Chapter 5
Tip five; don't be afraid to ask for what you want.
Ivy
Sunlight filters into my room from the bay window to my right, coasting over my covers and the tips of my toes.
I pull my eyes away from the glow and back to the computer in front of me, forcing my mind to focus on what it needs to.
My assignment.
Yet, even as I try to pay attention, my mind keeps drifting, falling into fantastical lands far away, to lords and ladies, to dragons, to Fae magic, to more than just this life I live.
And that's all my mind needs, I can no longer focus on the assignment in front of me, instead I need to read like I need oxygen.
I'm sure if you ask a psychologist why I feel compelled to do something as soon as I think it, so that I'm no longer indebted to the carousel of my thoughts and the what's ifs, they'd tell you there's a label for it.
But I'm doing fine so it's fine.
· · ·
I'm not even two pages into the book when there's a knock at my door and I look up, narrowing my eyes at the wood as if I can see through it.
"Come in." I yell, closing my book halfway as the door is pushed open.
My brow furrows, seeing Asher's unmistakeable smirk as he walks in, shutting the door with a resounding click.
I hadn't seen him since the library, and my stomach swoops with a riot of nerves remembering exactly what it was we were talking about.
I scowl inwardly, swallowing back my nerves and sitting up straighter.
"Hi?" The word is meant to come out strong, questioning why he is here but instead it just comes out soft, like I'm not sure why he wasn't here earlier.
I really need to get my shit together.
Asher grins, "You busy?"
I look down at the book in my hands and then back at him, "yes."
"Doing what?"
"Reading."
He rolls his eyes, laughing softly under his breath. "I need help with an assignment I have to hand in next week; can you help?"
I almost want to turn him down, too engrossed in my book to want to do much else.
Then I remember we had a deal and we technically already said we'd study today. With a soft groan I close my book and shift over, crossing my legs under me.
"I could've met you at the library."
Asher doesn't reply, moving closer to my bed.
I nod to the corner of the mattress, and Asher moves, taking the spot, his eyes jumping from one corner of my room to the other, taking everything in.
It's the first time, I realise, he'd ever been in here.
I ignore his perusal, focusing on not focusing on him and how he's sitting on my bed right now.
Leaving my book behind, I scoot further up the bed, getting comfortable before even looking his way and then finally, with a soft sigh I hope he can't hear I turn to look at him only to find his eyes pinned straight on me.
I glance away, clearing my throat. "So, what's the assignment?"
It's silent for a moment and I lift my head, raising a brow when I find his eyes still on me, "Asher?"
He blinks, shaking his head slightly, "Uh, English or something."
"Or something?"
He clears his throat, the rough growl doing something to me I refuse to name. "English."
"Okay?" I question, "What's it on?"
"I'll get the email up," He says with a resigned sigh and I nod, laughing lowly under my breath.
"You haven't even looked at it have you?"
He looks up sheepish, "Would it alter your opinion of me if I said no?"
I shake my head, a grin taking over my face. "No."
"I haven't even clicked on the email yet."
"You're horrible."
He shrugs but doesn't dispute the claim, passing his phone over.
I read over the assignment details, locking the information away as I reach for my forgotten laptop, powering it up.
I'm only seconds into starting the assignment when Asher clears his throat, causing my eyes to shift to meet his.
I raise a brow, "yes?"
"Have you ever watched porn?"
"You're supposed to be focusing on the assignment."
"I am, I'm multitasking." He shrugs with that devilish grin and asks again. "So have you ever watched porn?"
I narrow my eyes at the demand even when he only grins back, "Of course I have, it's just not my preferred vice."
"Not your preferred vice? What does that even mean?"
"I don't really like watching it." I mumble, trying to focus back on the task at hand - the assignment.
And not the man asking inappropriate questions in my bed.
I flick a hand towards my bookshelf, hoping to distract him, "reading is so much better." I regret it straight away as I see his eyes widen at the books and the possibilities.
"What?"
"What?" I question, ignoring my flaming cheeks and my lack of filter.
"What the hell are you reading?" His voice is low, but full of curiosity, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
I look away from his probing stare, clicking away on the keyboard although I'm sure if you looked at what I was typing it would be gibberish.
"Ivy?"
I huff and glance up, "Faeries." I mumble, but he only looks confused. "Sports romance, billionaires, brother best friend."
"Brother's best friend?" He quips.
I narrow my eyes at his ego, "not my favourite trope."
"Ouch, baby, Ouch."
"Did you just call me baby?"
"Yes I did."
"Why?"
"Because I have control over my automotive functions and decided to say it. So, what are you reading now?"
"Reverse harem."
"What?"
"You know what a harem is?"
He shrugs, "yes."
"Reverse it. Many men, one woman they idolise."
But still he only looks lost, so I grab the book I'd been reading and throw it towards him. He catches it with one hand, his t-shirt lifting up slightly on his stomach, showcasing the hard muscles beneath.
I look away. "Read that and you'll know what I mean."
And he does, he settles into the book quietly while I continue with his assignment.
I know he asked for help but honestly, doing the work just seemed easier.
My eyes swing between the email, the words I'm typing and the boy sitting beside me in rapid succession.
"What the fuck, you read this?" It only feels like minutes later, but it's been at least ten when Asher's voice pierces my concentration.
I look up, keeping a straight face at the slight flush on his cheeks even if I do want to grin like a loon and tease him for it.
"How the fuck do you not get turned on?"
I tilt my head at him, the words slipping free with no thought behind them. "That's the point."
He drops the book, letting the pages all flutter together as he climbs further up the bed, and removes the laptop from my lap, placing it on my bedside table.
"What are you doing?" I ask, sinking further into the pillows surrounding me, wanting to disappear as I feel the heat of his body surrounding mine.
"We're done with my study for the day, now it's time for yours."
I raise a brow, "Mine?"
"Yep." He nods, settling in front of me, too close for comfort.
"What are we learning?"
"What do you want to learn?" Asher says, his words slow and deliberate, his eyes on me and it almost feels as if he's undressing me with his gaze.
I swallow. "Aren't you the teacher?"
He shakes his head slightly, lips lifting in a surprised smirk. "That's a cop out."
He shifts back a little and finally, I feel like I can breathe.
Pulling his phone from his back pocket, he taps away before a chuckle exits his mouth. "We'll start with this one."
"And that is?" I ask when he stays silent, his face betraying nothing but his amusement.
"Dirty talk." He throws his phone off the side of the bed, the thump of it hitting the carpet the only noise in the room besides our breathing.
"Dirty talk?" I repeat, swallowing.
"Yes, baby, dirty talk." He says low and slow and it does something to my insides I've never experienced before.
I push myself up from the mattress, making myself level with him, forcing a confidence I don't feel. "Okay, let's go."
"How are you with dirty talk?"
I blink, "I mean, I don't know, not that good - I'm usually very quiet."
"Why?"
"Well, I just learnt to be quiet." I shrug, not wanting to say why I think that.
"Yes you do. Tell me, Ivy."
"I think-" I pause, "I think because I had to be quiet when I was living at home whenever I was-" I look up and lift my brows, "you know and so now I'm just always quiet."
His eyes seem to darken a bit, "when you were what?"
"You know-"
"No, I don't."
I huff at the insufferable man. "Masturbating. When I was masturbating I had to be quiet, so nobody knew what I was doing, happy?"
He grins, "You have no idea."
I roll my eyes.
"So, you're not too good at the dirty talk." He says, shifting on the bed and my stomach swoops.
"I don't know what to say."
"Don't you read?" He says with a smirk.
"Yeah but how do I know that's what men want to hear? What if I sound like an idiot."
"Do you think I sound like an idiot when I say something like," he pauses, and my curiosity rises but he doesn't say anything, moving so he's closer to me. "I'm just moving closer cause otherwise I will look like an idiot - I need to set the mood."
I don't know what he means but one seconds I'm face to face with him and the next I'm under him, the pillows fanned out beside me and his knees between my open legs.
"Is this okay?"
I nod slowly, heart thumping.
He leans over me, his hand resting against the mattress at my head, the veins and muscles the only thing I can focus on right now before he leans forward and brings his lips to my ear.
A shiver rushes through me.
He stills. Completely.
His hand stays by my neck, but the pressure of his touch never comes. His breath shifts, uneven now.
"Tell me if you want me to stop," he murmurs.
I don't answer fast enough.
So, he pulls back.
"Wait." The word slips past my lips before I can stop it.
Of course he pulled back.
This is just a lesson. If only my body would get the memo. I take in a deep breath and force my body to calm. Force my mind to see this as the lesson it is.
He stills.
"I'm okay." I hush.
"Okay." He says just as quietly.
His hot breath brushes the shell of my ear, and then seconds later he's talking again, his voice low.
"Are you going to take it like a good girl."