LOGINASHER "Aren't you happy to see me?" Luca asked Ariella, wiggling his eyebrows dramatically. I immediately shot him a warning look. Then leaned closer and whispered, "What the fuck are you doing here?" He didn't even have the decency to look guilty. Instead, he smiled, then winked at me. The b
ASHER Ariella took a deep breath. Then another. I watched her expression change and the smile faded. The nerves returned as she looked toward the door. Toward whatever was waiting for her there. I squeezed her hand and immediately her eyes found mine again. "You don't have to do this today." The
ASHER To say I was having a hard day is not the right word. I'm still looking for the right word to describe it. But yes, I did go back home And I locked myself in my office. I stayed there until Ariella came knocking. "I'm ready." She said the moment she walked in. I looked at her and the wa
ASHER Shit. Shit. And another shit. I knew this day would come. I just didn't expect it so soon. I could see the determination in Ariella's eyes when she said it. She was ready and she really wanted to do this. Shit. “I am going to see her,” she told me firmly. “I want to go later in the even
ARIELLA I kept watching Leon and Asher's figure even when they had disappeared completely when Sia asked, “So you're not a morning person, are you?” I turned toward her. “I am. But not if I have to exercise first thing.” “Not at all?” “Absolutely not.” She laughed. “And Asher's trying to g
ARIELLA "No," I said shaking my head. "I am not doing it anymore." "You barely started," Asher said. "I'm finished." "You ran for three minutes." "It felt like two years." Leon laughed so hard he nearly fell over. "Mom." "No." "Mom." "No. No, no." "You look and sound exactly like Leon wh
ARIELLA Asher spent the remainder of his day with us yesterday, and it felt like home for once. home in the real sense of the word, because he was there and we were all together. For once, I felt like it was our home. I felt at home. But then, at around three in the morning, while in bed, asleep,
ARIELLA Maria held my hand tighter. “Go back with your head high. Show them how strong you are. Stop feeling guilty for wanting good things. Family comes first.” I smiled faintly. “I don’t think they mean one's own family when they say that.” She laughed, pulling me into a hug, and then I left h
ARIELLA Luca nodded slowly. Maria slipped beside me, pressing a handkerchief into my palm. “Here,” she said. I dabbed my eyes. “Don’t worry, the makeup’s waterproof,” Maria added with a little smile. “You can cry all you want.” That actually made me laugh, a small shaky laugh that broke the ten
ARIELLA I looked up at Asher, a small, secret smile playing on my lips even as I kept him in my mouth. I didn't slow down. I didn't want him to regain his composure. I wanted the raw, unfiltered version of the man who claimed me. "I’m going to come in your mouth," he warned, his breath hitching.







