Chapter 17 Asher
Asher
The plans I have for her and that body
What the fuck happened? When I left, Bri was purring like a content kitten. Now, she’s one second from fleeing. I’m simultaneously serving a patron while wracking my brain as to what happened when Gage claps me on the shoulder.
“Hey, Ace. Just a heads up, Giselle is here,” he informs me.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. Fuck…This won’t be good.
“Okay, and?” I could give a rat’s ass about that woman.
“Well, Giselle spotted your girl on her way to the bathroom and made a beeline for her. I saw Giselle walk out with a smile on her face, and Bri looked like she wanted to disappear.”
Everything makes sense now. Giselle lives for drama. Rage bubbles like lava in my veins as I think about all the possibilities that could have transpired in that bathroom. Spoiler alert, none of them are good.
“Hey, do me a favor. Close down early. I need to talk to my girl.”
“You got it.”
Groans and curses erupt within the bar when Gage announces last call, but I couldn’t give a shit. My priority right now is Bri.
I step into my office to find Bri curled in a ball on the couch, tears streaming down her face.
Pain wraps around my heart like a noose threatening to squeeze the life out of me as I watch her body shake with hurt I’m determined to fix.
I crouch down in front of her, brushing some of her wavy tendrils from her face.
“Look at me.” Desperation seeps from my voice.
She shakes her head a few times, but eventually, her eyes meet mine. My stomach bottoms out and my heart threatens to fall to my feet. Bri peers up at me with bloodshot eyes, puffy cheeks, and fuck does she look beautiful. Even with tear-stained cheeks, she’s stunning.
“What did she say?” I ask. Her eyes widen and a soft gasp escapes past her lips.
“H-How did you know?”
“Gage told me about her following you.”
“It’s stupid. We aren’t even, like, together or anything. I mean, we never said we were exclusive. We haven’t even had sex yet, so just for—”
“Let’s get a few things straight. One, you and me?
We’re fucking exclusive. Two, I don’t know what Giselle told you, but her and I have never happened.
And three—” I grip her chin in my hand, my gaze burning into hers.
I need her to understand that I’m serious.
“And this is the most important part, bear. It’s only you and me, baby.
I’m fucking you, and only you. My cock belongs to you and only you.
Just like your pussy belongs to me and only me.
I’m not opposed to murder, so there better not be anyone else. ”
“N-No. There isn’t anyone else. Giselle got in my head about high school, and my brain went wild after that,” Bri admits.
“What are you talking about, Bri?”
“Remember that one party? Where I, um…” Bri’s voice trails off, her gaze ping ponging around the room, looking for something to focus on. I gently cup her cheek, watching as her eyes flutter closed.
“Care to finish that sentence?” I know exactly what party she’s referring to, but I want to hear her say it. I need to.
“Asher.” My name comes out in a hushed whisper, caressing my body like a feather.
“Brianna.” I refuse to let her cower.
“When I, um, asked you to fuck me.”
Bri’s chin lifts, her eyes sparkling with fierce determination.
“Bear, that’s not something I’d ever forget. But if I remember correctly, I tried getting your attention later that night and instead received the cold shoulder.”
“Yeah. I had the biggest crush on you back then. I had this plan to make my move only to have it ruined by Giselle saying y’all had sex earlier that night. When I saw you trying to get my attention, I saw red. I hated you so much at that moment. And I—”
“She lied.”
“W-What?”
“She. Lied. I’ve never had sex with her, Bri. Not now, and sure as fuck not then. Not when I’ve only ever wanted one person. I’d rather take an oath of abstinence than be with her.”
“Oh.” She blinks up at me, astonishment flashing across her beautiful features.
“Yeah, oh. I’ve only had eyes for one woman. A striking, sarcastic, funny brunette. With the most incredible brown eyes and the most killer ass I’ve ever seen.” I watch as recognition crosses her face.
“Me?”
“Yes, Bri. You. I’ve been gone for you for years. Why would I want to throw that away by sleeping with Giselle?”
“I’m sorry…” Bri hangs her head, her shoulders touching her ears. I cup her cheeks with my face and watch her body visibly relax.
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m sorry she made you feel like I was messing with her when all I’ve ever wanted is you.”
“But she’s stunning. I wouldn’t blame you if you—”
“Stand up,” I demand.
“What?” Lines form in between Bri’s brows as she stares at me with a startled expression.
“You heard me. Stand up.” This time, I don’t wait for her to move. I grab her arms and bring her over to the full length mirror in the corner of my office. I stand off to the side of Bri, but we are still both in the mirror.
“What do you see?” I ask her. Bri looks like she’s seen a ghost. Her pupils dilate, and she looks as if she’s ready to drop to the ground and curl up in a fetal position.
“I-I can’t. D-Don’t make me.” I bring her back over to the couch. I lay down first before bringing her on top of me, but she resists.
“I’m going to squish you.”
“That’s what you’re worried about?” I snort, knowing and hating the implication. “You can’t hurt me.” My fingers scrape across her skin, and I watch as gooseflesh ripples across her body.
“Now, come here,” I growl at her, noticing her eyes widen like saucers and her spine snapping straight.
Bri hesitates briefly before laying on top of me. I open my legs so she can nestle in between them, and I run my fingertips up and down her spine.
“What happened there? In the mirror.” I have never seen someone react so strongly to seeing themselves before.
“I don’t like looking at myself. I still struggle with loving my body. It’s why I put that on my list to work on.”
“What do you see when you look in the mirror?”
“I see failure. I see ugly. I see someone I don’t recognize—a stranger. I see someone I don’t love.” That last word—love—hits me right in the gut.
“Baby…” My voice is a husky whisper washing over her. “You’re gorgeous.” My eyes trails down her body, lingering on every inch I want to trace with my tongue.
“Your beauty radiates from that perfect, caring heart of yours. You push your friends to be the best they can be.” I suck in a breath before continuing, “You push me to be the best I can be. And that body of yours?” I grip her chin with my fingers, hoping to drive home just how serious I’m being.
“It drives me fucking wild. You drive me fucking crazy. I even started reading books because of you.” That’s an admission I didn’t think I would share with her so soon, but to hell with it.
“Really?” She looks down at me with a sparkle in her eyes that I haven’t seen in a while.
“Yes, really. It started as a way to get close to you. I figured if I started reading the books you were, I could talk to you about them, and that would be the start of something for us. Of course, I never followed through with that, but I still kept reading. I fell in love with it because of you. You inspire people, Bri, and to me, that’s the most selfless and beautiful thing a person can do.
You inspire me every damn day to be the best version of myself. ”
“Oh” is all she says. I laid a lot on her, so that’s understandable.
“Yeah, oh.” I let out a chuckle, our eyes meeting in the mirror.
“Now, this mirror and body image thing, my brother Xander gave me an idea earlier.”
Her lips part, creating the perfect O shape. So perfect, my cock twitches in my jeans. Focus, Asher. Now’s not the time.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t tell them about your list.”
Bri sighs, tension quickly evaporating from her body.
“Do you trust me?”
Bri looks at me with a pained expression, her chin wobbling as she attempts to hold back her tears.
“Bear?”
“Why did you come over that day?”
I flip through every interaction we’ve had, trying to figure out what day she’s talking about.
“Baby, what day are you talk—”
Bri interrupts me and my stomach drops. “Avery told me she asked you to look after me. I—Why did you do it? Am I really that pathetic that you feel like you need to look after me?”
Wait, what? How can she even think that she’s pathetic? The fuck?
“Brianna, I’ve never seen you as pathetic.
You are a goddamn warrior. Anyone would be lucky to bathe in the glow of your strength.
I should have told you immediately after she asked me.
I have no excuse for hiding that from you.
I’m so sorry for feeding into that thought.
I’ve always been amazed by your bravery. I’ve always been amazed by you.”
Bri scans my face, looking for a lie I know she won’t find. After a thorough, albeit anxiety-inducing assessment, Bri nods her head, and all the air whooshes from my lungs.
“Okay, but I need you to be honest with me. I…You’ve become an important person to me, and I need you to be open.”
I cup her face in my hands before responding. “I promise to be honest with you. Full disclosure, Max also asked me to keep you company, too. And before you overthink things in that pretty head of yours, they just want to make sure you’re okay. They love and care about you, Bri.”
“I—Okay,” Bri replies.
I don’t fully believe her, but baby steps. “Now, back to the mirror thing. Do you trust me?” I await her answer with bated breath, hoping she’ll say yes, but I’ll understand if she doesn’t.
Bri looks at me, and a soft smile plays at her lips before she utters four words that make my heart soar. “I trust you completely.”
“Be ready tomorrow at twelve-thirty.” I give her forehead a quick peck when someone knocks on the door. We adjust our positions so that we are cuddling on the couch instead of lying down.
“Are you planning on telling me what we’re doing?”
“Hell no. It’s a surprise. Do you need a ride home?” I ask, knowing she still doesn’t have a car.
“Yes, please.”
“Get everything ready and meet me at the bar when you’re done.” I place a chaste kiss against her mouth before walking out to help Gage with the closing duties. I’m at the door when I remember something she said earlier.
“Hey, Bri?”
“Yeah?”
“You really had a crush on me, huh?” That interaction I’d had with Max is all starting to make sense now. I’m about 99.9% sure that’s what he had been about to say.
“Yes. Clearly, I haven’t learned my lesson.” Her response reminds me of the old Bri. The one who wasn’t afraid of putting me in my place.
“The feeling was mutual, babe.” I toss a wink in her direction before closing the door to the office.
Gage and I work in silence, but his gaze glances over in my direction from time to time. He’s probably trying to assess the situation with Giselle. I could have called her out for her hateful rhetoric, but Bri needed me.
“You good, man?”
I huff out a sigh, eyes cast toward the ceiling. “I will be. I just, I don’t get why Giselle had to tear into Bri like that.”
“I’m about to say something that might piss you off. I need you to hear me out fully before you get mad.” Gage waits for my curt nod before he continues.
“First, Giselle was way out of line. She shouldn’t be saying shit like that to anyone, let alone Bri. She hasn’t had it easy in life, and I think something about Bri triggers her.”
“Fucking hell, Gage. How can you be defending her? You have sisters. You even have nieces and nephews. What the fuck?” How he’s friends with her blows my mind. I never really asked him about it. But I have warned him that she’s toxic as hell.
“Not defending, just…I understand her more than most. But, she was in the wrong, and I will be having a conversation with her. I’m not sure it’ll do anything, but she and I will have words.
I’m sorry for what she said. That woman in there,” Gage nods to the office before continuing, “is fucking incredible.
Giselle doesn't handle jealousy well. And your girl intimidates the shit out of her. I have your back, both of your backs, always.”
I let out a long sigh before speaking. “I appreciate it, man. I know you have my back. You always do. Thanks for taking over the closing duties, I appreciate it.”
Our exchange is interrupted when Bri comes out of the office, fully dressed and wearing a tired expression.
A lot has happened within the last few hours, so her exhaustion makes sense.
I take her hand in mine and walk her out to my car.
Tomorrow can’t come fast enough, and the plans I have for her and that damn body of hers have my dick itching to come out and play.