CHAPTER 367: CHAPTER 367 KEEP GOING

‘Are you going to hurry up?’ Ashton prompted.

I shifted off him and sat by his side. His shirt was completely unbuttoned, revealing muscles that were hard to look away from. Since he was lying down, it was awkward to remove the shirt entirely, so it still hung open on him. That half-revealed, half-concealed state was somehow even more tantalising.

I swallowed hard, forcing my eyes away from his chest and letting my gaze travel slowly downward until it settled on his waist. The limited-edition, custom-made belt was still fastened neatly, holding his trousers in place, just waiting for my hands to undo it.

‘If you take much longer, it’ll be morning soon.’

I reached out and pulled the belt from his trousers, then moved on to the buttons and zip. My hand inadvertently brushed against his waist.

A low grunt made me look up. Ashton was no longer the picture of calm. Arousal had flushed his cheeks, and a fine sweat beaded on his forehead. His eyes burned with an intensity that was almost scorching.

I ‘accidentally’ brushed against him again, and even gave a little squeeze.

‘Keep going.’ His voice was hoarse.

In a few quick moves, I tugged his trousers off, leaving just his underwear. I didn’t dare remove those too; I was here to punish Ashton, not myself.

Once I had him stripped to his underwear, a sly, triumphant smile spread across my lips. I turned back to him and said, with mock sweetness, ‘If you want to beg for mercy now, there’s still time.’

Ashton didn’t speak, just fixed me with that scorching gaze. Wherever his eyes landed, my skin felt like it was on fire.

Annoyed at my own weakness—how just a look from him had me ready to surrender—I gritted my teeth. I settled back astride him, and let my hand drift from his chest to my own body.

Ashton’s bound hands clenched into fists, then slowly relaxed. But his deep blue eyes had grown so dark, I could barely see any light in them.

I was still debating whether to take my own clothes off halfway or not at all. Then I decided against it. I wasn’t actually planning to go all the way with Ashton; I just wanted to mess with him.

‘Keep going,’ he urged. The veins on his forehead stood out from the effort of restraint.

‘No, I’m done,’ I said with a gleeful chuckle, savouring his frustration.

‘If you’re done, then I’ll take over.’

‘What?’ I looked at his hands. Before I could blink, the tie I thought was secure came loose in an instant.

Sensing danger, I scrambled to get off him and make a run for it. But it was too late.

The moment his wrists were free, his arm shot out and wrapped around my waist. Before I could even get up, he had me. The world spun, and in a flash, our positions were reversed. Now I was the one pinned beneath him.

His gaze burned into me, fierce enough to devour me. I’d seen that look not long ago, and I knew exactly what it meant.

‘You said you wouldn’t break free!’ I accused.

‘Never trust a man’s words in bed.’ He showed no shame at breaking his promise, seeming almost proud of it.

‘But how did you get loose? I tied it really tightly!’

‘I’ll explain that part in detail later. Right now, we have something else to focus on.’

Ashton moved with a rough, urgent intensity, sheathing himself inside me in one swift motion as if releasing all the pent-up frustration from before. The flames I had fanned now raged back at me, twice, three times as fierce.

I felt like I was dying. I cursed myself for ever coming up with such a stupid idea. If I hadn’t teased him, it might have been over quickly. But now, I had a sinking feeling this would take a very, very long time.

Could I still back out?

Ashton wasn’t about to give me the chance. He crushed his lips against mine, plundering my mouth, leaving me no room to breathe or think. Just as I felt I might pass out from lack of air, he finally broke the kiss.

I gasped, dragging in huge gulps of air. My hands, which had been clinging to his shoulders, slid off limply.

As he continued to move relentlessly, I tried to plead. ‘I was wrong, shouldn’t have tried to tie you up. There won’t be a next time, I promise.’

‘Oh, there will be a next time,’ he said, his lips curving into a smile that looked genuinely eager. ‘I’m very much looking forward to it.’

‘I really can’t take any more,’ I panted.

‘You want me to stop?’

‘Yes, yes, please.’

‘I’ll stop... when I’m satisfied.’

‘Ashton, you utter bas—’

The final word was swallowed as another orgasm crashed over me.

***

The next day, I slept right through until mid-morning, only waking when the phone on the bedside table started ringing. I reached out blindly, feeling the space beside me. It was empty and cold. Ashton had already left.

The phone kept ringing. Finally, I cracked open one eye, located the phone, and brought it to my ear.

‘Hello?’ I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

‘Mirabelle, it’s me.’

I was instantly awake. I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at the screen.

It was Daniel.

I’d thought that after he went back to the Granger family, our paths would never cross again.

‘Why are you calling me?’ I asked.

‘Can we meet? There are some things I need to tell you.’