Page 77 of Pure Abandon

For someone I have known only a few short weeks, I feel like I’ve known Asher forever. He said I could tell him anything, but this matter is just too personal and I fear he’ll tell me exactly what I know is true—that my husband is having an affair. I’m just not ready for him to know. I already feel like a failure.

We pull through a gate and into the private departure gate at Teterboro. The car stops at the bottom of a stairwell, leading to a private plane with ASHER emblazoned on it. A beautiful brunette waits at the bottom of the stairs. She opens our car door, surprised to see me exit. Perhaps she was hoping for some alone time with Mr. Asher at twenty thousand feet. She definitely looks like the president of the mile-high club.

Asher greets the stewardess with a knowing glance. Yes, these two have been acquainted before. Gross.

The plane is more than I ever could have dreamed of. There is ample seating for eight passengers, with plush leather seats and a place for dining. The table and consoles are a shiny birch veneer, and a large plasma television screen hangs on a wall adjacent to a kitchen. Beyond the seating area is a bedroom of the same colors. The full-size bed looks inviting, and I imagine the mile-high club has their weekly meetings in here.

I take a seat in one of the deliciously comfortable leather seats. Asher takes a seat next to me, pulls the newspaper out of his briefcase, and grabs my hand again. We haven’t said a word to each other since he asked me to join him in Miami. It’s amazing to be so comfortable with someone and sit in silence. I rest my head back on the seat and drift into a quiet slumber, pushing thoughts of Gabriel and his lace panties out of my head.

“Wake up, sleepy head.”

I don’t know how long I’ve been sleeping, but I wake to Asher gently rubbing my cheek. Somehow my head has found its way onto his shoulder, his arm tucked around my back, holding me tightly to his chest.

“We’re starting our decent. You should sit up for this.”

I blush at the thought of lying in such an intimate position with my boss for the last three hours. I didn’t realize I was so tired. The stress of last night has given me a mental and physical workout. Not to mention the fact I hadn’t slept a wink.

So much for getting work done on the plane.

I look out the window and see crystal-blue waters and miles of beaches. I still can’t believe I left the city without a thing on me.

When we arrive at the airport, Devon greets us at the foot of the plane with a Mercedes SLS-Class Roadster with a black exterior and matching interior. Asher and Devon speak for a few minutes and Devon hands Asher the keys. He nods for me to get in the car, and I follow.

We drive down state road A1A with the top down and the sun beating down on us. I wish we were enclosed with the air-conditioner on. My hair that was neatly done up in a bun earlier is getting disheveled, stray hairs flying around my face.

Asher looks cool and comfortable behind the wheel, despite the fact he’s wearing even more layers than I am. Not shaking my mood from earlier, I turn my head away from the sun and let out a sigh.

Damn, it’s hot. Well, at least I brought my sunglasses.

Asher plays with the radio dial, skimming through static and talk radio. His broad white smile lights up when he hears a fun Latin song. His shoulders immediately start to move. My mother always told me never trust a man who can dance.

Asher breaks out in fluent Spanish, singing every line of the song. The sounds from his mouth are smooth and sexy. His voice is gorgeous. I could listen to him sing in a foreign tongue all day. He looks vibrant and free. I like this Asher.

With his coat lying across the backseat, he undoes his tie and throws it back as well. I watch him unbutton his top two buttons, unveiling a sneak peek of his perfectly sculpted chest.

Asher reaches his arm out toward me. It takes me a moment to realize he wants me to remove his cufflink. I raise my hands and unclasp the diamond and onyx cufflink from the French cuff and roll his sleeve up above his elbow. When I’m done with his right arm, he crosses his left toward me and I do the same to the other arm, having to reach over him a bit to do so.

Wearing black aviator sunglasses, the man has transformed in our short drive from polished CEO to fun, sexy, and cool. A thousand light-years from how I feel right now.

I glance down at my beige skirt and matching jacket. It is a thousand degrees outside and the wind from the ride is doing nothing to relieve the heat. Following his lead, I take off my blazer and throw it into the backseat. I unbutton one button from the top of my cap sleeve blouse and let the wind skim up my arms and inside my top. I take the hair tie out of my bun and shake the strands down my shoulders. This feels good.

Asher casts one of those gigantic white smiles my way and starts to sing louder to the music. I don’t know the song, but it’s rather catchy, and I slowly start to move my shoulder to the music. My head sways a little as the chorus picks up, and I let go a little.

I throw my arms up and start moving to the beat of the music. A smile creeps across my face, and Asher lets out a laugh. He grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles. Yes, this is what I needed.

We pull up to the W Hotel Miami. As we exit the car, Asher walks to the trunk and removes two shopping bags. A bellboy quickly retrieves the bags and the overnight bag Asher brought with him from the office.

Asher has secured two rooms, a penthouse suite for himself and a room on the sixth floor for me. He insisted I stay in the suite with him since there is another bedroom, but I would never feel comfortable sharing a room with a man who is not my husband. I have boundaries. Thick, cemented floors boundaries. A single room for me is perfect. I don’t need the bells and whistles.

Well, I may not need the bells and whistles, but my hotel room certainly comes with them. Modern and chic, the room is decorated with white and silver. The spacious room has a king-size bed and an ocean view. The luxurious linens rival anything I could ever imagine. The bathroom has a shower that could easily host a small party and a soaking tub made for two.

“You like?”

Asher follows me into my room and places the shopping bags on the bed.

“I love. The view is amazing.”

Asher’s eyes focus on me. “I couldn’t agree more.”