Page 119 of Forged in Deception

He didn’t argue with her.

He leaned closer toward her until he could wrap her in his arms, ignoring the bite of pain as one of his plastic CD cases jabbed him in the ribcage. “Of course it’s a lot. So what? I want you. I want you, always. And if it costs me something? That’s even better. A treasure worth having never comes cheap.”

KARLIN

Karlin considered Asher’s words as the butterflies in her stomach threatened to lift her away.

Everything he said felt too wonderful to be real, but there was no mistaking his sincerity. Ever since she’d met him, he’d made it clear he cared about her and would do anything for her, even risking his own life to protect her more than once.

She no longer doubted that maybe he really did want her.

But there was one more thing she had to say first. One more thing she had to be sure of, if she was going to find the courage to move forward.

“Asher?”

“Yes, sweetheart?” he said, pulling back just enough for her to be able to look at him face to face.

“It’s my turn to sound dumb. There’s something I really need to say before I...before I can really believe this is happening for me. Just a few words.”

He grinned, his eyes growing mischievous in an instant as he brought his lips dangerously close to her own.

“Say it,” he demanded. “Out loud.”

Her heart seemed to stop beating.

Clearly he knew what she was trying to confess, and it still didn’t stop him from poking fun at her. Not that she could have reasonably expected that he was going to stop driving her insane any time soon.

“Vampire,” she said with all of the drama she could muster.

He laughed, still refusing to break eye contact. Clearly, jokes aside, she was not getting out of this.

“You know, you could just say it for me,” she said.

“You’re the one with a fear to face,” he argued. “Besides, you just associated me with Edward Cullen, so we’re clearly destined to be together for all eternity. It’s a little late to get all shy.”

“Hold on.Youassociated you with Edward Cullen!”

He pressed a finger to her lips.

“You argue too much.”

“You annoy me too much,” she retorted.

“But?”

He paused, waiting.

She drew a shaky breath. There was no way out of the trap she’d set for herself. He was way, way too stubborn.

“But I love you, okay? Goodness! I love you. Even if it’s way too soon, and you couldn’t possibly love me back yet, and I’m totally ruining everything?—”

He moved his finger out of the way for a split second before capturing her mouth in a long, perfect kiss.

By the time he finally pulled back, the fear had melted away, right along with her ability to think straight.

“Not only do I love you,” he announced, “but I love you so much that I am liable to do really stupid things if we don’t get out of this car and into the cold shower that is Amarillo in November.”

She withdrew her fingers from where they’d apparently become entwined around the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I wouldn’t want to lead you to, you know, do something that might be against your faith. Our faith, I guess. I’m new to this God thing, but–”

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