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One hand rises before strong fingers wrap around my jaw as if to hold me in place. Except we both know that’s not necessary. I’m here willingly.
I hate to admit just how many times he’s surprised me this evening. When I expect him to do one thing, he does the opposite. It’s enough to leave me feeling strangely off kilter and unsure of my own instincts.
What I like most is that all the issues circling a million miles an hour through my brain have disappeared into thin air. My car breaking down, money for the bills, the coursework I’m always trying to complete on time, and everything my father just dumped in my lap vanishes until the only thing I can focus on is how delicious it feels to have his lips coasting over mine.
A low growl rumbles up from within his chest as he angles his head one way and then another before deepening the kiss. It’s like I’m being dragged to the bottom of the ocean and can’t imagine what it would be like to surface again.
Who needs air to breathe?
Certainly not me.
It’s a shock to realize that my arms have twined around his neck and my fingers are tunneling through the thick strands of his short hair. It feels as if I’m clinging to him, hanging on for dear life.
When he licks the inside of my mouth with insistent strokes, I melt against him, needing more. Has anyone ever kissed me quite so thoroughly or with so much authority?
It’s a stupid question.
Of course they haven’t.
That’s all it takes for me to lose track of both time and space. The only thing I’m cognizant of is the firm pressure of his fingers on my jaw, the way his lips are slanted across mine, and the velvety softness of his tongue as it licks and strokes me. It could be minutes or hours that we remain fused together. What I do know is that when we finally break apart, Asher’s eyes are heavy-lidded, the glass is fogged up, and we’re both breathing hard.
When his tongue darts out to lick at his lower lip, my gaze falls to the movement.
“Mmm, I taste like you.”
Those thickly spoken words have another burst of arousal exploding deep in my core. My thoughts are a tangled mess as need throbs insistently through me, sparking sensations to life in places I had no idea existed before this night.
When his hand snakes around the nape of my neck and he drags me closer for a second time, reality crashes around my head and I slap my palms against the steely strength of his chest to keep him at bay.
It takes effort to find my voice. “We probably shouldn’t.”
His penetrating gaze stays focused on mine. “Why not?”
That’s an excellent question.
My brain spins, trying to come up with an answer. “It’ll only blur the lines of our friendship.”
The thick haze clouding his eyes gradually clears. “Is that what we are? Friends?”
A couple weeks ago, I would have said absolutely not.
Now, I’m not so sure.
“I think so.”
Indecision flickers in his eyes before his grip loosens and he backs off, putting some much-needed space between us. The arousal burning in his bright blue eyes is enough to scorch me alive. That’s when I realize it wouldn’t take much to ignite a fire between us. One that could easily burn out of control.
That’s not something I can allow to happen.
My life is complicated enough.
Adding him into the mix would be foolish. And that’s the last thing I am. I’ve made it a point to always think a couple of steps ahead and make smart decisions that propel me forward. Asher will only mess with my head and bog me down. Even if he doesn’t mean to, that’s exactly what will occur.
I refuse to let it happen.
He plows a hand through his hair before glancing at the fogged-up windshield. After a second or two, his gaze slides to mine before locking on it. A potent concoction of relief and disappointment swirls through me now that the desire swimming in his eyes has dissipated.
“I meant what I said earlier,” he says, breaking into the tangle of my thoughts. “You can call anytime.”
“Thank you.” My fingers shake as I grab my backpack from the floor of the vehicle before popping open the passenger door. Once my feet hit the pavement, I suck a deep breath of chilly night air into my lungs and hope it’s enough to clear my head. Since I’m unsure when we’ll meet up again, I say, “Talk soon.”
“You can bet on it.”
The unexpected promise filling his voice has my eyes widening before darting to his. That’s when I realize that whatever has been set in motion tonight isn’t over.
Not by a long shot.
16
ASHER
My gaze coasts over the sea of colorfully dressed students packed into the first floor of our house as I bring the green bottle to my lips and take a swig. Almost every girl is wearing a bikini and tiny shorts or a grass skirt. The guys have kept it lowkey with T-shirts and board shorts. Needless to say, everyone who’s walked through that door tonight has gotten lei’d.
