26. Jade
Jade
The next morning, I wake up to my favorite sight.
Asher, completely naked, one arm bent with his fist under his pillow, his face turned toward the little bit of sunlight streaming through the uncovered blinds in Roxie’s office.
Wait, no, my room.
I feel like I can breathe again. Asher didn’t betray me, he’s choosing me. My man, my love, my protector, my future. He’s here.
The sun is reflecting off his bare chest, highlighting the beautiful art on his skin. The man is like a walking museum; gorgeous art everywhere you look. My finger traces the smokey phoenix outline on his chest. The design and talent to make it look like he’d captured smoke under his skin is remarkable.
“That tickles,” he says gruffly, and I jump in surprise. His voice is thick with sleep, making his already deep timbre even deeper. I chuckle under my breath and look at him, resting my head on his chest.
“Sorry, I was just admiring you.”
“Ah, then don’t stop on my account.” He smiles, stretching his arms out on either side of him before wrapping me in his arms. “I, too, like to stare at beautiful things,” he muses, right before he makes lingering eye contact with me.
“Oh shush,” I tut but I know I’m blushing.
Asher smiles playfully and looks around, glancing at the window. “What time is it? I need to head into the shop today,” he explains. “And I’d like you to come with me, if you’re ready.” Single-handedly reaching to a box next to us, he grabs his phone to check his messages. I smile softly at our surroundings. He put his phone right next to mine. Just like there’s a neat little pile of his clothes next to mine. His shoes by the door to my room.
The domesticity of it makes me giddy.
“It’s only nine.” Asher yawns before putting his phone down. “Shower, breakfast, shop?” he asks, cuddling back into me, eyes slowly closing. I’m pretty sure if I didn’t respond, he’d fall right back asleep. He’s not a morning person.
Ding, ding. Ding, ding. My phone starts going off, message after message pouring in.
Asher’s eyes open and he groans as I laugh breathily. Leaning over him, I pick up my phone and open the four messages that have come in since the first ding.
Mom: Jade, I’m in town and going to be at your dorm in 45 minutes. I expect you there.
Mom: I’ve heard some things that concern me, and we need to discuss your future.
Mom: I’m not pleased with your performance this semester and I’m very disappointed with the things I’ve heard you’ve been up to since you’ve been here.
Mom: Being seen out and about with some older, tattooed man? Getting into fights? I’ve heard he’s dangerous and malicious. Riding around on motorcycles and skipping class? I don’t know who you are.
“Fuck,” I curse, covering my mouth and sitting up.
“What?” Asher asks, trailing his fingers up and down my bare back.
“My mother…” I answer softly, “My mother is coming to town.Now. She’s going to be at the dorms soon and wants to discuss my ‘behavior’ and my future.”
“Maybe you’ll be able to tell her about wanting to switch majors.”
“I doubt it,” I grumble and stand up, letting the blanket fall around my feet. With that movement, I take the blanket from Asher, too. Leaving us both naked and… fuck, his morning wood is glorious .
I know my mouth drops open slightly as I stare, but can you blame me? He’s a thick eight inches and curved in just the right way. Not to mention the thick veins running alongside his shaft as his cock stands more at attention with my gaze.
“If we don’t have time to fix this…situation…” He cocks an eyebrow and moves his arm over his head to show off his muscular body, which does not escape my attention, and continues, “Then you have to stop staring at me like that, baby girl.”
“Or what?” I ask, feeling bold. I speak without thinking, but I don’t regret it. “Are you going to spank me, Daddy?”
What have I done?
Asher’s eyes widen then narrow with heat as he processes my words. His gaze travels over my body slowly, and I swear I feel his fingers caressing me with each pass of his eyes over my skin. I feel myself getting wetter, my arousal flaring to a full-blown inferno within.
“Oh, baby girl,” Asher taunts in a gravelly tone. “If you keep talking that way, I’m going to think you want a spanking from me.”
I fidget in my spot, trying not to show just how much his deep tone affects me… how I can feel the wetness gather and slip down my folds.
“Is that what you want, Jade? My hand on your bare ass, turning it such a pretty pink while you’re over my knee?” Effortlessly, seamlessly, Asher stands like a wraith and towers over me. “I think you’d like it… I think I could make you come just from the bit of pain and the edging I’d provide,” he whispers in my ear as a hand swats my ass. There’s a slight bite of pain, but the warmth that blooms…
This is interesting.
Do I like it?
Do I want to give him that kind of power?
The thought alone turns me on in a way that I wasn’t aware I could feel.
“I know you’re thinking about it, and I want you to take your time and really consider this. If you want to explore it, we can. But I’m not going to spank you—really spank you—for being naughty without your explicit, informed and thought-out decision.” He smirks, dipping his head and biting the juncture point on my neck, the one he knows I love, and squeezes my ass. “You’ve got the perfect ass for a spanking, baby. Fuck, I’m getting too turned on,” Asher says suddenly and steps back. “We have to go see your mom soon and I definitely don’t have the time to fix this.” He points down to his raging boner, and I smile.
I really, really love that he reacts to me so much. How, with just a look, I can turn him on and get him hard. The same way he can look at me and I start to drip.
“I’d much rather stay here with you,” I moan, trying to entice him to forget about my evil mother, but he’s not having it. After he kindly untangles himself from my embrace, I whine and want to stomp my foot like a toddler because I know I’m not going to get what I want. He’s determined to meet my lifelong tormentor.
Sighing, I admit defeat.
“Oh, come on, love.” Asher chuckles and pulls on his underwear before turning back and kissing my forehead. “I want to meet this woman. And tell her how fucking stupid she is for treating you this way.”
“What?” Fear flooding my system. He’s going to confront her? “You can’t,” I protest.
“Can’t what?”
“You can’t say that to her.”
“I believe I can. Free speech, part of the wonderful American constitution.” He raises one eyebrow and gives me a smooth smirk.
I sigh with exasperation. “I get that you think you’re being cute, but seriously Asher, you can’t. She’ll chew you apart.”
He laughs loudly, boisterously, like he thinks I’ve told him the best joke he’s ever heard instead of metaphorically shitting my pants. He must see how fucking not amused I am, because he stops laughing. His eyebrows raise in surprise as he holds his T-shirt out between us awkwardly.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes!” I screech loudly. “My mother has basically said she wants to discuss things she’s heard and my schooling. She gives no fucks about my mental health or my safety. Only that I’m doing what she wants and acting how she wants. Imagine what will happen when she finds out I want to switch majors from business to art? She’s going to fucking kill me.” Panic and anxiety replace the ice-cold fear in my veins and my heart starts to beat abnormally fast.
“Jade?” I hear Asher ask worriedly, but he sounds so far away.
My breath comes in gasps and my throat starts to close, even though I’m trying to remind myself to breathe. My body’s not working. I can’t…
“Jade,” Asher barks loudly, shaking my shoulders aggressively. My head lobs back and forth as he shakes me but it does the trick and shocks me out of my panic attack. “Fuck, baby, breathe! ” His voice is so loud that I know Roxie will be able to hear.
“I can’t… I can’t…” I repeat, not sure how to end that sentence. My mind spirals uncontrollably. I can’t face her. I can’t change her piss-poor idea of me. I can’t change her mind. I can’t tell her off. I can’t let her tear me down. I can’t go forward. I can’t go back. I can’t let her change my mind. I can’t let her wreck the first good thing I have in my life.
“You can.” Asher cups my face with his hands, anchoring me. His eyes meet mine and I allow myself to get swept up in the swirls of light blue. “You can do anything. You’ve survived so much already, Jade. She’s nothing. Nothing .”
“She’s my mother,” I say brokenly. I don’t know if I’m defending her, or if I’m trying to explain why I won’t be free. But he knows.
Nodding slightly, Asher reminds me, “But she’s not your family.”
He’s right.
He’s so damn right.
I put my hands over his and nod. “You’re my family.”
“That’s right, baby girl. And you’re mine.”