To Save a Vampire - A.K. Koonce Page 0,53

to see if he noticed the harsh noise as clearly as I did. I bite my lip nervously when I meet his eyes.

I smile awkwardly, but his hesitant smile portrays something different, something less friendly … almost intimate. He made playing this thing look so easy. I close my eyes in embarrassment, wishing I could dissolve into dust among the dirt rather than feel like I’ve failed at such a simple task.

“It was perfect,” he says in a quiet, husky voice.

I open my eyes at his compliment. He leans closer, his forehead tilting toward mine from over my shoulder. His hair touches my forehead as I turn in his arms and shift closer to him.

His pale eyes are low and hooded as he brushes his lips softly against mine, almost testing my reaction. Within me, a spark ignites, crackling through my body. For a moment, I’m frozen but flooded with heat all at once. His hand splays against my stomach, against the fluttering within.

He places another innocent kiss to my lips and my eyes slowly close, falling into the feel of his lips against mine.

I know I should pull away from Asher and find my voice. All my life I’ve been taught that his kind are monsters. Not something that should ever have their hands on a human. Especially like this. He’s my friend though. I should tell him we’re friends. I should definitely say that as soon as I pull away.

Definitely.

But I don’t, and he doesn’t either. His hand is spread wide over my hip and stomach, pushing me closer to him. Just when I think I can find the ability to pull away and find my voice, he parts my lips and slips his tongue slowly against my own.

My body reacts to his, and I become something I’ve never been before. Something I might never be on my own. Confident and complete. Feelings I’ve never experienced spread through my body and settle low in my core. His hands move lightly against my body, his fingers brushing under my shirt against the smooth skin of my abdomen. My nerves shiver under his fingertips. I’m out of breath, but can’t pull away from his touch. Instead of moving away, I turn, shifting my body to sit on my knees, chest to chest with him.

I tangle my fingers through his hair, pulling him lower to me, arching my spine as I bow into his chest. His hands push lower down my back, pulling me closer. The power in him rests cautiously against my body with every touch, thrumming through him and into me with every flick of his tongue against mine.

“Fallon, what the hell are you doing?” My mother’s voice is calm and enunciating. Even when she is furious and cursing, she still remains a lady, unlike myself.

Asher pulls away from me, leaning his arms on his knees and rubbing his face with his hands. I’m left blushing and out of breath—my equilibrium lost without his body supporting me.

I glance around to the instrument that has been forgotten in the dirt at our feet.

“Asher was showing me how to play this instrument,” I reply breathlessly, turning away from the fire to try and hide my humiliation.

Seconds pass in silence, but I don’t dare look back at her. Asher bites back a smirk that’s threatening to consume his beautiful face.

“It certainly looks like it. Asher, do you care to add anything to Fallon’s explanation?” She’s so angry I can see the crease between her thin brows in the firelight, but her voice remains even. A strange look pulls at her lips that are pursed. Is she … amused? I look closer, and the hint of a smile is gone. She’s all mom mode right now.

I steal another look at Asher to see if he can fix the mess we put ourselves in. He lifts his head from his hands and smiles a charming smile at my mother. I suddenly have faith he can explain the situation to her.

“You want me to confide in you. You want me to keep quiet.” He shrugs indifferently as he speaks. “You demand I explain myself.” His eyes blaze against the dwindling fire, but his smile never falters. “You’ll have to make up your mind eventually, Char. Because I’m done playing your games. When you decide what I’m supposed to be feeling, what we’re all supposed to be feeling, just let me know.”

He stands, meeting my eyes for just a second before walking down to the river,