Ashes

Chapter 48

Bliss wasn't coming today.  Funny that.

Not funny ha ha  but funny strange. Jo licked the tip of Bryce's erection before throating him, and he sank against the mattress, closing his eyes. With her artful tongue she caressed his cock and wrapped gentle fingers around his shaft, stroking tenderly until Bryce bucked in and out of her mouth.

The bucking went nowhere, though, and got weaker until he fizzled out. What the hell was wrong with him? This had never happened before.

The phone on the nightstand played the first few measures of Stars and Bars and Steel Guitars.  Bryce leaped to answer it, and Jo shifted position with a groan.

"Hello?"

"Bryce? It's Ashanté."

"Are you all right? I can be there in a few minutes."

"Okay. But I hate to be a burden."

"You're no burden. Remember, I was in rehab once myself. I know how easy it is to fall off the wagon. Just don't do anything until I arrive. I can be there in ten minutes. Okay?"

"Okay! I'll be waiting for you."

Jo tried to get close enough to hear whoever was on the other end, but Bryce hung up before she could get a fix on it.

"I'm sorry, Jo, but I have to go now." He climbed out of bed and started dressing in a rush.

"It's all right. Nothing was happening here anyhow." She too climbed out of bed, and fumbled around for her clothes.

The chauffeur had driven Bryce home and returned the limo to the studio, so Bryce hunted for the keys to his Jeep. Jo took her time dressing, thinking of how to invite herself along, but Bryce cut off every opening.

"I'm so sorry to boff and take off, but it's an emergency."

"That's okay, Bryce. I'll go with you."

"Thanks, but I think Lamar would feel like I betrayed his privacy if I brought anyone along. He's kind of embarrassed about this whole thing."

"Lamar?"

"Just an old school friend. Maybe we can get together some other time?"

"Sure. I'll call you tomorrow."

"That'd be great." He ushered her down the stairs and headed for the door. "Got everything? Purse? Keys? Hat?"

"I didn't wear a hat." Jo wondered why he seemed insistent that she didn't leave anything behind.

Is he throwing me out of his life for this Lamar? Granted, all we had together was sex, but up to now it was amazing.

Jo's car was parked in front of the house, while his was in the garage. After blowing her a kiss, Bryce used his remote to open the garage door and then hopped into his Jeep.

Jo drove away but turned at the next block, making a circle until she wound up behind him. It was possible there really was a Lamar in rehab, but something told her it was Ashley Stetson. Keeping a discreet distance behind him, she followed the Jeep. If Bryce led her to some unknown location in the next ten minutes she'd veer off and forget it. But if he brought her to Stetson's apartment... well, she'd have to keep closer tabs on Stetson from now on.