Page 31 of Burn With Me

He seemed perplexed by the answer, like he’d been expecting something else. The truth was, I’d hung around mostly guys my entire life other than Beck. It would’ve shocked me if he’d said he’d been bird-watching or wanted a quiet place to read a book, but sex? No, that was what I’d expected.

“Are we getting out?” I said as he continued to sit there, staring at me.

“You’re not jealous, are you?”

My eyebrow cocked up, confused. “That’s a pretty vain question if I’ve ever heard one. No, why would I be?” I crossed my arms over my chest, ready to tell him to forget the date. If he thought this highly of himself, then I wasn’t interested.

“Usually, when I tell that story, I get a very different response,” he said and tipped his sunglasses down so I could see his eyes.

Goodness, they very closely matched the color of the water that was mere feet away from the truck.

“You’re just very unique.”

“I don’t think I’m that unique. You’ve obviously been spending your time with the wrong women.” I shrugged and pushed open the door. “I’m going to go enjoy the water for a little while. Whenever you’re done being shocked over the fact that not every woman worries about your bed count or bows down at your feet like a god, feel free to join me.”

Jumping out of the truck, I closed the door. Damn, that felt good to shut the door while he sat there with a shocked expression on his face. Plus, being able to get out a firm, logical response out of my mouth that didn’t sound like I was panting all over him gave me hope that my brain wasn’t permanently fried.

Walking toward the water, I heard Asher getting out of the truck behind me, but I didn’t bother to look. If he thought for even a second that I was going to crawl around behind him and beg for his affection, he had another thing coming.

Dominant in the bedroom? Who even says that to someone they just met?

I was definitely avoiding the fact that I wanted to know more about what that meant, but I’d analyze that a tidbit later.

Kicking off my sandals, I slipped out of my shorts and pulled the tank top off over my head to show off my bikini. I dropped my sunglasses on top of the clothes and jogged for the rippling waves that were truly picturesque. I ran as far as I could and then dove into the water. The rush of liquid flowed over me before the quiet that always accompanied being underwater. I’d always loved the beach and the ocean. I’d swam with everything: stingrays, dolphins, seals, and even sharks.

Water saved me at my lowest points. The ocean and its ability to survive everything crappy and fucked up that humans and nature have thrown at it filled me with a determination that one day I’d be okay again. That one day, I wouldn’t feel like the world or my emotions weren’t trying to crush me.

I could hear Asher closing in on my position as I hovered in the crystal-clear water allowing myself this moment of calm. With one stroke, I pushed myself to the surface and came face to face with Asher as he, too, rose from under the waves like some fucking god of the deep. He smoothed his hair back, and his arm muscles flexed with that simple movement. He showed off just how perfect his tan was, along with the body that screamed it was made for pleasure. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t look away.

“You’re fast,” he said, smiling at me.

“I love the water. I’d spend as much time as I could in the pool or at the beach.” We fell silent and the current slowly pushed us closer together.

“I apologize for what I said. You’re right. It was very…condescending of me,” he said, his voice soft. It felt like apologizing was a new thing for him.

“Thanks. I’m not sorry about what I said.”

He splashed water at me, and I laughed hard. It was on, and soon I was worn out and out of breath from our frantic game. Flipping onto my back, I stared at the blinding sun and slowly swam for shore until my feet could touch the soft sand.

“You giving up, Clarke?”

“Let’s call it a needed breather.” I turned to face Asher and wished that I hadn’t.

My eyes roamed over the hard abs and the way the water traveled down his body, making me want to lick it off of him. I didn’t think it was possible to forget to breathe, but I did. I ended up gasping in a breath as my body reminded me that I needed the oxygen to live.

As if sensing my weakness, he stepped in close but didn’t touch me. It didn’t matter. His mere nearness was like a caress that I could feel all over my body. As he leaned in close to my ear, his body gently grazed my own, and the tension became stifling.

“What do you want, Vi,” he whispered in my ear, and goosebumps rose along my skin. My mouth opened, but no words came out.

“Do you want me to kiss you,” he asked, his voice syrupy and rich to my ears.

I instantly licked my lips at the thought of finally tasting him. Still, I said nothing, but I didn’t move away. I could admit that I wanted to kiss him. Whether it was a good idea or not was another story.

“I won’t touch you unless you say the words, Vi. Do you want me to kiss you? Do you want me to touch you?”

The tension was so thick it felt like I was choking on it. I nodded, my voice seemingly lost to me.

Asher pulled back just enough that he was staring directly into my eyes.