She frowned. “A reminder of what?”He turned to her then, something raw flashing in his gaze. “Of how much things have changed. Of how some things you love can disappear before you’re ready.”Her heart ached at the sadness in his tone. She wanted to ask more, to dig deeper, but she knew better. He would tell her when he was ready.Instead, she gave his hand another squeeze. “You’re not alone, Asher.”A shadow of a smile crossed his lips, brief but genuine. “I know.”They stood in silence for a moment, the river’s soft murmurs filling the space between them. Birds rustled in the trees above, a cool breeze shifting the leaves, but neither of them moved.Finally, Asher sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to bring you out here just to drown in my own thoughts.”Elena shook her head. “I don’t mind. Sometimes silence says more than words ever could.”His lips twitched. “You always know what to say, don’t you?”She smirked. “Not always. But I try.”His gaze softened as he lo
Elena tightened her grip on Asher’s hand, her thumb tracing small circles against his skin.“Your father… he sounds like an incredible man.”Asher’s gaze softened as he studied her, his hazel eyes reflecting something warm, something deep. “He would’ve loved you.”Elena’s breath hitched at his words. “You think so?”He nodded, brushing a stray curl from her face. “He always said strength wasn’t about how hard you could hit or how many battles you won. It was about how much you could endure.” He paused, his fingers ghosting along her jaw. “And, Elena, you’ve endured more than anyone I know.”Her throat tightened, emotion swelling inside her. She had spent so much of her life feeling weak, feeling like she was constantly struggling to stay afloat. But Asher—he saw her differently. Not as broken, not as fragile, but as someone strong. Someone resilient.Her eyes burned, tears threatening to spill. “Asher…” She swallowed, shaking her head. “I don’t even know what to say.”A gentle smile t
Chapter: A Moment of Vulnerability and IntimacyA Sudden Surprise:“Elena.”Her name barely left Asher’s lips before he closed the distance between them, his hands framing her face as his lips met hers. The kiss was slow, deliberate—filled with an unspoken emotion that sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn’t rushed, nor desperate. It was something deeper. Something she wasn’t sure she could put into words.She sighed into the kiss, letting herself melt into his embrace. His warmth, his presence, it was intoxicating. But just as she was beginning to steady herself, he pulled away.Her lips parted slightly, confused by the sudden loss of contact. “Asher?”And then, to her complete shock, he reached down and pulled off his shirt in one fluid motion.Elena’s breath caught in her throat.She wasn’t sure what she expected, but seeing him like this—shirtless, the golden glow of the setting sun casting shadows over his well-defined torso—made her pulse quicken. She could see every ridge of mu
"Asher, I don’t have anything to wear," Elena said, crossing her arms over her chest. Asher smirked, the mischief in his eyes undeniable. "You’re wearing something now, aren’t you?" He gestured to her shorts and tank top. Elena’s lips pressed together, contemplating. The river was beautiful, its cyan surface shimmering under the afternoon sun, but the idea of undressing, even partially, made her hesitate. Asher noticed her apprehension and took a step closer, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You trust me, don’t you?" His voice was soft, patient. "Of course, I do," she said without hesitation. "Then come in," he said simply. Elena bit her lip, the internal war raging inside her. She was tired of letting her past dictate her present. She had come so far. This was just another step. Asher, seeing her uncertainty, reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head in one smooth motion, tossing it onto the riverbank. Elena’s breath hitched as she to
Elena splashed water at him, and he let out a dramatic gasp before retaliating, sending droplets flying around them. Their laughter echoed through the quiet woods, blending with the gentle ripple of the river. When they finally stilled, Asher cupped her face, his thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. "Elena," he murmured, his voice lower, more serious. "Hm?" "You’re everything," he whispered, his forehead pressing against hers. "Everything I didn’t know I needed." Elena swallowed the lump in her throat, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his gaze. For once, she didn’t shy away. Instead, she smiled, letting the warmth of his words settle deep inside her. Maybe—just maybe—she could let herself believe it.Asher smirked, brushing a stray droplet of water from Elena’s cheek. “You’re staring.” Elena blinked, feeling heat rise to her already flushed face. “I am not.” He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Oh? So you weren’t just admiring me?” Elena scoffed, trying to fig
A Love Confession Under MoonlightThe Confession“Elena.”She heard her name through the soft ripples of water, but she wasn’t sure if she had imagined it. The moonlight shimmered on the river’s surface, casting a glow over Asher’s face, highlighting the intensity in his hazel eyes.“What?” she breathed, her heart hammering against her ribs.“I love you.” His voice was steady, unwavering.Elena froze. The words hit her like a tidal wave, knocking the air from her lungs. She stared at him, sure she had misheard, blaming the gentle rush of water distorting his words.“You… what?” she whispered, her pulse roaring in her ears.Asher didn’t hesitate. He cupped her face, his wet fingers grazing her cheeks. “I love you, Elena. I’ve loved you for longer than I even realized. And I don’t want to wait anymore.”Her breath hitched. This was unreal—impossible. No one had ever said those words to her. No one had ever meant them.“Asher…” she started, but she had no idea what to say. She could only
Then, suddenly, he lowered her onto a smooth, flat rock near the water’s edge. Elena barely had a second to process before Asher leaned over her, his hazel eyes dark with something unreadable. “I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you,” he murmured, his hand brushing along her jaw. Her breath caught. “Asher…” His lips hovered over hers, their breaths mingling. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “And I will.” But Elena didn’t want him to stop. Instead, she reached up, her fingers tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. “Don’t stop.” That was all he needed. Asher kissed her again, slow and deep, his hands roaming her body with reverence. Elena knew she was lost. But for once, she didn’t want to be found. For once, she wanted to let herself drown in him.Elena gasped as Asher’s lips trailed down her neck, his warm breath sending shivers through her. His kisses slowed, lingering on the sensitive spot where his mark should one day be. Her body tense
Without a word, he turned, grabbed his discarded shirt from the riverbank, and draped it over her shoulders. The fabric was still warm from his body, carrying his scent. “Mine,” he murmured, voice deep and possessive. Elena shivered, though not from the cool night air. A flicker of amusement danced in her eyes as she looked up at him. “Possessive, aren’t you?” Asher smirked but didn’t deny it. Instead, he ran his fingers along the edge of the shirt, adjusting it so it covered more of her. “Damn right,” he said, voice husky. “And you love it.” Elena flushed, but she couldn’t deny the way her heart raced at his words. He reached down, grabbing her pants from where she had left them on the rock. Before she could protest, he crouched slightly and helped her step into them, his fingers grazing her thighs as he pulled them up.The simple act sent a thrill through her—not from lust, but from the intimacy of it.Once she was dressed, Asher cupped her face, running his thumb alon
Elena watched Asher disappear down the stairs, the warmth of his body still lingering on her skin. But something gnawed at her chest—a flicker of unease. The moment he’d sat up, she’d seen it in his face. That storm behind his eyes. And now, alone in the quiet room, that image refused to leave her.She sat up slowly, wrapping the blanket around herself tighter. Her fingers brushed the mark on her shoulder, still tingling faintly from his touch, but her thoughts were no longer anchored in the bliss of their morning.___________ Elena’s Concern“Asher?” she had murmured earlier, when his expression had shifted—when the relaxed man she woke up with suddenly seemed a thousand miles away.“I’m fine,” he’d said too quickly. Too flatly.She’d reached for his hand then, but he’d gently pulled away, avoiding her gaze.“I’ll go make breakfast,” he’d mumbled, already halfway off the bed before she could press further.Elena wasn’t naive. Something had rattled him. And she hated the distance it
Awakening in Love:“Asher,” Elena whispered groggily, her voice a soft rasp in the quiet morning air. “Are you staring at me again?”Asher smirked, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek. “Guilty. You make it hard not to.”She peeked one eye open, still nestled against his chest. “That’s creepy, you know.”“Is it creepy if I’m admiring the woman I love?” he murmured, pressing a light kiss to her forehead.Elena’s eyes fluttered open fully this time. She smiled—lazy, content. “You’re lucky I love you back.”“I know,” he said, grinning. His hand slid down to trace the outline of her mark, his thumb moving gently over the sensitive skin. “I’m really damn lucky.”She sighed and nuzzled into his chest. “It’s cold.”Without hesitation, Asher tugged her even closer, wrapping his arms around her bare body. “Better?”“Mmm,” she hummed, her eyes closing again.He chuckled softly, the vibrations rumbling through his chest. "You always do this."Elena peeked up at him, brow arched. "Do wh
Without a word, he turned, grabbed his discarded shirt from the riverbank, and draped it over her shoulders. The fabric was still warm from his body, carrying his scent. “Mine,” he murmured, voice deep and possessive. Elena shivered, though not from the cool night air. A flicker of amusement danced in her eyes as she looked up at him. “Possessive, aren’t you?” Asher smirked but didn’t deny it. Instead, he ran his fingers along the edge of the shirt, adjusting it so it covered more of her. “Damn right,” he said, voice husky. “And you love it.” Elena flushed, but she couldn’t deny the way her heart raced at his words. He reached down, grabbing her pants from where she had left them on the rock. Before she could protest, he crouched slightly and helped her step into them, his fingers grazing her thighs as he pulled them up.The simple act sent a thrill through her—not from lust, but from the intimacy of it.Once she was dressed, Asher cupped her face, running his thumb alon
Then, suddenly, he lowered her onto a smooth, flat rock near the water’s edge. Elena barely had a second to process before Asher leaned over her, his hazel eyes dark with something unreadable. “I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you,” he murmured, his hand brushing along her jaw. Her breath caught. “Asher…” His lips hovered over hers, their breaths mingling. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “And I will.” But Elena didn’t want him to stop. Instead, she reached up, her fingers tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. “Don’t stop.” That was all he needed. Asher kissed her again, slow and deep, his hands roaming her body with reverence. Elena knew she was lost. But for once, she didn’t want to be found. For once, she wanted to let herself drown in him.Elena gasped as Asher’s lips trailed down her neck, his warm breath sending shivers through her. His kisses slowed, lingering on the sensitive spot where his mark should one day be. Her body tense
A Love Confession Under MoonlightThe Confession“Elena.”She heard her name through the soft ripples of water, but she wasn’t sure if she had imagined it. The moonlight shimmered on the river’s surface, casting a glow over Asher’s face, highlighting the intensity in his hazel eyes.“What?” she breathed, her heart hammering against her ribs.“I love you.” His voice was steady, unwavering.Elena froze. The words hit her like a tidal wave, knocking the air from her lungs. She stared at him, sure she had misheard, blaming the gentle rush of water distorting his words.“You… what?” she whispered, her pulse roaring in her ears.Asher didn’t hesitate. He cupped her face, his wet fingers grazing her cheeks. “I love you, Elena. I’ve loved you for longer than I even realized. And I don’t want to wait anymore.”Her breath hitched. This was unreal—impossible. No one had ever said those words to her. No one had ever meant them.“Asher…” she started, but she had no idea what to say. She could only
Elena splashed water at him, and he let out a dramatic gasp before retaliating, sending droplets flying around them. Their laughter echoed through the quiet woods, blending with the gentle ripple of the river. When they finally stilled, Asher cupped her face, his thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. "Elena," he murmured, his voice lower, more serious. "Hm?" "You’re everything," he whispered, his forehead pressing against hers. "Everything I didn’t know I needed." Elena swallowed the lump in her throat, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his gaze. For once, she didn’t shy away. Instead, she smiled, letting the warmth of his words settle deep inside her. Maybe—just maybe—she could let herself believe it.Asher smirked, brushing a stray droplet of water from Elena’s cheek. “You’re staring.” Elena blinked, feeling heat rise to her already flushed face. “I am not.” He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Oh? So you weren’t just admiring me?” Elena scoffed, trying to fig
"Asher, I don’t have anything to wear," Elena said, crossing her arms over her chest. Asher smirked, the mischief in his eyes undeniable. "You’re wearing something now, aren’t you?" He gestured to her shorts and tank top. Elena’s lips pressed together, contemplating. The river was beautiful, its cyan surface shimmering under the afternoon sun, but the idea of undressing, even partially, made her hesitate. Asher noticed her apprehension and took a step closer, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You trust me, don’t you?" His voice was soft, patient. "Of course, I do," she said without hesitation. "Then come in," he said simply. Elena bit her lip, the internal war raging inside her. She was tired of letting her past dictate her present. She had come so far. This was just another step. Asher, seeing her uncertainty, reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head in one smooth motion, tossing it onto the riverbank. Elena’s breath hitched as she to
Chapter: A Moment of Vulnerability and IntimacyA Sudden Surprise:“Elena.”Her name barely left Asher’s lips before he closed the distance between them, his hands framing her face as his lips met hers. The kiss was slow, deliberate—filled with an unspoken emotion that sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn’t rushed, nor desperate. It was something deeper. Something she wasn’t sure she could put into words.She sighed into the kiss, letting herself melt into his embrace. His warmth, his presence, it was intoxicating. But just as she was beginning to steady herself, he pulled away.Her lips parted slightly, confused by the sudden loss of contact. “Asher?”And then, to her complete shock, he reached down and pulled off his shirt in one fluid motion.Elena’s breath caught in her throat.She wasn’t sure what she expected, but seeing him like this—shirtless, the golden glow of the setting sun casting shadows over his well-defined torso—made her pulse quicken. She could see every ridge of mu
Elena tightened her grip on Asher’s hand, her thumb tracing small circles against his skin.“Your father… he sounds like an incredible man.”Asher’s gaze softened as he studied her, his hazel eyes reflecting something warm, something deep. “He would’ve loved you.”Elena’s breath hitched at his words. “You think so?”He nodded, brushing a stray curl from her face. “He always said strength wasn’t about how hard you could hit or how many battles you won. It was about how much you could endure.” He paused, his fingers ghosting along her jaw. “And, Elena, you’ve endured more than anyone I know.”Her throat tightened, emotion swelling inside her. She had spent so much of her life feeling weak, feeling like she was constantly struggling to stay afloat. But Asher—he saw her differently. Not as broken, not as fragile, but as someone strong. Someone resilient.Her eyes burned, tears threatening to spill. “Asher…” She swallowed, shaking her head. “I don’t even know what to say.”A gentle smile t