12. Jade
Jade
Spending a few nights on Roxie’s couch has been like having a quintessential sleepover in a ‘90s movie.
We drink too much wine, dance to good songs, eat takeout because Roxie does not agree with cooking, and laugh so hard my cheeks hurt.
Underneath all that bravado, Roxie is just such a fucking star. When I got back from that first night at Asher’s, she was sitting at the table, scrolling on her phone and waiting with a glass of wine. As soon as she saw me, Roxie popped up from her chair and screeched, “Tell me everything.”
Having this time with a girl friend who is genuine is… priceless to me.
Asher has stopped by every single morning and offered to take me anywhere, for me to come to work with him, for us to drive around town. We spent the first two days just tangled up in bed together, learning about each other. He has helped me learn a lot about myself. What I like and what I don’t, what I can do, what I absolutely love that he does to me, how fucking amazing he can make me feel… how I can make him cry out my name as he comes.
It was an amazing two days that did absolutely nothing to satiate either of us.
Asher is so caring and attentive. It’s surprising, really. In every movie I’ve ever watched with badass tattooed hotties like Asher, they’re portrayed as these playboy womanizers who let the girls run to him… Thank god I found a man who doesn’t like those games. I hate them, I’m bad at them, and all they ever do is make people feel like they have to ‘win.’ A relationship, a healthy relationship, shouldn’t be about winning against each other.
He’s upfront and honest with me, always valuing my opinion and feelings. Asher’s really great at messaging me and making sure I’m alright. In between those nice texts are naughty ones that would make a sinner blush.
I guess that’s what I am now: a heathen. A rebel. Independent.
I really like it.
Roxie convinced me to come into the shop one day and pierce my nose with a small, thin hoop. I’m so glad I did it. It gives me a lot of confidence. Asher didn’t stop staring at me for the rest of his shift before taking me back to his place and fucking me from behind on the bathroom countertop so I could watch us in the mirror.
I’ve discovered I really like to watch.
And so does he.
Grabbing the last shirt I’d unpacked, I put it back in my duffel bag before zipping it up and sighing.
“Do you really have to go?” Roxie asks, watching me pack my meager belongings from the kitchen table. It’s early for her, though it’s nine in the morning, and her black hair is sticking up all over from sleep as she cradles her coffee cup.
“I can’t mooch off of you forever,” I chuckle. It does warm my heart that she’s upset I’m leaving. I’d rather she wish for me to stay than hope I’d leave. “We’re still going to see each other, right?”
“Fuck yeah.” Roxie nods, sitting taller in the chair. “You’re going to come to Ashes tonight, right?”
“Sure! I think you all have a late client, so I’ll just hang out at the front desk, and you can come chat during breaks.”
A knock on her door tells me that Asher’s here to help me move. Roxie sighs and stalks over to the door, opening it with a pout on her face.
“Fine, come take my best friend away,” she grumbles and walks back to the kitchen to refill her caffeine fix. “I’m going to go back to sleep,” she announces, then envelopes me in a hug with one arm around my waist while the other holding her coffee. “Text me when you meet your new roomie. They aren’t going to be as kick-ass as me, though. You know that, right?” Roxie pulls back and her eyes narrow.
Like she’s actually worried I’m going to not be her friend anymore. That’s never going to happen.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re scared to be replaced,” I tease, which earns me a horrified, unimpressed look from her. I giggle and continue, “Trust me, Roxie. No one is as kick-ass as you.” I hug her back as tears line my eyes. This bitch took me in when no one else would; she cared for me when I needed a friend and gave me a reality check when I needed one.
She’s a good friend. Someone you don’t just drop.
She’s a ride or die, for sure.
“Hey!” Asher scoffs, holding his arms out in offense. Fuck, does he look good. He’s in the same basketball shorts from last time, but he’s paired them with a cut-off T-shirt so when he turns to the side, I get a flash of his abs. And oh my god, his tattooed arms are on display. I’m obsessed.
“You already knew it, so don’t act surprised, Lee,” Roxie tosses in his direction before looking back at me with a soft smile.
“You need anything, anything at all, you call me.” She’s looking at me like a big sister would, like someone who wants to protect me from the world.
And a tear drops down my face.
“I will, thank you, Roxie.” I nod, holding her hand and trying my best not to sob.
“Take good care of her, Asher, and make sure her roommate isn’t a fucking asshole. I don’t need to be murdering anyone this early in the day.” I laugh, a watery chuckle that lets the room know I’m trying hard not to cry. Roxie looks at me and scrunches her nose at me. “Don’t you make me cry. I’m going to see you in a few hours.” She groans and pulls me in for another hug.
“Thank you, Roxie. For everything.” I bite my lip to try and keep from crying.
“You got it, bitch. You’re part of the crew now.” She nudges my elbow and walks back towards her room.
Roxie might be a badass bitch, but she’s also a sensitive one.
Asher stands at the door with my suitcase in hand and my duffel slung over his shoulder.
“Are you ready?” he asks, holding out his hand for me to take.
“Sure am.”
* * *
The university is like a little city itself, with restaurants, bars, a few bookstores, plus all the different academic buildings on the edges. Looking around with the windows down in Asher’s car, I take it all in. Trying to read all the signs and figure out where everything is, I start to worry that I might get turned around.
“Oh, Troydon Hall, over there.” Pointing to the left.
Asher smiles knowingly. “Yes, I know.”
“Did you…” I start to ask, but stop, worried I might offend him or make him feel bad with the question on the tip of my tongue.
“Go to college?” Asher looks at me with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smirk. I nod. “No, I didn’t. Well, not in this setting. I went to a few semesters of art school and took some night classes on business to help start the shop, but no, I didn’t traditionally go to college. My brother is currently going, though,” he shares.
“Your brother?” Interesting. He’s never mentioned having a brother. Or any family for that reason. I guess I’ve never asked.
I turn to face him a little more, guilt swirling in my stomach about it.
He nods. “Yes, I have a younger brother. He’s a sophomore this year—he actually goes here. He should be moving back into the dorms in the next few days.” Asher pulls up in front of an old limestone four-story building on the small campus. “We’re here. Your home for next year.”
“Home,” I repeat, looking out the window and seeing an empty shell of a building. Soon, maybe, it will be bustling with people, students, and potential friends. Sighing, I unbuckle my seatbelt but don’t make a move to actually get out.
I don’t know why I’m more nervous about moving into the dorms than I was moving in with Roxie.
Asher puts his warm hand over mine. It’s strange how quickly my anxiety lowers when he touches me. Turning to face him, all I see are empathy and understanding on his face.
“It’s okay.” He threads our fingers together.
“Is it?”
“It will be.”
* * *
Walking into the building with my duffle on my shoulder and my purse across my chest, Asher carries my suitcase in one hand and holds my hand tightly in the other, which helps me feel a little better.
He walks in front of me with his head held high, looking intimidating as fuck with his tattoos and burly manliness. I feel safe with him; like he’s my own personal bodyguard, intent on punishing anyone who dares to hurt me. Squeezing his hand in mine, I smile up at him and he winks at me.
“Well, hello there!” A very cheery older woman holding a clipboard steps in front of us, stopping us from going any further. “I’m Pam. I’m the residential advisor in charge of everyone here at Troydon Hall. And who might you be?”
“I’m Asher,” he replies warmly, “and this is Jade.”
“Jade Henderson?” Pam asks, checking her list.
“Yes, that’s me,” I say, giving her a tight-lipped smile.
“Oh good! I have your room all ready, if you’ll follow me this way.” Pam turns on her heel and her blonde curly ponytail whips around.
“Well then,” Asher says, turning stiffly to me.
I crack a shocked grin, shrug and pull him forward. “Come on,” I tease.
“If you want to follow me, you’re on the fourth floor,” Pam calls out, standing by the elevator. She’s holding the door open and eyeing us, as if she is trying to figure us out.
Asher lets me enter the elevator first, then holds the door open for Pam. Once he is sure we are safely inside, he walks in and stands close beside me. My man is ever the gentleman.
There’s absolutely no music or anything to lessen the awkward tension; only the creaks and groans of the old elevator pulling us up. Pam starts flipping the keys in her hand and looking at us. Actually, she’s looking quite pointedly at our clasped hands, then at Asher, then finally at me before opening her mouth.
I can’t wait to see what this question is.
“So, are you her brother?” Pam asks Asher, fishing for information.
“Me?” Asher chuckles, lifting our hands and kissing the back of mine. “Yes, I’m her brother,” he says sarcastically, causing me to laugh softly.
“That’s so kind of you to move her in,” Pam awes, not catching the sarcasm in Asher’s voice. My jaw drops, as does Asher’s, and I can’t help but wonder what kind of fucked up relationships she sees while moving people in. How close are some of these brothers and sisters?
Asher shakes his head again; I can tell he wants to say something really biting, but the moment his mouth opens, so does the door.
Thank god.
“Here we are!” Pam steps out first to lead the way. Mutely, I follow and drag Asher along by the hand. Thankfully my dorm room seems to be right off the elevator, so we won’t be subjected to a full-blown tour by Pam. She unlocks the door, and an unsettling feeling falls over me.
The hallway is dimly lit, with only one window at the very far end. There’s one door after another, seeming to stretch on forever. I look behind me, making sure that Asher’s still there, but also to see the common room which joins the two wings of the building. The way the website laid out this dorm, it appeared to be one long rectangle with a larger circular room in the middle of each floor. Either side of the circle extended into wings that held the actual rooms and bathrooms. The floor I’ve been assigned to is a co-ed floor, meaning boys on one side and girls on the other. At the time I’d gotten the email, it didn’t seem to be that big of a deal, but now…
I can’t think about that right now.
“So, here’s the room.” Pam holds her hand out to let us in, and I glance over what is to be my home. At least until I can earn enough money to get my own apartment.
It’s not stellar, but it’ll do. There are two very typical thick vinyl-covered college twin-sized beds pushed up against the wall, two desks built into the wall, two chairs pushed in at the desks, and two closets built in on either side of the desks so it’s just one big wall of storage.
It’s dingy and definitely old, but it’s livable.
It’s mine.
Well, mine to share with some unknown roomie.
“The girl’s bathroom is in the middle of this hallway. Going into the guy’s bathroom is off-limits for obvious reasons. The cafeteria that accepts your food card is on the first floor toward the back of the building, you can’t miss it. There are really only five people checking in as early as you are, so you should have the place to yourself for a few days.” Pam is rattling off information like she’s done this a million times, and I bet she has. She has a very ‘residential college for life’ air about her. “I have my own apartment opposite the cafeteria, so if you need anything, just give me a knock. Your floor RA will be here in a few days, and then they’ll be your first point of contact. Here is your key,” she says, holding out two keys on a ring. “And also, your mail key for your mailbox. I need you to sign a few things and then I’ll be out of your hair!” I take the keys from her, giving her a tight-lipped smile, and nod.
Asher walks over to the bed closest to the window and sets my duffel bag down on the mattress, effectively claiming that bed for me.
“Do I have a roommate?” I ask, signing the first and second page of the contract.
“You do, but they won’t be here until the official move-in day,” Pam explains, then puts the contract back into her little folder. “I think that’s it! You’re officially a Dragon!” she says cheerfully and backs up. “You know where to find me if you need anything! When you leave, big brother, just please make sure to latch the locking door on your way out.” She points to Asher with a click of her tongue and a wink before flurrying out the door.
“I can’t tell if she’s actually fucking serious,” Asher mutters, eyes stuck on the door before looking back at me with a shocked expression.
Shrugging, I walk into his arms, which immediately wrap me up, and look at him. “Nah, let her be oblivious. But if that bitch tries to get at you, I’ll kill her,” I reply nonchalantly.
That breaks his staring contest with the door as his shocked expression turns to me. I smile at him sweetly before reaching up and kissing his chin.
“Oh, that’s how it is now?” Asher raises an eyebrow and slaps my ass with one hand.
“That’s how it is,” I nod, scrunching my nose as I try to pull off an innocent smile. “You said you don’t share; well, neither do I.”
“Very understood,” Asher says softly, leaning down and whispering against my lips. “To be honest, I really like this side of you.”
“Oh yeah?” His arms wrap around my waist. He pulls me in tighter before one hand slides slowly up my side and caresses my breast, then moves up to my neck to hold me in place.
“I told you I’ll always take care of you, baby girl,” he growls. Swiftly lifting me up, Asher places me on the mattress and bites down softly on my neck, making me moan. “I will never make you second-guess my fidelity. I swear.”
The way he vows this makes me weak in the fucking knees.
“Asher,” I sigh, but he tsks his tongue and I immediately know where I went wrong. “Sorry… Daddy, ” I correct myself.
Asher groans into my neck. “You don’t know what that does to me,” he mutters gruffly, almost like he’s being tortured. “You don’t know how much that affects every single part of me. It calls to my protective side, but it also calls to my fucking filthy side. I can’t control myself when you call me that.” He nips my neck, right under my ear, the place that he knows I love. “And I think you like it.”
“I do, Daddy. I really, really do.” I drop my head back, giving him more access to my throat. His hands wander from my waist down to the top of my shorts and slip underneath. Pushing him back, I look at the door. “Go close it,” I whisper.
A feral smile crosses his face.
And I know I’m in for it. In the best fucking way.
“Absolutely not.”
“What? Why?” I don’t want anyone to see us having sex. I know the building is nearly empty right now, but there’s a possibility Pam comes back or someone else that’s moving in early walks by. I can’t.
“Because I want everyone on this fucking campus to know who takes care of you. Me .”
“Asher…” I don’t know about this, but I trust him.
“Baby girl, I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispers assuredly.
“What if someone sees?”
“Let them see.” He kisses me roughly, but I can feel the adoration in it. “You’re mine and I’m yours.”
He’s right. And really, the chances of someone walking by are so small… right?
Asher smiles and slips my shorts down, turning me slightly so I can lay on the slick material. Looking down I see the huge, now-familiar bulge in his shorts and smile when I notice just how perfect the height of the bed is. He can fuck me into tomorrow against the mattress while he stands and I lay comfortably.
“Do you like hearing that, baby girl?” Asher leans over me and slips one of his long, thick fingers into me. Moaning, my eyes close without permission, and I fully surrender to him. To the moment.
To let Daddy take care of me.
“That I want everyone to know you’re mine? That you’re taken? Do you like being claimed by me?” He whispers darkly against my lips as his finger slips all the way out, to then thrust back in and curl.
“Yes,” I moan.
“Yes…”
“Yes, Daddy. I do,” I whimper, opening my eyes and staring at him as I say the words I know he wants to hear. I’m rewarded when he sits up straight and shivers before the feral look comes back.
“Fuck yes you do.” He fingers me quicker, rubbing his fingers against the spot he’s found that makes me gush; the spot I never knew existed before Asher.
“Now listen to me, sweetness,” he commands softly, “I’m going to come inside you. Understood?”
What a fucking prince .
“Please,” I nod.
“Where do you want it – your mouth or your pussy?” he asks, slipping another finger into my heat, stretching me out and bringing me that much closer to coming. “Where do you want my cum?”
“My mouth,” is the first thing that pops out. I don’t think I even rationally thought about my answer before I just blurted it out. I haven’t done that before… but that’s not really saying anything, I hadn’t done anything remotely sexual before him.
Asher groans and his forehead drops to mine, like he’s dizzy with desperation. Like just me saying that pushed him too far.
“Fuck, that mouth, huh, baby girl?” he rasps in my ear; the excitement I can hear makes me want it even more. Nodding, I thrust upward while clenching down on his fingers which are still rubbing on that perfect spot inside.
“Come here,” he growls, pulling his fingers from my cunt and licking them clean quickly. Before I know it, he yanks me to the side and spreads my thighs open, just enough that his hips and erect cock sit flush against mine. He’s so hard and I’m so wet that he slides in perfectly, without any assistance. He didn’t have to guide the head in or anything; just lined up and pushed forward until he was fully seated inside me.
“This isn’t going to take long,” he grunts, wrapping his hands around my thighs.
“Good, because I’m not going to last.” Slipping a hand down, I start playing with my clit, but I know if I do too much I’ll come too quickly. “Fuck me, Daddy.”
“Good girl, baby. Good girl,” he praises me heavily. “Now let me show you how fucking crazy I am about you.” He holds my ass tightly against himself and fucks me so deeply, so quickly, that my eyes roll back and I gasp. Circling my clit, I push myself closer to climax. His fingers slip to where we’re joined, and my eyes open quickly as I wait. What is he doing?
I already feel fucking stretched with his cock in me. I don’t know if he’s going to try to fit his fingers inside me as well.
“What do you think I’m going to do, baby?” he whispers. My gaze meets his; he’s staring at me intensely, smirking like he knew what I was thinking. “Maybe more will fit one day, but today, I want to feed you my cum.”
“Yes, Daddy,” I whisper breathlessly.
His fingers slide around my stretched lips and gather the wetness before replacing my own fingers at my clit.
Groaning, my eyes roll back in my head at the perfect fucking way he plays my body. Like I’m a fine instrument he’s become an expert at playing.
“That’s it, baby girl. Just let go and come around my cock,” he whispers in my ear before nosing his way down my neck and bites down. The cord in my lower belly gets tighter and tighter as my cunt gets warmer and wetter. I’m so fucking close that I start thrusting and grinding against him.
“Yes, fuck. That’s it. I love it when you do that, fuck!” Asher whispers loudly in my ear. His words, along with his breathy, gravelly, desperate tone, set me off. I come around his cock, gripping him tightly as I ride the waves of pleasure while my body relents. Asher holds me together and fucks me deeper, faster, harder, to prolong my orgasm as long as possible.
I start to scream his name, but his hand covers my mouth quickly to muffle the noise.
“No, no, baby. Only I get to hear what you sound like when you come.”
My eyes close again, allowing me to focus on my other senses. Asher is panting heavily, his breaths stuttering like he’s trying to hold back. The bed is starting to squeak under the force of his thrusts, the vinyl of the mattress protector scratching against my back. Our bodies are hot, so fucking hot, as we work together to make each other feel good. To claim the other as our own.
Asher pulls away from me, pulling out of me so quickly that I fucking mourn the loss of him.
“On your knees,” he orders, standing tall and stroking his wet, shiny, hard-as-fuck cock. He’s stroking it so hard, so furiously, I’m mesmerized, but he adds, “Now, baby girl.” I slip to my knees, so I’m face to face with his dick.
“Open wide, I’m coming. Fuck, open up.” His voice is… I could come again just from hearing him talk to me while on the brink of orgasm. It’s dark, desperate, low, needy. I love it.
I’m nervous—who wouldn’t be? I don’t know what to expect really, but I know I want to try.
I open my mouth and take him in, sealing my lips around his cock and suck, lick, bob my head. And fuck me, the noises he makes are so erotic, I feel myself get turned on again. He holds my head, but never forces me to move or to stay; just wraps his fingers in my tresses and thrusts shallowly.
I like it. I like blowing him. I like this a lot .
“Fuck, baby, I’m coming. I’m coming, you’re so fucking gorgeous on your knees for me. Such a good girl. Oh god, this is better than I ever dreamed. Goddamn, you’re beautiful,” Asher babbles, and twists his fingers as his hips stutter. His cum lands on my tongue; it’s salty and viscous but not altogether unpleasant. It’s well worth it for the look of reverence on his face as he stares at me.
“Show me,” he says breathlessly when he stops coming. “Open and show me. Please.” He looks so awestruck, and that’s even before I open my mouth. I caught it all on my tongue and held it, before opening my mouth and showing it to him. Asher cups my chin; his breathing slows down but his dark eyes take me in.
“You’re perfect. You’re perfect and you’re mine .” He nods, before tucking his softening cock back into his shorts and helps me up. “Here,” he says, holding out a few napkins for me to spit into.
But I simply swallow everything he gave me.
His jaw drops.
“If I didn’t just come so hard, I’d flip you over and fuck you from behind against the desk so you could look at yourself as I made you squirt,” Asher says darkly before grabbing my face and pulling me in for a deep kiss.
“There’s still time,” I tease with a weak laugh when he pulls away.
Asher walks over and closes the door finally, before unzipping my duffel bag and pulling out my big blanket to make a cocoon for us on the bed.
Safe, sated, and warm, I take comfort in his arms as we both rest. His heart beats strongly against my back.
“I hope you like it here,” Asher says after a few moments of silence. “I hope you like it here, but I also really hope you like my place, too.”
“I do,” I answer quickly. “I really like your place. I feel so safe and at home there.”
“Good. Because it feels so much more like a home when you’re there.” My breath catches at his words and my heart swells. He kisses the back of my head and sighs deeply.
As long as I’m with you, I feel at home.