Asher is silent, and Olivia, with the hand not holding the blanket up, cradles Asher’s cheek, bringing his face closer.Asher has never been kissed before, whether it be romantically by one of the people he dated, amicably by a friend, or brotherly by his family. He has never allowed any touches of that sort.He would refuse to peck his flings, deny Paul when the latter would ask for a hug, and he’d always keep his distance, making sure this or that person isn’t too close to him.Asher was destitute of gentle physical contacts for most of his life, provided instead with vicious blows, callous taunts, and harsh yanks on his neck, manhandling him this and that way.He was — is — starved for an affection that he never realized wanted.Needed.However, with Olivia, the parched creature inside Asher huddled in a corner preens under the lips pressing on his forehead now, or his cheeks earlier. It basks in the care and warmth Olivia openly and kindly grants him, every so often shyly, other t
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