Chapter 102

I’d never seen Asher like this before. I’d seen him so furious that his wolf clawed at his edges. I’d also seen the ice in his eyes melt under the intense heat of his gaze. But never had I seen both of these things happen at once.

Until now.

His mouth hot on my neck and shoulders, he clutched at my hips. Everywhere he touched me felt branded on fire.

I was nearly as desperate for it as he was to give it. The experiences of the day had left me cold and bereft. I barely felt like myself. His passionate touches breathed life back into me.

I wanted him to keep going, and erase all evidence of the day except Asher and this moment.

If we were a real couple, we could rip off our clothes and find solace in each other’s bodies. But we weren’t. If we had sex like this… Asher might regret it when he regained his faculties.

And I would hate myself if Asher regretted.

So with the greatest reluctance, I shoved at Asher’s shoulders. He didn’t feel me right away, continuing his attack of my neck until I moaned. Squeezing closed my eyes, I tried to shut out the pleasure and pushed harder.

Finally, he stilled.

“Asher,” I said. “Stop.”

He snapped away from me like I’d slapped him. He scrambled back off the bed and stood. Then, he started to pace.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked, shoving a hand through his hair.

“No, nothing like that,” I told him. “But I thought… since we aren’t… actually together…”

“Oh.” He nodded. “Makes sense.” He backed toward the bathroom. “If you’ll excuse me a moment, I need a cold shower.” He closed the door behind him.

From within the bathroom, the shower turned on.

I watched the closed door for several long minutes, not quite believing Asher’s retreat. His lust must have been palpable for him to have to run away like that.

My outfit probably did not help. Looking down, my sexy bikini had become slightly askew, showing more skin than it had ever intended. Wrapping Asher’s jacket around myself, I rose from the bed.

To help Asher cool down, I should probably cover up. But I didn’t have any spare clothes here in Asher’s room. Still, for his benefit, I had to do something.

I crossed the room to his dresser and carefully opened a drawer. Surely he wouldn’t mind if I borrowed a couple things, if it was in the name of helping him?

I grabbed a t-shirt and, after shucking his jacket, pulled it over my head. It was big on me, covering down to my thighs. I dug a pair of sweatpants from the drawer beneath and pulled those on as well.

I thought of returning his jacket now that I was more fully dressed, but… I liked the way it smelled. Leather and pine, so like Asher. I slipped it back on.

Dressed, I returned to the bed and sat propped on the edge.

I waited patiently for the water to click off and the bathroom door to open.

Asher appeared, a towel wrapped low around his waist. With another towel over his head, he loosely dried his hair. When he lowered that towel to his shoulders and flicked his damp hair back from his face. He opened his eyes and looked at me.

His eyes widened, searching me from head to toe and back again.

“I hope you don’t mind. I borrowed some of your clothes,” I said.

He swallowed hard. “It’s fine.” But then he swiveled on his heel, returned into the bathroom, and kicked the door shut behind him.

Staring after him, I blinked in surprise. “Asher?”

Odd.

Maybe he just wanted me to go home? I could, like this. I likely wouldn’t even be the only girl heading back to the dorm in her almost-boyfriend’s clothes at this time of night.

I pushed off the bed to approach the bathroom. I planned on saying goodbye through the door and wishing him goodnight. Yet when I neared the bathroom door, I heard… unusual noises.

Heavy breathing. The slap of skin on skin. A thunk against the door, and a moan.

“Cynthia.”

What could he possibly be…?

Oh.

Oh my God, Asher was masturbating. He was… he was…

Thinking of me?

Suddenly overwhelmingly embarrassed, I stumbled back from the door so fast that I tripped over my own feet and sprawled onto the floor. I staggered upright again. My blush burned so hot I felt like I would burst into flames.

Though it wasn’t just embarrassment making me combust. How much I wanted to throw that door open and join him. I could assist him with my hands or my mouth or hell, he could have me however he wanted me.

But I couldn’t do that. He was in there, touching himself, so that he wouldn’t be out here lusting all over me. This was a curtesy to me. I had to respect boundaries. I had too –

“Oh, Cyn.”

I had to get out of this room before I exploded into a million pieces.

I rushed to his desk and scribbled the fastest written note of my life.

Went home. Cyn.

Then I flew out the door. Out in the hallway, I stopped several yards away and returned, to make sure I had closed the door securely behind me. I didn’t want anyone to stumble onto Asher as I had done.

Possessiveness surged through me. Those noises had been for me alone.

Satisfied his door was safely locked, I ran all the way back to my door room. The burn of my muscles helped clear my head and by the time I flicked on my own light, a pleasant exhaustion strummed through my body.

I could have changed into my own clothes then. I didn’t. Instead I crawled under my covers and let my aching body relax at last.

It had been a very long evening. I was ready to forget the whole world. Well, everything but Asher.

Before I did that though, I decided to check my messages on my phone. I had a few from Nicole, letting me know she was safe and asking me to call her in the morning. Relief flushed through me.

That relief dried up when I opened my emails and saw a new one from Coach.

I should have waited until the morning. After all, I was safe in the cocoon of my blankets, wrapped up in Asher’s clothes and scent, with the knowledge that Nicole was okay.

But I couldn’t resist checking, wondering what the future might look like for me. Undoubtedly, Coach would be furious over what Asher had done.

Slowly, I opened the email.

“My most disobedient cheerleader, Cynthia,

“Your actions tonight have reinforced in my eyes your lack of dedication to the squad. You disrespected me, the patrons of the bar, and your fellow cheerleaders who had given the event their best effort.

“Serious ramifications will be in order for you to make it up to us. For one, I want your Alpha brat boyfriend to grovel to me on his knees at the start of practice tomorrow.

“If he does not give me this most heartfelt of apologies, I will have no choice but to remove you from the squad.

“Please choose correctly.

“Signed, Coach.”

I stared at the words, my throat going dry. Coach wanted Asher… to grovel?

Would Asher even agree to that? To lower himself like that would be a tremendous hit to his pride. And even if he agreed to do it, how could I possibly let that happen? He only acted to protect me!

But if I didn’t, I’d be off the cheerleading squad.

What was I supposed to do?