Page 13 of Forbidden Mischief
Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling up in front of Cream and Sprinkles, and Alice parks the car. She slowly exits, and Asher is right on her heels. This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed this behavior. He is very protective of his mom, and while it’s honorable, I have a feeling there is more to the story than what I know.
I hold the door open for Alice and Asher, and they both give me a thank you, to which I just nod in response. We stand in front of the ice cream machines looking at all the flavors, trying to decide what to get. Alice goes for pineapple, Asher fills his bowl with plain vanilla, and I decide to go with my tried-and-true Tiger’s Blood.
Once we’re at the toppings bar, Alice puts on some cherries, sprinkles, and like three gummy worms. Asher piles the Oreosand caramel syrup on his, and I roll my eyes at how simple his dessert is. When it’s my turn in with toppings, I dump a ton of fresh strawberries and Reese’s peanut butter cups in my bowl before meeting the others at the checkout.
We weigh our bowls and, as usual, mine is the heaviest. Alice hands over two twenties and tells the young girl behind the counter to keep the change. She then leads us over to a table by the window, and Asher sits beside her. “I’m so glad you boys could join me. How is football?”
“It’s good. So far I like it, and I’m glad I joined. Pru is going to come to the game next week. I told her she could sit with you and Dexter since she said she usually sits alone. I hope that’s okay?” Asher tells his mom.
“Of course, baby. We would love to have company at the game. I ordered a jersey with both your numbers on it, and it says ‘Those are my boys on the field’. Zayne, I hope that’s not crossing a line. I just wanted one for Asher, and you’re my son now too, so I wanted to represent you as well.” Alice looks at me nervously. I peek over at Asher to find he’s staring at me with a threat in his eye. Like if I don’t answer his mom how she wants, he’s going to rip my head off. What he doesn’t know is that no one has ever done something like that for me. Sure, my dad has never missed a game, but he’s never gone out of his way to make a shirt or anything with my name on it, announcing to the world I’m his.
Swallowing hard, my eyes dart between the two of them. “I’m more than okay with that, Alice. I-I-I’m just caught off guard. Not in a bad way, more like… I-can’t-believe-you-thought-to-add-me kind of way.”
“Of course I would, Zayne. When I married your dad, you became my son. While I never want to or would try to take the place of your biological mom, I’d love to have a special place in your life, too.” She smiles softly at me, and I return the gesture.
“Thank you for the ice cream, too. I’ve enjoyed it,” I tell her.
“Good. I love that you two are getting along so well. I was worried you’d be enemies.” She quirks the side of her mouth in a half smirk as she looks between us.
“Yeah, we’re figuring out our dynamic,” Asher says coyly, and I raise my brows at him.
“Fantastic.” Alice claps. “We should get going or your dad will worry.” She gets up from her chair and heads to the trash to throw her bowl and spoon away.
“Figuring out our dynamic?” I ask when she’s out of earshot.
“Yeah, what was I supposed to say?” He shrugs. “She’s the most important person in my life, and she’s happy. I wouldn’t say we don’t get along, so I enhanced the truth to not upset her. Deal with it!” he snaps the last part at me, and I raise my hands in surrender.
Standing up, I throw my trash away and follow Alice to the car. Asher is a confusing man, and I’m not sure what to even think of him anymore.
CHAPTER 7
ASHER
“Fuck!” I shout as I slam my bedroom door shut. Grabbing handfuls of hair, I pace the room. My mind is a mess, and I don’t know what to do about it.
He’s all I think about. I crave him. His attention. I want him to just look at me; his laugh and his smile are things I get excited for.
It shouldn’t, but avoiding him hurts me. It sucks, and I hate it. I want to get to know him better, but the thoughts I have about him aren’t something I should have about my stepbrother.
I’ve never felt like this before, not even with Mathew. I’m so confused and my emotions are all over the place.
I’ve been shifting and running more than usual, but every time I shift back, I’m outside under his window. It’s like even my wolf is obsessed with him. It’s wrong, and I need to stop.
But I can’t. And fuck, seeing him naked in the locker room opened a whole new set of feelings I don’t want to deal with.
I shouldn’t have snapped at him like that when we were out getting ice cream. But he’s trying to blow off the fact that he’sbeen avoiding me and wants me to act like we’re best friends for my mom. I can’t. I can’t lie to her like that. Or to myself.
My body is in hyper-drive, and the more I think about Zayne, the harder my cock gets.
“Damn it,” I growl, pulling my shirt off and locking my door. Grabbing my phone, I connect it to the Bluetooth speaker and turn on some music, blasting it loud enough to drown out any sounds I’m about to make.
I’m too worked up, and I can’t think straight. I won’t be able to until I get my fucking dick to at least go down.
Undoing my pants, I strip them off until I’m naked, standing in the middle of my room, cock bobbing, painfully stiff as pre-cum drips from the tip.
Grasping my length, I hiss as I stroke it from base to tip, gathering the pre-cum and rubbing it down my cock, using it as lube.
My knot is aching just as bad as my dick. Giving it a squeeze, I thrust into my hand.
