"Yeah, he and a few of the guys were hanging out in the corner bro-ing down or whatever you call it when guys act like jackasses at a party." Taylor steered them through another hall. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"I won't." Asher was her objective here tonight. Nothing else mattered. She'd stand up in front of a dozen drunk guys in a skimpy costume as long as Asher saw her. He'd make things worth it.
They rounded a corner, and there he was. Sure, he was a blur in her gaze, but the way he threw his head back and laughed? That blob was definitely Asher. She knew that laugh. She knew everything about the guy, from his favorite foods to his favorite music to the time that his ex, Donna, gave him underwear for Christmas. Some people obsessed over science, or gambling. Greer obsessed over Asher Sutton.
She had ever since she started college. She'd moved to New York City to attend NYU, but her father didn't want her to live in a dorm. So she'd gotten an apartment close to campus and while it was nice, it was also lonely. Greer didn't make friends easily, and classes were so large that she didn't feel comfortable speaking up. So she'd put up an ad for roommates. It wasn't that she needed the money; she had a trust fund. She wanted the company.
Gretchen had been the first to answer the call for a roommate, and then Chelsea. Both were so bubbly and fun that life in New York City was suddenly no longer scary and friendless. She had people now. Taylor showed up a short time later, and was the enthusiastic computer nerd of their group, and their apartment was full. There was one bedroom left but they'd decided to keep that for storage or visitors . . . until Asher knocked on the door one day.
Barely eighteen-year-old Greer had taken one look at him and fallen in love. He was handsome, cheerful, witty, and talked to her like she was a person. She found herself offering him the last room before she even had a chance to discuss it with her other roomies. She knew from the moment she saw him that this was the man she was destined to marry.
It wasn't until he moved in that she learned about his childhood sweetheart, Donna. She'd been devastated, but determined to love him from afar. It was clear that Asher was devoted to Donna, and wasn't there something to be said for a guy that had been with the same girl since he was fifteen? He was loyal and devoted. Donna was a bit of a flake, but if Asher loved her, there had to be something worth seeing, so Greer had liked her, too.
Until two years ago.
Male laughter made Taylor jump, and the spangles on Greer's dress clacked wildly. "Off in that corner," Taylor said, stopping in her tracks. She detangled her arm from Greer's. "Follow the smell of beer and testosterone."
"Thanks, Taylor."
"Good luck." She didn't sound very positive. Jeez. Then again, Taylor had always been kind of skittish and uncertain. Greer was neither; she was just . . . overlookable.
She stepped forward, making a beeline for the darkly dressed blur that was Asher. He was gesturing, talking to someone, and a moment later, the nearby men roared with laughter again. They were just having a good time. That was all. Taylor was just being weird about things. Greer smiled and approached, keeping her hands at her side so she didn't hide the fantastic low cleavage of her dress. If she knew anything about men, it was that they could be diverted from anything with a nice pair of boobs.
As if determined to prove her theory right, Asher paused mid-conversation and stepped to the side, directly in her path. "Greer?"
"Hi, Asher." Her voice was breathless with excitement. He was here. He was here and he was noticing her. In fact, she was pretty sure he was staring at her, hard.
"You look . . . different." His voice was low, sexy.
Yes! He was noticing! Oh crap, what should she say to pull him away from the others? He had a mask slung in one hand and a drink in the other. "What's your costume?"
"Pimp daddy," one guy said, and the men around him guffawed.
Asher turned away from Greer and slugged a guy in the shoulder. "Fuck off, guys. This is Greer. She's like a little sister to me."
Her nostrils flared with irritation. Little sister? Really? Did he not see her tits hanging out of this fucking skimpy dress? But then the men started laughing and talking over each other all at once, and she nearly screamed with frustration. She needed to get him away from the group of ex – frat boys if she was ever going to get a word in edgewise. Time to use her nonexistent wiles.
When Asher turned back to a guy telling a story, she moved forward and leaned in, pushing her breasts against Asher's arm. That got his attention. He looked down at her, and she was short, which meant he had a fantastic view of her cleavage. She was pleased when his gaze stuck there, and he downed the rest of his drink, ignoring his chatty friend.
"Can we go someplace private and catch up, Asher?" Sure, they had lunch last week, but maybe there'd be some catching up to do between now and then, right?
He nodded, transfixed by her cleavage, and handed his empty glass to a passing server, grabbing a fresh one. "You lead the way."
Perfect. She took his hand in hers-oh, it was so big and warm!-and began to pull him through the party. A few guys hooted and catcalled after them, but she ignored them. As long as she got what she wanted, they could think anything they wanted. Of course, the further she pulled Asher into the party, the more she needed her glasses. Well, shit.
She paused, and he bumped into her from behind.
"Whoa there," Asher murmured, and pulled her back against him.
Oh . . . good lord. Was that his cock pressing into her back? Greer was shocked . . . and excited. He was aroused over her? This was . . . awesome!
"You shouldn't stop like that again unless you want my dick pressing up against your ass for the rest of the night." He gave her a crooked grin, as if trying to take the bite out of his statement. Were his words a bit slurred? Maybe, but the look in his eyes was bright and he was gazing down at her like she was the sexiest thing at the party. She'd take it.
With a small smile, Greer took two steps forward, then deliberately halted again, glancing over her shoulder at him.
"You're just being a tease tonight, aren't you?" Asher put his hands on her bare arms and rubbed them, and as he did, he pressed up against her again, letting her feel his cock. "Is that why you're in that ‘fuck me' costume?"
So he'd noticed? Perfection. "Of course not. I'm like your little sister, remember?" She took another step forward and let her hips deliberately sway a bit. This wasn't like her, but then again, being herself hadn't gotten results. They'd been lunch buddies for years now and it had gotten her nowhere except "little sister" status.
"Not tonight you aren't," he said with a chuckle. His hand went to her waist and he pulled her close. "So where are you leading me, sexy Greer?"
She had no idea because she couldn't see three feet ahead of her. Hopefully not the kitchen. Or a bathroom. Or a closet. "Depends," she teased. "Where do you want to be led?"
"Right now? I'd go anywhere you go."
Her heart pounded. God, how long had she been waiting to hear those words? "Why don't you lead, then?"
"I will, in exchange for a kiss."
Her eyes widened. "A kiss, huh?"
He nodded, and his hand went to one of the glitzy, tiny straps holding her dress in place. "I don't know if anyone has told you, but you are smoking hot tonight, Greer."
Wow, that was pretty forward, even for Asher. Okay, maybe he was a little more drunk than she'd anticipated. But wasn't this what she had intended? She wanted him to be completely into her, and she'd gotten her wish. "One kiss," she agreed, removing his hand from her strap. "And then we'll see where we go from there."
"Now that sounds like a plan to me." He leaned in and she automatically lifted her arms to go around his neck. Greer was barely five foot, and Asher was over six feet, so the height difference was noticeable, but she didn't care. He could bend to kiss her, damn it.
A moment later, his mouth descended on hers, and his tongue pushed into her mouth. Oh, wow. Okay. It was a very . . . aggressive kiss. One with lots of tongue. She tried to participate, but having been Greer the Unnoticed for 99 percent of her life, she wasn't an expert on kissing. Maybe she was the one who wasn't good at it? Because his tongue seemed desperate to go down her throat and explore every molar. She staggered against him, and his hand grabbed her ass.
When she could no longer hold out, Greer pulled back from him, gasping for air. "There's your kiss."
He growled low in his throat and hauled her against him again, his hands cupping her backside and forcing her to cling to his front. "Let's go someplace private, you and me."