Page 70 of Collide

His place is nice, a modern sleek look which just the right amount of Asher touches. “This is nice.”

“Yeah, thanks, it works for now. So are you back in town? I had no idea.” He sits down on his couch and motions for me to do the same. I take a seat across from him on the other couch.

“I figured I had to eventually. Besides, I missed everyone. Especially you.”

“You did?”

“You know I did. It’s been a hard past few months, like extremely hard. But I got myself into some therapy, and I’ve found new ways to cope.”

“I’m so happy to hear that, Mads. I started therapy too. The dark…it was just too dark.”

“I know exactly what you mean.”

We stare at each other for a moment and then I say what I came here to say. “Look, Asher, I’m sorry for running away from you and freezing you out.”

“Don’t apologize, Madison. I should be the one doing that. I should’ve never let things go as far as they did.”

“We can’t blame ourselves for what happened. We weren’t thinking straight. Hell, I doubt I am now. But what I do know is what I came here to tell you.” I pause but the encouragement in his eyes makes it easy to keep going. “Asher, that pain you feel from losing him? I can’t take that away for you or I would. But I can love you through it. Your good days and bad days. I’m here for you. We can heal together. That is, if you want me back.”

A huge smile spreads across his face. He stands and walks over to me, taking my hands in his and lifting me to my feet. “I never let go, Madison. I was here waiting until you were ready.”

He takes my face between his hands and leans down, pressing a soft kiss on my lips. “You opened me up to the possibility of love again when before I was afraid it would only end in hurt. Mason and you gave me the family I never had and made me believe again in the power of love and what it can do. I love you, Madison.”

“And I love you.” I say as happy tears stream down my face.

“Oh I don’t know if you know this or not but Mason had a bucket list of things he wanted to do. I took the list after he died before your parents packed up his things. So how would you feel about doing these together... for Mason?”

A spark of excitement, one I haven’t felt in so long rushes through me from head to toe. “I would love to.”

And then we seal the deal with a kiss.

Or two.

Okay, with lots of kisses.

ChapterEighteen

Asher

Her kisses are soft and gentle. Her touches are more like caresses as she runs her hands up and down my back.

I can’t get enough of her. The taste of her lips and tongue plunging inside my mouth. Her tongue dances with mine as we explore.

Our kisses grow frantic, but then slow down again, and then grow frantic once more. It’s like we can’t get enough and we need to slow it down all at once.

I drag my lips away from her mouth and down her chin as I trail kisses over her neck. Down, down, I go, licking and sucking as I move. I’m exploring her skin with my mouth for the first time while she explores me with her hands.

I find the hem of her shirt and lift it up over her head, tossing it to the side.Fuck, she’s gorgeous.

“You’re fucking beautiful Madison. Pure fucking perfection.”

I press my mouth right above her belly button and slowly drag it up towards her breasts.

I place another kiss on her skin, this time on the swell of her breasts.

And then my mouth is on hers and I’m kissing her with fierce intention. It’s so hot and intense, it takes my breath away.

I slide down the straps of her bra slowly and unclip the back, and soon she is naked before me. My eyes grow wide as I take it all in. “Fucking beautiful. I knew it.” I say under his breath.

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