“Sorry about Barrett,” I mutter, and my eyes find Asher’s reflection in the glass behind me.
He doesn’t know I can see him, so my heart sinks at the look of despair on his face.
“Did he try to talk you out of seeing me?” Asher asks, and I shrug.
“Kind of.”
Asher sighs, dragging a frustrated hand through his dark hair. “Did it work?”
I turn around then, not wanting to hide that I can see his expression.
“I should listen to him. This thing…” I gesture between us, “is crazy.”
“Crazy doesn’t mean it’s wrong,” Asher states, and I tilt my head as I study his strong jawline and the dusting of facial hair there.
“Doesn’t it?”
“I’ve asked you this before, but I’ll ask you again.” Asher takes a step closer. So close that if I reach out, I’ll be able to feel the searing skin of his chest. “Does what we’re doingfeelwrong?”
I open my mouth to speak, but then snap it shut again, unsure how to answer that. Asher takes that moment to close the distance between us, reaching out and taking each hand, unwrapping my arms from my chest.
When he links our fingers, our arms dropping to our sides, my heart flutters.
Why is the simple act of linking hands with him so impactful?
“Does my touch feel wrong to you?” He leans down, pressing his lips to the corner of my mouth. “Does my kiss feel wrong?” He drops one hand to graze his fingers over my mound. “Does the way I make you come feel wrong?”
“No,” I say breathlessly, and Asher nods before running his thumb over my bottom lip.
“So, are you still with me?”
“I should say no. My life right now is more complicated than this thing between you and me. I have a lot of… other stuff going on.” I try to take a step back, but Asher tightens his grip on me.
“Like what?”
I shake my head, stepping to the side to break his contact.
“I’m sorry. I’m having some business issues. It’s all just a lot right now.”
Asher’s eyes narrow as he studies me, his head tilting as he takes his time.
“That’s not a good enough excuse, Lil. I’ve waited years to be old enough to find the right time to show you how I really feel. I’m not backing down. You can either share your worries with me and let me carry them too, or you can keep them from me, but either way, I’m not backing off.”
Instead of sinking, my heart flips. Asher Scott will fight for me. Hell, he’d probably burn this town to the ground just to please me.
Grinning, I shake my head. “You always were stubborn. Never could convince you to change your mind once you made it up about something.”
He grins. “It’s only gotten worse as I’ve gotten older.” He steps up to me, taking my hands again. “Now, are you gonna tell me what your worries are, or would you just like me to fuck them away?”
A laugh bursts free before I can stop it, and my cheeks heat as my anxiety starts to subside.
“I wish you could.”
Asher smirks. “Challenge accepted,MummyBennett.”
“Oh my God! Stop with that. It’s not a thing.” I push him back and try to dart away, but he catches me, pressing his chest to my back and wrapping his hands around my waist before brushing his lips over my ear.
“It reallyisa thing. I bet you’re dripping right now.”
