Isabella opened the front door and entered a very familiar living room. It was her safe haven. She sank into a three-seater sofa with a deep exhale. Asher sat right beside her and pulled her into his arms such that he was cuddling her upper body. She lifted her legs on the couch and lay horizontally on his lap. A comfortable silence engulfed them until Isabella broke it. “You know I am messed up, right?” She asked absentmindedly. Asher growled. Yes, he knew she was an addict and other baggage he couldn't even begin to understand, but he didn't think she was messed up. In his opinion, she was just a lonely girl who didn't know how to ask for help when she needs it the most. And he was planning to rectify that by anticipating her lack and being a reliable source of comfort. “To me, you are perfect, princess.” Isabella scoffed. She knew herself fully, and no amount of sugar coating could convince her otherwise. After all, she had been told on more occasions than one by her family just h
Time flew fast, and before they knew it, Asher was driving them back home. And instead of typical bickering or Cold War between them, a very satisfying silence had engulfed them. “I don't want to go home.” Isabella groaned as they neared. “You and me both, princess,” Asher admitted, stretching and clutched hers gently. “Let's elope,” she suggested seriously. She didn't have anything holding her back in the shitty mansion.“Marcia would skin me alive.” Asher's mock horror sent Isabella cracking up. He was definitely a clown. She surmised.“We can ask her to come with us,” Isabella argued. “Do you really think that she will want to leave Paul behind?” Asher asked with a knowing grin. Isabella shook her head. Marcia was hopelessly in love with Paul. She had been for as long as Isabella could remember. “One day I will take you away from all this,” Asher promised. He knew Isabella hated it in the mansion. Apart from the fact that she felt out of place in the family, there were a lot o
That night, before Asher's shift came to an end, he sneaked into Isabella's room. She was more than happy to see him. “I thought you weren't coming.” She accused him. It was true that she had begun doubting he would show after waiting for quite a while. “Sorry for making you wait, princess.” He reached out and grabbed her wrist. Isabella smiled, flinging herself into his arms. Asher squeezed her to him, inhaling her calming scent as he squeezed his eyes shut.“I was about to come looking for you.” She retorted with a satisfied smile that Asher missed, so he couldn't tell if she was serious or just joking around as usual. “I have to go before the next guy gets here,” Asher whispered reluctantly. Isabella frowned. “…”“I promise I will be back in the morning before you wake.” “But I wanted to sleep with you tonight.” Isabella shot back. Asher's heart skipped a beat. He, too, wanted the same impossible thing, which made him regret his decision to seek employment in the Garcia's house
“Naughty girl,” Asher grumbled, strapping Isabella into the SUV. She had insisted on taking the passenger seat despite his assertion.“Isn't that why you like me?” Isabella retorted. Asher stilled. It was like someone had drenched him with extremely cold water. Isabella felt his demeanor change and realized her mistake quickly. But it was too late. Asher had already taken the offense to heart and brought his guard up. “I am sorry, that came out wrong.” She apologized earnestly. Asher didn't acknowledge it. After he sat behind the wheel, he didn't spare her even a glance, which hurt Isabella deeply. She understood his reason for feeling dejected. He had been trying to convey his feelings for her, begging her to believe his intentions, and just with a few words she shit on his efforts. She attempted to talk to him but kept getting ignored, so she decided to give him time. She hadn't even paid attention to the road to know that they were heading towards the shopping mall. Once Asher pul
Back in the SUV, Isabella turned to Asher. “I apologise for what I said, I didn't mean for it to come out like that.” “Is that what you really think of me?” Asher asked, merely curious. “That I am with you just for sex?” Isabella's statement earlier had made him feel shitty. And though he was keeping a huge ass secret from her, he didn't appreciate being compared to hit-and-run fellas. With all honesty, he was running out of ideas on what to do or even behave to make her realize he was serious about her. “Can you firmly say that you like me of my exceptional character?'' Isabella shot back instead. Asher blinked. No one in their right mind would like a slut with an addiction problem. Yet, he was. Crazy about a woman, and he didn't even know why. “No,” he said quietly, choosing honestly. Isabella smiled bitterly. She appreciated his sincerity, but it didn't mean his answer didn't hurt her. “Then which reason do you have for liking me?” Her exasperated tone made Asher nervous. He wa
There was something about Isabella begging which made Asher's blood boil. He let out a strangled whimper, shutting his eyes. His cock, however, had other ideas. It slipped between Isabella's butt cheeks, making both hisses with uncorrupted desire. Were he a hormonal-driven male, Asher would have pushed his length deep into her ass, and he had a feeling she was too horny to even attempt to stop him. With much effort, Asher pushed both of them into the swimming pool, catching Isabella unaware. His sole hope was that the cold water would somehow dampen their excitement. Isabella screeched as goose bumps formed on her flawless skin. She turned to Asher with a scowl. “Why did you do that?” Asher gazed at her pursed lips, and before he could stop himself, he leaned and ran his tongue over them lightly. “I promised, didn't I?” he asked simply. “But I begged,” Isabella countered, reaching out to grab him by the neck and automatically wrapped her legs around his waist. The cold water had do
Asher regretted his decision almost two hours later when he drove back home and let Isabella see the disturbing file. At first, she was calm and collected perusing through, until, of course, she got to the picture part. With shaky hands, she lifted the first one and stared at it intently. One would have thought that she was trying to figure something out, but her eyes were good to the lifeless face lying on the floor. That face that had haunted her every waking moment for as long as she could remember. That face that she missed so much. And the same face that she had hated at a point for causing her unbearable pain. “I had almost forgotten how beautiful she was.” It was a silently broken whimper, but Asher heard it clearly and his heart clenched. He wanted a much to comfort her, but he knew she needed a moment to deal with her grief all over again. “I should have given her a benefit of the doubt.” Isabella moaned, sobbing uncontrollably now. “I knew she loved me, and now that I think
Nothing went as planned. Asher received an unexpected visitor, so he had to leave the premises to deal with him. It was no surprise to the bodyguard that his father suddenly showed up. Though he was calm and collected, which is so unlike Mr. Silas Marlowe, Asher knew his old man was just trying not to blow their cover. Isabella, who of course was clueless, insisted Asher should spend the time with his father and that they could plan another day to steal the will.“What are you doing here, dad?” Asher finally asked entering his childhood home. He didn’t risk talking to his old man in public, for he knew the matter at hand. Why else would his father drive half an hour to see him? And by what seemed like a silent mutual agreement, both were silent during the drive home. Perhaps because each had a lot to say.“I should be asking you that!” Silas bellowed, discarding his jacket. “Seems to me, you have forgotten why you infiltrated Garcia's mansion.” He spat bitterly. Before Asher could spe