Chapter 109

I grabbed my pajamas and dashed to the bathroom, where I changed and brushed my teeth in a hurry. When I returned to my room, Asher had stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt, and was sliding under the covers of my bed.

Watching him, my thoughts fizzled out for a moment.

Sleeping together was my idea but… maybe I hadn’t totally thought this through. My bed was only a twin. Asher already seemed cramped in there all on his own.

He patted the small open space nestled along the curve of his body. The space was just big enough for me. It would be a tight squeeze, though.

“You coming to bed?” Asher asked.

I nodded, then nodded some more. My feet moved all on their own, bringing me closer to the tall, handsome man hogging most of my bed.

He lifted the covers for me and I slipped beneath him.

Even resting at the very edge of the mattress, the hard line of his body pressed fully against my side.

“This is a truly tiny bed,” he said. The one in his room was much bigger. But his room in general was bigger, able to accommodate larger furniture.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, not really meaning it, but it was the only thing I could think to say with my brain short-circuiting.

I could feel every ridge of his muscled torso and thighs.

“Turn sideways,” he said, and I obeyed. Immediately he tugged me against the S-shape of his body. His knees notched under mine. Our ankles tangled together. He rested his chin on top of my head. His arms wrapped around my waist.

I stayed very still, frozen in place. His chest pressed into my back with each of his breaths. Every minor adjustment he made, reshuffling his hips on the bed, I felt with a jolt through my core.

Closing my eyes, I condemned myself. I hadn’t asked him to stay so that I could lust after him. He was here because he helped me feel safe. Protected. At ease.

Asher knew most of my secrets now. He didn’t turn away from me, or think less of me. He chose to stay and defend me, even knowing the great risk of my ability.

I was so very grateful to him. I didn’t think there was any way I’d ever be able to pay him back.

“I’ve got you, Cynthia,” he whispered into my hair. “Close your eyes. Get some sleep.”

I was warm all over, inside and out.

He wouldn’t lie to me. He’d always protect me.

“Thank you, Asher,” I said, as my eyelids grew heavy.

“Sleep,” he said. He traced his hand along the length of my arm, soothing my tired muscles. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

With that final promise, I released the remaining tension in my body. I closed my eyes, shutting out the rest of the world. My entire existence condensed to only this now: the comfort of my mattress and the shelter of the strong, beloved man encircling me.

As I began to drift into slumber, I could feel the weight of his gaze, ever watchful. Gently, a soft touch pushed some stray hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear.

“Asher…” I mumbled, as the darkness pulled me under and I fell asleep.

When I woke again the next morning, I was on my back with Asher rolled half on top of me. He peered down at me with curious eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips.

He was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. If only I could wake like this every morning…

“How are you feeling?” he asked, voice rough from disuse.

“Better.”

When he started to roll away, I reached out and snatched a fistful of his shirt, keeping him in the same spot. He lifted a brow at my hand but didn’t say a word.

“Can we stay like this, just a little longer?” I asked. I didn’t want the moment to end yet.

He glanced at the window, and the morning light creeping in. Then he looked back to my pouting face. He softened.

“A few more minutes,” he said.

Smiling wide, I snuggled into him once more.

He let me stay there for close to an hour.

Eventually, Asher and I had to go our separate ways for the day.

When he went to class, I joined Aimee and Nicole for lunch. Aimee had heard about what happened at cheerleading practice. She and I both decided we needed to do our best to comfort Nicole.

“I can’t believe that coach,” Aimee said. “What a sleaze ball.”

“Worse,” Nicole said, hanging her head. “I genuinely believe he’s dangerous. A photoshoot in the gym with the other girls around is one thing. But a private photoshoot at his house? There’s no telling what he would do with no witnesses…”

I stayed quiet. I knew the risks, but I wasn’t like Nicole. I had no other options.

“What will you do without your scholarship?” I asked.

“I’m going to have to leave the Academy,” Nicole said. “Move back home. My folks were only ever lukewarm about me coming here. They’d be happy to have me back, I think.”

Aimee frowned. “Yeah, but… what about what you want?”

Nicole shook her head. “I made my choice. No point thinking about it now.”

I remembered what Nicole had said to Asher outside the gymnasium. That she would likely have to get married. She’d probably be expected to have a few children and stay home to raise them.

For some women, that life might be very fulfilling. But it never struck me that was what Nicole would want.

“I’m more worried about you, Cynthia,” Nicole said, startling me from my thoughts. “Coach asked you to do the same thing, didn’t he? To go to his house and do the private photoshoot?”

Aimee’s wide eyes snapped to me. “Cynthia, you didn’t agree!”

“I don’t have any choice,” I said. “If I drop out of the Academy, I won’t have anywhere else to go.” I certainly couldn’t return to my parents. They would only see me as a failure. I would be reprimanded and belittled.

And as soon as they discovered I was pregnant, I couldn’t fathom what they would do.

Nicole might not have known about my pregnancy, but Aimee did. As I stared at her, I could see the understanding dawn in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Nicole said. Guilt twisted her features. “I didn’t mean to disparage your situation. I hope you don’t think that –”

“I don’t,” I said at once, stopping her. “I don’t blame you for your choice. I just hope you won’t… judge me for mine.”

“Never,” Nicole said with such ferocity that I instantly believed her.

I gave her a soft smile that she returned. It didn’t last on either of our faces, before falling back into worry.

“What kind of pictures do you think he wants this time?” Nicole asked.

“I’m hoping it will just be more swimsuit photos,” I said. “Maybe we’re worrying for nothing.”

“But what if we’re not, Cynthia?” Aimee asked. “What if what he really wants is to get you alone…?”

I didn’t have a good answer. Instead, I felt sick to my stomach.

For better or worse, I had to see this through. After going through so much to stay in school, I couldn’t let this one man ruin everything I’d worked for.

No matter what.