Chapter 211

“Wait.” The Vice President openly glared at me and the marks on my neck. “This was a misunderstanding. Let them go.”

“Sir?” said the secretary.

“I said, let them go,” he said again, more forcefully.

The secretary wilted in on herself. The security guards stood still, confused.

Chase tugged at my arm. “Come on, Asher.” He waved toward the door.

Asher waited for Chase and I to leave the room, before he turned and followed us.

“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Chase said and led us to the stairs. Before we reached them, Asher pulled me up into a bridal carry.

“Asher?”

When he looked at me, I could see his wolf struggling just beneath the surface. I touched his face.

“I’m okay,” I said.

He nodded. “You shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

I could probably safely descend two flights of stairs, but I wasn’t about to say so when the result would deny me the warmth and protection of Asher’s embrace.

We didn’t speak again until we were free of the building and few blocks away. Then, slowly, Asher lowered me to my feet.

Chase, tapping on his phone, stopped to cheer. “We did it! Cynthia, you were beautiful! He had no idea we recorded him. We should celebrate!”

Asher slipped his arm around my waist, keeping me close.

I leaned into him.

Chase looked between the two of us. “Or, I suppose, we could go back to the room, I’ll take the equipment back, and leave you two on your own. I can celebrate on my own.” He winked at me.

Blushing, I turned my face into Asher’s shoulder to hide it.

“Chase,” Asher said, warning.

Chase just laughed.

Back in the dorm room, Chase helped me remove the broach and the earpiece, while Asher went into the bathroom to splash water on his face to help him calm down.

“In the office…” I said. “You called me your sister.”

Chase tipped his head down, like he was embarrassed. “Noticed that, huh? Well, what can I say? You’re my kid brother’s mate. That makes us family.”

Family. Both Asher and Chase had used that word to describe me today. Never before had I felt so much like I belonged.

“If you wanted, you could think of me as like a brother,” Chase said. “I wouldn’t be opposed.”

“I would like that,” I said softly. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “I’m glad Asher has you. He’s been on his own for far too long.”

I was glad I had Asher too, in whatever capacity he would let me.

Chase looked at me again, a touch of sadness in his eyes. “Please be kind to him. He would defend you to the death if you aren’t careful.”

“I don’t want that,” I assured him. “I want Asher to be happy and safe.”

“Good. That’s good.” Chase cleaned up the equipment, returning it to a bag he had brought. When Asher came out of the bathroom, Chase met him for a quick side hug.

“Don’t get into too much trouble without me,” Chase said at the door. He waved to me, then turned and left.

Asher closed and locked the door behind him.

Then Asher turned to me. He closed the distance, wrapped his arms around me, lowered his face, and softly kissed me. I pressed into him, seeking more, but he kept his attentions light.

He kissed along the side of my neck, gentle over the fresh bruises. He lingered there. His fingers clutched tighter at the small of my back.

“Asher?”

“I’m sorry,” he breathed into my skin. “I need to feel you. To know you are okay.”

“I’m okay.” I circled my arms around the back of his neck. “I’m here.”

“I need to be sure. I need to hold you. Feel you.”

My heart swelled in my chest. “Whatever you need.”

His mouth returned to mine and he kissed me again. His touches were tender and his kisses soft, like he had no intention of pushing it further.

It confused me. Usually when we’d kissed, it lead to more. If we kissed and it wasn’t sexual, did that mean he wanted to pursue a romantic relationship, after all?

Was it possible, I had simply been overthinking everything from the start?

As he held me, our mating bond thrummed between us, pulsing in time with our heartbeats.

This wasn’t sexual. This was love, building and spreading between our two hearts, as evidenced by the bond.

It was so… grounding. The feeling of Asher kept me tethered to the moment, to this reality where I had somehow got lucky enough to be loved by him and love him in return.

I didn’t know what I had done to earn this relationship, but now that I had it, I would never trade it. I’d never take it for granted. No matter what our future held, I’d never regret.

Asher was my soulmate, and when I was in his arms, I was home.

He traced his fingers up and down my spine, relaxing me further.

I couldn’t think now, why I was fighting so hard to keep him at arm’s length. I didn’t want to be hurt but Asher was always so gentle with me. How could I believe he would hurt me anymore?

Mistakes would be made, surely. But if we were together, if we were strong, we’d always come back to each other with apologies and kisses. Or like now, we’d hold each other until we felt whole again.

Asher would always be here for me, and for my child.

In the office, he’d said, My mate. Our child. My family.

It seemed cruel now, to continue to deny him the commitment he so wanted to me and my child.

I brushed a hand through his hair. We rested our cheeks together.

“Asher,” I whispered.

He hummed in response, so I knew he was listening.

“Did you mean what you said back there? When you said, ‘our child?’”

Asher nosed at my ear. “I won’t pressure you.”

“But did you mean it?”

He paused. “Yes. I’ve been thinking that way for a while. I don’t care if the baby is biologically mine or not. You are my mate. This is your child, so it is my child too. And I will love them as such.”

Love and hope blossomed in my chest, precious tender feelings. I held onto him tighter, yet still not tight enough. Sometimes I wished I could soak him into my own body so we’d never be apart. I wanted him with me always.

Though I supposed, with our mating bond, he already was.

I was so blessed. So fortunate. How had I ever lived so long without this?

But that didn’t matter now. I had Asher in my life now, we’d formed the bond, and I was never going to give it up. I’d fight for it until my dying breath.

To protect him. To protect my baby. Our baby.

“Asher.”

He hummed again and placed a kiss at the corner of my jaw and neck.

“Yes,” I said.

He stilled a moment, then leaned back enough to look down at my face. A hint of confusion twisted his brow. “Yes?”

“I want you in my life, and in my baby’s life. You’ve protected and defended us. But more, you’ve cared about us in the kind of way I never really thought possible.”

The confusion in his face slowly unraveled. Amazement replaced it, as he looked at me with wide hopeful eyes.

I wouldn’t disappoint him.

“If you are still willing,” I said, “I want you to be the baby’s godfather.”