Page 73 of From Asher, With Love

I roll my head to the side, looking at my trailer engulfed in flames. A tall, billowing cloud of smoke continues to rise from the top of the frail roof and windows. The only life I’ve ever known is burning to the ground and I will forever spend the rest of it knowing it was my fault.

The death of my love for Charleigh… and now my mother.

TWENTY-THREE

ASHER

I helped Charleigh clean up the prep table and organize her new inventory from the back that didn’t require refrigeration. As I carried handfuls of black tins, she filled me in on how she’s experimenting with selling products other than flowers, working on tying them into the full floral aesthetic she has going on in the store. Along with the white ship lapped walls and buckets of floral arrangements in every corner, I think it fits from a business perspective. After stacking the tins of candles on a small table near the front of the store, Charleigh locks up the shop, and I offer to take her back to my place for dinner.

I’m nervous when I shouldn’t be, but that’s how Charleigh’s always made me feel. She’s incredibly out of my league. Always has been. My stomach grumbles, and I silently pray she agrees.

Her stomach growls, too, and she laughs, hiding her embarrassment by covering her face with her hands. “Oh, my God.” She groans into her hands before lowering them. “I didn’t realize I haven’t taken a minute to eat all day. I’m surprised the one shot of vodka I had with the girls earlier didn’t knock me on my ass considering my tolerance for alcohol is basically non-existent. Especially when it comes to an empty stomach.”

I lift my eyebrows. “So, that’s a yes, then?”

“Absolutely.” She beams, and I feel like I’m a fucking teenager again passing a note over Charleigh’s shoulder.

On the drive over, I call my personal chef and ask him if he doesn’t mind whipping up something for us to eat before he heads out for the day. After ending the call, I slide closer to Charleigh in the back seat and don’t take my hands off her until I’m forced to when my driver pulls up in front of my building.

Charleigh dips her head down, eyeing the building from inside the car, looking past me. She leans forward and presses her hands to my thighs, trying to get a better view of the skyscraper in front of us. I can’t keep my eyes off her. She steals my breath, and her mouth falls open.

“What is it?” I ask.

“In the ten years I’ve lived in New York, I’ve never ventured to this part of the city.”

“Really?”

She turns to look at me. “Well, yeah, this is the more glamorous side, where the richest investors and mega brokers of Wall Street live. At least that’s what I’ve heard. A far cry from the likes of an almost-thirty-something flower shop owner.”

I give Charleigh a nervous smile, hoping she isn’t judging me for my lifestyle now. In a way, it’s as if we’ve swapped places. Not that Charleigh is as broke as my mother and I were growing up. Charleigh’s apartment is incredible, located in a great part of the city, where every building is made of one hundred-year-old brick, and there are wrought iron railings adorning the front steps.

My driver opens my door, and I step out, holding my hand out from Charleigh’s. She takes it and doesn’t let go. With our fingers entwined, she follows me inside the building, pushing through the bronze revolving door.

The front lobby is massive, with marble floors stretchingall the way to the back. Walking beside me, Charleigh gazes at the lobby, wide-eyed.

I give Chuck, the doorman, a quick wave in greeting, and lead us to the elevator.

When the doors slide open, I pull Charleigh inside and press the button to my apartment at the top floor. I’m quick to push her against the wall. I can’t help it.

“Asher,” she whispers when my nose meets her neck. She bends it, allowing me more access. I breathe in, burying my face deeper into her neck. My lips meet the hollow of her ear, and my body is pulsing, the sensation making my cock spring to life.

“I’ve always loved the way you smell,” I hum against her skin. “Like you’ve been digging in the garden all day.”

“Have I always smelled like this?” She giggles, grabbing my hand and placing it between her hot, wanting thighs. She presses my fingers against her already swollen clit, and I want to pinch myself that this is really happening.

“Yes,” I growl, thinking back to her apartment and her shop. Even to the little flowers she kept pressed between the pages of her history textbook. “Like a million fucking flowers.”

“Hmm,” she moans, pressing my fingers harder against her clit. I love how eager she is. “I’m glad my scent is so memorable.”

I kiss her behind her ear, and she shivers beneath me. I’ve barely moved my fingers, but I can already tell she’s about to come. With my fingers pressed to her clit, I wrap my other hand around her neck. Her body shudders underneath mine, and she grips my shoulder. She’s gasping for air when she stiffens, coming all over my fingers. Fuck, I wish we had more time in this elevator. I don’t even care if Frank the security guard is watching the security cameras and sees what we’re doing. But I’m fucking starving, and I want to spend more time with Charleigh. I want to enjoy this before she somehow disappears and slipsthrough my fingers.

I haven’t told her about Cyrus coming to see me this afternoon, or the threat he made to expose me, whatever the fuck that meant. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it and, honestly, I’m convincing myself he isn’t serious. Cyrus wouldn’t risk playing with me when I’ve proven myself to be true competition in this city.

For now, I want to focus on the woman who has always turned my world upside down.

“Oh, Little Flower,” I whisper against her hot skin. “What are you doing to me?”

“Nothing.” She breathes out. “I’m simply doing what I’ve always done.”

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