All The Truths (Lies & Truths Duet #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,26

in the morning, I was covered and comfy, but there was no sign that he’d slept beside me. He must’ve gone back to the living room or the guest room.

My heart still has that slight ache at the thought—not that I want him to sleep with me. That’s beside the whole point of avoiding him.

Currently, he drives with ease, one hand on the wheel and the other on his thigh. No words. No nothing.

I chat with Naomi and Lucy in our group chat the entire way. It’s a useless attempt to distract myself from Asher; my mind keeps dragging me back to him anyway.

His presence is impossible to ignore or deny. He’s like a constant, unmovable and unchangeable.

I peek at him through my lashes, at his styled hair and thick brows, at his chiseled jaw and firm lips that kissed me in intimate places and brought me to the highest throes of pleasure.

My cheeks heat and I shake myself internally to chase away the image. What’s wrong with me? This isn’t the time to think about that.

Besides, he hasn’t mentioned it once this morning. Maybe he regrets it.

Why does that fill me with so much trepidation?

I mean, I should regret it, too, but I can’t find it in me to do that.

We make it to the house’s driveway. It’s still early in the morning so a few staff are mingling around the garden.

I reach out a hand to release my seatbelt. Asher grabs it in his, startling me.

“W-what is it?” I halt midway, my pulse skyrocketing.

“We’ll talk to Alexander,” he says.

I nod. That’s what I’ve been planning to do. He obviously knows about the business Dad did with the mafia, and he must know something about my sister.

“After he tells you what you want to know, you’ll tell him you’re moving back to your apartment.”

“Why?” My voice sounds as spooked as I feel.

“I don’t care to share you.” His grip tightens around my wrist. “You belong to me, remember?”

My heart suddenly resurrects back to life, beating and thumping so wildly it’s impossible to keep up. It’s as if it’s been dead since the morning and Asher just gave it a reason to be alive.

He really needs to stop saying things like that if all he ever plans to do is hurt me. He needs to stop touching me, calling me his, and looking at me with those intense eyes that seem ready to strip me bare and devour me all over again. My brain is starting to disregard the danger and focus on those small gestures, on what his body is saying instead of what his mind is planning.

“What if I don’t want to move out?” I ask. “People are after me.”

It’s a lie. I want to get out of this place filled with others. I think I’ll be more comfortable when I’m alone. After all, that’s the reason Old Reina moved out as soon as she was legal.

I’m starting to connect to Reina in more ways than one, and I have no idea how that makes me feel.

“If they were actively after you, they could’ve easily removed you from campus.” He sounds thoughtful. “Ask Alexander to tighten up security at the apartment building.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Ash.” I pull my wrist from his hold and fold my arms.

The glare he shoots my way is so harsh I squirm in my seat. “What did I say about that?”

“Fine.” I unfold my arms. “But you still don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“Is that a dare?” His voice lowers. “By the end of the night, you’ll beg me to tell you what to do.”

I don’t miss the meaning behind his words, and my face must turn a deep shade of red.

“Look at you blushing.” His finger traces along my cheek in a sensual caress, his expression filled with awe.

I love it when I catch him off guard like that. A powerful sensation rushes through me at the thought that I have this effect on him.

Still, he’s an arrogant bastard right now.

Swatting his hand away, I adapt my no-nonsense tone. “I have friends here, you know, like Izzy and Jason. We have Scrabble nights.”

“Fuck Scrabble nights.” His face hardens as he leans closer. “Keep the fuck away from Jason.”

“Uh…no. He’s my friend.”

His hand shoots between my thighs, cupping me through my jeans. I gasp, my eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. Tingles erupt where he touches me and my body’s memory kicks into gear. All