nipping at my bottom lip. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Agreed,” I say, and I capture her mouth once more, simultaneously cupping her ass in my palm. When I pull away, she lets out the hottest meep, making me hard everywhere. “So, dinner? And back to my place?”
Her eyes stay closed as she slides her nose along mine. “Yes, and maybe.”
“Maybe?” I ask. “I’m highly offended by that maybe.”
Her face breaks into a grin as she meets my confused gaze.
“Did I snore last time?”
“Asher, you stay snoring,” she reminds me with a shake of her head, and I give her a wide, forgive-me smile, but she ignores it. “It’s not that, I don’t mind it. I have a lot of resumes to send off tonight. It’s my deadline, and I have classes all day, then practice, and now dinner because I like food, and if you’re paying, I’m there—”
“You’re rambling,” I say, and then I notice she’s nervous. Shit, is she still not sure about me? We haven’t brought up our first date at all. It really doesn’t need to be discussed. I get it—feel something for her, or let her go. Not that she came out and said that, but I know she’s worried. I know she said she can be patient, but I also know she wants to know she is getting all that she deserves. I feel I am giving it to her and then some. I know I have my issues, but I do care for her very much. So much, and I hate that she’s being weird. “What’s up?”
She swallows hard. “I just have a lot to do, and I want to blow it all off for you.”
I shake my head. “I know this to be true, but there’s more.”
Her eyes burn into mine for a moment. “Yeah,” she says, looking away. “Maybe we should discuss it at dinner.”
I perk my brow. “Discuss? What is that about?” She looks at her watch, unsettling me. “I’ve never known you to try to get out of a conversation.”
Something flashes in her eyes. Fear, maybe. But she has nothing to fear. It’s me. “I sometimes forget that you know me inside and out.”
“Yeah, that shit you pull with guys who don’t know you won’t fly with me. What’s wrong, Ally T?”
She licks her lips and then kisses right below my bottom lip. Her lips stay there, and I know it’s so she doesn’t have to look in my eyes. “Can we talk tonight?”
I remove my hands from her ass, reluctantly, and grab her jaw. I pull back her head so I can see all of her face. “You have nothing to worry about, Ally. I got you. You know this.”
She swallows hard. “I know.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, but I’ve got to get to class.”
I nod. “Okay.”
She doesn’t move. “You’re annoyed.”
“I am, but you’ve gotta go to class.” I love that I can be honest with her. I always tiptoed around with Jasmine, but with Ally, it’s different. I feel different. That has to mean something. “We can finish this later, but know I’ll be thinking of you all day.”
“Good or bad?”
I pinch her jaw, moving my lips along hers. “In a great way…but also a naughty one,” I say roughly.
I wink with my pirate eye, and she grins. “I missed your winky face.”
“I’ll miss you,” I admit, kissing her softly. She kisses me back, holding me by the back of my neck.
“I’ll miss you,” she says tenderly and then kisses me again. “I gotta go.”
“Okay. Call me when you’re done.”
“I will. You have lunch with your dad, right?”
“Yeah.” I kiss her once more, not letting her out of my arms. “Not sure what he wants to talk to me about, but I’m sure I’ll be uncomfortable.”
She scoffs. “Why?”
“Because! I always feel inadequate around him. I’m not Aiden—”
“No, you’re Asher,” she says simply, holding my jaw. “Pure perfection in your own way.” Man, something shifts in my chest for this girl. “I don’t know what it is about you and Posey and this older sibling thing you’ve both got, but y’all are the most amazing people in my life. He probably just wants to have lunch to spend time with you.”
I kiss her nose. “Thanks, Ally T.”
She beams. “Anytime, Ash B.”
I know she wants to say more. But instead, we kiss again, and then she rushes out since she’s now late. I want to stop her, I don’t want her to leave, but I always have been and always will