HARDWIRED (Ashton Irwin)

Chapter 6

I woke up abruptly, disoriented until I recognized the hand-painted gold butterflies on the ceiling. Ashton lay on his stomach next to me, snoring quietly into the pillow, his body soft and relaxed, a different picture from the muscle bound animal who had quite recently blown my mind. I must have dozed off while he showered, but he hadn’t bothered to wake me and send me on my way.

Still, I couldn’t be here when he woke up. I was completely blissed out, but the idea of facing the walk of shame in the daylight hours sobered me into action.

Ambient light filled the room but the desert sky before us was pitch black, save the frenetic city lights, with no hint of the impending dawn. I slid quietly out of the bed and dressed, though despite my best efforts, I could not find my panties anywhere. I put on my heels and stopped at the writing desk. I scribbled a note, setting the $10,000 chip on top of it.

What happens in Vegas...
x, E

I took in the skyline a minute longer, then left Ashton’s suite without a sound.

* * *

I crept into our hotel room with impressive stealth, but Alli was propped up on a pillow watching TV when I entered.

“Hey, what are you doing up?” It was nearly two a.m.

“What are you doing up?” She pursed her lips.

“Uh, nothing.”

“You little slut. Tell me everything.” She muted the TV and sat up cross-legged on the edge of the bed.

“Not much to tell.” I shrugged and slipped out of my dress in favor of a robe.

“Don’t even start with me, Erica. Dish, now.” She pointed her manicured little finger at me.

I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed facing her. This morning I had berated her for the same thing. What a hypocrite.

“I’ll just say, if Luke is anything like his brother, um, in bed”—I stumbled over the words—“I forgive you, all right?”

“Shut up! Was it amazing?”

“There are no words. Now I just have to figure out how to stay the hell away from him.”

“Why? What do you mean?” A frown marred her brow at the mere suggestion.

“We had our moment, but I’m really hoping this is once and done for him, because...” I let my face fall into my hands, which still smelled like him. I breathed in his scent and let the memory of our night settle over me.

“Erica, what?”

I sat up abruptly, as if I’d been caught doing something I wasn’t supposed to.

“You were telling me why you want this to stay a one-night-stand,” she reminded me.

“I don’t know!” I twisted my fingers in my lap. “I just know I could get addicted to that. To him.” I gestured to the ceiling, his general direction. I shook off the memories that felt too new, knowing Ashton was still perfectly naked, slumbering a few floors away. “I’m a mess. I need to sleep.”

Alli nodded, but I caught a coy smile before she switched off the TV and turned over under her duvet.

Grateful for the reprieve, I retreated to the bathroom to shower. The intoxication of being with Ashton tapered as the water thrummed my already weak muscles, draining the last of my waning energy. Already he meant too much A cloud of doubt crept over me.

* * *

I stepped out of the campus center with my mail when I heard my name. A girl with cropped blond hair ascended the steps to meet me. She looked like a teen model. Tan, tall, and impeccably dressed in a tank top and a linen skirt.