“Maybe it was nothing,” Nancy said, trying to allay my fears after I explained how one of the cheerleaders just walked into my exam room and saw me talking to my baby bump. “Maybe she didn’t notice.” I shook my head. That seemed unlikely. “She might have just been embarrassed from walking in on
I still didn’t know what we were to each other. We didn’t talk about it. Maybe we never would. But even if it didn’t have a name, I knew there was something there. Even if we hadn’t kissed on the mouth yet. The thought gave me pause. I remembered back to our every romantic encounter. Asher had
She thinks you’re pregnant! As soon as Nicole told me the newest rumor about me, I totally froze up. My eyes went wide and my breakfast was totally forgotten. Nicole continued to laugh, until she realized I wasn’t joining her. Then she stifled herself. “Cynthia?” I was totally blindsided. So t
Eventually, he stepped into my path forcing me to stop walking. “Slow down,” he said. “Nicole said this was just a rumor, right? And everyone must still remember how the last rumor about you turned out to be grossly untrue. Surely they would be less likely to blindly accept anything new they hear
Maybe you need me to prove to you who I really want. Asher’s words shot through me like lightning, shivering all the way down to my core. He nibbled at my earlobe and I sucked in a shaky breath. Then he licked along the shell of my ear, soothing any discomfort. I moaned. He smiled against th
I nodded. Then, realizing he likely couldn’t see, confirmed aloud. “Yeah…” I could not deny that Asher wanted me sexually. Though that was a pleasant thought, it unfortunately did not fully squash my blooming doubts. Asher hadn’t kissed me on the mouth again. Even here, as we reached mutual grat
I hadn’t meant to hurt her, but there was no denying the blood under my fingernails and the claw marks on the girl’s thigh. She whimpered and cried. One of the trainers rushed to her, pressing a towel against the wound. Another trainer came to me, backing me away from the scene. I couldn’t compr
His hair was windswept and wild. His chest heaved from running. With one look at me, he rushed to my side and pulled me into his arms. “I’m here,” he said. Was I still saying his name? “You’re safe now.” That couldn’t be true. I had blood under my fingernails. “That other girl’s fine,” Ash
“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