Lovestruck Page 8

  Cursing, I throw it out of the window. I can’t believe he did that. Actually, I can and if I needed another reason to feel sure about what I just did, this is it. I start the car and get driving onwards.

  A dozen miles down the road I find another small town and park up in a fast food chain’s parking lot. I check my phone and smile when I find Skyler has texted me back.

  I call her. She picks up in two rings. “Hey, girl, I’m at the airport. I was going to call it a surprise when I showed up on your doorstep, but it sounds like you’ve had enough surprises. Am I right?”

  “Yeah. Things got ugly between me and Logan. I had to get out of the house.”

  “What happened? He was all over you the second he got there, right? That idiot does not know how to relax, I swear.” She’s in one of her rambling moods, I can tell.

  “We slept together.”

  She’s quiet for a second. “Um, what?”

  “It was a mistake, but he’s…” I blew out a breath. “I told him it wouldn’t work out and he won’t accept it.”

  “Okay. Here’s the plan. I’ve got like an hour’s cab ride to get to your place. Can you be home in like three hours?”

  “Three hours?”

  “Gives me time to cool him down and send him away. I have Cain with me, so he can’t protest that you’re unprotected.” She has it all figured out.

  “I love you, Skyler.”

  “Love you too, Edie. See ya in a few.”

  She hangs up before I can tell her I hate that nickname. She knows, and she only uses it when I’m not going to get a chance to complain about it. I go through the drive-through to get a burger and fries that I eat in the parking lot before I start to drive back to town, slightly freaking out that I left in the first place. I put on shades before I picked up my food, and the only reason I felt okay about sitting in the parking lot is because the girl who handed me my food wasn’t really looking at me. She was having a conversation with someone who was barking orders behind her. Relief poured over me that I’d managed to get food without being recognized and that was when I realized just how horrible this getting the hell away idea actually was.

  I know I’m safe in Rapture. It’s been almost like the old days being back there. There are no creeps or weirdos – besides the one in my head with the sunglasses. I start to wonder where I got his face from, since he’s clearly some kind of projection. Of what, I have no idea. Wondering about him isn’t doing my sanity any favors. I force myself to stop. Thinking about it isn’t going to help anyone. I need to just forget about him and hope he leaves me alone.

  I get back to town and go to the fruit and veg. store. The woman who owns it has lived in this town forever. I seriously need to find Sasha and find out how she got into my house. It’s starting to give me the creeps. I go inside and ask if she knows where I might find Asher’s big sister. For a second, I wonder if she’s going to ask why I don’t just ask him. She doesn’t say it, but there’s something in her eyes before she smiles and tells me where I should be able to find Sasha. I buy some strawberries and leave.

  Sasha got married, and apparently, she inherited her grandmother’s house. I head over there on foot, leaving the car in the lot by the library. I hesitate as I pass the big building full of books. I’m not ready to speak to Asher. I’m just not.

  Apparently, fate or something like it, has other ideas. Because when I get to the house, and knock on the door, expecting to see Sasha or her husband, I get the guy I’ve been trying to avoid.

  Asher seems disheveled, and completely in shock when he locks eyes on me. I realize he’s not wearing a suit and it kind of throws me. I suppose I’d better deal with this conversation I’m not ready to have.

  “Um, hey. Can we talk?”

  He nods. “Want to come in?”

  I nod and he steps back. The house hasn’t changed a bit. It makes me smile. He closes the door as I step towards the living room. He clears his throat, something he usually does when he’s nervous about what he’s about to say.

  “Can I get you a drink, or anything?”

  I shake my head. “Just come and sit, Asher.”

  He follows me into the room and we sit on the three-seater sofa, the middle cushion separating us.

  “You aren’t working today?” I glance at his shirt. It’s white but definitely not pristine.

  He folds his arms and draws me a wry smile. “Got sent home. I’ve been slightly accident-prone today. Almost tipped a bookcase over onto a little old lady. That was the last straw, apparently.”

  “So, I won’t ask if you’re okay.”

  He snorts, and then relaxes slightly. “Well, you’re here, so my day can only get better.”

  “Asher, I understand why you wrote the book.”

  “You do?” He seems to brighten instantly, relief stark in his tone.

  I nod, slowly. “I had to read it, to understand it, but I get it now. You didn’t want it to put emphasis on my mother. You knew the story hit the press hard when that came out. You didn’t want some stranger putting all that shit in there, making it sound… worse. I get it. It was beautifully written, Asher. Thank you.”

  His mouth opens and closes. He never knows what to say when someone thanks him. Part of the reason I tacked it on to my little speech. It’s cute to see him struggle to find words. He’s usually so eloquent.

  “There’s something else.” I don’t want him to get too excited. I don’t want a repeat of what happened with Logan. Asher isn’t like that, but I don’t know how he’ll feel about this until I say it. “I love you. You know that. But I’m not ready to be tied down. After everything with Hunter, I just can’t. A lot of stuff has happened lately, and I can’t…” I shake my head, hearing the emotion in my voice and knowing if I don’t get a grip I’m going to tear up again.

  “This isn’t right.” Ugh. My imaginary friend is back. He’s crouching beside Asher, looking him over by moving his whole head. I suppose it’d be hard to tell with the glasses on if he wasn’t. I wish he’d go away.

  Asher reaches over and takes my hand. “Whatever it is…”

  “Oh for…” Sunglasses shakes his head. “You’re a Goddess, Eden. Act like it.”

  The imaginary weirdo touches my shoulder. I feel strange, and that odd glow that seemed to encompass me when I restarted Logan’s heart was back and brighter than ever.

  Asher’s gaze is intense when I direct my attention back to him.

  “I’m not afraid to be tied down. That’s not what this is about.” Can I really admit this?

  “What is it about?” He sounds like he’s almost afraid to ask.

  “I was never meant to be with just one man.” The confession makes me blush. It was buried deep down inside, but it’s the truth and I can’t deny it anymore.

  Asher blinks, his eyebrows jumping slightly above the rims of his glasses before he nods. I see my imaginary friend’s hand on his shoulder now too. He doesn’t glow but there’s a sparkle that makes his midnight blue eyes twinkle before he speaks what I’m sure beyond doubt is the complete truth dredged up from the depths of his soul.

  “I understand. You’re special, I’ve always known that. You deserve to have everything your heart desires.”

  “You’re okay with this?” I can barely get my voice above a whisper. I can’t believe this is happening. It’s surreal.

  “How could I not be? You’re a Goddess, Eden. You don’t have to be bound by antiquated human notions of love and desire.”

  I glance at Sunglasses, who shrugs. “He’s perceptive.”

  “You have my heart,” Asher tells me, as his fingers stroke my hand. “It doesn’t mean you have to entrust me with yours, but I hope that you do.”

  My imaginary friend lets us both go. Asher blinks and gives me an anxious smile. I realize he’s waiting for an answer. It doesn’t take a moment of deliberating to make it.

  “I do, Asher.”

  He leans in and kisses me.

  Chapter Twenty-Four
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  *

  ASHER

  A truly awful day turned into the best afternoon of my life. All it took was Eden’s forgiveness. Our conversation had taken a surprising turn, but when I was faced with the choice of accepting being a part of her polyamorous life, or losing her, there was no choice. Of course, a Goddess of a woman would need more than a mere mortal woman did. She deserved everything she could ever possibly desire, and I would spend every waking hour of every day trying to give her everything she wished for.

  She pulls at my shirt, actually ripping it in her haste to strip it from me. I haul it off and she presses me up against the banister, her fingers going up into my hair as her sweet lips work against mine. The scent of her is driving me crazy. I unclasp her bra and it falls, which is slightly confusing until I realize it’s strapless. My dick throbs against her as my hands move to stroke her taut nipples. I can barely believe this is happening. My wildest dreams are coming to life.

  The sound of the doorbell barely registers until I realize we’re practically at the door. Then I realize it might have been prudent to lock it. I know who it’ll be, and she has a habit of just walking right in if I don’t answer. Shit. Why hadn’t I locked the door behind Eden? Because I didn’t usually ever lock the damned thing. There small-town mentality goes, screwing up my sex life.

  I pull away from Eden and move quickly to turn the lock. The handle moves the second it clicks into place. I smile. Back to business. I place a kiss on my bemused Goddess’ hand.

  “I think we should move this upstairs.”

  Eden nods. “I think that might be for the best.”

  My sister bangs on the door before she yells, “I can hear you in there. Open up.”

  Not happening, Sasha. I’m sure she’ll leave as soon as she realizes no-one’s going to let her in.

  I lead Eden up the stairs. The bedroom is the one room I’d really done anything to when I moved in. The walls are plain now, the bed is new, and the silky sheets are a luxury I’d decided on in a pale blue color that reminded me of Eden’s eyes.

  She raises an eyebrow as I turn and spin her into my arms. “Asher, I thought you said you were vanilla? Those sheets tell me a different story.”

  “I guess you’re about to find out what flavor I am.” I’m ready to have her, but I want to take it slow. To savor every second. I lower my mouth to hers, keeping her body close while I get those skin-tight jeans of hers undone. I stop, and her eyes plead with me. I turn her around and tug at her jeans, making her gasp. They come down over her hips and expose her naked ass.

  “You ripped my panties,” she breathes.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t have been wearing any.” I run my hands over her perfect derrière. My dick twitches, pushing against the fabric of my boxers. I’m desperate to be inside her, but I want this to last. I push her jeans down further and she wriggles and kicks them off. I pull her to me and slide my right hand down through the soft, fine hairs to reach her hot, wet cunt. She parts her legs more, giving me better access. Her body arches against mine as I stroke my fingers over her swollen clit. My left hand pushes up under her T-shirt to reach her breast. She moans as I move two fingers to part her slick lips and enter her. She’s so tight I can barely wait to fill her. I squeeze her nipple as I move my fingers back over her clit, finding the right rhythm from her breathing and the tensing of her body. I start to kiss her neck as she gets closer to climax. She calls out my name as she comes, shaking as my fingers withdraw.

  She hauls off her T-shirt, spins around, and drops to her knees in front of me. Her hands pull at my belt. It takes her all of five seconds to get my clothes out of her way. I’d planned to haul my pants off and drag her onto the bed to taste her before I finally entered her, but it seems my Goddess has other plans. She teases my aching dick with long, slow licks along the shaft before she opens wide and begins to take me inside of her hot mouth, inch by inch.

  “Fuck,” I whisper as my dick hits the back of her throat.

  She stretches her lips and maneuvers as if she’s desperate to take the last inch, to fit all of me in. I can barely stand to look at her eyes as they begin to water from her efforts. Then it hits. She relaxes the back of her throat and I’m in, all the way.

  “Holy fucking hell!” I’ve never felt anything quite like it. My dick is pulsing in her mouth and she starts to move, rocking, so I slide out a little and all the way back in, over and over and over again. The feeling is almost too much to take. I know I need to stop her, or I’m going to come. The very thought of spilling my seed down her throat sparks desire too great to resist.

  “Eden, I’m coming.”

  I feel her smile, but she doesn’t stop. I stroke her hair, gripping her close as it happens. She drinks me down with a blissful expression on her gorgeous face. I don’t know how I got this fucking lucky, but I’m not going to question it. She releases me and wipes at her lips as she gets to her feet.

  There’s a devious smile on her full lips when her gaze meets mine. “Definitely not vanilla. But I didn’t get much of a taste, Asher. You’re going to have to give me more.”

  “As much as you want, Eden.” I pull her in for a kiss before I lift her onto the bed. She smiles up at me as I drop her where I want her and pry apart her legs. “But I get to taste you too.”

  “Mmm,” she murmurs. “I wonder what I taste like.”

  I climb between her sun-kissed legs and take off my glasses. They’ll only get in the way. This close up, I can see everything that’s important. I toss them to the floor and lower my head to suck at her wet, swollen clit. She gasps sharply, and I stop, running my tongue over the mound instead.

  “Don’t you dare stop, Asher,” she warns me, her hands pulling through my hair. “It feels…” Another gasp as I suck. I smile and alternate between licking and sucking until she begs me to stop teasing and let her come. I lick a little slower and suck a little softer. She starts to tense, and I feel her release as she pulls me harder against that sweet spot between her legs.

  When she releases her hands from my hair I lower my mouth to taste her juices. My dick twitches back to life as I slip my tongue inside her contracting cunt. It’s rock hard by the time I’m climbing over her shivering frame.

  “What do I taste like, Asher?”

  I kiss her slowly as my erection rubs against the warm, wet cleft that felt so tight around my fingers, so slick against my lips. I smile down at her. “You taste like heaven, Eden.”

  Positioning myself, I thrust into her with hard, unrelenting strokes. She gasps and cries out and pushes down harder onto me, wanting more. Her tight, wet cunt milks my dick as I fuck her. She clings onto me, wrapping her arms and legs around me. I thrust harder and she pushes down harder, using one hand to grip the bedpost behind her. The momentum forces her to take my dick even deeper. Neither of us slows down. I’ve waited too long to have her. I’ve wanted this too badly.

  She groans, and I can feel another orgasm on the way right before it hits, making her gasp and shake under me. The euphoric expression on her face is too much to take. Another thrust, and I’m spilling my seed deep inside of her.

  She gazes at me though heavy-lidded eyes as I move back.

  “Definitely not vanilla,” she murmurs as she lets go of the bedpost. I lie down next to her and arrange the sheets to cover her slightly shivering frame.

  “Now I know what it feels like to make love to a Goddess.”

  She smiles at me. She’s sleepy now, I can see it in her eyes. “Better get used to it.”

  I kiss her shoulder and pull the covers over us as I pull her in close. “Sweet dreams, Eden.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  *

  EDEN

  Waking up next to Asher is a surreal experience. It’s not how I expected the day to turn out, that’s for sure, but my heart feels so much lighter. I can’t keep the smile from my face as I stretch under the silky sheets. Heat sparks low in my belly and I bite down on my lip. He was big, and not gentle with it in t
he slightest. I feel a little raw, and all I can think about is how good it would be to have him suck on my clit again. I’m starting to think my new and improved sex drive is determined to turn me into a nymphomaniac. I try to get my thoughts on a cleaner path when I realize I don’t know how much time has passed. The room is dark and when I glance around and check the alarm clock I see it’s almost eight p.m. Crap. Skyler is going to be so pissed at me.

  I shake Asher’s arm, but he seems to be dead to the world. Damn. I don’t even have his phone number. I’m going to have to leave a note. For a writer, he doesn’t seem to have any paper just lying around. I dress quickly and go down stairs. There must be something around here somewhere.

  I see a pad on the telephone table. There’s a pen close by. I write down my new cell number and leave a note telling him I had to go. I debate where to leave it. In the end I walk back up to his room and put it on his night stand. That way he’ll see it right away. He’ll understand why I had to leave when he reads it.

  Leaving, I check my phone and find a few messages from Skyler telling me not to come back yet. Apparently, Logan is giving her some trouble. I sigh. I should be the one dealing with him, not her.

  I walk to my car and get inside, sinking into the leather. I realize I’m humming again as I start the car. Words are starting to form to match the melody. I haven’t even touched my guitar. This is incredible. I open my glove box and find a note pad to write them down. I need to start carrying sheet music around. The notes I’ve made are barely legible, but I understand them. It’ll do until I can get to my studio.

  I put the pad down and start the car, my eagerness to get home fading as I remember what I’m going home to do. This is going to suck. It’s going to hurt. I need to work out what I’m going to say.