CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Kaia
Asher and I had broken apart less than a minute ago, and I already missed the gentle press of his lips. Kissing him felt like a dream—only I knew too well I’d have to wake.
“Kaia,” he whispered, his thumb gliding up and down my neck.
Shudders ran through me at his touch, but the remorse in his voice sobered me. “Do you regret it?”
“Fuck, no. Never.” Asher pulled me into his arms and buried his face in my hair. Hugging him felt like coming home after a long journey. Safe. So safe I wanted to stay there forever.
“Then what?” I asked, drawing circles on his back.
He eased away, soft gaze roaming my face as his fingertips traced behind my ear. “Sleep with me tonight.”
Excitement fluttered through me, tangled with nerves. It was a risk—Dad would be furious if he caught us, and Sharon too—but how could I say no? I’d waited so long for this. What was another broken rule?
“We’ll have to be careful,” I murmured, more to steady myself than him.
He nodded. “I know. Come with me.”
Asher laced his fingers through mine and led me into the hall. Nerves and anticipation swirled in my stomach as our muffled steps carried us down the dark corridor.
He waited for me to enter his room first, then closed the door with a soft click.
A second later, my back pressed against the cool wood as he caged me in, fisting my hair. His minty breath teased my lips before he claimed them, and we stilled, lips touching, breaths uneven. His chest heaved against mine, and my heart slammed against my ribs.
I wasn’t the only one craving more.
Asher threaded his fingers through mine. Our gasps mingled as the kiss deepened—hotter, wetter. He caught my bottom lip between his teeth, released it, then dragged his tongue over the tender skin before devouring me again.
“Feels so good,” Ash whispered, breaking only long enough to start another rush of kisses that left me dizzy. When he tugged my hair, I clutched his shirt, tilting my head back for him.
He traced my lip with his tongue, then lowered to my jaw. A weak moan slipped out, protesting the loss.
“I needed to stop earlier,” he murmured at my ear, “before I did more than kiss you. And that little moan almost cost me my sanity, peque.”
I pressed my forehead to his shoulder, pulse racing. “Quitter.”
He chuckled, kissing the top of my head. “Wait. I’ll give you more in a second.”
Slowly, he released me and stepped back toward the en suite, flashing a smile that buckled my knees. When I finally steadied, I sat on his neatly made bed.
A shelf above it held some of his dad’s trophies and a stack of Spanish books—poetry, classics I hadn’t read yet. Otherwise, the room was bare, as if he wasn’t in a hurry to make it his own. Did he not feel at home here? Was he already looking forward to leaving?
I wouldn’t blame him. I didn’t want to stay here much longer either.
“I can’t get over how beautiful you are.”
He stood before me, bare-chested, black shorts slung low on his hips. The way Ash looked at me sent heat climbing my cheeks.
I scooted aside to make space, but he shook his head. “Get in bed.”
His scent wrapped around me as I slipped under the covers. I lay on my side, eyes fixed on him. The muted glow of the bedside lamp traced his profile, and my gaze lingered on his lips. Was it too soon to kiss him again?
He slid in beside me and hooked an arm around my waist, pulling me until we were chest to chest. I lifted my hand to his face, tracing the stubble along his jaw, then up to his ear, memorizing every line. I couldn’t get enough.
Ash fisted the fabric of my nightie, his knuckles pressing into my lower back. “I love it when you touch me.”
Heat bloomed across my cheeks. He had to know how I felt about him. I was always too easy to read.
I brushed my fingertips over his mouth. “Me too.”
Ash caught my fingers between his lips, the unexpected caress flooding me with warmth. His hand slid lower, smoothing over the curve of my backside, his dark eyes locked on mine.
I shifted down and nestled into him. His heartbeat thundered beneath my ear, and when he turned his head to press a kiss into my open palm, my own heart stuttered, lungs straining for air.
His gaze softened. “What are we going to do now, peque?”
“I don’t know.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Do you think our parents will be fine with us…” Crap. Why had I said that? What if Asher hadn’t even thought about dating me?
“Dating?” he asked, easing the knot of worry. “No. I’m pretty sure neither of them would be okay with it. I don’t care, but I’ll understand if you do.”
I caught my bottom lip between my teeth. Life would be so much easier if they’d just accept us. We weren’t doing anything wrong, but Dad cared too much about appearances. To him, me dating his girlfriend’s son would only ever be inappropriate.
“I don’t.” I brushed the back of my hand over Asher’s nape. “I’m an adult, and so are you. Once I’m in college, he won’t be able to do anything. Meanwhile, we’ll just have to be careful.”
“You deserve better.” He combed his fingers through my hair. “But after lunch with my mother today, I don’t think we have a choice. Sh— “
I leaned in and caught his mouth with mine. A groan rumbled in his chest as my tongue traced his bottom lip. He tugged my hair, deepening the kiss like he couldn’t get enough.
Our tongues tangled, our hands exploring—cautious still, a little wary, but desperate.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” Ash whispered, voice rough. His lips glistened from our kiss, which only made me crave him more. It wasn’t fair, how every cell in my body ached for him, but tonight left no doubt—he felt the same.