Chapter 22
Roxanne
Why? Why is he looking at me that way? Like he feels something deeper than mere attraction for me.
I gulp, hear cascading through my body. I wonder if it’s because of the conversation we just had or the fact that it finally feels like there’s no barrier between us.
I part my mouth, ready to say something, but he slides his hand through my hair as he claims mine hungrily.
The kiss isn’t just any kiss. It’s strong and filled with so much passion that it makes my stomach rumble with desire.
I sink into his arms, letting my mind and body melt into the kiss. When he breaks from the kiss, he lifts me up and carries me to his bedroom.
I hear the gaming sound coming from Felix’s room as we pass by, and I almost melt against him in embarrassment. However, that disappears as soon as we enter Asher’s room and he lays me down on his bed.
He places his fingers on my lips, his grey eyes peering into mine. The desires I can see evident in his eyes make my heart thump with the need for him.
“Fuck, I need you now,” he whispers against my lips again, and I can’t even blame him because that’s how I feel.
“Then take me,” I breathe out, my chest heaving up and down.
Good lord, what’s happening to me? This urgent need for him feels maddening. Is this part of the pregnancy hormone, or just me? However, I know that Asher is the only man who can make me feel this way.
His lips on my skin zap all forms of thinking out of me.
Asher slowly begins to undress me. He places gentle kisses over my skin as he eases off my clothes. This sends literal chills up my spine.
He pulls off my cotton top, placing a feather-light kiss on my shoulder. He kisses down my neck and then my breasts as he takes off my shirt along with my bra.
I gasp when I feel his mouth on my breast, shocked by the surges of emotions rushing through me.
Asher sinks to his knees as he pulls down my pants. He kisses my stomach gently and raises his eyes up to meet mine.
“I still can’t believe our baby is growing inside you right now.”
My heart melts at the words. The soft emotions in his eyes are so much different from the way he looked when he first found out about the baby. Right now, it seems just like a man proud of becoming a father.
All I can think about is how beautiful it will be to have a family with him. Yet, the reminder of his suggestion that I leave the still breaks my heart.
However, every thought slips out of my mind as he gently caresses my lower abdomen.
My skin comes alive under his touch as every nerve ending tinges with an urgent need for him.
He crawls over me, kissing my neck again. This time, I stare into his beautiful eyes. The passion and desire I see there have me in a trance.
It’s a look I’ve never seen in anyone else’s eyes. Maybe I have, but the only person who has been able to make me feel so desired by staring at me this way is Asher.
His hands move down my shoulders and to my breasts. He takes a special moment as he massages my breasts, kneading them gently.
I gasp, my moans getting louder as I arch my back up for him.
I reach for him, too needy for him to let things continue this slowly. Asher lets out a gentle chuckle, holding my hands and pinning them above my head.
“You don’t get to do that. I’m not done yet,” Asher says, a mischievous look in his eyes.
He finishes working his way down my body, purposefully staying away from between my legs. And it’s where I need him the most.
I ache for him to caress my clit, but he continues kissing my body and messaging softly. My whole body is on fire now and tingling with anticipation of what is to come.
I squeal when I feel a finger enter me. My mind swoons when he slips in another finger and begins to work his way in and out of me.
I can already feel a mind-blowing orgasm about to hit me, and I quiver at how intense it feels in my abdomen.
Asher must have known this as well because he picks up the pace of his fingers. Faster and faster, he slides his fingers in and out of my soaking wet pussy and sucking my swollen clit.
My breathing quickens as I squeeze his fingers, and the orgasm hits me with full force. My whole body quivers.
My mind is still spinning as he moves up my body. He kisses me softly.
I moan into his mouth as he breaks out of the kiss. He stands up and pulls off his clothes. By the time he bends over me fully naked, I wrap my legs around his waist as I bring him down.
I guide his manhood into my opening. A loud moan escapes me as I engulf all of him.
We move together, our breathing matching our pace. At first, it’s slow; he pulls almost all the way out and then fills me up with his rod over and over again until I can’t hold back anymore.
We come together, his name on my lips, as I wrap my arms tightly around him.
I snuggle into him, forcing my tears back as I slowly come to a sad realization.
I love him.
Somewhere between the endless arguments and misunderstandings, I'd fallen in love with Asher. My heart squeezes painfully. I know none of that changes the truth.
Asher cares about me. Maybe even deeply. But caring isn't the same thing as love. And I don't know if he'll ever love me.
The thought terrifies me more than I'd like to admit.
His forehead settles against mine. Then he leans forward and kisses me again.
My eyes sting unexpectedly. I have to end this before I become so attached that losing him destroys me. Before I start believing this can last forever.
His arms tighten around me. And despite everything, I melt into him anyway.
God help me. I don't think I ever stood a chance.
Just a few more days. I promise myself.
A few more days and then I'll figure out how to leave without completely shattering my own heart.
It's cowardly. Maybe even selfish. But I can't make myself walk away yet. Not now.
“That's cheating!” Felix shouts, struggling against Asher’s height.
“It's not cheating.” Asher chuckles. “It's called being taller than you.”
Felix groans dramatically. I hide a smile behind my glass of lemonade, leaning against my chair.
Across the private basketball court, Asher looks infuriatingly handsome in a dark T-shirt and athletic shorts. His hair is slightly messy, and his sleeves are rolled up. And unfortunately for my emotional stability, he's laughing.
The sound drifts across the court toward me. I've seen him smile before, but watching him with Felix is different.
They're competitive enough to drive each other insane. Felix talks back constantly, and Asher enjoys provoking him. Yet somehow they've become comfortable around each other.
Watching them together does something strange to me. It makes me imagine what a future where we’re a family would be like.
My hand drifts instinctively toward my stomach.
Emotion clogs my throat unexpectedly. This isn't just about me anymore.
Felix is involved, and there’s a baby, too. Let’s not forget my all-too-fragile heart.
Asher catches me watching him. Everything else disappears right then as his expression softens instantly. He smiles.
The sight nearly destroys my resolve to leave.
A few minutes later, the game finally ended. Felix collapses dramatically onto one of the outdoor chairs.
“I was robbed,” he whines.
“You lost by twenty.”
Felix rolls his eyes. “Trust you to support your man.”
I nearly choke on my drink, but I manage to subdue it. I haven’t exactly told Felix what’s going on between Asher and me because it really isn’t anything serious. However, he must have guessed from the fact that he’s caught me sneaking out of Asher’s bedroom more than once already.
Asher tosses Felix a bottle of water before walking toward me. My heart betrays me immediately and starts beating violently.
His hand settles against the back of my chair as he leans over me. “You okay?”
I nod.
His gaze lingers on me. Like he knows that's not the whole truth. Thankfully, he doesn't push. Instead, he reaches down and steals a strawberry from the bowl beside me.
“Hey.”
“You weren't eating it.”
“I was about to.” I glare at him.
He looks entirely too pleased with himself. Then his expression shifts as though he suddenly remembered something.
“Alex and Maya's wedding is tomorrow,” Asher says.
I smile. I think about Maya and wonder how excited she must be to finally get married to the love of her life.
“I need a plus one, and you’re coming,” Asher says, sliding into the chair beside me.
My heart immediately starts behaving inappropriately. I narrow my eyes. “Was that a request?”
He stops for a moment, squinting as though he’s seriously considering it, then he shakes his head abruptly.
“It was a statement.”
“How very romantic,” I joke, tilting my head to the side.
“Thank you.”
I gasp when he even goes as far as bowing. I chuckle softly, shaking my head.
The man is impossible.
Still, uncertainty curls inside my chest. Publicly attending a wedding with him feels dangerously intimate and permanent in ways it probably shouldn't.
“Why don’t you take Felix instead, since you haven’t learned how to properly ask a lady out?” I taunt him.
“Hell no!” Felix yells. “I’m hanging out with Darryl tomorrow, there’s no way I’m giving up on that for old people’s wedding.”
“Old people!” Both Asher and I say simultaneously.
Felix chuckles. “Did I hit a sore spot?”
I pick up my empty cup and aim it at him, but he dashes off before I can make the throw. Asher sighs heavily, leaning closer to me.
“What are you thinking so hard about?” I ask.
“Just how an old man can ask an equally old woman out.”
I turn to him, the corner of my lips quirking upward. “Say please.”
“Please.”
I gasp softly. He says it in such a low, deep voice that I feel my body stir with excitement.
“I already had a dress delivered,” he adds.
I chuckle. “Really?”
“The shoes too and jewelry.”
My jaw drops. “You bought an entire outfit before asking me?”
“I wanted to be prepared.”
“Or you arrogantly assumed I’d just go with you.”
“Maybe a little bit of that, too,” he admits.