“Ashlyn, get your ass into your room.”

I swung around, and my hands went to my hips. “When did you become so bossy?”

“Please go and get dressed,” he said, lowering his voice and pleading with his eyes.

I rolled my eyes and huffed. “Just because you said please, doesn’t mean you aren’t bossy.”

“I knew you were stubborn, but fuck me. Trying to convince you is like trying to get my cock through a pinhole.”

“Seriously? Your cock through a pinhole?”

“Ashlyn, please go and get dressed.”

“Fine!” I huffed in defeat and stormed out of the kitchen. I had no clue what I was doing. When I reached the guestroom, it suddenly hit me. “You do realize its Friday night?” I asked, stating the obvious.

“Yep.”

“A Friday night where you could be out scouting your next lay?”

“Ashlyn, please, go and get dressed.”

I considered my options. I could either keep fighting him and get lost in a war of stubbornness where no one would come out victorious, or I could give in and see where the night took us.

“Fine.”

His lips twisted into the most genuine smile I’d ever witnessed on Josh Crawford. Well, aside from the one he gave me all those years ago when he pushed into m—No, no! I could not go back there. I couldn’t go from thinking of making out with a man to thinking about having sex.

I shook all thoughts of his smile, of his ability to take a girls virginity—fuck. I shook all thoughts of Josh Crawford out of my head and disappeared down the hall.

What was I getting myself into?

My plan for a relaxing Friday night with ice cream and a movie was halted. What he had planned was anyone’s guess. Unpredictability and Josh Crawford walked hand in hand. Working in fashion allowed me to have a cupboard full of cute and way-too-expensive designer clothes at my beck and call. You would never know that now, though, as I fumbled through the clothes I’d brought to Josh’s. Finally, I found my standard black skinny jeans—yes, the ones that supposedly made my legs look like sin—a baby pink fitted tee with a scooped neck that allowed for a peak of my cleavage, and my favorite metallic silver heels. It was girly, but had an air of sass to it. I stepped into the bathroom and did a quick assessment of my hair, then decided there was nothing I could do besides a loose fishtail braid that hung over my shoulder. I left my makeup light.

As soon as I stepped into the room and the clicking of my heels sounded, his head swung around from the game he was watching and his eyes raked over the length of my body. I felt like I was being observed under a microscope. My skin instantly prickled to life and my cheeks heated. Without saying a word, Josh stood from the couch, clicked off the television, and walked to me. My heart hammered in my chest, and suddenly it seemed as if the air in his living room had shifted.

“Is this okay? I wasn’t sure if I should wear heels or not. I can change if it’s too casual or too much,” I rambled, as though I had suddenly become a babbling fifteen year old.

“You look good, Ashy.” His voice was thick as he spoke, and his eyes deepened from chocolate brown to almost black. “Let’s go.”

Josh switched off the lights, leaving only the one lamp in the corner on, and we left the apartment. There was a whisper of anticipation in the air, and I couldn’t ignore the buzz it sent through my body. The excitement of not knowing what we were doing or where we were going swirled through me as I slid into the back seat of an awaiting cab. I decided then and there that I would give no fucks and go with wherever tonight led me. I needed to let my hair down, I needed to allow myself to come undone, and who better to do that with than Josh?

Twenty minutes later, the cab pulled up to the curb in front of Delight’s. Delights was a gentleman’s club that I frequented with Josh, Ky, and Eden. You might think it’s strange that I would love coming to a place like this, but it was a safe option. The girls with their perfect bodies, whether enhanced or not, distracted the men so women like me who just wanted to drink, dance, and hang out with friends could do so without getting groped or eye fucked. And the guys didn’t seem to mind.

“This is just what I need,” I gushed as we made our way into the late spring air.

The second we stepped in, I was overwhelmed by the low, sultry music that offered the girls the perfect tempo to sway their hips to, and the dimmed lights that encouraged seduction to feather your skin. It sent a delightful shiver through my body, and I felt switched on. Josh’s eyes flashed to mine, and he lifted his chin slightly toward the bar in silent question. I nodded in response, then his fingers linked with mine and he maneuvered us through the expanding crowd.

Once at the bar, he dropped my hand and leaned over to give his order. I was expecting the guy behind the bar to lean in and ask my order, but it never came. A low glass of whiskey and a tall glass of vodka Coke were placed in front of us, then Josh handed him a twenty and nodded in thanks.

I grabbed my drink and we weaved our way through the room, dodging people who were watching the ladies do their thing. Every time Eden and I would come here we’d leave with lingerie envy, and the following day we would have to hit up Victoria’s Secret. Tonight was no different, and tomorrow I’d be the proud new owner of red lingerie.

A vacant booth toward the back came into view and, as I slid in, Josh slid in across from me. I shot a smile at him, and then focused on the show. His eyes remained latched onto me, and I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at him. When our eyes met, he smirked and I felt my body flutter. Jesus, how strong was this vodka? I threw caution to the wind and downed my vodka in one go, then ordered another. Soon enough, three Vodka Cokes were swimming in my veins and I had a case of loose lips that were spilling out a bunch of crap. Thankfully, Josh was also on his way to drunkville, so I wasn’t the only one populating that fine city.

“I’m sure I could be a dancer,” I announced as my eyes fixated on a busty blond who was working that pole like a champion. “I’ve got some serious moves, Joshy. Maybe if the blog doesn’t take off, I could get a job here. You’d come and see me dance, wouldn’t you?”

“I wouldn’t let you work here.”

My attention moved from the stage to him. “Excuse me?” I scoffed. “Since when have you been allowed to tell me what to do?”

“If you really want to dance, I’d be more than happy to have you to dance for me in private. But there is no way in hell I’d sit there and watch other men gawk at your body.”

Dancing for Josh? Shit. The thought alone made my lady bits tingle and scream at me to throw myself at him. This whole no-sex/no-men thing was making me crazy. Not only did the thought of dancing for him turn me on, but his caveman attitude was insanely hot. God, what was happening to me?

“You couldn’t handle my moves, and stop being such a caveman.”

I focused back on the stage and tried to forget the smirk he just fired me. I quickly found myself getting lost in the music, and it was the first night in a long time that I felt truly at ease. Since I returned, I repeatedly found myself getting lost in thoughts of Lachlan and trying to figure out why I wasn’t good enough to remain faithful to. I thought I was a good lay, I didn’t do drama, and I looked damn good in lingerie, so what the fuck was the problem. It messed with my head. The poison of those memories swam through my body and infected every bit of self-confidence I had. I hated him for that.

But here tonight, I was starting to feel free. I felt myself switching back on, I felt the confidence start to shine through, and I knew it had something to do with the man sitting opposite me.

I looked at Josh to find him watching the show. The strength of his jaw, the light peppering of stubble, and the pout of his lips held my attention. He was fantastic to look at. Being under my gaze caused his eyes to flash to mine, and I took that as an invitation to speak. There was something that I needed to confirm, just to make sure I wasn’t completely off game. If anyone would give me an honest answer, it would be Josh. “I’ve got a serious question for you. Do you have time for a serious question?”