shy smile. “And I like that it’s kind of our little secret.”
Oh… wow.
My heart thumps unevenly in my chest. It doesn’t escape my notice that he called me Elle. No one’s ever called me that before, not even Maddy, and I… I like it. It feels like that’s our little secret too.
And what he just said? That might be the sweetest thing anyone’s ever told me.
Of course, Asher hears me think that too. I know he does because he blushes in response. I roll my eyes. “I’m never going to have a safe thought around you again, am I?”
“Only until my cuff comes back on,” he reassures me quickly.
I can’t help myself. He’s unbelievably sweet and so goddamn adorable, and I’m so relieved he’s okay.
But it’s not the relief urging me on. I just really want this.
So I think two words as clearly as I can.
Kiss. Me.
Asher’s eyes widen in surprise, and he jerks his head up to stare at me. Whatever he sees on my face must confirm what he heard in my head, because a wide grin spreads across his face, growing slowly until it’s taken over, like he can’t believe I actually thought that “out loud”.
He leans in, or I lean in, or we both do, and when our lips press together, it’s soft and gentle and feels like summer rain after a long, unrelenting heat wave. It feels like something breaking apart, but in the best way possible.
I get lost in the kiss, so overwhelmed by the feel of him that I forget to worry about all the thoughts he can read plain as day in my head. Nice thoughts. Mushy thoughts. Thoughts that would make me cringe with embarrassment if I weren’t so busy kissing Asher like my life depends on it.
He licks the seam of my lips, and when I open my mouth, our tongues meet like long lost friends. I feel both safe and turned on, and before I know it, my upper body is practically draped over his as I try to find some way to get us closer.
But we’re in an infirmary. There are people around. He’s still healing from his injuries.
That last thought, more than the other two, prompts me to reluctantly pull away. Asher looks happy and a little dazed, and his shaggy brown hair is sticking up where I ran my fingers through it. I lick my lips, tasting him on them as I draw back. For a second, we just stare at each other, still lost in the magical little bubble our kiss created.
“You’re really okay?” I ask him, brushing my fingers over the back of his hand. “You don’t have any lasting damage, or—?”
Asher shakes his head, his moss-green eyes warm and gentle. “No. I had a concussion, but just the kind I needed to sleep off. The healing the infirmary staff can do with magic—it’s not perfect, but it can take care of a lot of things. I’m just fine. I’ll be back in the dorm with you all in a day, at most.”
“No, no, take your time.” I wave him off, quirking a grin. “I’ve enjoyed sleeping in your bed; much comfier than mine.”
He chuckles, threading his fingers through mine and squeezing my hand. And for just this moment, there’s no threat of the school shutting down, no psycho on the loose, no finals stressing me out. Nothing.
It’s just Asher and me, and it’s wonderful.
Chapter 24
The next day, Cam, Dmitri, and I clean the room in preparation for Asher’s return, although I’m sure the two men will join me in denying it if anyone asks. The fourth member of our motley little group grins as he enters the room, still moving a bit slowly, like he’s getting used to being out of bed and able to walk around on his own again.
“You look like you just got out of prison,” Dmitri grunts. “What, did you get tired of all the rest and no homework?”
Asher flips him off good-naturedly before setting his things on his bed and glancing around. “You guys cleaned.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrug evasively. “The place is always this neat. Maybe you’re just the messy one.”
“Nah. Cam’s the messy one.”
“Ouch!” Cam laughs, pressing a hand dramatically to his heart. “Et tu, Brutus?”
The guys greet Asher with a slap on the back and a punch on the arm—although I notice their greeting is a lot lighter than usual—but I don’t feel like punching him, so I duck in for a