kisses my calf, my ankle before giving the same love to my other leg. He drops my legs and falls between them, cuddling my face between his hands. I welcome his weight as we both breathe hard, getting lost in each other’s eyes. He strokes his fingers along my jaw, my lips before squeezing my chin and capturing my mouth with his. Our lips move together, and I taste every bit of myself on his. He pulls away first, but not far enough to where his lips aren’t touching mine.
“Don’t leave.”
I curve my lips against his. “I have classes.”
He scrunches up his face. “I want to bribe you with orgasms.”
I beam. “After that, I might be bribable, but we both know I have to go.”
He kisses my top lip, cupping my cheeks as he runs his thumbs along them. “Fine, let me make you breakfast before you go.”
“I don’t say no to orgasms or food,” I say, and his gray eye turns darker than ever.
“Maybe I can give you both, at the same time?”
I blink. “I’ve never heard of anything more perfect.”
As we kiss, we smile, and I realize that Asher makes me want to ignore all my responsibilities and stay right here. I’m already in too deep, and I know this. Asher isn’t even halfway on my level. He is still trying to figure everything out. He needs facts; he needs reassurance. I know this. He wants me, I can tell, and he cares for me, but I already love him. Fully, more than friends—as in, let’s get married and buy a house with a white picket fence. We’ll need two dogs so we each have a leash in our hands as we walk in our perfect little suburb, holding each other’s other hand. Then I want little gray-eyed boys who will drive me crazy with sports and girls who will drive me into an early grave with their emotions.
I want it all. I want that life with him. But I know Asher isn’t anywhere near that. He’s still accepting that I can make him squeal my name, and that’s fine. He’ll get there; I know he will.
Because he is my forever and a day.
While I was in the shower, Asher made me eggs and bacon.
This isn’t the first time he’s cooked for me—he’s actually a great cook—but it’s the first time a guy I’m sleeping with has made me anything. As I sit at the bar, eating, he moves around the kitchen, cleaning and putting things away. Before putting a piece of bacon into my mouth, I ask, “What are your plans for today?”
As he loads the dishwasher, he says, “I’m supposed to rest. And since I can’t drive, I guess I’ll be watching Netflix, bored out of my mind.”
I grimace. “That has to be hard. You don’t like sitting still.”
He shakes his head, looking as good as this bacon is. He isn’t wearing a shirt, just his gray sweat pants that hug his ass really nicely. His chest is so defined and thick. His hair is a mess and he probably needs to shave, but I like the rugged look of him right now. I actually like everything about him. Ah, who am I kidding? I love everything about him.
Don’t want to scare him any more than he already is.
“I don’t, which is why I’ll work out.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
He winks with his only eye, which is kind of comical. “Aw, you worried?”
I arch a brow. “You know I am.”
He leans toward me, and I meet him halfway across the breakfast bar for a kiss. “Same, sexy pants.”
I snort as he goes back to working. “Hey, can you go grab my phone for me?”
“From your mom?”
“Yeah, text and ask her where she is. She’ll let you know.”
I swallow hard. “Yeah, but won’t she know we’re together?”
He shrugs. “We’re always together, it won’t be anything new. I thought we didn’t care?”
I bite into the inside of my cheek. “I like the idea of keeping it to ourselves. You know, until we’re both sure.”
He gives me a sideways glance. “What does that mean?”
I look down at my plate. “I know where I am in this, but I know you aren’t there.”
He leans his hip into the counter, that one eye scrutinizing me enough for two eyes. “Okay? Where am I not at?”
I swallow hard as I meet his gaze. “You want me, I know you do. But I don’t think you’re fully on board with the