Chapter 14
Asher
I heard the bathroom door open. I told myself not to look, even though I knew she would be coming out in the clothes I gave her to wear.
I spent the whole time she was in the shower pacing.
She was in my cabin, sobbing, wet, and devastatingly beautiful.
I had self-restraint, willpower, I was strong-willed but seeing Claire tonight was wearing down every bit of it.
The way she went to meet Nico was so courageous and loyal.
She wanted to bring her friend justice, and it seemed like she would do it at any cost. It was admirable, but none of that held a candle to the way she watched me, the way she looked at me like I fascinated her, like she was attracted to me.
I had a feeling that didn’t happen to her often.
She didn’t seem like someone who chased men, and her beauty… it stole my breath.
She stepped out of the bathroom. I turned around. She wasn’t in clothes; she had the towel still wrapped around her. And then she let the towel fall. It hit the floor softly. My mind went blank for a full second.
“Claire,” I said, my voice rougher than I meant it to be. “What are you doing?”
She didn’t flinch. Didn’t cover herself or shrink.
“I want you,” she said, just like that.
I dragged a hand down my face and looked away, staring at the far wall like it might help. “That’s a bad idea.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I’m not…” I exhaled. “You’ve got the wrong idea about me.”
She took a step closer. “You’re a good man.”
“You don’t know that,” I said, trying hard not to look at her. She was perfect. Hell, I was screwed.
“I do,” she confirmed.
I let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “I’m not the kind of guy you should trust.”
Her brows pulled together. “What does that even mean?”
“I don’t do relationships,” I said. “I don’t make promises. I have nothing to offer you.”
She was quiet for a second.
Then, softly, “I didn’t ask for that.”
I looked at her again. “You can’t possibly believe that. Not after what you told me the other night… unless it isn’t true.”
“Oh, it’s true. I’ve never been with a man, and I have no expectations past tonight,” she said. “I just want you.”
That landed harder than anything because I wanted her too. More than I’d wanted anyone ever, and that was saying something. I stepped closer without meaning to.
“You don’t even know what you’re asking for,” I said, my gaze on her bare shoulder. I hissed. “Why me? Why now?”
“I’ve never felt this attracted to someone before. I’ve never actually wanted… this.”
Her voice didn’t shake but her resolve made my chest tighten.
“The feeling’s mutual.” The words tumbled out before I could think straight. Seeing her naked was making me lose every bit of restraint.
Her breath caught slightly.
“But I’m not built for relationships, Claire,” I repeated. “I don’t come with guarantees. I don’t come with… stability.”
“I’m not asking for stability,” she said. “I’m asking for you.”
The storm cracked outside, lighting the room for a split second. She stepped closer until there was barely space between us.
“If you don’t want me,” she whispered, “tell me.”
I reached for her without thinking. My hands settled at her waist. “Claire,” I warned. But I didn’t let go.
She tilted her face up toward mine. “I trust you,” she said, her lips so close to mine I could feel her warm breath. All I wanted was to claim those lips. Claim her words. I trust you.
I brushed my thumb along her hip slowly, testing my own control.
“You’re sure?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I exhaled slowly.
If I walked away now, I’d regret it. If I stayed, I’d have to be careful.
I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers.
The spark was instant as she held on to the back of my head, and the kiss deepened into blinding heat.
Her tongue came out to lash with mine in some exotic dance that sparked heat through the rest of my body.
Her body was pressed to mine now, and I felt the swell of her breasts as I wrapped my hands around her.
The kiss was stealing my breath. I was hard as steel, but this girl was a virgin. She deserved better than my hunger.
I pulled back slightly, resting my forehead against hers. We were both breathing quickly. “We take this slow,” I said.
“Slow is overrated,” she countered.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” I murmured.
“Death isn’t what I had in mind, unless you mean by orgasm,” she responded with a playful smirk.
“Claire, slow,” I warned.
“Asher, take off your clothes,” she raised her brows.
I took off my T-shirt and hoodie in one swoop. She took a step toward me and ran her fingers over my chest and down my abs. My breathing was fast as I tried to control my reaction to her touching me. I’d been with a virgin before, back in high school, and it didn’t feel like this.
“Lie on the bed, Claire.” I needed to gain back some control. I needed to take a breath before this girl made me come in my pants.
She did as she was told, and even that was hot.
“Take off your shorts now,” she ordered as if we were playing some little game.
“We aren’t taking turns,” I told her.
She pouted. “Aw, I was liking this game.”
Fuck me. This girl was completely innocent but somehow had seduction down to an art form. I took off my shorts to appease her.
“Um, wow. You’re large. . . I mean, I should’ve expected it, but…” she muttered, but she also giggled.
“I’m not sure what to say now,” I said, feeling completely out of my depth.
“Don’t shy away from me, not when I’m lying here naked,” she said.
I drank her in. “You’re a very beautiful woman, Claire.”
“Thank you.” She blushed. “I spent most of my time focusing on school and trying to figure out how criminal minds work, so I kind of don’t have a lot of experience in the bedroom.”
“You’re doing great,” I said, still standing beside the bed, my cock rock-hard from looking at her.
“Is that why you won’t come near me?” she laughed.
“I’m out of my element with you. I shouldn’t be here at all. You’re my employee,” I reminded.
“I’m not here all year round. I’m seasonal help,” she rebutted.
For some reason I didn’t like that, even though I already had that knowledge. I took a step toward her, and my hand landed on her left breast. I kneaded it and ran my finger over her nipple. She squirmed beneath my touch, her breathing ragged.
She reached for my cock, and I stopped her. “Not yet.”
“You don’t play fair,” she replied.
That was all it took for me to climb above her and claim her lips. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me like she meant it. I broke the kiss.
“If at any time you want to stop, just say the word.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “But right now I want to kiss you. I want you to touch me.”
I groaned in response and began to kiss her again.
The more we kissed, the more our bodies tangled, her hips seeking friction against my cock.
I knew what she needed. I already decided I would not have sex with her tonight.
She deserved better, so I broke the kiss and moved down to her breasts. I licked and sucked, and she moaned.
“That feels so good. Holy shit.”
Her response made me laugh against her skin. This girl wasn’t only beautiful, she was real.
“Asher…” she groaned as she ran her fingers through my hair. She needed more.
I slowly spread kisses down her belly, but when I got close to her pussy she said, “Stop.”
I lifted my head and said, “Okay.”
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I was going to eat your pussy,” I stated.
That made her blue eyes pop. “That’s not a thing.”
“No, it is,” I assured her.
“People don’t do stuff like that. I mean I know girls do, but guys don’t…” she made a circle with her hand around the area of her pussy.
“They do. Have you been living under a rock?” I asked.
“No. Like I said, school. And not many friends. My friend Jamie, he’s a guy, he doesn’t talk to me about his hookups, like ever. Even when I’ve asked him. He was friends with Sophie too. In college I didn’t really make friends. I just… I don’t know. I’ve been living in the past.”
“I know what that’s like,” I said. “After my mom took off, my brothers and I kept thinking she’d come back. Then we went through a period of always bringing her up. Mom would do this. Mom would say this. I’m the second youngest and besides my younger sister I felt like I needed her the most.”
“That must have been hard. I can’t imagine what that was like. My mom was always my support system,” she confessed.
“My brothers were mine,” I replied.
“And your dad?” she asked.
“He was busy with work,” I explained.
“That makes sense,” she replied, followed by, “Did I totally ruin the mood?”
“Nah, I like talking to you,” I said to her, and she answered with the most beautiful smile that stole my breath.
“I like talking to you too. You’re not just a pretty face,” she laughed.
“Oh really?” I leaned over and tickled her, and somehow that led back to kissing her.
This time we kissed for longer, and that somehow felt more intimate until I started a trail down her belly again.
This time she whispered, “I trust you,” as I slowly descended, kissing a trail down her thighs. I spread her legs and watched and spread her pussy lips. She was wet and. . . I dipped my head and ran my tongue from her clit down to her seem.
“Asher, this should be illegal,” she groaned my name as my tongue licked her pussy. “OMG, that feels…”
Inside I was laughing at her response because it was adorable but there was no way I was stopping.
I wanted to own her orgasm. She was speechless as I licked her juices and ran my tongue along her seam and over her clit.
When I flicked her clit with my tongue, she bucked off the bed and got hold of my head running her fingers through my hair.
She was sweet, wet and cursing. Her hips moved in sync with my tongue.
Then she said, “Too much.”
“It’s okay. Embrace it,” I said. She listened and went over the edge as I held on to her hips with my hands and held her in place licking up all her juices, putting extra pressure when my tongue ran over her clit.
She made the most addictive sounds as she rode out each shuddering wave, screaming my name, saying it was too much. And when she finally lay limp, I lay beside her and gathered her in my arms, knowing she might need the closeness. She curled into me.
“Asher, your tongue is…” she was speechless.
I laughed. “That good huh?”
“Mhhm.”
Then she looked down at my cock.
“I hope I meet your expectations,” she said. I wasn’t expecting those words.
“Oh no, you don’t have to…” Before I could finish the sentence she was sitting over me, spread eagle.
My hands came up to cup her breasts. “You have beautiful tits.”
“Thank you,” she grinned. “You have a beautiful cock. It’s large though. I hope it’ll fit in my mouth.”
“I wasn’t thinking of sex, Claire. I’m not taking your virginity tonight,” I said, because although I wouldn’t take it tonight, I wanted more time with her. I wanted to earn her wanting to give me her virginity.
She pouted and shifted as she licked a trail of kisses down my abs.
My cock was already bouncing, and she hadn’t even touched me.
When she wrapped her fist around my cock once and pumped, I groaned.
Her mouth came down on me. Her warm tongue swirled my tip before taking me in.
She suctioned on the way backup. I was going to lose it in her mouth.
I gathered up her blonde hair in my fist and watched her taking me in.
She couldn’t get all of me, but she did a good job getting most of me.
“Claire, I’m about to come, so if you don’t want to swallow that’s totally fine…”
“Asher, hush, I want you coming undone,” she said, and then she picked up pace, sucking me until she was gagging, taking me to the back of her throat like a champ.
She was hungry for my cock, and that’s all it took for me to lose it. I came down her throat, grunting her name as she took everything I was giving. Then she wiped her hand over her mouth and leaned into me as I caught my breath afterwards. We both lay there quiet for a while.
“Is this what a hookup feels like?” she finally asked.
I wanted to lie to her and say yes because I was a coward, but because she deserved better because she said she trusted me I couldn’t lie to her.
“This doesn’t feel like a hookup, Claire.”
We both stared into each other’s eyes like we were trying to figure out what happened. I don’t even know what happened other than she had managed to get under my skin on day one. And tonight proved she was unlike anyone else I had ever been with. She was going to ruin me.