same thing, but she was alone with Felix. She watched him take me out, pour gasoline around the barn, light it on fire. The horror she endured is something I wish I could take away. The helplessness she felt tied to that post isn’t something I ever want her to feel again.
“But we did.” I feather kisses over her mouth, her cheeks, the tip of her nose and over her eyelids.
“Yes, we did.”
“You’re here, little backpack, and I’m never letting you go.” Does she understand what that means?
“Promise?” She leans back to gaze into my eyes.
Our tongues meet as I press her up against the wall. I fucked her against this wall and I’m seconds from doing that again. I need to be buried deep within her, physically reconnecting, as I bind her to me.
She wraps around me. Arms draped over my shoulders. Legs wrapped around my hips. Her hot pussy pressing against my hungry cock.
No way in hell am I ever letting her go.
I press her against the wall and brace my hand beside her head. My other hand reaches between us, flicking open the button of her jeans, lowering the zipper. Getting frustrated because her jeans aren’t coming off like this. A low groan escapes me.
She breaks her lips from mine and glances toward the front door. If someone comes through, they’ll see everything.
“Fuck,” I say. “Shower or bed. You pick.”
She nibbles her lower lip and smiles. “I love where your mind’s at.”
“You’ll love even better where my cock is going to be.”
My heart swells with the look in her eyes. So many unspoken words linger between us.
I gently lower her down, my heart filling with so many emotions as I pull her to my room.
Once inside, I close the door and push her against it. Leaning forward, I slow things down and kiss her nice and slow. Then I rest my forehead against hers.
“You have no idea what you do to me,” I say.
“Show me.”
“I’m happy to oblige.” I press the long, hard length of my dick against her hip. “But first we need to talk.”
“Talk?”
“Yes. Change the parameters of our agreement.”
“What does that mean?”
“We said no strings, but damn if I can’t imagine not having you in my life. I want to tie you to me, Miss Evelyn Thornton. I want you to stay.”
“Stay?”
“If you can’t, I understand, but you need to know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll be right by your side.”
“You can’t leave La Rouge.” Her eyes widen.
“For you, I’ll do anything.” I run the pad of my thumb along her cheek. “I’ll do anything to be with you, but I won’t fuck you if you’re going to walk away. I can’t do no strings anymore.”
“I would never ask that of you.”
“You don’t have to, but if we do this, you need to know there are strings. I’ll tie you to me, my little backpack, and never let you go.”
“Asher…”
My pulse races waiting for her to say more and let me know I haven’t just made the worst mistake of my life. Every molecule in my body surges, waiting for her to say yes.
“When I came to…back in the barn…all I could feel was fear. How I couldn’t bear to lose you. I know it’s selfish to make you choose, but if you’re going to walk away, I need you to do it now.”
She nibbles her lower lip. “There’s so much we haven’t talked about. My life’s a mess. I’ve been so busy running from my past, I can’t imagine my future.”
“Then close your eyes.”
Her brow quirks up.
“Trust me.”
Her eyes close.
“There’s nothing except you and me. I’m standing in front of you, watching you undress, devouring you with my eyes.”
“Asher…” Her eyes flicker open and I shake my head. Obediently, her eyelids close.
“You let your hair down, and in that moment, you lower all your defenses, letting me in.”
“I feel weird.” Her words hit me, make me worry, but she keeps her eyes closed.
Trusting me.
“Your gorgeous hair spills all around and covers us both. I take you in my arms and make love to you until you come apart in my arms. You come for me. You run right into me and I pull you close, easing your pain. You don’t have to go through life alone. Not when I’ll be right by your side.”
Her lids flicker and she looks at me. Her voice is soft. “You promise?”
“Do you know what you do to me?”
“No.”
“You make me shake, send shivers down my spine. You fucking bring