Masuk“Don’t wait up for me today.” he says without looking at me as we make way to the elevator.No. No way I’m letting that happen. That’s our time.“Are you going somewhere?”Asides his meetings with his friends, we go everywhere together, okay and his magic sessions with Professor Obscuro, but I know about that now, he doesn’t have any reason to hide it from me, we could go together. “Yes.” Is all he says.My throat thickens. Robin. He said he was waiting for the thing with Carson’s father to go away first. Apparently he’s gotten impatient. “I can wait. I did last night.” I’m aware that sounds painfully like desperation, like a booty call trying to be more. Maybe that is what I am.His finger scrolling through his phone pauses, his steps don’t falter, he doesn’t look up, but I have a clear view of his quickly reddening nose. A cold might be setting in. My mind does a quick review of everything he needs to combat the cold, no idea that I had already stopped and Carson walked right
ASHER HALL’S POV I should have said something then. The words were right there on top pf my tongue. That moment’s hesitation, one moment of hesitation– where my thoughts were filled with gratitude, that Carson would trust me with himself so openly, so wholeheartedly. I couldn’t tell him that sex without condoms would be a dream come true, it was everything to me. My mind immediately worked out the logistics– in between the meetings I could swing by the hospital to get the tests done in time.To say I was excited was the worst possible way to put it.But my mouth didn’t work fast enough and I regret it. He ran out on me and didn’t show up at work for the rest of the day. I told myself it was no big deal, he might have needed a bit of space.Although the state of him when he ran out makes me felt like my heart’s being pulled right out of my chest.Instead I go get myself tested. He said he’d have lunch with Robin, it grated on my nerves, but the
Immediately the words leave my mouth, I wish I could suck them right back in.Asher stiffens under me, hands falling off my body.Why did I say that? Why would I even think to suggest that? We’re not in the type of relationship to do that. No matter how ‘clean’ i am, that’s a thing for people who trusted each other, who shared a relationship deeper than whatever this is. Feeling my face heat up, my legs swing off his quickly, it’s awkward to get into my seat.“It’s been a while for me, but I have to get tested, make sure.” he says, voice tight with an unnamed emotion. He’s lying, to save me from the embarrassment that statement has brought me. This is bad.“Sure.”“I’ll get the test done–”“Asher.” I say sternly, keeping my voice and emotion in check, it’s a struggle, my voice is tight with unsaid words, a large lump sitting in my throat. There’s heat at the back of my eyes. “We’re late.”I have no idea if we are, but it’s enough to keep him from trying to salvage the situation. Th
CARSON BITTERS POV I felt him slide into the bed, my fingers grip the covers to prevent me from turning around. He wants to ask questions, and I don’t have any answers for him.As I walked away from the car a part of me hoped he’d chase after me, the other half was grateful he didn’t. This is why I was satisfied with our arrangement, because I knew I’d start to want too much.The warmth from his body is tempting, his scent overpowering, I want those arms wrapped around me and just for tonight, I let myself pretend this is okay. I hate that I’m using him like this.But I can’t help myself.I grip his fore arm with more force than necessary, throat tight with emotions. Just this once, I won’t indulge after this one time. Asher is still here when I wake up, he’s all smiles, but he’s watching me intently, searching for clues about what happened last night.I’ve reined it in, and so I smile at him, his eyes are suspicious, but he says nothing about it.
ASHER HALL I tried to sit in the car. I tried. But every second that went by with Carson up there, was a second Robin could be trying his luck with my man. The thought of that happening made me feel violent in ways I never thought was possible with me. Trusting Carson to handle himself is one thing, but trusting Robin– that’s something I don’t see myself doing. I trust Carson, we made it exclusive, he wouldn’t, not with the way he looks at me. Carson is smart, no doubt about it. His brain works quick, putting two and two together at an impossible speed. But it also made him think nothing got past him. He doesn’t see that Robin is waving a neon flag with his feelings on display in front of his face. I thank that cute obliviousness of his.Carson sobers up quickly the second he sees me. He was just laughing a few seconds ago, when I show up, he’s stopped. A lump of fury climbs up my chest.I scan the room, all of his friends are pr
Asher thinks my name is ‘baby’ now. He called me that during sex, and it could have been the euphoria, heat of the moment, shit, anything. The moment was something else, it was wildly intimate and also very fucking hot– thinking about it gives me a full blown boner, and now I can’t stop having a boner around him– that is beside the point. It’s always,“What do you want for breakfast, baby?” Or, “Come her let me help you shave, baby.”Yes he did help me shave, again, not the point.The point is, the man has forgotten my name!We went to bed together after he asked me to stay the night, there’s nothing on earth that could have kept me from spending the night with him. He said please, come on now, I was a goner after. He could ask me to drop dead in that gorgeous voice and the cherry on top that is ‘please’ and my only regret is that someone else would get him after I’m gone. I expected the ‘baby’ would calm down at the office.If you expected he’d recognize the four walls of the work
Never in my wildest imagination did I think Asher would take me to my bed. Okay, that’s an obvious lie, I’ve had imagined it loads of times, wilder than just taking me by the hand, up the stairs. I pinch myself to make sure this isn’t some Carson directed movie, playing in my head, where I’m both
I ended up eating my ice cream all by myself. Of course he wasn’t going to eat the ice cream, he’s Asher Hall, example of the straights. Changing out of my battle royale suit, and choosing a soft navy blue shirt and black pants, and I think one of the perks of working from home is the fact that I
My head spins. I can’t see. I can’t breathe.What is happening…?My chest feels tight and hot.There’s a ringing somewhere.My fingers graze along the metal walls, tripping on themselves as I try to find the buttons. Shaking my head, trying to focus, squeezing my eyes…This can’t be happening.I
“Why did you kiss me?” “The deal was one question,” he says firmly, nodding at the phone in my hand. I let myself chuckle, well played. Very well played. Even so, I can’t help the excitement that rushes through me.Asher kissed me.He admitted that much, there’s even evidence of him saying this o







