20. I’m fucking panting
20
I’M FUCKING PANTING
HALLE
“You’re evil, you know that?” Asher’s voice breaks the silence behind me as we step out of the bar’s office and head down the hallway.
I glance back at him, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. A swarm of butterflies have decided to make themselves at home in the pit of my stomach because every time I look at him, they take flight, spinning in circles and causing me to feel unsteady on my feet. Part of my brain loves this foreign feeling, but the other part is scared to enjoy it.
“I’m the picture of innocence.”
He smirks at me, reaching out for my elbow and stopping me in my tracks.
“Nah,” he whispers, pressing me gently against the wall. “I think somewhere in here…” he taps my forehead, his fingers trailing down the side of my face, sending a shiver of electricity in its path, “there’s a side of you that’s dying to come out and play.” His hand stops above my chest and lingers as he watches the rising and falling of my breaths.
“These bike shorts you’re wearing,” he says, voice turning raspy as his gaze slides down, “they hug your ass so damn good, sweetheart. I’m going to have a hard time teaching you anything behind that bar, especially after the taste I’ve already had today. Evil, sweetheart. Pure evil.”
Holy shit. I can feel my cheeks heating, my neck growing warmer. A low whimper falls from my lips before I can stop it, and his body responds by closing the tiny space between us. His hand travels down the curve of my back, gripping the side of my hip with a possessive squeeze. Asher’s earthy scent invades all my senses, and my skin feels like it’s on fire. The tension between us pulses. He’s dangerously close, but I don’t want him to pull away. My body is aching to finish what he started earlier in my room, especially with that heated look in his eyes. The way his pulse throbs just below his jaw tells me he wants to do the same.
I arch into him, wanting to feel his weight on me. His hands hold my hips tightly, waiting for me to take control. My nerves hit an all-time high, but he’s right, there is something inside of me that wants to come out and play. He makes me feel safe, and that feeling, the safety I find in him, fuels my courage to take that leap, but the sharp ping of our phones shatters the moment. The tension in the air snaps, throwing us back into reality. We both sigh, exchanging a heated look as we reach for our phones.
WHISKEY CREW
Connor: HALLE’S STAYING AND WE’RE CELEbrATING!!!!!!!
Madison: What the hell do you mean? Speak normal Con.
Connor: Big bro and Lil Sis finally had the talk. SHE’S STAYING I want to celebrate, you know beers good food good people…
Connor: We are the good people by the way
Madison: Hunter?? Halle??
Hunter: Not that I think mine and Hals private life warrants this much attention but yeh we hashed everything out. I’ll let Halle fill you in.
Connor: ASHERR come on man. You were there help me out.
Madison: Halle, girl? You want to celebrate?
Connor: Of course she does. She’d do anything for Ace and Ace wants to party
Rolling my eyes, I bite back a grin as Asher snorts beside me. “Is he always like this?” I ask him.
“Yeah. Con’s the life of the party around here. Your brother’s too much of a stickler for rules, Madi loves playing mother hen, and I’m apparently a broody asshole.” He grins at me.
“Broody asshole? No way.” I act surprised, placing a hand dramatically on my chest. “And here I thought it was some sort of bad boy, mysterious act.”
Asher chuckles as we step behind the bar. “Hey, I can be mysterious.” He turns and waggles his brows at me.
A burst of laughter escapes me, and I brace myself on the bar. “Oh my god, please never do that again.”
We’re grinning at each other, lost in the playfulness of our own Halle and Asher bubble when our phones go off again. Asher snickers, tossing his onto the bar. “That’s all you, sweetheart. If you don’t answer him, he’ll come looking for you.”
Connor: Someone… anyone… tell me we are partying tonight?
Me: I don’t like parties.
Connor: LIL SIS, bout time. Fine not a party but let us celebrate.
Madison: We can keep it lowkey just us? I want to know all the details.
Me: Fine…
Connor: YES!
Connor: Yo Ash, Hunter said to bring a case of beer home
Hunter: I did not but if we’re celebrating Halle agreeing to stay then alright!
Madison: Boys… Halle girl, I’ll bring the wine
Home. I roll that word around in my head for a moment. I guess this is home now. When I first arrived here, I thought it would be just for the summer. I never expected to love it so much, but this small town has a certain charm to it, and the people here are genuinely kind. There’re no looks of pity or disgust when I walk down Main Street, or when I enter the coffee shop. Hunter’s friends welcomed me like I was their missing piece all along, and then there’s Asher and the magnetic pull between us. My heart tightens, realizing I’m actually wanted here, and my eyes well with tears.
“Halle.” Asher’s voice calls from down the far end of the bar. “You okay there?”
Shaking off the overwhelming feeling, I plaster on a reassuring smile. “The boys want you to bring home a case of beer.”
“How does that sound, sweetheart?” His lips tug in a knowing smile. “Calling this place home?”
Nothing escapes him. It’s like he has a front-row seat inside my head, seeing through me every time. I walk over to him, watching as he stacks glasses of water onto a tray. The way his arm muscles flex with each movement is distracting, a little mesmerizing, and I can’t help but wish they were wrapped around me instead.
“I kind of like it,” I admit, standing close to him.
He turns, his face inches from mine, and my breath hitches when he says, “Yeah, well, I kind of like you.”
“Kind of?” I tease, reaching over and grabbing a glass of water.
As my chest brushes against his arm, I catch the way his eyes shift, zeroing in on my lips as I take a slow sip from the glass. Setting it back down, I slowly flick my tongue out and lick my lips. He leans in, and I back up, my hands automatically bracing against the bar.
The warmth of his breath touches my skin, and the space between us sparks. “You want me to admit it, sweetheart?” He speaks with a low tone. “Because I’ll admit it, I don’t kind of like you. I fucking like you, Halle. Everything about you. The strength you carry, your courage, independence, compassion, resilience. Your smile, those eyes, these goddamn curves.” He grips my hips in that dominating way that I’m quickly becoming addicted to. My body heats up as a deep ache builds low in my core. I press my thighs together, hoping for any kind of relief, but it’s useless. Asher’s consuming every part of me. My breaths turn shallow, my cheeks warm, and I glance away from the intensity of his gaze.
“I like all of you,” he rasps, placing his hands on either side of my face, thumbs slowly stroking my cheeks as he pulls my attention back to him. “And I want… no, I need all of you.”
My lips part, and my heart pounds so hard it feels like it’s trying to jump out of my chest, and I can’t take it any longer. My fingers curl into his shirt, and I pull him to me, meeting him halfway as our lips collide in an all-consuming kiss.
“Tell me you feel this,” he says against my lips, his fingers digging into my hips.
He pulls back a fraction, and the loss of his warmth, his overpowering lips and taste causes me to whimper. I go to pull him back in when one of his hands travels up the nape of my neck, gripping my hair in a possessive way.
“Tell me you want this, sweetheart, and I’ll make it feel so good for you.” He tugs on my hair.
My gaze locks with his, and the passion in his eyes, the want and pure need for me sends a rush of heat through me. “I want you, Asher. Please, I need you, too.”
He groans. “Baby, you never have to beg for me.” And then his lips take mine again.
The world around us ceases to exist, the clean lemon scent mixed in with the rubber mats that line the bar floor and the bitter edge of spilled alcohol evaporate until all that lingers is him, the masculine earthy scent I’m beginning to crave. I need more. My hands find their way through his curls, and I tug lightly, biting down on his lip ring. He reacts the same way he did back in my room. I knew he liked that. His thigh parts my legs, pressing against my heated core, but it’s still not enough.
“Asher,” I moan into his mouth, “make it feel good.”
Our tongues fight for control as his hand travels to the waistband of my bike shorts.
“Are you wet for me, sweetheart?” He pulls back, eyes searching mine.
He’s giving me a second to back out, to retreat, and if that doesn’t make me want him more.
“Why don’t you find out?” I smirk.
Leaning in, Asher’s teeth graze along my jaw, nipping at my ear as he growls, “Be a good girl for me.”
Panting. I’m fucking panting. What is happening to me? He hasn’t even touched me yet, and I feel like I’m going to combust. Never in my life, in all my random hookups, has it ever felt like this. My hands drift over his shoulders, tracing the curve of his biceps before my nails find their hold on his forearms. His heated gaze meets mine as his thumbs slip into the waistband, and slowly, so very slowly, he drags my shorts and panties down my thighs.
“Lean back,” he commands as he drops to his knees.
My legs tremble with anticipation, and the fire in his eyes blazes as he takes a good look at me. I feel exposed, splayed out bare for him, but the nerves, the anxiety I’m bracing myself for as he lifts my legs and drapes them over his shoulders doesn’t come. Instead, a surprising calm settles over me as I realize Asher Hayes is on his knees for me.
His finger moves over my clit and down my slit. “Fuck, sweetheart, you’re so wet.” He drags his fingers back up, and a whimper falls from me as my head tips back.
“Is this all for me?” His teeth nip at the inside of my thigh, and I arch into him, seeking more, needing more.
“Halle?” My name falls from his mouth in a question, and as I gaze down at him, I find him waiting.
“Ye-yes,” I stutter out.
“That’s my girl.”
Before I can even latch on to those words, he’s on me, and a moan so deep inside of me falls from my parted lips. He’s relentless, working me and bringing me to the edge with his tongue. My pulse quickens as my orgasm builds and builds.
“Tastes so good, baby.”
Oh my god.
My hands tangle in his curls as I look at him. He’s about to shatter my world, and there’ll be no going back from this. He doesn’t give me a second to catch my breath or think. His arms wrap around my thighs, holding me in place as he bites down on my clit and sucks.
My body shakes, and the world around me goes dark as an intense wave of pure bliss crashes through me. But he doesn’t let up, he hums in approval at the sounds that leave my mouth.
“Your pussy just became my favorite meal of the day,” he murmurs against me.
His words bring another wave of heat rushing through me, and I begin to squirm. The sensitivity is too much, it’s all too much. With one last chaste kiss, he places my legs down and stands. His swollen lips pull into a cocky smirk as he stares at me, running a hand through his messy curls.
The world comes back into focus around me, the sounds of his heavy breathing mixed with mine fill the space between us, and the familiar red and gold hues of the bar seep into my vision once again. I suddenly realize what we just did, what he just did to me in my brother’s bar, where I’m supposed to work, and where anyone could have walked in on us. Oh god…
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asks, grabbing my shorts and helping me back into them.
Biting my lip, I nod and glance down at where he’s straining against his jeans.
“Halle.” His voice comes out in a warning, and my eyes snap back to his.
He’s a guy, a very attractive guy that no doubt has had a tonne of experience. He probably has girls lined up for him here, waiting for their turn. Oh shit… What if he does have girls on rotation? The idea has a knot forming in my chest. If I don’t follow through, will he call one of them? Take her back to his place, or even to Hunter’s? The raw need behind his eyes screams at me to do something about it.
Asher’s hand grabs mine, linking our fingers together and pulling me from my spiral.
“Whatever’s happening in that mind of yours right now, forget it,” he says softly. “Don’t overthink this, sweetheart.”
“But… Don’t you need…” My words catch in my throat as I glance back down at his dick.
He brings our joined hands to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles under a coy smile. The gesture is so sweet, it’s unnerving. I’ve never experienced sweet before.
“I’ve needed you every second of every day since the moment I laid eyes on you, baby. Every night, I go home and fuck my hand fantasizing about you, how you would look on your knees for me, bent over my bed…” A low groan falls from his lips. “Why do you think I haven’t stayed at Hunter’s since that first day we met? ”
My lips part as my skin warms. He’s thought about me, goes home at night, and jerks off with images of me in his head. Why is that so hot?
“My turn will come, but when it does, it’ll be after I’ve looked after you in all the ways I’ve imagined because you’re mine now.” He leans in and kisses me softly before pulling away and turning back to the forgotten glasses of water.