“You must be a good shot.”
“I’m okay.” I feign humility.
“Would you teach me?” Ash asks, fiddling nervously with her fork. How cute.
“Anytime. I would love to see you with a .22 in your hand. Can I watch you compete sometime?” It’s my turn to sit in the hot seat.
Ash considers before answering. I’m sure inviting the man who bought her virginity to a public outing is a tad taboo.
“I think... I might like that.” She bites her lip, her eyes wide and sparkly.
“It’s a date then. Two dates, actually.” The notion makes me excited. I’ll take any excuse to spend time with Ash.
“This was delicious.” She pushes her plate away politely. “But I have to get going. I have homework and practice tonight.”
The thought of her leaving has me crashing down from a high.
“When can I see you again?” I stand with her a little too eagerly.Jesus, down boy. You’re acting like a clingy puppy.
“Um.” Ash suppresses a laugh. She definitely noticed my jumpy reaction.Idiot.“Thursday? That’s my next free day.”
“What about the night?”
“Yes, I’m free that night as well.”
“Good. You’re all mine then. All day, and all night,” I stipulate, cozying up next to her and snaking my arm around her waist.I really don’t want her to go.
“I’m all yours.” She rests her palms on my chest and my heart pounds against my rib cage harder than a sledgehammer.Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
“I’ll text you later.” I skim my teeth along her neck, reluctant to let her go.
“That wouldn’t suck.” She laughs, and so do I.
I watch, hiding my dismay, as Ash gathers her things and leaves. It was all too quick and now I’m all too lonely. And no closer to finding out who the ringleader is in the virgin auctions. I have a lot of work to do, and a small window of time to do it. I know my superiors will be breathing down my neck soon. They’ll want answers or want to pull the plug. Either way, this situation is temporary. I’m not a wealthy businessman; I’m a cop who barely has two nickels to rub together, who’s deceiving a woman he was only supposed to gain information from, not fall into bed with. And even though we haven’t technically slept together, I already feel an ownership over her that I have no business laying claim to.
She isn’t mine, no matter what the paperwork says.
And I’ll keep reminding myself of that until I actually believe it.