The next morning, I woke up snug in Asher’s arms. My body was pleasantly refreshed. I felt lighter than I had in a very long time, as if much of the weight I had been hauling around had suddenly been cut loose. I was still in danger, but Asher… Oh, Asher… I turned in his embrace to look up at
He hesitated. When I pressed, he said, “You won’t like it.” “Tell me anyway.” “Lamar didn’t tell the police about the website, he told us. Almost like he was afraid of something worse than jail time.” Asher was right, I didn’t like it. “What could Lamar be afraid of? Joseph?” I asked. “Sin
The investigator had beady eyes, but they were piercing. He watched me like he read my thoughts, or like he was just waiting for me to trip up and trap myself. “Who are you?” I asked, pretending I didn’t know. “An investigator from the Official Research Facility on Projection.” He didn’t offer a
She was already there when we arrived, though she couldn’t seem to sit still. She had ripped her napkin to pieces on her placemat. Her eyes darted nervously around the restaurant. We introduced ourselves as we sat across from her at the table, but she wouldn’t give her name. Asher knew it, presuma
Asher When I had told Cynthia of my plan to visit Lamar, her entire face had paled and her breath went quiet. It took the rest of the evening to get her to smile again. I had to reassure her many times that I would be going to face him alone. I wouldn’t want to have gone at all, if he wasn’t our
Lamar was in jail. He couldn’t hurt her. She didn’t need our protection. Eventually I made my way back to campus. Unfortunately, I didn’t get far before Joseph himself approached me. We were in a crowded quad. I couldn’t attack him without many dozens of witnesses. And knowing what I now knew,
Asher and I held each other on the sidewalk outside of the library for a while. And then we returned to Asher’s room to hold each other in private. I knew he had gone to see Lamar today, but I had no idea what could have possibly been said to get Asher like this. It had almost seemed like… “Jose
I was happy to witness such a loving little family, but it also made my heart ache. Before long, it was too much to bear, and I excused myself. I went out into the backyard for some fresh air. Before I could close the sliding glass door behind me, Asher was there, letting himself out behind me.
“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