Chapter 44 Brianna
Brianna
You aren’t a bare minimum kind of woman
How did he…Why did he… What? As I stare at my new reading chair, I can’t seem to form a coherent thought or question. But it’s not just the reading chair, because Asher doesn’t do anything halfway.
No.
Sitting on top of the chair is the entire Off-Campus series. A series that I remember mentioning to him in passing. Moisture sliding down my face alerts me that I’m crying. The thoughtfulness of this man alone is enough to have my heart soaring like an eagle taking flight.
My fingers trail along the fuzzy purple chair, the soft plushness feeling like heaven against my fingertips. Visions of lazy Saturday mornings curled up in this chair reading with sunlight streaming through the open window as birds sing their hellos to the world flash through my mind.
Asher is truly everything I could have ever wanted in a partner.
He continues to surprise me every day. Speaking of surprises, he has another one waiting outside for me.
The fall weather has me leaning toward warmth and comfort over sexy and revealing.
I reach for my gray sweats and hoodie, wanting to replace a sad memory with a happy one.
The moment I step outside, my hands fly to my face, momentarily stunned at what I see.
Asher is there with his hands inside the pockets of his checkered sweats wearing a sweet smile on his face.
Behind him is a blue blow-up mattress with a shit ton of pillows and blankets piled on top.
In front of the mattress is a gray tub filled with ice, two wineglasses, and a wine bottle.
Snacks are scattered across the bed, and my feet become unstuck as I launch myself at him.
Thank God for his calves of steel, because he’s able to keep us upright.
“This is incredible, thank you.” I press a smacking kiss to his lips before hopping down.
I carefully plop down on the mattress and grab the mint Oreos.
There’s every snack imaginable here: sweet spicy chili Doritos, pistachios, Red Vines.
Seriously, Asher thought of everything. While I unwrap the snacks, Asher is pouring the wine into the glasses he brought out.
I’ve been so distracted by everything he set up out here that I forgot about the reading chair upstairs.
“Thank you for my reading chair and the books. I can’t believe you remembered those were the ones I wanted.”
“I remember everything about you.”
Asher’s fingers brush a runaway curl off my face, and my face nuzzles against his hand like a cat marking their scent.
Mine.
“As for the chair, well, I had help from Avery and Cas. I was thinking of ordering myself one so that way we can read together side by side.”
Seriously, how did I get so lucky to have a man like Asher in my life?
Not only does he do shit like this, but he wants to get his own chair just so he can be near me?
My heart threatens to jump out of my chest at the thought of spending weekends in our reading den together.
He isn’t afraid to read romance books. In fact, that’s a majority of what he reads.
“Hey, Asher?” I ask.
“Yeah?”
“I know you like to read romance books, but I don’t think I ever asked why.” He confessed he got into reading as a way to talk to me, but I’m curious as to why he continues with romance.
“I know you love them, and you’re always talking about this book boyfriend and that book boyfriend.
I was curious, so I started picking them up.
At first, it was to have any excuse to talk to you—one I was too scared to follow through on.
Then I started taking mental notes on reasons why you liked that character.
I guess I hoped that if we ever got together, I’d know how you’d want to be treated—”
“You did all that for me? Why?”
“You deserve to be treated like the women in those books do. You aren’t a bare minimum kind of woman.
These male characters go above and beyond for their girl, so that’s why I read them—well, started reading them.
Somewhere along the way, I began to enjoy what I was reading.
My book recommendations haven’t been the same since.
But if it meant you and I were connected on some level—even if you had no idea—then I’d happily sacrifice my search history. ”
I’m completely stunned. I mean, I guess I’m not really surprised, but the fact that he’s taking notes on how to treat a woman right?
If I wasn’t already so in love with this man, my heart would have dropped at his feet right this second—alongside my panties.
I remove the glasses from his hand and place them on the ground gently before straddling his lap.
“That has to be one of the hottest and sweetest things you’ve ever said to me.”
I caress his cheeks with my hands before our mouths meet.
There is no rush with this kiss, we just take our time and explore each other’s mouths.
The slow, lazy meeting of tongues heats our bodies against the cold, fall evening.
There’s nothing inherently sexual about this moment, just Asher and I conveying our love through a kiss.
It’s Asher who pulls back first, pressing kisses to both of my cheeks before resting his forehead against mine. I snuggle closer to him, my head lying against his chest, listening to the strong, steady beating of his heart.
Just two individual souls twining together to create something beautiful. Something uniquely ours. Just being around him silences my worries, doubts, and fears. His calm energy soothes my chaos. I love this man with my entire being, and I’m glad we’ve chosen each other.
I find myself pulling back to admire the beautiful man that is Asher Larson. I watch his features soften with love and admiration, and I feel my face relaxing with what I assume is a matching look. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
I know I wanted to fall in love, but I hadn’t expected to do it twice—once with myself, and the other with the beautiful man in front of me.
“I love you, Asher. Thank you for loving every inch of me before I could learn to love myself.”
“I love you, too, Bri. You’ve always been a fighter, and watching you love yourself, flaws and all, is breathtaking.” I curl up into his arms, my head resting on his chest and his chin atop my head.
We remain silent, allowing nature's soundtrack to fill the space. Somewhere in the distance, there’s a frog croaking. Cars are rushing by, and crickets call out to each other. The sky sparkles with millions of stars, not a single cloud in sight.
“Bri?” Asher’s fingers massage my scalp, and I let out a soft sigh.
“Hmmm?”
“Can I ask why you’ve never gotten that book set? I mean, I totally love spoiling the shit out of you, but I’m just curious.”
“I always said I’d buy it, but then every time they restocked, it sold out within seconds.
I always thought that if it was meant to be, it would.
And then life got away and while the books were always in the back of my mind, I just forgot about getting them.
You got lucky that they weren’t sold out when you ordered them. ”
“They’re that popular, huh?”
“Oh, yeah. Remember when I made you crawl to me that one time?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I borrowed that scene from the second book in the series. So, I guess we were role-playing spicy book scenes before it became our thing.”
“Damn, I need to read that book. Cuz fuck, if that wasn’t one of the hottest things of my life. Hey, when we open our store, do you want to see if we could offer special editions? Maybe we can do a spotlight special for one each month?”
“You’d do that?” Asher does these little things that catch me off guard.
“Yeah. It’s important to you, so I want to make sure we make all your bookish dreams come true. Well, all of your dreams, really.”
“I fucking love you. I’m so happy to be doing this with you.”
“I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone but you.”
“You really are the best. All my other boyfriends have nothing on—” I squeal when Asher tickles my sides.
“Other boyfriends, huh? Tell me, Bri, when do you have time for these other boyfriends?” My laughter comes out wheezy while squirming beneath his fingers.
“I-I can’t breathe, Asher.” His fingers stop what they’re doing only to lift the hem of my hoodie up. Fireworks shoot off in my body when his lips press on my lower stomach.
“I asked you a question, bear. When do you have time for these boyfriends?”
“I-I meant past boyfriends. I, um—oooh.” His fingers slip beneath the waistband of my sweats.
The cool air hits my bare thighs as Asher slips the cotton fabric down my legs.
I mentally high five myself for having the tall, earthy colored fence posts installed when I moved in.
Last thing I want, or need, is my neighbors watching my every move.
They might hear things…but they don’t need to see everything that’s about to happen.
“Tell me something. Have I successfully helped you fall in love with sex?” His gravelly tone sends desire right to my core.
“Mmmm…I don’t know. I might need more practice.”
The look on his face tells me everything I need to know. He knows I’m lying and being a brat. We’ve crossed off that item on my list forever ago. I just like having him between my legs.
“Well, then I guess I’m not doing my job well. Lift your hips for me, baby.” I silently thank my lucky stars I chose not to wear underwear.
“Fuck. You’ve been bare under these sweats this entire time?” Asher’s nose nuzzles my hip bone.
“Y-Yes. I didn’t feel like putting them on.” My confession comes out breathy.
“Easy access then.” Asher’s hot breath fans across my pussy before sliding my pants off my legs. He takes my legs and wraps them around his head before inserting his tongue inside me.
“Holy shit, Asher,” I gasp. His tongue laps up my arousal. The friction from his flattened tongue has the eyes rolling in the back of my head. My hands shoot out to grip his hair when he takes my clit between his lips and sucks…hard.
“That’s it. Ride my face. Soak my face with your cum,” Asher growls as my hips pick up speed. Asher inserts two fingers inside me, and when he crooks them in the spot he knows I like, lights flash behind my eyelids. Everything begins to explode around me.
“Yes. There, right there,” I moan, and Asher nips on my sensitive clit before flicking it with his tongue, all while curling his fingers inside me.
The pressure building at the base of my spine is so overpowering, I might combust if I don’t come soon.
Hips rocking, tongue flicking, fingers curling.
That’s all it takes for me to come like I haven’t before.
“Asher, oh fuck. It’s too much,” I whimper.
“Don’t you dare stop. I want my chin drenched in your cum.
Come for me, baby.” My vision blurs and a metallic taste fills my mouth from biting down on my lip too hard.
Asher’s paying attention to my clit like there'll be a test and he needs to ace it.
His tongue swipes up and down my slit a few times before removing himself between my legs.
His chin glistens with my cum, just like he wanted.
“You do so well with me between your legs. Such a good girl for me.” He kisses both of my cheeks before planting a lingering one to my forehead.
Asher slides my sweats up my body before pulling me into him.
Well, that’s one way to replace the bad memory these sweats hold for me.
That’s the last thought I think about before I drift off into a peaceful sleep.