Chapter 247

“I… um…” I had no idea how to answer Dylan. Panic set in, sending my heart into overdrive.

Should I admit to Asher being beside me? It was getting late at night. Surely Dylan would have follow-up questions. Like, why was Asher in my room after dark.

“Oh, shit, I have to go,” Dylan said suddenly.

I exhaled in relief. I loved talking to my older brother but I really needed that save.

“I’ll call you again soon, okay?”

“Okay,” I said.

“Bye, Cynthia.” Dylan hung up.

I lowered the phone. Asher leaned against me, nudging his shoulder into mine.

“Are you okay?”

“He’s done with the wargames. He had to go but he’s going to call again soon.”

“That’s good, right?”

I nodded.

“Then, why do you look so freaked out?” Asher wrapped his arm around me. When I didn’t immediately answer, he said, “Tell me what’s happening.”

I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. I knew what I wanted to ask Asher, but I was afraid of the answer I’d get. It took me a moment, for the shock of talking with Dylan to wear off, for me to recover enough to speak.

“Dylan heard you,” I said.

Asher’s brow pulled together. “Okay?”

“It’s late here.”

“Yeah?”

I laced my fingers together. “Wouldn’t he suspect something is going on between us?”

Asher looked at me a minute. “Something is going on between us, Cyn.”

“I know, but do you think he knows that.”

“Does it matter?” Asher asked.

“Doesn’t it?” I was all tangled up inside: happy to hear from Dylan, glad he was okay, but confused about what this meant for Asher and me, and scared Dylan wouldn’t approve.

Asher leaned in and kissed my cheek. “You are my fated mate, Cyn. Your brother’s opinion on that is important, I’d hope he would approve, but ultimately, you are mine whether he likes it or not.”

That was very sweet, in a way, but did not help me feel better about any of this.

My stomach twisted up into tighter knots. “But how do you think he’ll react?”

Asher laughed a little. “Oh, he’s going to be pissed as hell at me. He’ll probably accuse me of corrupting his little sister.”

“You did no such thing.”

“Didn’t I?” Asher looked at me, a mischievous sparkle in his eye. “I’m certain that I showed you a new level of pleasure you’ve only dreamed of before.”

My cheeks burned. “Asher!”

He feigned an innocent expression.

I shook my head at him. Then I sighed. He successfully distracted me for a moment, but in the next, my worries returned.

“I love you, Asher.” I grabbed his hands and weaved our fingers together. “But he’s my brother and my best friend. I love him too. I’d hate it if he didn’t want us to be together.”

I would stay by Asher’s side, no matter what. He was my mate, and after everything we went through to be together, I would never step away now.

But if Dylan didn’t approve… My very soul would be cut deeply.

“Give him a chance,” Asher said. “You can’t control his reaction. There’s no sense worrying about it until it happens. And who knows? Maybe he’ll be fine with it.”

I frowned at him. “That’s not what you thought a minute ago.” Asher was Dylan’s best friend, and knew him better than maybe anyone in the world. I was more inclined to believe Asher’s first instinct, than one he was likely saying to appease me.

Still, there was truth in his words. It wasn’t worth worrying about until it happened. I couldn’t assume Dylan would react with angry, even if that seemed most likely.

I sighed again, full-bodied. I felt incredibly tired all of the sudden.

I glanced at Asher. “Hold me?”

“Of course.”

He rested down onto the bed, then coaxed me into his waiting arms. I rolled into him, burying my face against his chest. His arms were safe and warm around me. He pressed soft kisses into my hair.

For a while, he simply held me. I was tired but still too wired to fall asleep.

“Asher?”

“Yeah?” He didn’t sound sleepy at all.

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?” I asked. My classes were starting back up again, and I was feeling well enough to go.

“What do you mean?”

When Joseph had been on the loose, Asher had accompanied me everywhere, to make sure I was safe. But now that Joseph was caught, he didn’t need to anymore.

It was fine. We didn’t need to be together every moment. But I felt a bit like I was standing on even ground. I still wanted to spend time with Asher. I had no idea what our relationship would look like from now on.

“I’m going back to class tomorrow…”

Asher hummed. “Do you want me to walk you?”

I did. I realized that now. “You don’t mind?”

“No.” He held me tighter a moment. “I like being around you.”

My heart beat faster. “Then, yes.”

“Good.”

I hesitated a moment. “You know, now that Joseph is behind bars… I could return to my own dorm room.”

Asher went very still. I wasn’t even sure he was breathing anymore.

“Is that what you want?” he asked.

“No,” I said quickly. “I’m just saying I could, since there’s no danger anymore.”

“Maybe I brought you here to protect you, but that’s not why I want you to stay,” Asher said.

I pulled my head back from his chest to look up into his eyes. “It isn’t?”

He smiled. “I love you, Cyn.”

He’d said it before. He’d likely keep saying it. Yet every time I heard the words, a delightful shiver rushed through me. Each time felt like the first.

I was in awe that a man like this, so drop-dead gorgeous and talented and strong, could choose me as his mate and life companion. I must have won some kind of fate lottery.

I wasn’t complaining.

“I love you too, Asher.”

“Good. Then stay here, with me. This can be your home now.”

It already was. “My home is wherever you are, Asher.”

His eyes softened. Slowly, he lowered his mouth to mine and claimed my lips in a tender kiss. I softly moaned. His hands slipped under my shirt, brushing against my sides.

At first, his touch is gentle. But then, suddenly, he becomes more insistent, deliberately tickling me.

I can’t help it, I laugh.

He kisses my cheek and smiles against my skin.

“There’s that smile I love.”

I swat playfully at his shoulder. “We were having a moment!”

“You were worrying too much. Can’t have that.”

I shook my head at him, fondly. “There are a lot of things to worry about. I can’t help it.”

Asher kissed my lips. “Not for you. You only need to be happy.”

“But Dylan –”

“I’ll handle Dylan. Nothing’s going to come between us, Cyn. I promise you that. I won’t let it. You are mine, body and soul.”

“Asher…”

“Tell me you understand. Tell me you are mine.”

That was no great ask. “I’m yours. I’ll always be yours, the rest of my life.”

Asher kissed me again, deeper.

“And you?” I asked, when we broke for air.

He held my gaze, his blue eyes intense in their focus. “I’ve been yours from the start.”