Asher
Lennon: What do you want
Lennon: Yeah, I bet you fucking did.
Exasperation crept in as I sat up in bed. This clearly wasn’t going to be solved over text. She was clearly stuck in her head, and I needed to clear the air before this spiralled out of control. I put the phone to my ear and waited as it rang.
She audibly scoffed. “Whiplash? That’s rich, coming from you!”
The tone in her voice made me pause. She was upset. It was different from her being angry at me. She’d been stuck inside her head for too long, and now it was hurting her. I fucking hated it.
“I’m coming over,” I decided.
Before she could stop me, I disconnected the call and swung my legs out of bed.
I pulled on joggers and a grey t-shirt before I made my trek downstairs, relieved to find the house empty.
I didn’t have it in me for any more dramatics.
I texted Duke to see if he could drive me this morning, and his quick reply came almost immediately—three minutes.
That gave me just enough time to head back upstairs and brush my teeth and hair, hoping I looked at least somewhat presentable.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, which I ignored, knowing it was Lennon telling me to stay put. Not a chance in hell, babe.
When I reached the front door, Duke was already waiting in the car, like he’d been parked there all morning just for me.
“Hey, Duke,” I greeted as I slid into the rear seat. “Can you take me to Lennon’s?” I asked while buckling up. He nodded and pulled away from the curb. When I caught his eye in the rearview mirror, a smirk pushed up his cheekbones.
“You’ve got eyes for her, yeah?” he asked, his tone coy.
I chuckled. “You could say that.”
Duke nodded thoughtfully. “She’s got eyes for you, too, Asher. I could see that last night.”
I snapped my gaze up to meet his, not quite believing what I’d just heard. He held my stare for a moment before peering back out at the road, as if he hadn’t exactly said what he knew I needed to hear. A bundle of nerves lit up my insides, excitement buzzing at the thought of seeing her again.
Twenty minutes later, we rolled up to her apartment.
The building sat in a great neighbourhood—a two-story fourplex with a clean, well-designed layout.
Grey brick lined the exterior, modern and sleek, giving it a fresh, new-age feel.
It was well maintained—and I hated that my mind went there, but the thought crossed it, anyway—but how the hell could she afford to live here?
As far as I knew, Lennon didn’t have a job, or much desire to do anything at all. Maybe she robbed a bank. I chuckled at the idea, but in all honesty, it wouldn’t have surprised me.
I climbed out of the car and waved to Duke to let him know I was good. He smiled back before driving off slowly. Turning toward the entrance, I swung it open and eyed the stairs ahead—the ones I’d have to climb to get to her.
Reaching her apartment door, I hesitated before alerting her I was here. I blew out a nervous breath and knocked three times.
Before I could even finish my last knock, Lennon’s voice called out from the other side. “Go away.” My brow furrowed in confusion. Was she crying?
I pressed my cheek up against the door, speaking softly. “Hey…just let me in. I don’t know what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours, but I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Leave, Asher. Leave like everyone does. Leave like you know you’re going to.” Her sobs tore through the door, frantic and raw. Suddenly, she didn’t sound okay—she sounded lost, unwell, drowning in the depths of despair. I couldn’t take it anymore.
I tried the door handle. Locked. My eyes scanned for a hidden key, under the mat, above the doorway…nothing. I was at a loss for ideas.
“Lennon, let me in. I love these games we play, but I’m about to kick in your fucking door if you don’t open it.”
I allowed several seconds to pass before I heard the click of her door.
Relief washed over me that I wasn’t about to die on her doorstep, exerting all of this energy just to gain entry.
My heart had been taking a beating lately; I wasn’t sure this was up my alley, but I wasn’t about to let it stop me, either.
More time passed, and when she didn’t open the door willingly after unlocking it, I turned the handle and pushed it wide.
Inside her unit, she lay on the couch as if she hadn’t just gotten up for me.
The place was a disaster, trash scattered everywhere, as though she’d forgotten the garbage can sitting neatly next by her kitchen counter.
I moved to her side, kneeling on the floor in front of her as she curled up in the fetal position.
She looked like she’d been crying for hours.
I brushed a strand of hair out of her face without a word.
When her eyes met mine, I froze. They were a green unlike any I’d seen.
The gloss and redness from her weeping had deepened the undertones into a vivid emerald that seemed to sparkle. It was mesmerizing.
“Tell me, Lennon. Tell me all the darkness eating you alive,” I whispered, hoping the words would reach her.
Her face twisted in a grimace of melancholy, agony that infiltrated parts of her she didn’t want exposed.
“Why are you here?” she asked. On the surface, it was a simple question, but its undertone ran deeper. She didn’t mean just this apartment—she meant why are you here in my life?
“Because I want to be,” I answered simply, ensuring I read her tone correctly. She shook her head, like she was about to push further.
“Why are you in my group? Why are you in any fucking groups, for that matter? Is this like a thing for you? A sick kink or whatever?”
I stared at her, completely thrown off. This was what had been racking her brain all night?
I huffed out a partial, incredulous laugh, astounded at where she landed.
“I have my reasons, Lennon. And no, it’s not some sick fetish or whatever.
Just because I’m not forthcoming doesn’t mean I don’t deserve a seat at the table. ”
She eyed me, gears turning as she searched for what to say next, because regardless, she knew I was right.
I don’t owe anyone an explanation, and I didn’t want to see the shift in her expression when she learned I was going to die.
I didn’t want the sympathy she gave to absolutely no one, but would inevitably give to me.
I didn’t want her to go easy on me—she never had, and she never fucking should.
She made my life fun and challenging, and suddenly, I felt like I have a purpose: to prove everyone wrong, to outweigh the odds. She was that for me.
She continued to avoid speaking, so I decided to reassure her in my own way. “Oh, little siren—was this your way of finding out my fetishes? Because you could have just asked.”
A tiny smirk curled on the left side of my mouth as I watched as the fire sparked back to life inside of her.
“You’re a fucking idiot,” she said, a small, defeated smile slowly presenting itself. “But maybe I’m curious, too.”
Her eyes flitted away from mine, a hint of shyness creeping in. Was Lennon—the girl in front of me—asking…no, flirting with me?
Subconsciously, my body leaned slightly forward toward her, testing the waters, testing my luck. “I’m curious what your lips taste like,” I whispered, closing the gap between us. Her eyes flicked up to mine, desperate with hunger.
Like a feral animal, I took the silence as my go-ahead.
Our lips collided in a frenzy, and once again, her hands found the back of my shirt, tugging me closer to her, like she needed me desperately.
I slid my arms between her and the couch, pulling her into a tight hug against my body as she eased off of the cushions and into my lap on the floor.
Our lips collided like oceans, exploring and frantic.
Her nails dug harshly into my back before sliding up into my hair, tugging at the short strands.
It was a euphoria I’d never felt before.
I needed her, and it almost felt like she needed me, too—but not in the way that people usually needed each other.
I craved her lips and the fire simmering beneath her surface.
I needed to touch her in the softest ways, to show her the kind of love that she deserved, but had never received.
She needed someone to prove her wrong. She needed my gentleness, my unconditional care.
She needed those things as badly as I needed her.
And fuck, did I need her. I craved her desperately, like a drug I’d never want to quit.
Her hands traced down my back, pulling me into her as my own slid up to the sides of her neck, gently tugging her closer. We hadn’t even had a chance to breathe, but I could have died happily with my lips still connected to hers. Passion flooded every nerve ending, consuming everything else.
When we finally pulled apart, Lennon studied me, searching my eyes for something.
Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen, bleached hair falling forward as she leaned in again.
My eyes were heavy as I whispered against her mouth, “I would let you take me out of this world, Lennon. I’m never going to betray you. ”
Lennon pulled away from me, assessing the seriousness in my tone.
While she made direct eye contact, her hands reached for the bottom of her shirt and tugged it up and over her head, exposing her bare body to me.
I didn’t dare break eye contact as she fell back into my body, her mouth finding mine once again.
Standing with her body latched to mine, I walked down the hallway, heading toward what I could only assume was her bedroom. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and between breaths she whispered, “I can’t.” I pulled her lips closer to mine.
“I won’t. I just want to be next to you,” I said, panting, knowing that simply being close to her would have been all I ever needed.
Nodding, she wrapped her body even more tightly around mine as we approached her bed.
I knelt onto it, still carrying her in my arms, and slowly leaned her onto her back onto the mattress, careful not to add pressure by laying on top of her.
Once she was settled there, I rolled onto my side, still connected, our bodies and mouths refusing to allow air between us.
Our kissing slowed until it stilled, our lips resting against one another, and I felt compelled to open my eyes just to admire her. When I did, those beautiful green eyes were already watching me.
“You’re so beautiful, Lennon,” I whispered, the words heavily laced with awe and desperation.
She shook her head, and I stopped her by slipping my hand beneath her chin, gently guiding her face back to mine, forcing her to meet my eyes once again.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I want to know everything inside you, darkness included.”
She lifted her body onto mine, her bare chest pressed against my t-shirt, and I craved to match her bareness.
Her mouth explored my lips before they made their way toward my chin where she left sweet, tiny kisses that trailed their way back to my neck.
I embraced the way she needed to explore me.
She was confident in this moment, something I hardly ever caught a glimpse of and it was breathtaking.
My hands caressed over her bare back, anchoring me fully in the moment. We lay there together as she continued to kiss my neck, tucked comfortably into my chest.
“Let’s go get a pet,” she said softly.
I let the words settle before a quiet chuckle slipped out of me. “What?”
She lifted her head, smirking, her natural face glowing in the sunrise light intruding through her window. “A pet. It’s on our list. It can live here, and you can visit it.”
I smiled. “Are we moving our relationship to the next step, little siren?”
Her brows immediately furrowed. “No, that’s not—-”
I cut her off with a laugh. “I’m just teasing you, beautiful. I’d love to.”
Moments passed as she bit the inside of her lip, considering her next words. Finally, she asked, “Can we get a dog?”
I looked into the soft light in her eyes, catching the vulnerability she offered, and nodded. Excitement began to bloom inside her, contagious in its warmth. “And can we go to the humane society to pick it out?”
I nodded again, a smile stretching to the edges of my cheeks.
“And…” she began, searching her head for her next request. I pressed my lips to hers, cutting her off.
“Lennon, anything you want is yours. We can do whatever you want. This one’s all yours. You never have to ask for permission.”
I meant it—and I think she knew it, because the smile that spread across her face was unlike any I had ever seen before.
“Okay, let’s go then,” she said, her voice soft with excitement.