Touch me, love me.

ASHER’s POINT OF VIEW

I couldn’t do this.

I couldn’t tell her the truth, it was only going to hurt her.

And break our friendship.

Or whatever it was that we had together.

“Nae,” my voice seeped through the air like a cold wind, trying to cool the heat burning alongside the tension. “I— I know nothing.”

She frowned, staring at me like she didn’t believe. And I felt her hands slowly slip away from my neck.

“You’re lying, Asher.”

I wish I didn’t have to do that, but the truth made my throat go dry after forming a lump.

“I’m not.”

“Then what ‘truth’ was Sage talking about?” She threw at me sternly, her eyes turning cold and serious. “If it’s nothing— like you claimed, then, how did you know what happened wasn’t my fault?”

My throat burned. I was at a loss for words. The right replies to give. Lying my way out was harder than I’d thought.

I tried to reach for her. To coerce her that it was nothing serious like she had in mind. 

“You’re overthinking everything.”

“Am I?” She asked sarcastically, scoffing while flinching my hands away roughly. “I just got kicked out of my marriage and house for a crime I didn’t commit intentionally.”

I knew everything that had happened. 

She didn’t have to explain to me.

If anyone knew the whole truth that had happened that night— it was me.

Her voice shook with the pain I feared tugged at her heart. And it made me want to hold her in my arms, caress her skin, and whisper words of assurance into her ears.

I took a few steps closer, my eyes pleading as they pierced through hers. It felt… wrong saying the words that were about to exit my lips. But, I meant every single one of them.

And I wanted her to know.

“You need to let Sage go.”

Her glance at me made my heart drop for a moment. But then, it hardened, and I straightened my shoulders, allowing my fingers to brush through my hair nervously.

She dug her teeth into her lower lip, her eyes staring down at me while her hands were folded over her chest firmly.

“You’re sounding very selfish right now.”

“And you’re holding on to something that’s already gone.”

She needed to hear those words— loud and clear. And also accept them. 

Sage was gone— for good.

He’d chosen Daphne over her.

And he hadn’t just done that to spite her, but also to break her completely.

She snorted, running her tongue over her lips with her eyes fixed intently at me. I noticed her voice grow stronger, yet weak to utter the words clearly.

“He’s still my husband.”

I took one step closer, and leaned my head forward, making sure she held eye contact with me. “And he’s getting remarried.”

Her eyes began to twitch. “You think it’s that easy to unlove a person?” She didn’t have to ask me that. I already knew the feeling. “I’ve been married to Sage for five years, and… I’ve created so many memories that can’t just be forgotten.”

“You’re the one who’s choosing not to forget, Nadira,” I could see her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but I was bent on keeping my words harsh. “Look ahead of you— in front of you. The person who really wants you is out there waiting.”

She drew in a shuddering breath, nodding her head at my words while taking two steps backward into the room.

“You won’t be able to love me, Asher.”

I knitted my brows together. “Why not?”

“Because I say so,” her lips were quivering, and a tear escaped her right eye when she raised her head to look at me. “Your mother was right. I can’t turn you and your only brother into rivals.”

Hearing her say that made a knot tighten in my stomach. She didn’t have to kill my spirit that way. I didn’t care about my mother’s words, thoughts, or opinions.

All I cared about was… Nadira.

“You’re not turning anybody into rivals,” I held her back by the wrist, pulling her closer to me with my other hand reaching for her waist. “I chose to come back to LA for one reason.”

She stared curiously at me, her breath shaky when she felt our noses touching each other’s. Her eyelids kept blinking shyly, and I knew she wasn’t able to breathe properly or even hold my gaze.

It was safe to say I had an effect on her.

An unavoidable one.

Her resistance was melting away in my arms. And I was crushing every brick of defenses she was trying to build over her body.

Her mind.

Her heart.

She swallowed hard— I heard it.

“Wh— what reason?”

I didn’t stutter. I didn’t blink. And I certainly didn’t lie when I drew the words slowly to her face.

“You.”

*

“I’m not going to do anything intimate with you— until my divorce is complete.”

Two months felt like such a long time. 

But after hearing those words from Nadira, I was willing to wait till she was ready.

But, that didn’t stop me from kissing her.

Or touching her.

Or even having her in my bed.

My lips trailed down her neck slowly, pressing gentle kisses over her smooth skin.

Inhaling her scent made my mouth water, and my lips felt like nibbling on her. Her scent had remained the same over the years— Lavender, vanilla and chocolate musk.

I couldn’t resist myself. Couldn’t control the urges she made me feel. Couldn’t keep my hands off her.

Growing up together, I’d always known she was shy. But, to the extent of not being able to look in my eyes?

No.

“Look at me, Nae,” the hint of seduction lingered in my voice, with the mixture of longing and sinful desires. “Stop hiding those pretty eyes away from me.”

Her eyes remained shut momentarily, and then, slowly, she forced them open, revealing the perfect set of blue eyes I’d always stared into whenever she laughed.

She breathed shakily, shutting them back a few seconds after staring at me, her words and actions making me chuckle softly.

“I— I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“We’re not having sex,” I reminded her, pressing another kiss on her forehead. “We’re just… having fun.”

She opened her eyes, again, this time, they were glistening with… I don’t know? 

I couldn’t tell.

“Yet, you’re hovering over me, and I’m beneath your body… on your bed.” 

“Which feels good, by the way.”

I added, tilting my head forward while allowing my lips to trail further to her bosom, feeling the heat from her breasts, and the way her chest kept heaving uncontrollably.

“I need you to relax, Nae.”

I reminded her, feeling the way her muscles tensed when I’d barely touched her. If I didn’t know better, I’d have taken her for a virgin.

“This feels… different,” she had her eyes staring upward, still refusing to look at me. “I’ve never felt this way. The way— the way your touch makes me feel.”

I arched my brows, running my tongue over my lips.

“Do you want me to stop?” I asked her, knowing it would be a difficult thing to do. “I can stop, if you’re not—‘’

“— No,” the way she’d cut me off was sudden. It felt like a plea. “Don’t stop, I didn’t mean it that way.”

I smiled, stroking her cheeks with my fingers while forcing her to hold my intense gaze.

My voice had grown deeper with desires. “Then, what did you mean?”

“Sage’s only touched me once,” I widened my eyes at the confession, unable to believe it at first. “And that night… was a mistake. He was drunk, and— probably thought I was someone else. Or maybe Daphne.”

I had so many questions in mind to ask, but I guessed all the answers were already in my head.

“You mean, he’s never touched you… like this?”

My fingers trailed down her body, moving beneath her dress and in between her thighs. 

Her body shivered slightly, and I caught sight of her hands gripping the sheets slowly while I played with the edges of her underwear.

She struggled to keep her voice intact, breaking her words out through a whisper.

“No.”

“I really want to do more than this to your body,” I confessed, touching her nose with mine, my hot breath on her face. “But, I don’t want you to feel… rushed. Or pressured.”

She suppressed a moan, spreading her lips into a thin line instead. I could tell her body was flushing with waves of shock and adrenaline. It was the way her body kept shuddering with every single touch.

I allowed my hands to move further beneath her dress, feeling her warm body and exposed skin with both hands.

The urge to take off her clothes was overwhelming, and I feared she could feel the bulge growing harder in my pants.

I wanted to reach for her underwear, and pull it off her waist, but then, an interruption halted me— my phone’s ringtone.

“Just a moment.”

It took so much more than willingness to get me off her. I struggled to reach for my phone on the bedside table, without getting up from the bed.

But, it wasn’t effective.

I groaned, pushing my body against my will. My eyes flashed at the caller ID displayed on the screen, it was my security guard.

“Hello? Nathan?”

“Sir,” he sounded frantic over the phone, and it made me feel worried. “Your attention is needed urgently downstairs.”

I creased my forehead, sitting upright on the bed with my heart thumping heavily against my chest.

“What’s happening?”

“It’s your brother,” he broke the news, making my fists clench. “He’s here, and he came with… the police.”