Page 216 of The Sidekick

I’m uncomfortable. The floor beneath me is unforgiving and my head is propped up at a weird angle. The dress tangled around my middle seals the deal. I open my eyes and there’s Asher, watching me from a seated position, back against the wall.

He looks serious as he watches me wake up and it makes me hesitate. He doesn’t look happy. He seems nervous. I don’t like that at all.

I stay frozen with Max’s weight behind me as he snores softly, one arm flung over my waist in a tight hold. Even in his sleep he’s afraid I’ll run and hot shame runs through me at the thought. But he’s asleep and I feel like Asher needs me.

I pull myself free as gently as I can and crawl over to kneel in front of him. I don’t bother to cover myself as he watches. I’m not uncomfortable right now, I’m in a safe place. He looks at my breasts and down farther even though the skirt has fallen to cover me. When he looks back at my face his serene smile is there but I get the feeling that it’s fake.

“Eyes up,” he says softly and I realize I started looking at the floor as I contemplated the myriad reasons he’d be upset right now.

His dark eyes flit between mine as he takes a soft breath in and out.

“Tell me?” I ask in a whisper as I frown. If he could give me even the smallest clue I could figure it out from there.

He seems surprised before his face falls into an affectionate expression and whispers, “I want a hug.”

My heart twists happily and my smile comes back as I scoot forward on my knees to wrap my arms around his shoulders. He makes a happy sound against my throat and pulls me closer.

“I need to ask you a few things and I need you to be honest with me,” he says seriously and buries his head against my shoulder. I frown as I stare at the wall behind him in confusion. “Do not tell me what you think I want to hear. Just tell me the first thought that pops in your head. There’s no right or wrong answer.”

“Ok,” I agree, but my shoulders are still tense.

“Now that it’s over do you have any regrets?”

I blink in confusion. Do I? I don’t think so.

“No. Do you?” The second part comes out of me with a sharp lance of pain.

What if all of this is too good to be true? He’s having second thoughts and-

“No,” he says in his set-in-stone voice. “I liked it. A lot more than I thought I would.”

My face tucks into his neck with relief. “I’m so glad.”

“Good,” he whispers and I feel him press a kiss against my head. “The control from that was a fucking head trip. I wanted to make sure I didn’t go too far.”

My arms tighten around him as a small smile creeps up.

“You think I’m going to be upset that you liked it?”

He huffs a laugh that warms my shoulder. “You’re going to have to say your safe word for me eventually, angel.”

“I will. When I need it,” I reassure him. “Thank you for being with me for this.”

“Fuck,” he mutters and leans back to see me with a dark look. “You’re so goddamn perfect.”

“You too,” I insist and give him a light kiss. “Can I confess something now?”

I swallow hard as he says of course. I’m not supposed to do this. I got lectured about it earlier. But it feels right. He’s willing to lay everything at my feet honestly and I think he deserves the same, whether it’s right to everyone else or not.

“I jumped.”

His hand goes to my throat, tilting my face up to his. I take in his expression. The intensity there should probably scare me but it reassures me instead. He’s in this with me, I know it.

“Me too, angel,” he whispers and settles his lips against mine for a deep, searching kiss. As if he’s making sure I’m telling the truth with his tongue. I don’t resist, melting into his arms and giving back as much as I’m taking.

The door opens and Asher draws back from me, in no hurry to leave. His eyes never leave mine as he asks, “Problem?”

“No,” Trevor answers softly. His tone is still angry though. “Just here to wake people up. We’re closing soon and I don’t think sleeping on the floor is good for anyone.”

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