in the newcomer, but Ellen was going to be surprised her supposed mouse wasn’t so mousy after all.

“I’m Ellen. You’re Duke’s baby sister?”

PJ laughed, grabbing a plate of California rolls and winking at Asa. “No. He just teases me like I am. I’m PJ.”

Ellen slid in across from them and Asa put an arm around the back of PJ’s seat.

“Ah. So you’re PJ. My family runs a rebuild shop in Olympia. I saw your work the other day. Metallic blue Impala. Blew me and my dad away.”

That surprised Asa. He’d expected a dig, but there was real warmth in Ellen’s praise.

PJ beamed. “Thanks. I have to tell you, I was a little nervous about the final blue. It was the first time I’d tried for that exact shade. The client, you know him, right?”

Ellen laughed. “Yes. So it’s okay to tell me he was a picky asshole and you were worried no matter how perfect you got that blue he’d complain.”

He hadn’t expected this at all. But PJ and Ellen seemed to get along famously from the first word. Duke still watched her carefully, as did Asa. It was only wise.

Their group settled in, taking up multiple tables at the conveyor belt. People moved from table to table to visit with one another, pausing to eat and have a drink and then move on to a new group. It pleased Asa to see PJ at ease with his friends as well.

Most of them were protective of her, which he liked. The women seemed to like her, which was another plus. She loved cars. They loved cars. It was a great foundation.

She was good on her own. She didn’t need him to constantly be at her side, though he liked to be. He hadn’t been entirely sure what to expect, as he’d never seriously seen women in their circle to avoid any problems. Even during the short period he and Ellen were married, they hadn’t really hung out with a group.

But this was good. Better than he’d imagined.

Now though, he was going to have to tell her about Ellen, which he hoped would be no big deal.

PJ leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Be back in a few.” She excused herself and he watched her disappear into the back where the ladies’ room was.

“She doesn’t know, does she?” Ellen asked Asa.

He sighed. “I haven’t told her, no. I wasn’t expecting to see you here, and now it’s going to be weird no matter how I bring it up.”

“It’s going to be weird anyway. Wait, does she not know I’m your ex-wife, or does she not know you were married at all?”

Asa scrubbed his hands over his face and Duke and Mick both groaned.

“Don’t judge! It didn’t come up. Why would I tell her something unpleasant when it doesn’t matter anyway?” He shrugged at Ellen. “No offense.”

“None taken.” Ellen rolled her eyes. “But not everyone is nice. Some people in this crowd like to play mind games. Also, she’s hot, so you know some guys are going to see this as a way to get around you.”

Duke burst out laughing. “Don’t sweat it, Ellen.” He looked at Asa. “You have to tell her, but mainly because it would be hurtful for her to hear it elsewhere. No one is going to try to snag PJ. Everyone knows she’s with you.”

“Including PJ. She’d ice any dude who tried.” Mick shrugged.

PJ touched up her lipstick and headed over to order some more beers for their table.

For most of that night their group had been pretty much the only people in the restaurant. But a group of dudebros had installed themselves at the long bar and the volume level had gone up considerably. She rolled her eyes inwardly as she made her way through them to get the attention of the bartender.

“Well, hello there. Buy you a drink, pretty lady?” This came from her left. One of the invading dudebros no doubt.

“No thanks.” PJ continued to watch the bartender because she didn’t want to look over and start anything.

“Aw, come on. Why you gotta be so mean? You think you’re too good for me?”

Ugh. A drunk dudebro was dangerous. He had trouble hearing no. Liked using his size to intimidate women. No matter what she did, he’d be annoying, so she chose to ignore him. She’d said no and that was all he needed to know.

She pointed at a pitcher and held up two fingers when the bartender saw her. He nodded with a smile, indicating he’d bring the pitchers over shortly.

But when she turned to leave, the dudebro she’d been ignoring stepped into her path.

“I didn’t say you could go.”

PJ looked up into his sweaty face and then she looked around until she found the one dudebro who looked embarrassed. She motioned at the drunk one. “Are you fucking kidding me?” And then back to her problem dudebro, “Move out of the way and leave me alone.” She’d just had an ugly scene two weeks ago with Gary Weston. She didn’t want to do it again.

He stepped with her, keeping her from leaving. He grabbed her arm as she tried to pass. “The fuck you say? Big tits and blond in a bottle doesn’t mean you can open your mouth to me like that, bitch.”

Shocked, it took her a second to react. And then a wall of man showed up, breaking the hold dudebro had on PJ’s arm before she could connect with his balls with her knee.

“You’d best tell the lady you’re sorry and get yourself gone, son.” It wasn’t Asa, but Duane. Massive, but not Asa massive. Still, big enough to pick this jerk up and wipe the counter off with his body without breaking a sweat.

Dudebro doubled down, stepping a little closer. “Why, you her boyfriend?”

“No. He is.” Duane tipped his chin in the other direction and they swung in unison… and froze at the sight of Asa stalking in their direction like a storm of fuck-your-face-up.

He headed straight to PJ and looked her over, his expression darkening at the red spot on her arm where the guy had grabbed her so hard.

“Outside.” Asa said it to dudebro but continued to look at PJ. He traced across her cheekbone and kissed the same spot briefly. “Stay in here. I’ll be right back.”

The dudebro wasn’t very bright.

“Look, man, she came on to me. You can’t give me shit when your girl has a wandering eye. Am I right?”

Asa spun on his heel, took up two handfuls of dudebro, and carried him out the door, tossing him into the street.

Dudebro’s friends rushed out. A few of them held their hands up, palm out, asking for Asa to let it go and they’d take their friend away.

But Asa wasn’t done. He stalked out to the middle of the street, picked dudebro up one-handed, and dragged him back to where PJ now stood.

“This is my lady. You hurt her. That make you feel like a big man? Terrorizing someone half your size? A real man doesn’t need to scare women. Or hurt them. You owe her an apology.”

“Sorry. I’m sorry!”

Asa shoved him hard, sending him stumbling. “I see you anywhere near here and I will deliver the beating you deserve. Piece of shit.”

The other dudebros scrambled to their friend and took off down the street without even looking over their shoulders.

Asa visibly got himself under control before he shifted his attention back to her. “You okay?”

She didn’t even know what to say. The whole thing was so surreal. Nodding absently, she rubbed at the spot on her arm. She’d have a bruise there most likely. She bruised easily and he’d pressed his thumb in really hard.

Of course, Asa’s attention went right to that and she cringed.

He touched her cheek again as he had inside. Like she was precious.

“Hey, baby girl.” Duke approached with Mick and gave her a gentle hug. “I brought your stuff in case you guys wanted to duck out. The manager is glad you took it outside, but he’s understandably anxious to have us all vacate the premises.”

She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. “This keeps getting better and better.”

Duke thought that was hilarious. “Asa, your lovely lady seems to be under the impression this is the first time we’ve been asked to leave an establishment.”

Asa grinned and she saw the light in his eyes. Noted the gleam. He was hot for her right then and there, and it was probably because he’d just tossed some dude out in the street like trash to protect PJ.

But it didn’t offend her sensibilities. Whatever that meant about her, PJ just didn’t care. It was hot seeing him be so badass to protect her. She wanted to lick him and thank him and go find that jerk and kick his face and also sleep and maybe have a doughnut.

“We get kicked out of a lot of places.” Asa shrugged as he took PJ’s things from Duke. “This isn’t even the first time we’ve been asked to leave this particular restaurant. We’ll stay away for a month or so and come back and things will be fine.”

Duke and Asa seemed to find it hilarious, which made her feel a little better.

“You’re an unruly lot.”

Asa nodded solemnly and then winked.

Mick hugged her. “You okay, baby doll?” He looked her over carefully. Since that apology, he’d claimed her much the way Duke had. She was theirs because Asa was too.

“I just wanted to order some more pitchers. I didn’t mean for it to turn into a fight.”

“Aw, honey.” Asa kissed the top of her head. “We’ve fought over far less.”

Duke shook his head. “A person should be able to order a damned pitcher without being assaulted by a drunken frat boy. And the asshole who makes that impossible for women all the time needs to be thrown out into the street like garbage.”

Mick and Duke did some sort of handshake/fist-bump thing and sauntered off.

Ellen waved as she came over. “It was nice meeting you. Do you have a card? I was about to ask you for it when all hell broke loose.”

PJ pulled a card from her purse and handed it to the other woman, taking the one Ellen offered in return.

“I’ll call you about doing some work down in the south Sound.” Ellen waved and headed off with a knot of the people they’d come with. Many shouted their good-byes and locations for wherever they’d head next, but she could see in Asa’s eyes that he and she weren’t going anywhere but to his house.

He put her in the car and paused a moment before he got in on his side. He needed to pull it together because he didn’t want to aim any of the violence he felt right then in her direction.

She’d had enough for one evening. And while he and his friends ate the adrenaline of fights in the street right up, he was sure it wasn’t a regular part of her life. Nor would he want it to be. Especially when it was the result of some shitty treatment.

He slid into the seat and relaxed a little because it smelled like her in there.

“I’ve got another six weeks, maybe two months before I have to put her away for the winter,” Asa said as he took them north, back to his place.