CHAPTER 7

Those big green and gray eyes would be the end of me soon enough, all I did was leave Melody with Asher in the sitting room while I did some laundry and by the time I got back she was already begging me for permission to go over to Asher’s and I could just “tag along”.

It was no rocket science that I lost. I let out a lengthy sigh as I watched Melody and Asher swim in his infinity pool from the lounge chairs, her giggles filled the air as Asher showed her funny new tricks. I wondered how they could swim with the sun as hot as it was, I was under a shade and I felt like I was going to have a heat stroke, I only swam an hour before I decided I was over it… I’d rather guard the refreshments.

“Mummy come join us. We want to play tag and only two people would be boring” Melody complained while she floated across the water.

“Aren’t you tired already? It’s way past your nap time bean”

“Tag first then nap time. You don’t want Mr. Asher thinking you are boring, do you? It’s best we keep it a secret between us” she whispered. I gasped feigning hurt

“Oh no… we can’t have that” Asher laughed as he winked at me, his arms folded over the pool wall.

“Shut up” I chuckled sitting up.

“Mummy you said a bad word”

“I mean… keep quiet” Asher’s smile only grew wider. I shook my head.

I walked over to the pool steps and started climbing in, asher stretched out his hand for me to take that sly smile was still plastered across his lips as I contemplated whether to take his hand or not. 

“C’monnnnn” Melody whined.

“Okay”

I placed my hand in his and immediately I heard Melody’s giggle I knew I should have gone into the pool myself. Before I could save myself Asher pulled me in, the sound of water around me filled my ears as I kicked quickly to get air. I felt his strong arm wrap around my waist from behind and pull me up to the surface, I gasped for air.

“Are you guys crazy? Oh my gosh!”

“You are so dramatic for a professional swimmer” he whispered into my ear, caressing the sides of my stomach. I felt a quick shiver run down my spine as I looked back at him.

“Ex-professional swimmer” I swim away from his hold.

“And you sly little girl. You were in on this weren’t you?” I turned to Melody and swam after her, I could still feel Asher’s eyes on me.

*****

I placed Melody on the couch, stepped back outside, and sat on the wall of the pool with my legs in the water. I watched him swim a couple of laps before I got lost in my thoughts once again. Considering what had happened about an hour ago it’s been getting harder to say no to his charms, to frown when he smiles at me, to move away when he looks me up and down and touches me.

I really wanted to try to gaslight myself into thinking that the events of six years ago were just my imagination or a dream. Maybe there was more to the story than meets the eye. Was that even a possibility at this point, I had heard his voice clearly that night. 

A black mass of hair came up the surface revealing Asher. 

‘“Hey stranger” he flashed me a toothy grin and I couldn’t help but giggle. He placed his hand on either side of me for support.

“Hey”

“I thought you wouldn’t come back”

“I didn’t want you throwing a tantrum” I tilted my head to the left. He scoffed.

“Cute” 

“I try my best” I winked and he nodded, his grin growing into a smile

“You should come back in”

“I’ll just watch for now” I replied.

“You should have said you wanted a show milady. My back was looking extra tasty today when I looked in the mirror this morning” he wriggled his eyebrows. I threw my head back from laughing, scooped a bit of water, and splashed him.

“Eww” I giggled pushing his head back in the water, he swam up shaking his head and splashing water on me.

“Hey!!” I exclaimed.

He swam a couple of laps and came back, his hands caressed my legs while he swam up.

“It’s more beautiful than I imagined” he brushed his hair back

“What is?” I asked as I watched his hand on my right thigh.

“You being a mother. You are so good with her”

“Really?” I asked. My eyes widened.

“Of course,” he said as a matter of fact.

“I was so scared that I would never be good enough. I barely knew what to do most of the time, I thought I’d harm her or do something to make her hate me” I rushed before I could stop myself. His eyes softened more as he listened to me intently 

“No no, Carino. I see the way you look at her with so much love in your eyes and she loves you too. You are the perfect mother for her, don’t you ever think otherwise again” 

He took hold of my hand and kissed the back of it a couple of times, his eyes never breaking contact with mine. He winked and I smiled.

“Thank you”

“Don’t mention it. C’mon, join me,” he said pulling me gently into the water, I followed his lead. Today I wouldn’t let anything weigh me down or make me sad… no thoughts about the past or the future, just right here being in his arms and feeling nineteen again is all I’m going to care about.

“Want to race?” he asked

“Do you think you can win?” I raised my brow as he led me to the end of the pool.

“I’d like to try. It’s been six years I’m sure you are rusty now”

“Is that a challenge Mr. Stone?” I gasped

“Sure. The loser has to give the winner whatever they want”

“You are so on” I replied, cracking my knuckles. my competitive side was starting to come through… it had been a while.

“On the count of three okay?”

“Okay,” I nodded

One… two… three!”

I dove into the water before he could say three and he followed soon after, passing me by an inch. I pulled him by his arm but he shook me off and swam on… we were tied now and I was giving it my all but then he won by an inch because of his long arms that got to the wall before mine. We swam up to the surface.

“You cheat!” he exclaimed, splashing me a couple of times. I argued in between giggles.

“You still won”

“By like an inch. Wow, the mighty Samantha Gonzalez results to cheating”

“Be quiet. State your price” I pushed him, not that it did anything. he wasn't the boy I used to know anymore, he was a man now. he had filled out in all the right places, he had always had an attractive body but now he was hot, tanned, and muscular from working out obviously. his right peck is double my palm.

“I want you to let me hold you,” he said. the playfulness in his eyes is gone and now replaced with a deep sensual look, one I had never seen before, one that makes me want to lose all common sense. I’m stuck with just staring at him and him at me

“Can I?”

“I always keep my word” I shrugged, trying to play it cool. it was no big deal right? Just a hug. people hugged all the time. 

“But do you want me to hold you?”

“Don’t make me-” I shook my head. he always did this, wanting me to give him the go-ahead but once I do that, I’ve lost. it’s game over.

“I want you to say it. Tell me”

he moves closer, towering over me as I struggle to look up at him. his nearness made me lose the slight balance I was trying to keep in the water, he tucked my hair behind my ear.

“yes. I want you to”

“Thank goodness. It would have been so hard to walk away from you,” he said with relief before gathering me into his arm, my feet lifted from the ground

“Swim away, you mean”

“You always have to joke about everything don’t you” he mumbled

“Can’t help it”

“It’s okay, I’ve missed it… a bit” burying his head between my neck and shoulder.

“Wow. I’m shocked, it used to piss you off years ago. Oh my gosh, do you reme-”

I froze when I felt his lip connect with the spot between my neck and, my shoulder.

“Ssshh”

He kissed it again this time moving higher with every two kisses, I felt myself loosen up in his hold and he melted against me. I couldn’t stop my hands from moving up his back it was so toned now… so manly and I could feel his groan rumble throughout his body at my touch.

“Sam” he called.

“Mhmn?”

His kisses intensified causing me to tilt my neck, giving him better access. I had missed this so much, too much that I didn’t want to admit it. After I left I tried to find someone else… anyone else but it never worked out. According to them, I cared too little or I had a heart of stone or I was just too busy working like a dog to give them the time of day and whenever we’d end things I would feel like a weight was finally lifted off my shoulder. The truth is they just weren’t Asher Stone. He was the one person who knew me, where to touch me, how to handle me, how to ruin me, how to command me. Just him and it would only be him.

“Hold on” he mumbled against my skin and I placed my hands on his two shoulders letting him lift me up and wrap my legs around his waist. He walked over to the very edge of the pool caging me between his body and the pool.

“Can you feel that down there?” he stared into my eyes. his were more of a forest green color, which only happened when he was excited.

“No” I shook my head and blushed shyly.

“Good because it’s almost embarrassing how much power you have over me, you don’t even realize,” he said, his voice sounding throaty.

He continued his attack on the other side of my neck, I moved one hand up to grab his hair while the other remained on his back. He moved higher and then to my throat, sucking and biting gently. I bit my lip to stop myself from moaning but it was getting too much as I felt one of his hands grip my thigh harder and the other moved to my hair, wrapping it gently around his hand and pulling it back causing my head to get thrown back to give him more access.

“I’ve missed you so much. I thought I’d go crazy” he mumbled against my skin. I moaned, I couldn't hold it in any longer.

“there it is” he purred at my response.

he moved away from my neck placing his forehead against mine. we were both breathing heavily just from the tension between us. six years since I felt so on fire… alive. our breaths mingled as we teased each other with stares that could do nothing to appease our cravings.

“did you miss me, Sam?”

“ye... yes”

“sh*t you do not know how happy that makes me” he smiled caressing my back.

“stop teasing”

“I love this swimsuit a lot. I should get you more of them” he tugged gently on the strings of my bikini top

“why are you changing the subject?”

I was so hot and needy that nothing else made sense

“I'm trying to calm down” he smiled sadly.

“why?”

“you know why” he kissed my forehead.

he lifted me higher and placed me back on the pool wall to sit, I looked at him with confusion and at the same time understanding. I watched him as he backstroked farther and farther away from me.

“you can't look at me like that Carino. we still have a lot of things to uncover, a lot of sh*t to work through. I don't want us to do something that would make things messier. I really want to do right by you this time. I’ll wait, no matter how long”

“What if I won't regret it” I peeked at him from beneath my lashes.

“We shouldn't trust ourselves right now. you should go in, and check on melody. I’ll come in later”

Just like that, he was gone, under the water. I had two choices, I could either sit here and wait for him to come back to the surface and test him until he throws all common sense out the door or I could get my butt up and check on Melody. I chose the latter, he was right and it hurt because I wasn't sure we’d ever get the chance to unbox all the baggage around us.