Chapter 20 Riley
Riley
My entire body felt like it was vibrating while I sat in my class, hardly listening to anything my professor had to say.
All I could hear was Chancellor Fowler’s voice over and over again.
The upside was that I hardly noticed the eyes that seemed to land on me every so often.
I would occasionally look in their direction whenever I tried to refocus and they would look away quickly.
I tapped my phone screen to life and found my text thread with River.
Does Asher have office hours today?
The three dots appeared letting me know he was typing.
RIVER
I think so, why?
Any clue when they are?
RIVER
What’s this about, Riley?
Nothing. I just need to talk to him.
RIVER
Nothing is your way of saying it’s something. I may have a pretty face, but I do pay attention, gorgeous. Did he do something to piss you off already today?
More than usual, I mean.
I wanted to laugh because River had a way of turning a dark moment into something worth smiling at.
I would love to let you in on every detail, but I need to talk to him first.
RIVER
Does this little talk have anything to do with why his mind was a dirty mess this morning? You might have broken my brother and I am highly impressed.
It wasn’t my intention I assure you.
RIVER
Haha, well here’s his number. Talk away, gorgeous. We’ll take you back home later today.
The next message I got was Asher’s phone number which I quickly saved into my contacts. Students started getting out of their chairs and barreling out of the room, so I waited patiently in my seat.
Are you busy right now?
ASHER
who is this?
your favorite student.
My screen changed from the text thread to an incoming phone call. He was fucking calling me. I started to leave the room when I answered.
“Hello?”
“What do you need, Riley?” There were some echoes and background noise on his end.
“Are you headed to your office?”
“Why are you asking?”
“Why don’t you answer?”
He groaned, clearly annoyed. “How did you get my number?”
“River is very helpful. Now are you headed to your office?”
“Yes, are you planning to stalk me?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I hung up before he could think of some snarky way to respond and headed to the Department of Mental Magic.
My determined footsteps slowed when I realized I was now on the same floor as Asher and his dad.
The elevator doors closed behind me and I stared at Oliver St. James’ door, wondering if he was in his cushy office, so proud of himself and what he’d done.
I wanted to rip off my ring and burn that entire half of the building down, hear him beg for me to save him from the flames while I just watched.
I would treat him just like he treated my dad.
I knocked on Asher’s door, hearing a small laugh and then, “Come in.” His deep voice came through clearly and I turned the doorknob, surprised when I realized he wasn’t alone. A girl with fair skin and short dark hair sat across from him, a notebook in her lap.
“Can I help you with something, Miss Monroe?” Asher leaned forward in his chair, running two of his fingers over his lips.
“I—I didn’t know that you were meeting with someone.”
“Well, these are my office hours, so it’s always a possibility. You can email me if you want to make an appointment outside of them.” His voice was so professional and precise. I would have never guessed this was the same man who dry humped me against a door.
The girl tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and batted her eyelashes.
“It’s totally okay. We were just chatting now; we got done a few minutes ago.
” She tucked her notebook away in her bag, getting up.
“Thank you, Professor St. James. You’re always so helpful.
” I had to catch myself from letting a laugh escape when she legitimately bit her bottom lip.
She left the room and took all the humor from that moment with her.
“How about I repeat my question. Can I help you with something?” Asher took a stack of papers from his right and grabbed a red pen.
I rushed over to his desk, curling my fingers around the edge. “I think you can. Help me understand why you decided it was a good fucking idea to open your big mouth to your dad.”
He stopped scribbling words down with his pen, placing it down next to his papers and looking up at me. “Excuse me?”
“You told your dad where I was that night. You ruined my entire plan.”
He pushed his chair back, standing up and meeting my stare. “How do you know that?”
“I had a nice chat with Chancellor Fowler today. One of what I assume to be his many random check-ins he’ll do.” I knew my face showed nothing but disgust. “That part isn’t important right now, what’s important is the fact that you didn’t tell me yourself.”
“Are you hoping that you’ll get an apology out of me?”
I scoffed. “I’m hoping for some kind of explanation.”
He licked his lips, keeping his eye contact with me. “You came in already upset, so what difference would it make?”
“I deserve to know. That’s why.” I leaned further in, bringing us a little closer.
He knocked his knuckles against his desk and walked around it.
He pressed his fingers to his forehead and turned to stare at the wall.
“You were hiding a lot, Riley. River is a fucking handful and yes, but I still don’t want him getting involved in avoidable things.
He would do damn near anything for you, so I was safe to assume he was going with you. ”
“Safe to assume? No, Asher, assuming anything is the dumbest thing you could have done. You told your dad! Grayson working with your dad hurt him, so this is literally no different!”
He whirled around, furrowing his brow. “I know, okay! I am well aware of the choices I made. You’ve been face to face with our dad one time, Riley!
He doesn’t have to use his powers to aggravate your mind; he’s gotten very good with just his words.
He likes to speak so highly about how he wants the best for us and all this bullshit that I was just tired of it, so I let it slip.
He wanted to be a good dad, so he should go check on his son.
” He let out a sigh and shook his head. “I can admit it wasn’t the best laid plan, alright? ”
“Your dad got me put in the hospital. I got lectured by my mom and was made to look like I was fucking insane. He told lies about me being erratic and hostile. If you had just kept your mouth shut, none of that would have happened.” I pointed my finger at him, trying to breathe through my anger.
“You had the fucking audacity to fuck me and then throw me under the bus. Who does that?! You looked me in my eyes and gave me a lecture on trusting people. It’s laughable. ”
I turned to go, so tired of being in this room. I caught the look of sincerity in his eyes before he wasn’t in my view anymore.
“Riley.”
“Fuck you. I’ll be sure to take this into account when you fuck me over to appease your father, yet again.”
A sharp tug on my backpack sent me spinning around to face him.
Asher was just a few inches in front of me.
“I didn’t know he was going to hurt you.
I won’t apologize for always considering my brother, but I will apologize for putting you in harm’s way.
I will never be okay with that.” His voice had this air of protectiveness that I hadn’t heard before until right now.
He ran a hand down his short beard, actually avoiding eye contact with me this time. “You’re right though.”
My body went still from him actually admitting something like that. “What?”
“I shouldn’t have had sex with you and then made that choice.
I’m sorry about that. I should have never let it go as far as it did.
” He peered over at me and my heart beat a little faster with each second that passed.
His green eyes fell to my mouth and I wanted to step back, leave the room and try my best to avoid both him and Grayson for a while, but then again, I wanted to step closer.
“We’re both adults, Asher. We both made a decision.” I found myself looking at his mouth as well and the room felt too hot, the air too stuffy.
He inclined his head towards me. “You may not believe me, but I would never want to see you in any sort of real pain.” He took a tiny step towards me. “That’s the last thing I want.”
“Tell me what you did was dumb. Tell me it was stupid. Tell me it was one of the worst decisions you’ve ever made,” I challenged, my breathing becoming heavier with each word. “I’ll forgive you.”
He took a deep breath and continued his walk over to me causing me to back up against the door. I dropped my backpack on the ground, placing my hands along the wood behind me. “You think I want your forgiveness that badly?” He planted one of his hands next to my head, leaning his body into mine.
“I think that’s up to you. It makes no difference to me.” I partially closed our distance so that my lips were a breath away from his. “Resistance is a tricky thing, isn’t it, sir?” I let the word linger and my tongue peeked out, touching his bottom lip.
He tilted his head to the side and brushed my lips with his own.
His breath washed over me and if he listened hard enough, I’m sure he would have heard my heart thrumming away in my chest. “It was dumb.” His free hand ghosted over my side and down to my hip.
“It was stupid.” He used his knee to part my legs.
“It was the worst decision I’ve ever made. ”
I let out the smallest whimper and his mouth was on mine, capturing that sound and claiming it.
He removed his hand from the door and grabbed my face, opening his mouth to fully welcome our kiss.
I grabbed his waist, tugging him into me and kissing him deeper, our tongues dueling.
He pushed me harder against the door and I shoved him away from me.
He staggered back, a confused look on his face.
I let out a few breaths, tenderly touching my lips.