Page 30 of From Asher, With Love

“Oh.” I frown, unsure where this conversation is going.

I’m still holding onto Asher, keeping his body pressed to mine, but he hasn’t given me any hint that he wants to pull away.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I get it.”

“I can try to tell you.” He hesitates.

I don’t answer, hanging onto every word as if it’s the last I’ll ever hear.

“My home life isn’t exactly the best,” he admits.

A knot forms in my chest with his confession. I know the basics of Asher’s life but not his darkest secrets.

“My dad left years ago, and I live in a trailer on the edge of town. The pipes are always leaking, and I’ve carried my mom to her bed when she’s been blackout drunk more times than I care to count.”

“I know,” I whisper, flexing my fingers, remembering the bits he’s told me in the weeks since he started climbing into my bedroom in the middle of the night. “But that’s why we talked about our plans, right? We both want to move to New York City and get into NYU. We will?—”

His finger flies back up to my mouth and his eyes meet mine. “No, it isn’t that.” He looks at his feet. “That’s not everything I wanted to tell you.”

“Then, what is it?”

“Charleigh, you’re…”

“What?” I ask him, tugging on his shirt. My heart does another jumping jack. “I’m what?”

He lifts his head, with his eyebrows pulled together. “I think I’d rather just show you. If that’s okay.”

A sharp gasp hits the back of my throat when Asher drags the tips of his fingers across my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine and the length of my body. No one has ever touched me like this. I’ve been kissed before, but this feeling with Asher is different. He’s different.

His fingers move across my cheek before disappearing through my hair. He grips onto the back of my head and tilts me so I’m looking up at him. My eyes flutter, drunk on whatever feeling he’s feeding me. His other hand finds my waist as he pulls me toward him. My hips land against him, and I inhale another shaky breath. My fisted hands grip onto his shirt, anchoring me to my bedroom floor.

“Asher, I…” I want to tell him how I feel, and maybe I’m a fool for trying to speak when all he wants to do is show me whatever it is he wants to tell me. I swallow my words, forcing myself to let this moment unravel.

“Charleigh.” He smirks. “Just let me show you.” His whispered words brush across my mouth before his lips find mine.

They press against me, stealing the breath from my lungs. I close my eyes and savor this moment, afraid if I open them, this will all go away.

Asher’s mouth molds to mine. His lips are warm and soft. He parts them, allowing his tongue to dance across mine. His fingers massage the back of my head, and I press my wholebody to his. My legs tingle and my heart hammers in my chest.

I tug on Asher’s shirt once more, guiding him to follow me. We don’t break our connection as I pull us until the back of my legs hit the edge of my bed. I lean back and scoot myself down until Asher is on top of me. He slips his knee between my legs, and his hands are on either side of my head as he lowers himself while continuing to kiss me. He keeps one hand beside my head and uses his other to cup the side of my face. He tilts my chin. Our kisses are increasingly fevered and rushed. My entire body heats, and I’m suddenly wanting him in a way I’ve only dreamed about. I want him to have me in a way no one else has.

“Charleigh,” he says against my mouth. “Wait.” It takes several attempts before he can finally bring himself to break our kiss.

“What is it?” I ask, panicked I’ve done something wrong. My heart sinks, and I feel the heat leave my body.

“Trust me,” he says, clearly understanding the shift in my expression. “I don’t want to stop. This is what I wanted to show you, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it all day.”

“Oh.” My cheeks heat. “Can I tell you something, then?”

“Of course.”

“I’ve wanted you to do that for three weeks now.”

He laughs, dipping his head before looking back into my eyes. His hair hangs over his forehead, adding more shadows to his gaze. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t, either.”

I grin, tracing my finger along his jaw. “It’s good to know I’m not alone.”

His smile fades and he leans down to kiss me again, pulling back just enough to keep his lips feathering mine when he says, “You’re never alone, Charleigh. Not with me.”

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