I couldn’t breathe. Images flashed through my head faster than I could fully comprehend them. Asher and I holding hands. Asher opening doors for me. Asher kissing my cheek or my forehead or the back of my hand. Asher kissing me softly on the lips. Introducing me as his girlfriend. Sitting side by s
Thoughts of Dylan made my stomach twist. If he knew what I was doing with his best friend, he’d likely not approve! Well, Dylan wasn’t here right now. And this arrangement with Asher was only temporary anyway. Likely Dylan wouldn’t even find out. The realizations cooled me, and I followed Asher to
I waited with baited breath. Elena had been so brazen that she had actually confronted Coach and threatened to report him for giving me special treatment, accusing him of having a sexual relationship with me. Now Coach hesitated, seeming very much like he was about to share my true secret. It woul
Don’t forget that it’s my blood growing inside of you. You’ll never be rid of me for as long as it lives. Joseph’s words were a threat, one that chilled me down to my bones. He’d kept it cryptic enough that I wasn’t sure exactly what he meant. But I knew it was nothing good. Was he trying to scare
Somehow, he could always see right through me. So I told him everything, about Elena and Coach, about Coach coming out. By the end of my explanation, I was thoroughly exhausted. Asher started to voice his worry for me, but stopped himself too soon, likely realizing I was so tired, I wasn’t paying f
With Asher’s gaze on my lips, I thought for certain he might kiss me. It wouldn’t be difficult. This table wasn’t very big. All he had to do was lean over. But he didn’t move an inch. “No,” Asher said, finally glancing away. He turned his steady gaze to the guy at the table beside ours, who had eg
The next day, cheerleading practice was a disaster. Only half of the squad even bothered to show up. Some of those that did were outright belligerent, crossing their arms and talking back at Coach. “Let’s try the routine again,” Coach said, trying to keep things on track. “Why should we?” said one
I introduced Aimee and Nicole the next morning at my favorite café. At first, they just looked at each other, but then one of them started to smile, and the other did too. Before I knew it, all three of us were laughing like we were old friends and not a recently accrued bunch. We talked about many
“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