I melted into Asher’s warm embrace at once. My entire body went slack. I’d have fallen for sure if his strong arms hadn’t wrapped so tightly around my waist. My tears were unstoppable though, forming warm tracks down my cheeks. I pressed my face into his chest, regretting when I dampened his shirt.
The next night, Asher and I stood outside of Brent’s dorm, ready to sneak inside. “Are you sure want to do this?” Asher asked me. “You look like you might be sick.” For me, this was less about wanting to do this, and more about needing to. For Aimee. For myself. “I’ll be alright,” I said. He sta
“You could have helped her get an abortion at the hospital. You could have stayed by her.” “No. No, you don’t understand. My reputation wouldn’t have recovered.” “So you sacrificed hers?” “I loved her, but…” I wished Aimee could see him now, for what he was. How could he claim to love her yet sa
Asher had heard my apparition crying. Now he wanted an explanation. I didn’t blame him for wanting the truth, but I still couldn’t tell him. “I’m sorry, Asher,” I started. “But…” He held up both hands stopping me. “I don’t want to hear you lie to me again, so just… don’t.” He was upset with me, a
“What are the terms?” Asher asked through clenched teeth. Wait. Asher couldn’t actually be considering this! “The loser has to agree to stay out of Cynthia’s life,” Joseph said. “Hold on,” I said, coming to Asher’s side. Surely I was the one who got to decide who never to see again. “Agreed,” As
The next day at cheerleading practice, I had hoped that the girls would be sharing news of Brent’s apologies and admissions of guilt. Instead, they were only talking about Joseph and Asher’s challenge. “I can’t wait to see Asher in action!” “Joseph’s sure to get annihilated.” “I don’t know. He s
I stuck close to a group that was entering at the same time, hoping the superintendent wouldn’t look too closely at all the members if they recognized a few. Nervous sweat dripped down the back of my neck as we walked past the front desk. The superintendent glanced once, but then not again. Relief
I watched Aimee as she tried to sneak into Brent’s dorm as I had earlier done. But the group Aimee tried to tag along with recognized her at once and knew she didn’t belong. She was cast out onto the sidewalk faster than I had been. Joseph might have dragged me hard enough to bruise my wrist, but A
“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