Asher

Asher’s POV

I meant every word I said. I wanted her, but I wanted her to want me as well. It felt better that way. I wanted the push and pull. Standing there, staring at the art hung on the walls—art that I had made solely with her in mind—her bum pressing against my crotch, I realized just how hard it was going to be. I was already struggling to hold it together, but now that she was in my house, living here, so close... I placed my nose at the crook of her neck and inhaled. Now that I knew her scent up close, now that I could feel her body against mine, it was going to be even harder.

“Argh!” I groaned. “You make it so hard, Ivy…”

She stilled. I smiled at the reaction on her face. I could see her reflection in the mirror. Her innocent face, her reddened cheeks. She had taken my words literally, and I was not going to explain.

“You’re so naughty, aren’t you?” I teased.

She wiggled out of my grasp, managing to slip free, and took a few steps backward, putting as much distance between