Claiming What’s Mine

Asher’s POV

My heart pounded in my chest as I fought to rein in my raging desires. I had told myself I wasn’t going to touch Ivy— not yet, at least. I didn’t want to rush things; I wanted everything to happen at her own pace. I wanted her to need me as much as I needed her. Yet, she had forced my hand. She pulled on my last thread of restraint when she was on the phone with her ex, that bastard. I barely knew the guy, but I already wanted to punch his face in. He was infuriating, to say the least. I felt the rage course through me when he talked about fucking...

I couldn’t even finish the thought. So here I was, worshipping her body with kisses, telling her she was mine, which was completely bonkers because she wasn’t. But I wanted it to be true so badly. I figured if I said it enough, I’d start believing it myself.

My gaze darkened as blood rushed south. “Never ever forget that you’re mine and mine alone.” There was no denying the seriousness in my voice. I said it, I believed it, an