Chapter 246

Asher’s words stole my breath away. For a long moment, I simply stared at him, desire coiling inside of me. He stared back, his blue eyes deep as the ocean.

I swallowed thickly. I couldn’t wait to go home with him and see all of his promises in action.

Nancy cleared her throat from the doorway. “I’m afraid sex will have to wait for a few days, until Cynthia regains her strength.”

My face burned in embarrassment. I covered my cheeks with my hands in an attempt to hide it.

Asher considered Nancy, then nodded seriously. “We will wait.”

“I’m not that unwell,” I grumbled, when earned me disapproving looks from Asher and Nancy both. I lowered my head.

Asher squeezed my hand. “When you feel stronger, I’ll make it worth it.”

The heart monitor picked up speed again.

Nancy fondly shook her head. “I’m happy for you both, truly. Congratulations on finally getting your act together. I wasn’t sure you two would ever get on the same page. It was so obvious to everyone else that you were both crazy about each other.”

“Nancy!” I said quickly.

“Come now, Cynthia. It’s not like I’m lying.”

She wasn’t. Apparently, it had been obvious to the whole world that I loved Asher, and he loved me. But my insecurities and Asher’s emotional quiet kept us from expressing our love to each other much sooner.

In fact, many times, if it hadn’t been for Nancy’s advice, I might have spiraled deeper, faster. Her advice was part of the reason I had been able to deal with my feelings, and chance learning Asher’s.

“Thank you, Nancy,” I said. “For your help, and for everything really.”

“I didn’t do all that much. Maybe just a few nudges here and there.” She smiled. “But you are very welcome.”

They kept me at the hospital for two days due to my exhaustion. Using my ability had drained most of my energy, and the doctors wanted to keep me for observation, lest my body struggled to support the baby. But after the second day, Lilith began to resurface, and I knew I was on the mend.

Asher took me home, back to our shared dorm room. But he’d maintained distance ever since.

Even now, several days later, I was in my pajamas, reading in bed. Asher sat in his desk chair on the entire other side of the room.

I’d been feeling better lately. I really wanted him to come closer.

I lowered my book onto my lap. “It’s cold over here, Asher.”

He glanced at me, then quickly away. He rose from his chair, and for one blissful moment, I thought he might approach me. Instead, he walked over to the wall. “I can adjust the thermostat.”

I slumped. “Asher.”

“It will be warmer in a minute.”

“I don’t want the heat on.” My frustration had been growing steadily over the past few days, so I finally snapped, “I want you.”

I lowered his hand away from the thermostat but he didn’t move to face me. “It’s hard enough being in the same room as you. If I come over there and hold you… Distance is better, for now.”

“Better for who?”

“You heard Nancy. We have to wait until you are stronger.”

I loved Asher, and that he was so careful with me warmed me from the inside out. But I wasn’t so fragile that I needed to be treated like I was made of glass. Especially now. I’d had plenty of days of recovery.

Now, I was ready to make love and be made love to.

Setting by book aside, I pushed myself up off the bed until I was standing.

“What are you doing?” Asher asked.

I was done with silly questions. I grabbed the bottom of my pajama shirt and pulled it up and over my head. I wasn’t wearing a bra. My breasts were exposed to the cool air.

Asher’s gaze immediately fell to my round bare breasts and my hardening nipples.

“I’ve waited long enough, Asher.” I tossed my shirt to the side. “So have you.”

His jaw tightened.

I lifted my arms, welcoming him.

His resolve finally broke and he rushed forward to me. I threw my arms around his shoulders. His arms came around my waist. His mouth descended on mine, his lips claiming my lips. His tongue licked into my mouth.

I hummed in delight. His arms were so strong. One of his hands traced up my spine. The other dipped to the curve of my ass.

He broke the kiss only to place soft kiss after soft kiss to the column of my neck. I dipped my head to the side, offering him more access.

“Cyn,” he breathed into my neck.

A fire ignited under my skin, chasing away any lingering cold. Yet it wasn’t enough. I wanted him closer. As close as physically possible.

I wanted him inside of me.

Asher, supporting my weight, slowly lowered me back down onto the bed. Then he crawled on top of me. I tugged at his shirt. He lifted it over his head and tossed it aside.

I dragged my hands down the front of his bare chest, tracing the lines of his hard muscle with my fingers. When I reached his waist, he lowered his head and took one of my nipples into his mouth.

“Ah!” I arched my back, lifting my breasts for him. He suckled and licked. I whimpered and begged.

Oh, God, it felt so good. Pleasure zipped along my spine. Heat pooled in between my legs.

I clawed my fingers through his hair as he laved attention first on one nipple, and then the other.

I closed my eyes, losing myself in the bliss of the moment.

Suddenly my phone rang. I nearly jumped off the bed.

“Ignore it,” Asher whispered into my breast. Then he sucked in a mark.

My phone ringer was loud, however. It was difficult to ignore. I reached for my phone, ready to silence it. Asher lifted his head to watch me.

The screen read Dylan.

I gasped sharply.

“What is it?” Asher asked.

I turned the screen to him. He immediately sat up. “Answer it.”

I didn’t have to be told twice. I answered the call and brought it to my ear.

“Dylan?”

“Cynthia. It’s so great to hear your voice, little sister.”

Asher scooped my shirt off the floor and helped me back into it.

“Same as you,” I said. “Does this mean you are finally done with your wargames?”

“Yes. The most intense few months of my life. I learned a lot. I don’t regret a thing, but I missed you terribly. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep in touch…”

“I understood,” I said. “I missed you, too.”

“I want to hear everything about your life,” Dylan said. “Fill me in on all that I missed.”

“Uh…” That was a tall order. Dylan wasn’t likely to approve of my pregnancy. And though Joseph was caught and I was still enrolled in the Academy, he’d likely have some feelings of disapproval about that as well. Add in the separation with my parents, and –

“What is he saying?” Asher asked.

My eyes went wide.

Asher. Dylan was certain to disapprove of my new relationship. My love. My mate.

His best friend.

Dylan was quiet on the line for a minute, then he asked, “Is Asher there with you?”