Chapter 4
Chapter four
Emma
Asher blinks slowly, appearing completely taken aback by this turn in the conversation.
I blow out a hard breath before continuing. "When I was about to finish middle school, my grandfather reconnected with my mother. The great Edward Montgomery III had disowned his daughter when she fell in love with my father, and they hadn't spoken in fifteen years."
I sit on the bed and gesture to the plush armchair across from me. I should be exhausted, but it's like my body is on fire with energy. All my nerves are primed. Ever since Asher demanded he take me home. And especially since he suggested we could do more than sleep.
Asher shuts the bedroom door and takes a seat on the edge of the chair, staring at me intently as he waits for me to continue.
I've never told anyone but my therapist the full story, but I want Asher to know. He needs to understand why I can't be intertwined with anyone from Donovan's life, regardless of the intense chemistry we're dealing with tonight.
"Edward was everything I had hoped a grandfather could be.
My sisters and I were enamored with him.
He spoiled us rotten. But mom was wary. She knew what he was capable of.
Even so, mom was an only child and had lost her mother at a young age, so she was cautiously optimistic.
Grandfather seemed genuine. He came around regularly and asked for nothing but our time in return.
Eventually, Dad convinced my mom to give grandfather a chance at redemption, so when he offered to pay for boarding school for me the next year, they agreed. "
I give Asher a long look, the tick in his jaw the only reaction to my story so far.
"While I was away learning to become a proper lady of society, my grandfather was quietly buying all the stock at the company my dad worked for.
He also convinced my parents to refinance and get a low interest rate, but he would be the bank and carry their mortgage.
He knew my parents wouldn't take any money from him directly, but my mom has a chronic illness, so a low mortgage meant she could retire early.
We were upper-middle class, hardly poor by most standards, but with three daughters to support, it was a huge help. " I smile wryly. "Until it wasn't."
I take a deep breath, and glance at Asher. He hasn't taken his eyes off me most of the evening, and my panties are soaked because of it. He's looking at me like he would burn the world down and then fuck me into tomorrow. And Lord help me, but I would like to let him.
"Continue." And then he adds, "Please."
"By the time I graduated university, my grandfather was so financially intertwined in our lives, that he could make demands. He took me to lunch and offered me a deal. He called it my graduation gift. He would make sure my family's life wasn't disrupted, but I had to agree to marry Donovan."
"Why?" Asher asks through clenched teeth. He sounds angry, but not at me.
"A merger of families, he said." I laugh bitterly.
"I was like prized cattle. At least three of my classmates were in the same boat, but they seemed to have known about the plan since birth.
I was blindsided. But my family was so happy, I couldn't say no.
My mom had gained something back with her reconnection to her dad, and her health was doing better.
I could make sure it all stayed as it was if I agreed. So, I said yes."
I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye and take a deep breath. "I had to sign a contract. If I told anyone about this arrangement, he would stop paying for everything. He owned our house, was a majority stakeholder of my father's company, and I worried this would destroy my mom."
"You were so young. He took advantage of you." Asher clenches his fists, leaning forward to grab my hands. A zap of electricity zings through my body, landing straight between my legs, despite the heaviness of our conversation.
I take a deep breath before continuing. "At least I did one thing right.
I made my grandfather add in a clause that said he couldn't disrupt my sisters' lives.
He would pay for their education, but they were not allowed to be used in a business deal of any kind.
If he went back on it, he owed me millions. "
"Did your parents know?"
"No. I was convinced I was saving them." I clench my jaw, sad for how easily my younger self was manipulated, and furious at the man who had power over me back then.
"After I signed it, I took a copy to a lawyer. I barely had enough money to pay for that one hour, but it was the most important purchase of my life. She said my only way out was if Donovan filed for divorce, or if grandfather passed away." I smile bitterly.
"The Elmhurst family doesn't believe in divorce. They will suffer scandals of infidelity, fraud, and nefarious connections, but god help them if they go through with a divorce." Asher's tone is one of pure disdain.
"If I had known it would take six years for one of those scenarios to play out, I would have drowned in a pit of despair, but eventually my grandfather died. I moved out and filed for divorce within days of his death. I'm told Donovan was served the papers at a charity function."
Asher nods. "Did you inherit the Montgomery estate?"
I shake my head.
"His grudges and manipulation left him practically penniless. My mother ended up with the house, and my sisters are both living happy lives, so I got everything I wanted."
Asher doesn't respond, but his jaw ticks again. I want to reach out and soothe him, but I stop myself.
"When I first met Donovan, he was enchanting, if you can believe that."
"I do. He can be charming when he needs to be," Asher spits out bitterly, and I gaze at him.
He doesn't seem to like Donovan, but I'm taking a risk revealing everything tonight.
If Donovan, or anybody in the Elmhurst family finds out that I'm blabbing my story around town, they would ruin me.
I've trusted men before and they've devastated me with their betrayal.
And yet, I need Asher to know everything.
"It wasn't until our wedding night that I realized what I was in for.
It was like the mask fell off and a monster was in his place.
He said he knew his father would choose his wife someday, but the Elmhursts were scraping the bottom of the barrel to have locked him to me.
Donovan vowed to make my life miserable. "
"I'll kill him," Asher growls, kneeling before me. He puts his hands on my hips and stares at me with a look of pure devotion, and my heart squeezes with love for this man.
"He's not worth the prison sentence." I cup his cheek, giving him a smile. "Besides, I'm free."
Asher closes his eyes, his stubble rough on my palm as he nuzzles into my touch.
"He refused to have children with me but told everyone I was infertile.
His family hated me. I was supposed to provide them an heir and as far as they knew, I was not living up to my end of the deal, but divorce was not an option.
For either of us. The first few years, I tried to make myself the perfect wife for him, and he performed likewise in public.
In private? It was like I didn't exist. No love, no passion, no physical touch. Ever."
"Ever?"
Shit. He certainly didn't need to know all that but Asher's touch against my skin is warm and inviting. My body craves this man, and his proximity is intoxicating. It's like truth serum, and I've just revealed my biggest secret.
I look away, laughing nervously and shrug. "Well, when your husband pretends you blend in with the wall, there aren't many opportunities to have sex. The contract required fidelity, but only on my side."
"Emma, are you a virgin?"
Asher's hands still hold my body more intimately than I've ever experienced. He stares at me, his blue eyes piercing through all my layers and I squirm.
"I had hoped my date tonight might be the one," I attempt to joke, but I hear a loud growl and then I'm in the air so fast, I don't even see it coming. Suddenly I'm on my back in the middle of the bed, and Asher's body is pressed against me with a delicious weight.
"That man tonight doesn't deserve to breathe your air, let alone taste you," Asher growls, his hard bulge pressing against my stomach as I lie beneath him.
I'm breathing hard, begging him with my eyes to touch me as my pussy clenches with need, but he simply runs his gaze down my body.
His eyes light me on fire as he makes a slow perusal, up and down like he's trying to memorize it.
My chest heaves when his eyes finally stop on my breasts, and he bites his bottom lip.
My nipples tighten as I picture his teeth on my sensitive bud, and I need his mouth against my skin more than I need air.
Asher lifts his eyes to mine and leans close.
"You've spent a lifetime being told what to do." Asher's gaze bounces to my mouth and then back. "You tell me what you want, Emma. I will walk out of here and let you sleep, take you home in the morning. Or I will make you mine."
I don't even hear his final words before I pull his head down and lock my lips to his.
Fireworks explode in my damn brain, my heart pounding as the man I've pined for kisses me like he can't live without me.
Asher's tongue slips into my mouth, and I moan, a rush of desire soaking me.
I open my legs, wrapping them around Asher's hips as he grinds his hard length against my core.
"Oh god," I pant and Asher pulls back, kissing my neck as he works his way down to my cleavage. He removes his mouth from my skin just as he's about to reach my breasts, and I look at him, hoping he hasn't changed his mind.
"I need to taste you," Asher says, but it sounds like he's asking permission, so I nod quickly. I untie my dress, opening it to either side as he slides down my body.
"Oh fuck," Asher moans, taking my panties with him as he makes his way to the floor. "You are so beautiful."
I close my eyes, drinking in his praise. My body trembles as he opens my legs wide. I cry out when his finger finds my clit and a wave of pleasure has me arching off the bed.
"So responsive. So beautiful."
Asher places my legs over his shoulders, kissing along the inside of each of my thighs.
When I stare down at him, on his knees for me, his eyes lock with mine.
He's so close to my body, his breath is warm against my mound.
My pussy clenches, releasing my arousal.
I'm a trembling mess but I've never wanted anything so badly in my life.
Asher drags his tongue along my slit, and I gasp, writhing against his touch.
He licks again and again, moaning and then he slides his wet, hot tongue inside my soaked core.
He closes his eyes like it's the most incredible thing he's ever tasted.
His thumb finds my clit, and he presses small circles against my hard nub as pleasure radiates throughout my body.
"Oh my god, yes, yes!" I call out, my fingers gripping his hair as I pull him against me.
"Fuck," Asher mumbles, and then he devours me.
Like a wild beast, his tongue and fingers work magic against my clit.
He places one large hand on my stomach, forcing me to stay still and take it.
I grip the sheets in both my fists, trying to find something to ground me as my body clenches tighter and tighter.
He's touching me everywhere, winding me up, and then his tongue is against my back entrance.
"Oh fuck," I whisper, the naughtiness of his intent releases more of my arousal, and Asher moans, swiping his tongue out for a taste before finding my back hole again.
He pushes the tip of his tongue against the tight ring of muscle as he rubs my clit with hard, little circles, and I shatter.
My entire body radiates with my release.
Asher holds me down, forcing me to take it as he prolongs my orgasm, and I give in to the sensation, losing my freaking mind.
I realize too late that I'm repeating three words over and over.
"I love you."