Chapter 44 Embracing My Inner Boss Babe
EMbrACING MY INNER BOSS BABE
RAYA
Asher pulls me into his lap before I’m even done shifting, and I huff a laugh at his impatience.
I curl my legs into my chest and his arms circle around me, holding me close against him.
He nuzzles his nose into my hair and inhales a deep breath.
I stick mine to the bare skin at the base of his throat and breathe in his scent as well.
I rub my cheeks all over his chest and shoulders, along his jaw and chin, belatedly realizing what a feline move it is to attempt to mark him as mine in that way.
When I look up, he’s already gazing at me.
“You weren’t afraid of me,” I say.
“Why would I be?” His arms are tight around me and his fingers trace small circles in my skin.
“Because I mauled and nearly kill a man?” I say, darting my eyes to the floor next to us.
Asher stiffens for a moment before his muscles relax again.
“That is no man,” he says, his voice gruff. “That is a monster, and he deserves to die.”
His arms cinch tighter around me, and I snuggle into him, letting him hold me as we chase away each other’s demons.
“Are you okay?” Asher asks a short time later.
I nod and tap his hands to let me go. They tighten around me for a moment before loosening, and my face flushes at my nakedness.
“Let me make sure you’re not hurt,” Asher says, standing and pulling me to my feet with him as he twists my body and inspects every inch of me.
My cheeks flame hotter under his scrutiny, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He tugs me toward the sink and wets a paper towel, gently trailing it along one arm, then my ribs on one side, and finally around my calves, feet, and ankles.
It appears most of the blood wasn’t mine, either that or I’ve already healed from whatever superficial wounds Chadwick managed to inflict on me.
One laceration along my side still beads with fresh blood, and I eye it in the mirror before the weight of Asher’s gaze settles on mine, and I turn my eyes up to him.
“May I?” he asks, eyes darting to the slice over my ribs.
I nod, and he cleans it with the paper towel before going down on one knee next to me.
He ducks under my arm, and my hand curls into his hair as his circle my waist, holding me to him.
Asher wets his lips, then looks up at me before swiping his tongue out and gently licking my wound.
He closes his eyes and his eyebrows pinch, and I’m reminded of what he told me before.
That the strength of his power is only partly due to his bloodline, more important is the conviction and intent behind the action.
As with the other time he healed me, my skin begins to knit together immediately. Asher’s eyes are glued to the cut, and when it doesn’t close all the way, he glares at the puffy, red skin before licking it again with a soft growl.
I smile and my ribs jump when I hold in a laugh. My poor, cranky, perfectionistic vampire, not happy with a ninety percent healed wound.
His narrowed gaze darts to mine when he feels the laugh I hold in, and I pinch my lips together, doing my best impression of an innocent doe as I beam a bright smile down at him.
He huffs and turns his attention back to my ribs, swiping a gentle finger over the healed area and only seeming satisfied when I giggle at the ticklish sensation.
Asher snags his shirt from a hook on the door and holds it out for me to slip my arms through. My heart swells with gratitude as I thread my arms through the sleeves.
“I have a spare change of clothes in my desk drawer. I left my phone up there, but if you have yours, could you text Alex and maybe they can bring them down?”
Asher nods and pulls his phone out, then holds it up to his ear. I roll my eyes. Of course he’d rather call than text.
Alex is knocking on the door moments later, and Asher cracks it open enough to snatch my clothes from their hands before slamming it shut again.
“You could be a little nicer,” I say, trying to hold in a laugh when Alex yells “You’re welcome!” through the door.
Asher glares at it like the door somehow offended him before turning to me with a scowl still on his face.
“You should go home,” he says.
I laugh, and he draws back, blinking at me.
“Oh, were you serious?”
“Yes, I was serious. You were just injured, threatened, assaulted. You could have been killed—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down. First off, I was barely injured, and I’m already healed, thanks to you.
Second, I wasn’t threatened or assaulted.
I’m pretty sure he was coming after you, and my animal sensed it.
Before I knew what was happening, I was leaping, claws first. So if anyone was assaulted, it was him, not me. ”
I pause my tirade for a glare, and he narrows his eyes in return.
“Third,” I draw out the word, and his gaze turns wary. “If anyone tries to separate me from my mate right now, I won’t be held accountable for the destruction I leave in my wake when I do anything I can to get back to him.”
Asher’s eyes widen and his lips part.
“What? You thought I didn’t hear that? Or did you think I wouldn’t agree?” I smirk, and his lips attack me. He folds me in his arms and I melt against his chest, breathing his air and slicking my tongue against his fangs.
“My mate,” he whispers against my lips, his voice reverent. “My fierce, shifter mate.”
“My grumpy, protective vampire,” I whisper back, earning a light swat on my ass.
I wiggle out of his hold, much to his clear displeasure, and begin dressing.
“We should go up to the office. Everyone was watching, and I’m sure they have questions,” I say, buttoning my pants and straightening my shirt. I pull my hair back into a loose braid, the best I can do given the current situation.
Asher nods, a slight frown still on his face, but he takes my hand, engulfing it in his as he opens the door and steps out. His body is instantly on alert, eyes darting left and right, taking in every mote of dust floating through the air as we wait for the elevator.
When we step through the open doorway into the workspace, one person gasps, and then a cheer goes up, clapping and a couple whistles resound through the room.
Asher freezes, his face an uncomfortable grimace of confusion and dislike, so I tug him forward and let my smile speak for us both.
I know he doesn’t like attention, but this is one instance he needs to deal with it.
I raise my hands and the room quiets.
“Thanks, everyone,” I say, beaming at the coworkers I’ve grown to care for over the last few months. “Your support means so much. I’m so thankful to work with such incredible people every day!”
Alex wolf whistles and I grin at them.
I dart a sideways glance at Asher and he seems to have composed himself, so I step back and gesture to him.
He clears his throat, pinches his lips, then forces himself into the spotlight again.
“As Raya said, thank you. I know there have been a lot of changes lately, but know that as majority shareholder of the company, I don’t intend to make any radical changes.
Your jobs are safe. Your clients and projects are safe.
I simply want to ensure everything is working as it should, and that there isn’t any corruption in our ranks. ”
Everyone claps again and Asher shifts his weight. I loop my hand around his elbow and squeeze.
“I’ll send out a company wide email in the next couple days with a formal statement. For now, there’s no need for worry or concern. Everybody take the rest of the day off, I think we’ve all earned it.”
Everyone cheers and claps, once again led by Alex, and although Asher scowls as he turns and strides away, I can tell he’s only doing it to cover the smile that wants to break free.
He isn’t used to smiling. He’s not very good at it, truth be told, but it’s something I intend to help him practice every day from here on out.
We pick up Reverie from Asher’s place and then head back to Zuri’s apartment, as I’ve started calling it in my head. I suppose mentally I’ve already moved out, and it’s probably something I should confirm with her sooner rather than later so she can find a new roommate.
Zuri scrambles to open the door as soon as she hears my key in the lock. She swings it open and then flings herself at me. I wrap my arms around her and look sideways at Asher, but he’s as bewildered as I am.
“Bloody hell, Raya, I was so damn worried!” Zuri’s voice is muffled in my hair, and I pull back from her so we can walk into the apartment.
“What are you talking about?”
She gapes at me.
“What do you mean, what am I talking about?” she yells. “Last I saw before the live stream cut out was that murderous asshole Chadwick slamming through the front doors you had gone through only minutes before!”
Oh. Yikes.
“Ah, well, um,” I turn to Asher, but he pulls his shoulders back and nods at me. Apparently, I’m on my own.
“So, I kinda turned into a massive jaguar and almost killed him?” I spit the words out as fast as I can and trail off at the end, not sure how to fully tell her what happened.
Zuri’s arms drop to her sides, limp as noodles, and she stares at me.
“Wait, you what?” Reverie is the one shrieking this time as she comes streaking back into the room after checking on her bedroom plants.
“Yeah,” I scratch the back of my neck, then give them a quick rundown of how Chadwick was coming for us and my animal took over.
“That’s amazing, Raya! And so scary. I’m glad you’re okay, holy shit,” Zuri says, Reverie nodding in agreement.
“You’re badass,” Rev whispers, and I laugh.
“The important thing is, we’re all okay. Asher did it, the company is taken care of, and we don’t have to worry about the Waltons ever again.”
Asher told me on the drive to his place that we can both file for restraining orders, so that should take care of the problem. With any luck, we won’t have to see or hear from them again. I meet his eyes and we share a small, hopeful smile.
“Asher,” Zuri starts, then stops, her eyes pinging between us.
Asher raises his brows, turning his attention to her.
“I…” she takes a deep breath, then continues. “I’m sorry. I was wrong to treat you the way I did. I shouldn’t have judged you without getting to know you first. I apologize.”
“Oh the contrary, vampire,” Asher says, a smirk in his tone, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Zuri’s face scrunches in confusion, and Asher slings an arm around my waist, pulling me into him.
“I will never say no to Raya’s friends being protective of her. For having her safety and best interests at heart.”
They eye each other for a long, silent moment before sharing an understanding nod.
I clear my throat, eyes narrowed as I glance between them.
“Perhaps Raya’s friends could also take into account how much they trust her to make the right decisions on her own,” I say.
They both shrink a little under my sharp tone before readily agreeing with me. I grin, then pull out a deck of cards.
“Anybody up for some Go Fish?”