Page 178 of The Sidekick

“I’m telling everyone,” he rebuts and I make an indignant sound that he laughs at. When I move to get up, he starts tickling my sides, causing a cascade of squealed laughter as I try to get away. He blocks every move I make until I’m lying breathless and begging him to stop.

His fingers pause and he lets me catch my breath with a patience that makes me sure he’s going to start again.

“Please don’t,” I giggle and glance at him from my fetal position in the middle of the bed.

“You’re right, I didn’t finish telling you what I need,” he taps my hip and gives me a wicked grin. “Savasana.”

I twist to lie flat on my back with my hands at my sides and my legs spread shoulder-width apart.

“You have no idea how much I like this.”

“It feels like our own language sometimes,” I smile softly and his eyes meet mine seriously.

“Maybe you do know then. Lift your skirt.”

I blink at him in surprise. He raises an eyebrow and I bite down on my lower lip as my cheeks heat again and my heart begins to speed up.

My fingers begin bunching the material until it’s above my waist and I swallow hard. His eyes are following the garment as it rises with a calm that doesn’t match his erection at all. Precum gathers at the tip as my center is revealed and he licks his lower lip.

“Are you sore, angel?” He asks softly.

“A-a little,” I shift in discomfort at the intimate complaint and he gives me a soft smile.

“Stay right here for me.” He lightly rolls out of the bed and I stare at the ceiling in confusion. Why am I lying here half-naked and he’s leaving the room? Something is wrong with this equation.

I hear a door open and the sound of water filling the tub. Is he running a bath?

He reappears in the doorway, completely naked and aroused, and leans against the doorframe to watch me.

“Do you have any scents you like? I didn’t see anything in the bathroom.”

I frown in confusion. “I think Andi bought me some of my old soap. It’s in the bag in the closet.”

“You haven’t been using it?” Asher asks as he goes to the closet. “I like these.”

I lift my head to see him bring the bag of dresses out and start setting them out thoughtfully. He pulls out the bottle of body wash I haven’t been able to bring myself to use and the shampoo and conditioner.

“Why are all these Tera things hidden away in there?” His tone is calm but the look in his gaze when his eyes meet mine is serious.

“They’re old Tera things,” I say tightly and let my head drop back onto the pillow. “Old dumb Tera things.”

“Really,” he says grimly and sets aside the toiletries to dig through the bag. “The dress you have on now came from this bag didn’t it?”

“Yes. Do you think you should check the tub? I don’t want it to overflow.”

His eyes flick up and my lips seal shut at the forbidding look on his face. “The tub is fine. I want to pick what you wear today. Would you be ok with that?”

My brows furrow. Am I supposed to not be ok with that? One less thing to debate about for twenty minutes sounds amazing to me. Even if it comes with the risk of wearing a dress.

“Can I request no bright colors?” I watch him pull out a lime green maxi and wince.

“Of course. We’re going with a more mellow mood today anyway.” He sounds like he’s barely paying attention to me as he sets the neon colors to the side and leaves out the pastels.

“We are?” I can’t help the giggle that burbles up. It catches his attention and he grins at me.

“Take that one off. I’ll put it in the laundry.” He goes back to eyeing the dresses and I chew my lip as I comply. I need to get some chapstick because being around him is going to tear my lips up, I can already tell.

I’m not sure what to do afterwards so I lie back down and watch him. He turns to leave and brushes a hand over my ankle as he goes. For a second there I thought he forgot about me laying here naked but that one touch is more reassuring than a thousand speeches.

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