Where the fuck did that thought come from? I burrow into no one. I need no one.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head,” he murmurs to me. “What is this? Where could this possibly go? I don’t have time for this. This would be chaotic. It would be messy. And Julie Parker doesn’t do chaotic and messy. She definitely doesn’t do the unknown.”
One hand still holding onto my arm, he reaches his other hand up and glides his fingers over my cheekbone before pushing a lock of hair behind my ear. His hand drifts down the side of my face, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw before he grasps my chin between his thumb and forefinger, his eyes still locked on mine.
“But lucky for you, I’m a quarterback. I thrive in chaos. I like a mess. And the unknown is my specialty.”
I like a mess. I don’t know why, but I latch on to those words and grasp them like a lifeline. It’s those words that have me moving without thinking, leaning forward and laying my lips on his.
Asher
Fuck. Me.
Julie’s lips are full and soft and the second our mouths touch, I suck in a breath. This is not where I thought we would end up tonight, but I am not mad about it. And her kissing me? Sexy as fuck. I reach up, cupping her face in both of my hands. Tilting her head, I glide my tongue over her lips.
She opens for me, and the second our tongues meet, my entire body ignites. Heat sears through me, and my cock has never gotten so hard, so fast. My brain empties of every thought other than how good her lips feel against mine. She feels it too—I know she does because she lets out an honest to god whimper and there’s something heady about having this strong, impressive, independent woman whimpering in my arms.
I never want to let her go.
I move one hand to the back of her neck and slide the other down the side of her body to grip her denim-clad hip just below the waist of her coat. I pull her as close to my body as I can get her so she can feel exactly how much this kiss is affecting me. But it’s not close enough. Walking her backwards, I press her against her front door and lean my hips into her, and my tongue tangles with hers. She responds immediately, grinding against me, and I go lightheaded. One of her legs hooks around my calf, and I reach down and grasp the back of her thigh, pulling her leg up and griding my dick right against her center. Pleasure rushes my system. She pushes her hips forward against me and moans against my mouth as she reaches up to wrap her arms around my neck.
The sound of her keys hitting the wooden floorboards barely registers in my lust-addled brain, but it’s as good as a bucket of water tossed in her face. She straightens instantly, one of her hands flying to her hair and the other reaching down to straighten her jacket then back up to her face to wipe around her mouth, cleaning up any lipstick smears. It would be fascinating to watch her snap back into Julie Parker mode if the anxiety covering her face while she does it didn’t make my chest ache. When the fingers of her right hand start scratching at the inside of her left wrist, I reach out and gently take both of her hands in mine. She yanks them back.
“Sorry. That was…I don’t…I can’t…Yeah…” Before I have a chance to say a word, she bends down and swipes her keys off the porch, shoving open the door and going inside before slamming it right in my face.
I stand there staring at the door, wondering what the fuck just happened. I’m torn between wanting to give her the space she clearly needs and not wanting to leave her alone in an anxiety spiral.
Then I hear it. A thump from inside the house, as if shedropped her head back against the front door, and a whisper. “Holy hell, that man can kiss.”
I grin at that. Fuck yes, I can. And so can she. My still hard-as-stone cock is proof. Satisfied that she is okay for tonight, I turn and walk back to my car, whistling to myself, already plotting for the next time I can rattle the great Julie Parker.
Chapter Eight
Julie
Muttering to myself, I stomp up the stairs to Ben’s loft.
I am full of irritation this morning, and Asher fucking Hansley is to blame. Oh, and Ben, the brother I used to like but no longer do. The text that appeared on my phone this morning before I even opened my eyes is squarely on him since he, you know, gave the man my goddamn phone number.
Unknown Number
Morning Blondie. Sleep well?
No, I didn’t add his name to my contacts and no, I fucking didn’t sleep well and it’s his fucking fault. And Ben’s. I tossed and turned all night long thinking of Asher pressing my back against my front door and being so close to the edge that if my keys hadn’t fallen and startled me out of whatever lust-trance Asher put me in, I am one-hundred percent sure I would have come right against that door. The only orgasms I’ve ever had have been the ones I’ve given myself, and Asher had me tenseconds from begging on my front porch, fully clothed, in the middle of the winter.
Julie Parker doesn’t beg.
Julie Parker also doesn’t make the first move.
I shove the thought from my head, not interested in reliving that particular humiliation. The one where he told me that he likes a mess, and I leaned in and kissed him like I had taken leave of my faculties. That comment shouldn’t have made me want to kiss him. It should have freaked me the fuck out because Asher sees too damn much. He sees things I have kept hidden for my whole life. People see what I want them to see. The poised, put-together woman. The successful, has her entire life planned lawyer. The present friend, daughter, and sister.
No one knows how much work it takes to maintain the façade. How much anxiety. How many sleepless nights. How much worry and stress and preparation. No one ever sees it, but after one dance five months ago and a few hours last night, I’m almost positive that Asher can, and that scares the shit out of me. But instead of running, I fucking kissed him. Then just before the good part, I panicked and slammed the door in his face.
What is wrong with me?
I still haven’t responded to his text.
Fingers scratching at my wrist, I climb the last two stairs and knock on the door. Not long ago, I would have just walked in, but things are…different now.
