I spoke through sniffles, “I’m going to drop out of the Academy to have my baby. I can’t do both.” “Oh, no, Cynthia.” To my surprise, Nancy started to cry too. “You’ve worked so hard, you’ve sacrificed so much to apply to that college. If you leave now, you won’t be able to go back.” “I know,” I
Listening to the sudden voice in my head, I froze. I held the door to the Registrar’s Office halfway open, halfway closed. “Don’t do this,” the voice said. At once, I released the handle as if it burned me. The door drifted closed. I backed away a step. I glanced around but there was no one ne
I waited outside Asher’s door for a long moment. Had he not heard me knocking? Was he not home? No, I heard shuffling behind the door, and lowered voices. He was definitely in there. I knocked again, louder. Footsteps came closer, and finally, the door opened. “Asher, I have to tell you… you
She scoffed. His eyes cut into her, sharp and dangerous. “You forget yourself. You don’t get to interfere in my affairs.” The girl paled at once. Then, huffing, she pushed past me and stormed away down the hall. With her gone, some of the tension bled from Asher’s shoulders. “I could have le
Dylan’s number dialed, I pressed the phone to my ear. Nervous, I wrapped my free arm around my waist. Asher hovered nearby, close but not touching. At this distance, he would likely be able to hear everything said on both sides. Good. Then he would know I wasn’t lying. It took several rings fo
I watched, mesmerized. Did he move his hands like that when he made love? A thought struck me like lightning, of his long, deft fingers sliding into my panties. I slammed my thighs together, and choked back a whimper. He glanced at me with hooded eyes, peering at me through his long, dark lashes
Asher “Asher!” Cynthia followed in my shadow as I left the dorm and started my trek across campus. She jogged to keep up with my brisk pace. She wasn’t going to give up, was she? With a sigh, I slowed so she could walk normally beside me. Last thing I needed was for her to overexert herself
What difference did it make if she hated us? I had promised Dylan that I would take care of her, not that she had to like it. But… From my side, she glared up at me. Her pink lips curled down in disgust. I didn’t like her looking at me like that. Sighing, I said, “I don’t exactly enjoy being y
“Please.” That all sounded so good. I wanted it. I wanted everything. He stood to kick off the rest of his clothes. I watched, my mouth watering as he exposed his dick. He was so big, so hard just for me. Carefully, he moved me how he wanted me, stretching out my legs farther, and then slipped
Asher guided me back into the bedroom. As I stood near the bed, he walked behind me and slowly tugged down the zipper of my dress. His knuckles traced the newly-revealed skin inch by inch, following down the length of my spine. When the zipper had lowered as much as it could go. He spread his hand
I held my breath as Dylan threw the first punch. Asher dodged back and Dylan’s fist flew through the open air. Asher then stepped forward, ready to retaliate. Dylan backpedaled, placing a few feet between them again. In a flash, Dylan moved close again. His speed was lightning-quick. I barely even
“’Might?’” He squeezed me gently. “It will be fine. Trust me.” I did trust him, with my life and more. But… this was my brother. My brother and the love of my life were about to fight a challenge with yet unknown terms that would undoubtedly involve me and my baby. I couldn’t help but be a b
I opened my mouth to begin to explain, but the truth seemed worse than even Dylan’s worst assumptions. No, Asher isn’t the father of my baby. The father is actually a terrible person who is now in prison. But Dylan wasn’t waiting for me to figure out a softer way to explain, and Asher was no hel
On the evening of the Academy’s winter dance, I slipped into my shining purple gown and checked myself out in the bathroom mirror. Gone were the days when I could pass as not pregnant. Now, my bump was a distinctive round bulge, pressing out the front of my gown – which I had bought in the materni
“I… um…” I had no idea how to answer Dylan. Panic set in, sending my heart into overdrive. Should I admit to Asher being beside me? It was getting late at night. Surely Dylan would have follow-up questions. Like, why was Asher in my room after dark. “Oh, shit, I have to go,” Dylan said suddenly.
Asher’s words stole my breath away. For a long moment, I simply stared at him, desire coiling inside of me. He stared back, his blue eyes deep as the ocean. I swallowed thickly. I couldn’t wait to go home with him and see all of his promises in action. Nancy cleared her throat from the doorway.
The real Asher was safely behind the line of fake wolves. He glanced back at me in concern. I understood his worry. Holding this many projections was a strain. But I was done running. I was done standing back. Joseph would lose. And I would help bring him down. In the circle, Joseph started to