25. Asher
twenty-five
Asher
I lay Maya down on the bed for a moment and get up to go run her a bath. My heart aches as I see her sitting there, looking completely dazed. Her cheeks are stained with tears, and she clutches the pillow underneath her.
I wish there was a better way to raise my suspicions with her. There was absolutely something going on with her grandmother and Nicolas, but I had no idea what it was, no matter how hard I searched for the answers.
Nicholas was a conniving man from the beginning. The very reason that I was saddled with this curse. Every bit of me knew not to underestimate him when he wanted something. The idea of him showing interest in Maya was more than enough to send me over the edge of no return. I didn't care to be the monster. Not when it came to her safety. I would beg on my hands and knees to die for her if it meant she was safe away from my personal hell. It was clear that Nicholas wanted her. But for what I didn't know yet.
I ran the bath with steaming water before pouring bubble solution and vanilla bath salts in. I grabbed a fistful of eucalyptus leaves from a nearby jar and sprinkled them on top of the water. Before leaving, I lit some candles around the cozy room. I made Maya a fresh cup of tea and set it on a nearby small table; I set the honey bottle beside it just in case she desired more.
I could hear her cough throughout the day while I worked downstairs in the bakery. Even though she was fast asleep, she was consistently plagued by them.
Maya lay there the same way she had before I had gone to her bath. She looked absolutely worn out, and it sent a bolt of pain through me. I wish I could steal away all her worries and troubles. I would happily do so; she wouldn't even have to ask me.
"Princess," I say gently, grabbing the cup from her. She looks up at me blankly; the same anxious breathing plagues her as before.
"Arms up, dear," I command softly.
She immediately obeys, and I slide my shirt up and over her head, leaving her naked on the bed.
"Good girl," I praised. I picked her up and carried her to the bath, slowly setting her in and handing her the fresh cup of tea. She stared ahead blankly, and the longer she seemed to be stuck in the trance, the more I became anxious.
"Say something, baby," I begged her. I pull up a small chair behind the bathtub and begin brushing her hair as it drapes over the edge of the large clawfoot tub.
"I don't know what to say." She finally admits. "I don't know what I should say. I don't even know what I know anymore." Her hands tremble, and the tea inside the cup ripples.
"Maya, I will fix all of this. We'll figure it out," I promise her. I kiss the back of her head gently.
"Are we supposed to figure it out?" Her words confused me.
"Why wouldn't we?" I ask her.
"Asher, I don't remember my childhood. I don't remember my parents. And my grandmother and that man- Nicholas are connected." She shakes her head.
I was thinking about Emmett's conversation with me, and I decided to keep it private. The less involved Emmett was, the better. I had a feeling that not knowing that detail about that strange woman would only do her good right now.
"We'll figure it out, my dear. But for now, you just need to focus on getting better—if not for yourself, then for me." I kiss her head again. I promise we'll figure it out.
"How was the shop today?" She takes a sip of her tea and hums.
"It was easy. Not a lot of people came in. Emmett dropped in and snatched some cookies, but it was a quiet day." It was only a partial lie. The truth was I closed the shop after Emmett left. I didn't feel that I could run the shop properly with my mind racing. So, instead, I closed for the day and did some work in the shop.
"How is Emmett doing?" Maya reaches her hand up and through the water's surface and begins playing with the bubbles and the eucalyptus leaves floating gently above her.
"He's doing alright. I gave him some cookies, and he went off on his way to cause more trouble." I continued brushing her hair. I had only ever seen her hair tangled when Damien had visited. The memory brought immediate anger to my being, and I gripped the brush tightly.
Maya laughed a little to herself.
"Thank you for running the shop today. It means a lot. Normally, I just power through being sick and run it on my own." Maya clears her throat and takes another sip.
"You really haven't had anyone to help you all this time?" I already knew the answer, but part of me still didn't believe that she had been so alone for so long.
"Not really. Of course, people would stop by and drop off food for me, but as far as running the shop itself, I've never had any help." Maya runs the tip of her finger around the rim of her cup, and I find myself nearly entranced by the simple motion.
I place another soft kiss on the back of her head and then on the back of her shoulder. She shivers at my touch, and I wrap my arms around her and hug her against my chest.
"I'm so sorry, my dear." My arms are fully under the water, and the heat feels nice. Maya doesn't pull away from me, and I can feel her heart beating on her chest. Her breasts press tightly against my arm. The front of my shirt is now soaking wet, and the slight movement of a water drop rolling down her neck catches my eyes. The small crystal droplet slides down her flushed skin and down between her cleavage.
"It's really okay, Asher." Maya takes another sip. "I've managed on my own so far."
"Well, I'm here now, my dear." My words fall from my lips as a quiet promise to her. And to myself.
Maya leans her head against me, and another water drop slides down her skin and over her collarbone, where it pools.
I feel a familiar flame begin to grow, and I reach my arms down further, gripping her hips and hugging her tighter.
Maya looks around at me from over her shoulder, her eyes droopy with lust. And she raises her face and closes her eyes as if asking for a kiss.
Without hesitation, I indulge her. Kissing her gently on her mouth before licking her bottom lip and demanding permission to enter the sweet hole. She parts her lips with a soft pop, and I immediately plunge my tongue into her, tasting her innocent mouth. Her mouth tasted strongly of the tea I had made for her, with a whisper of honey on her tongue. I deepen the kiss and suck on her tongue for a second before nipping at her bottom lip.
A moan escapes me, and I grip her hips tightly underneath the water. The front of my shirt was now dripping onto the crotch of my pants and slowly soaking the floor beneath me, but I didn't release her. I can't release her. Another droplet of water caught my attention, and I brought my tongue from her collarbone all the way up to her neck, savoring the water that clung to her body.
A shiver ran through her, and I felt it deep in my core, leaving me vibrating with need and fueling me forward. I dig my fingers into the plump flesh of her thighs and hold her tight as if she could slip away and disappear at any moment if I so much as loosened my grip.
"Asher." My name escapes her, and my cock fights against the straining zipper of my jeans.
"Hm? What ails you, my dear?" I hum into her collarbone and lick more water off of her.
"Asher," my name leaves her lips like an angelic song that was only meant to be sung for me, and I hum once more in response. I run my tongue up the back of her neck softly and bite down in the crease of her shoulder, earning myself a sweet fucking gasp from her.
"I'm so sorry about today, my dear. I wish I could make it better for you." I whisper into the crook of her neck.
"Just having you here makes me feel better, Asher," she confesses. She grabs my wrist and guides it down to her pussy, and as soon as my fingertips graze the familiar soft flesh, my breath hitches.
I run my fingertips gently over her soft, throbbing bud, flicking it gently. The water ripples around her as her body jerks in response. The eucalyptus leaves spin like a concession of dancers and adjust to the consistent ripple of the water.
I wanted to ravish her. To completely make her come undone underneath my touch. But something told me that she needed something more gentle today. Something that proved to her that I would be there, no matter what. I wrapped my hand around her neck, holding her firmly in place, and began to run my finger over the aching core between her legs. Her body responds, and she jolts. Her beautiful breasts bounce, breaking the surface of the water for only a moment before disappearing again.
Maya moaned out a soft, sweet melody and moved her hips forward, pushing herself heavier against my touch. I immediately dipped a finger inside and tightened my grip on her throat, and a strangled moan escaped her sweet lips.
A dull, aching desire began to grow into an uncomfortable battle underneath my pants, and I shoved my growing erection against the tub, hoping to gain some friction. Maya suddenly reached her arms up and around the back of my head, holding onto me tightly, exposing her breast halfway above the water.
"I won't leave you, Maya," I rasp into her ear. I nipped the soft flesh, and she moaned out my name once again, sending a whole new wave of want through my body. "I will always be here whether you like it or not."
I dipped another finger inside of her pulsing walls, pumping my two fingers in and out and curling them. Maya throws her head back in a soft moan, and something inside of me rattles to break free and take her.
I suddenly remove my fingers, and she groans in protest. I stand up and kick off my shoes and socks before stepping into the tub with her. She looks at me, shocked for a moment, and moves to say something, only for the words to die on her lips.
Water splashes over the tub and onto the green decorative tile floor, and the candles dance suddenly from the movement. I slide in behind her in the bathtub, pressing her against my chest and returning my fingers to her begging cunt.
"Such a needy little thing," I whisper against her ear. She sits between my legs like the gods molded her to be there. And every time she sat in her spot, I wanted to defile her in a way that would make the gods turn their heads away in shame.
She hums in response, unable to form words, and her breathing is quick and steady. She grips my wrist tightly as I shove my fingers into her at a steady and gentle pace. I bite down on her shoulder and add another finger.
"You feel like home to me," I whisper against her skin. The flesh beneath my teeth was beginning to turn purple, and I planted a soft kiss on the abused spot.
Maya's breath stutters as if she wants to say something, but nothing comes out except a moan. She grabs my wrist tightly, and I curl my fingers into her. Her walls clamp down around my fingers, owning a low groan from me, and I continue the steady, aching pace.
"I will dedicate my life to you and your protection. Do you understand Maya?" I bite down on her again.
Maya moans at the sudden dull pain from my bite, and a strangled ' yes' escapes her, quickly taken over by a moan.
Another bite.
"You belong to me, Maya. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Daddy," she whimpers.
Another bite.
"And I am yours at the drop of a needle, do you understand?"
"Yes, Daddy," she squirms as my fingers trace the inside of her needy pussy.
Another bite.
Maya suddenly rips my fingers out of her and turns around, straddling my hips, and she grabs my face and kisses me deeply.
I throw my arms around her, splashing more water out of the tub, and the candles begin to dance wildly. Her breasts push against my chest, and she nips at my bottom lip, asking for permission.
A low growl escapes me from deep in my chest, and I sink my fingers into the soft flesh of her ass, applying a bruising pressure.
Maya moans and her hair falls onto the water around us, floating and dancing gently like ribboned stars. She reaches a hand down and gently runs her fingers over my aching cock, and I moan out into her mouth.
The bathroom is small and only illuminated by the dozen candles I had lit. Each flame casts shadows over her body, changing her appearance to a divine siren I can't help but submit to. Lazy steam floats around us and swirls in the air, tying us together.
I reach a hand down underneath the water and unbutton my pants, zipping them down and releasing myself from my tight pants. Maya wraps a small hand around it and begins stroking it gently, and I throw my head back in pleasure. Maya leans forward and begins attacking the soft flesh between my shoulder and jaw, sucking gently and leaving bruises like speckled tattoos up my neck.
My eyes land on the water drops that trail down her shoulders and in between the crevice of her breast, and I reach a hand up and grip her fully. I roll the soft mound of flesh between my fingers before pinching her nipple. Her body shudders. Maya's eyes are clouded with lust, and her breathing is ragged and needy.
She shuts her eyes and savors the pleasure before kissing me deeply once again. I shove my tongue inside and assert dominance as the muscles fight for control.
"Please," her small voice comes to me.
"Please, what, baby girl?" I reach a hand up and grip her jaw, forcing her to look at me. Her face is flushed red, whether it be from fever or the heat of the moment. I didn't care.
"I need you," she whispers. She shuts her eyes tightly and puffs her bottom lip out, and I rub my thumb gently over her jaw.
I raise my hand and snake my fingers through her hair, pulling her close to where she's only a breath away from my face.
"You have to use your words, princess." Maya blushes harder and bites her lip gently, too embarrassed to say the words.
I bring my thumb up and tug her bottom lip from between her teeth, replacing it with my tongue.
"Please touch me," she says finally. Her eyes are still shut tight. "Please use my body to make yourself feel good."
I paused for a moment, stunned at her words.
So much for being fucking gentle with her today.