Chapter 3 #2
“No. Not at all.” I shake my head, trying to remain composed. “Please forgive me. I don’t seem to be myself tonight.”
Spinning on my heel, I move quickly back to the island bench, and as soon as I turn my back to him, my cheeks flare in embarrassment.
What the hell is going on with me?
“Is everything alright?” he asks as I grip the counter and take in a deep, steadying breath.
I don’t get a chance to answer him before I see his shadow come to stand beside me from the corner of my eye.
“Yes,” I rush out, turning a fake smile his way, and instantly regret it.
My God, Asher Scott really has grown into a man.
A very tempting man.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Letting him stay here is a bad idea.
“I’ve ordered pizza for dinner tonight. I hope that’s okay,” I blurt, feeling my cheeks flame even hotter. “I haven’t had a chance to get to the grocery store.”
Asher frowns. “Of course. I’m sorry I don’t have any money to help pay for it yet. I’ll look for a job tomorrow.”
The way his whisky gaze wavers slightly has my head tilting, and I study his face.
I can see Asher really does feel like he needs to contribute financially. He’s not looking for charity, so instead of insisting that I take care of things, I give him a nod.
I can understand that need. Even though he doesn’t need to help. I earn enough through my side job to cover costs, and then some. I’d happily cover any expenses for Asher, but I won’t emasculate him.
“Speaking of jobs,” I smile, picking up my phone from the counter, hoping the distraction will get my hormones under control. “I have a list of things that need to be fixed around the house. Could you do what you can until you find a job?”
I open my notes app and show him the list, watching how his gaze remains focused on mine for a beat too long.
Instantly, my cheeks heat, and it’s not until I give the phone a little shake that he breaks his gaze and reads over the list.
“Of course.” He smirks as his eyes find mine again. “I can do anything you need of me, Lily.”
Oh shit. Did his voice just drop an octave? Is it hot in here all of a sudden?
“Thank you,” I rush out, stepping away from him and moving around the other side of the counter to put more distance between us again.
I need to get some damn control before I do… something.
I must be hormonal. That has to be the only explanation for my reactions to Asher. The urge to reach out and touch him in an inappropriate way has me reeling.
“Are you sure everything is okay?” Asher’s deep voice gains my attention again, and my eyes instantly travel over the bare flesh of his chest, and the way his muscles bunch as he leans with both hands pressed to the stone benchtop.
He looks so strong. His shoulders and arms coiled with muscles that could easily pick me up and throw me around.
The doorbell startles me, my eyes snapping from his defined muscles to his amused expression.
“Ah… that must be the pizza,” I rush out, almost frantically, dashing from the kitchen, and shit… did I just hear Asher chuckle?
Kill me now. He can tell I’m flustered.
I’m so happy to see the pizza delivery man that I almost invite him in as a buffer, but obviously, that would be weird, so I don’t.
Returning to the kitchen, Asher is grabbing plates from the cupboards, already knowing where everything is, before following me to the couches, where I put the pizza on the coffee table and take a seat in the armchair.
Asher’s gaze follows my movement as he frowns briefly, probably knowing that I never used to sit in the armchair. That was for Alexander.
Over the years, pizza night has always been like this, eaten in the living room around the coffee table, but I always sit on one sofa, and the twins sit on the other, while Alexander used to take the armchair.
Asher, though, he always sat next to me on the second sofa. I never took much notice of it over the years, but I’m taking notice now.
We each start eating in silence, and I watch how Asher’s lids fall shut as he bites into the double pepperoni pizza, a moan falling from his lips.
Oh… My…
I bite into my own slice, falling into some sort of trance as I watch him chew the food before taking another bite and moaning again. And fuck, I feel that moan deep inside me.
A blob of sauce drips from the pizza in Asher’s hand, falling onto his bare chest before slowly oozing down his lickable pec, right near his nipple.
His eyes fly open, and I startle out of my trance as he slowly swipes up the sauce from his chest and then licks it off his finger.
I moan.
“You okay, Lily?” His deep rasp shakes me out of my stupor.
Oh my fucking God!
Did I just moan?
Out loud?
I nod quickly. “Y-yes. Fine.”
The fuck I am! I’m losing my mind.
How can I so easily taunt, torture and kill a man, yet the moment Asher parades around without a shirt on, I turn into a blubbering hot mess?
Asher studies me for a moment while biting into his pizza, and I glance away. I can’t look at him. He’s going to see the want on my face, and even though I’m positive he was checking me out earlier, I need to slap myself and remember that he is the best mate of my twin sons.
“How’s business at the salon?” Asher asks. “Are your clients still travelling from London to get their hair done by the award-winning Lily Bennett?”
“Yes.” I smile, appreciating his attempt at small talk since I’m making this whole dinner awkward as hell. “I’ve had to close my books to new clients.”
“Wow.” He beams, and a hint of the young boy I used to take care of shows through in that smile. “That’s cracking, Lil.”
I nod, trying not to blush at the way he said my name. Lil.
It seems so… personal.
Intimate.
My heart races at the thought. The stupid organ needs to calm the hell down and remember that this is Asher. My heart shouldn’t be racing, and I shouldn’t be fighting off blushes.
“Thanks.” I smile, needing to clear my throat before I speak again. “It’s good for business, I guess. I’ve cut back my hours recently. The salon is doing well enough now that I don’t have to work full time.”
Lies. It’s the money my side hustle brings in that means I can reduce my hours at the salon, but people believe what I tell them about the little salon I own, and it’s a good place to launder some of the money I make on the side.
“I’m chuffed for you.” Asher grins before taking a sip of his drink. “I don’t suppose you have an open appointment to cut my hair tomorrow?” He reaches up and runs his fingers through his thick, longer than usual dark hair, and the butterflies in my belly make another appearance.
“Well, not an official appointment, but I can cut your hair after the salon closes tomorrow.” I smile warmly, hoping he’ll be happy with that.
Asher leans forward then, his elbows resting on his knees as he grins. “That’s perfect. Thank you.”
Oh shit. That grin. That chest. Those lips…
This is a bad idea. I’ll have to touch him. His hair. Get up close as I trim it.
“Or, if you like, I can get one of the other stylists to do it for you,” I rush out, but he’s already shaking his head.
“Nope. No one but you touches my hair.” He deadpans. “You’ve always cut my hair, Lily. That’s not changing.”
My brows shoot up at the clear authority in his tone. I shouldn’t like it, but I do, and it’s freaking me the hell out.
“Oh… Okay then.” I force a smile and reach for another slice of pizza at the same time he does.
Of course, we go to take the same bloody slice and our fingers brush.
“I’m sorry. You take that one.” I pull back quickly and he frowns.
“No, that’s okay. You have it.”
“No,” I giggle awkwardly. “Honestly, Asher. You take it. I’ll have this one.” I offer him a reassuring smile as I pick up a different slice of pizza.
“Stop!” he growls, the demand in his tone making my breath catch in my throat.
Heat sweeps over me and moisture pools between my thighs as I look up from the slice of pizza to see his normally whisky coloured eyes turn dark as his pupils dilate.
“Put it down,” he demands, and I slowly place the slice of pizza back in the box, my body reacting like his puppet.
He stands then, bending to pick up the slice we had both reached for before he walks around the coffee table and approaches me.
I can’t speak. I can’t find words or a hint of my voice as I watch him, his dark gaze remaining locked with mine. I should look away. Break this eye lock, but I don’t. I’m too weak to sever the invisible cord.
“This slice is for you.” Asher’s voice is quiet as he lowers himself to his haunches before me, and he reaches out with the slice of pizza, offering to feed me.
Stop this right now, Lily. Don’t do this.
I should listen to my inner self. She’s smart.
But I don’t.
I lean forward in the armchair. My lips part. My eyes remain locked on Asher as his eyes dart from mine to my lips, watching as he feeds the tip of the slice into my mouth.
“Bite,” he demands quietly, and I do. I bite that pizza, my lids falling shut as the flavour explodes on my tongue, tasting more delicious than I remember it being a few minutes ago. “That’s it,” he rasps. “Open up and take more.”
I can’t fucking help it. I moan again from his words alone.
The moment I feel his hand on my knee, my lids fly open.
“Crap,” I hiss, leaping up and nearly knocking him over as I flee across the room. “What the fuck am I doing?” I whisper to myself as I reach the fridge and swing the door open, sticking my head in, desperate to cool myself down.
I’ve lost my mind!
“Lily.” Asher’s low rumble comes from behind me, and I stiffen, straightening from the fridge to close the door.
My breathing is shallow. Shit… am I having an allergic reaction to something?
“Why did you run?”
My brows shoot up, and I spin on my heel to face him, ready to… I don’t know what, because when I turn, I come face to face with him. I didn’t realise he was standing this close.
“I didn’t run,” I say breathlessly, taking a small step back before I realise I should’ve stepped sideways. Now I’m trapped between him and the fucking fridge.
“Yes, you did.” He smirks, calling me out.
Oh shit. He’s like sex on legs. Fucking hell, how have I never noticed this before? I bet girls have been going weak at the knees over him for years.
His tongue darts out, wetting his lips, and my knees nearly collapse from under me. I wonder what it would feel like to have his tongue glide between my folds.
Oh hell.
I’m so screwed.
Just his mere presence is teasing me senseless.
There is no way Asher Scott can want me. Not like that.
Sure, he thinks he does right now because I’m probably the only female he’s been this close to for two years, but he is Asher Scott.
All the girls his age would fall over themselves to get his attention.
He’s just horny. That’s what’s going on right now.
He needs to get laid, and since I’m the only female in sight, his attention has turned to me. Which he will regret, obviously.
He needs to go out and find someone his age.
“Y-you should go on a Tinder date and blow off some steam. You still have your phone, right?”
Asher grins. “I do have my phone. It’s currently charging since it’s been out of action since I got locked up.”
“Oh, good.” I nod. “So you can arrange a date, then?”
He shakes his head. “No need. Not when you’re right here, just as affected by me as I am by you.” He shoots me a wink.
Oh, shit balls. This is bad!
“Asher. No.” I shake my head as I try to take a step aside, but he steps into me, ensuring I can’t escape. “This isn’t right. You’re Asher. Jude and Ronan’s best mate.”
He reaches up and grazes his knuckles over my heated cheek. “I’m also a man, Lily. Stop thinking of me as a child. I’m not one. Far from it.”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts.” He gestures to his bare chest and sculpted abs, his whisky gaze turning darker, almost hypnotising as he stares into my eyes with fierce determination. “This is a man’s body. Not a child’s.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I’m your friends’ mother, Asher. This is inappropriate.”
He smirks. “Is it, though?”
“Yes,” I whisper, and his lips thin as he shakes his head.
“You’re not very convincing.”
I can’t hide my grin, but still shake my head all the same.
“I’m old, Asher. You don’t want someone like me. It’s just a reaction to being away from female company while you were in prison.”
“You’re wrong about that, Lily.” He steps closer, his spicy scent wrapping around me as my nipples harden into stiff peaks at the brush of his chest. “I do want you. You’re always who I think about when I fuck my hand.”