Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Brynn

I’m confused when I wake up. I’m hot. It’s early. Sunshine is sneaking between the blinds. Why am I so warm? I start to climb out of bed and come up short. Something is holding me down. Some one .

I smile as I remember, and when I look over my shoulder, I see Asher grinning at me. “I wondered when you might wake up.” He strokes my arm. “I’ve needed to pee for an hour but didn’t want to disturb you.”

I giggle. “Maybe you should go do that.”

My man slides out of bed, completely comfortable in his skin, and pads across the room naked. He doesn’t even bother to close the door. Apparently, he’s not going to be modest about peeing in front of me. Yikes.

I’m still smiling when he returns, but I slide off the edge of the bed and pass him. I need to pee, too.

It’s hard for me to do the same thing he did. I can’t quite bring myself to leave the door wide open, but I don’t shut it all the way. I leave a crack while I pee, wash my hands, and splash water on my face.

Thank goodness the only makeup I was wearing last night was waterproof mascara. I don’t look like death.

I return to the bedroom to find Asher back in bed. He’s leaning on his side, no covers, watching me approach. He reaches out a hand. “God, I love your body. I need to spoon you some more. I like how it feels.”

I climb up next to him, relaxing as he arranges me how he wants. He pulls the covers back over us, chasing away the chill. But he remains on his elbow, staring down at me, stroking my arm. “You’re mine, Brynn.”

“You mentioned that. I’m starting to believe you, but feel free to tell me often.”

He chuckles. “Every hour of every day. I want to be sure you believe me and you don’t forget.”

“Can we skip the gym this morning? I’m kind of sore from last night’s workout.”

He laughs again and kisses my shoulder. “We can skip the gym, but we’re still going to work out. You can work out on your back or ride me. I’ve heard it’s really good exercise for your thighs.”

I giggle. “I guess we’ll find out.”

When he slides a hand down my torso and between my legs, I wince involuntarily.

He pulls back. “We’ll save the workout for later.”

I whimper. “I’ll be fine.”

He rolls me to my back and kisses my cheek. “You’re sore. You’ll be more fine later today. Let me hold you for a while; then we’ll get breakfast. I’ll place a call to a jeweler, and we’ll go shopping. ”

“You’re serious.” I’m struggling to believe that’s really going to happen.

“Totally. Start believing me, baby.”

I blow out a breath and relax in his arms. I don’t even care if this is all a dream. It’s a damn good dream. One I’ll happily stay in.

It turns out Asher was not kidding. After lounging in bed for a few more hours, we shower together, and then he dresses me in white flowy dress pants and a pink sweater.

My face is rosy from his morning beard rubbing against it. I look happy. I am happy. I’m also embarrassed when we enter the kitchen. Facing Georgia and Sebastian feels weird. They undoubtedly know we came out of the same room for the first time. Plus, they will have seen the tabloids.

Neither of them says a single word, though. They’re too proper. But Georgia is more gleeful than usual. She’s pleased by the change.

“We have an errand to run this morning,” Asher tells her. “We’ll be back for a late lunch, though.”

“I’ll have it ready,” Georgia says.

It’s like a tsunami how fast things are happening. Before I can wrap my head around it, Charles is pulling up to one of the most expensive jewelers in Seattle.

“I don’t think it’s open,” I say to Asher as we step onto the sidewalk hand in hand.

He kisses my temple. “It’s not.” He heads for the door.

A man on the other side unlocks it and quickly opens it to let us in. “Good morning, sir,” he says. “Come on in.”

I roll my eyes. Only Asher would arrange for a jeweler to come in when he’s not even open yet. It’s a Sunday. He probably opens at noon. We’re early.

“I’ve laid out some preliminary selections based on what you said on the phone, sir.” The man bustles around behind the counter and sets a velvet tray on the glass.

I gasp, my hand coming to my throat.

Asher ignores my reaction. He keeps one hand around my waist and picks up a ring. The biggest one in the display case. “I love this one,” he says as he examines it.

I shake my head. “You’re going to have to love another one, Asher. That’s too much. I wouldn’t be able to lift my hand. Someone would cut my finger off to steal it.”

He flinches and glances at me.

I stare at him. “I’m serious. Too big.”

He sets it back down and chooses another. It’s marginally smaller. The diamond is gorgeous. I’m trembling, though. I can’t imagine wearing something like that.

He picks up my left hand and slides it onto my finger.

I’m shaking. It’s stunning. And for some reason, it fits. But holy shit. “Asher…”

He kisses my neck. “You’re beautiful. It’s beautiful. Say yes.”

I stare at it for long seconds before looking at him. “Say yes to what?”

“Will you marry me, Brynn Flores?” He reaches into his pocket and pulls something out. For a moment, he holds his fist out in front of me before finally opening it. Rose petals fall out of his palm to flutter all around my hand.

I gasp. He’s serious. I look around. The salesman is standing discreetly in a corner of the room, pretending to pay no attention to us. I wonder when he moved away .

Asher kisses my neck. “I promised you a diamond and rose petals. Marry me.”

He’s serious. I stare at the ring and back at him a few times.

“You’re killing me here,” he murmurs.

I giggle. “Yes, Asher Bennett. I’ll marry you.”

He breathes out a sigh of relief. “Thank God.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me, holding my face. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too.” Apparently, we’re going to say that a lot. It gets easier. It feels good.

Asher releases me, and I roam around the jewelry store, peering into all the displays while Asher pays the man more money than I ever expected to earn in a lifetime.

When we’re back in the SUV, with me still staring at my heavy finger, I say, “I’m not wearing this to school.”

“You’re never taking it off, baby.” He threads his fingers with mine. “I’m sorry that people are going to hound you everywhere you go, but starting tomorrow, Charles will park and follow you everywhere. He will not leave your side when you’re not with me. No one will dare bother you.”

I take deep breaths. No sense arguing with the man. He’s bossy and dominant. I won’t win. Not about this. I will win other battles, though. I’m sure of it. I’ll pick them wisely for the rest of my life.

When we step back into the penthouse fifteen minutes later, Georgia and Sebastian are standing outside the elevator. They throw more rose petals in the air and yell, “Congratulations!”

I’m taken aback for a moment, but then they both hug me. They’re so happy, and so am I .

When Asher hugs me again, my purse is trapped between us, and my phone buzzes inside it for the millionth time. I haven’t taken it out today at all.

He feels it and chuckles. “I think you should check your messages, baby.”

I sigh as I retrieve it, expecting texts from Tracy. And there are texts from Tracy, but there’s also one from my dad.

Call me.

“Shoot,” I mutter, holding it out for Asher to see.

“Let’s call him.”

“Now?” I groan. I’d rather put him off for a while, like a year.

“Now, baby. Let’s do it. Together. If he’s mad, we’ll deal with it. I’ll talk to him until he trusts me. Maybe we’ll be pleasantly surprised, and he’s calling to congratulate you.”

I wince. “Not likely.”

I follow Asher into his office. He shuts the door, rounds to his desk, pulls me onto his lap, and sets the phone on the dark wood surface. He taps the screen to call my father and puts it on speaker.

He answers on the first ring. “Brynn?”

“It’s me, Dad.”

“Is it true? Are you engaged to that rich man from Seattle?”

Hmm. He doesn’t sound furious.

Asher clears his throat. “This is Asher Bennett, sir. It’s true. I’ve asked Brynn to marry me. I love her more than life itself. ”

I lean into him. Asher is my rock. He’s my world. I’m the luckiest woman alive.

“Huh, well, I’ll be,” my father says, his tone incredulous.

I try not to laugh at his reaction.

“Are you going to finish school, Brynn? You need something to fall back on if that man changes his mind.”

Asher kisses my neck, fighting laughter.

“Yes, Dad, I will finish school.”

Asher speaks again. “I won’t change my mind, but I will make sure Brynn is set for life if anything ever happens to me. You have my word.”

My father sighs. “Okay, can’t argue with that. Keep me posted. I should probably make the trek across the country if my only daughter is getting married.”

“I’ll let you know when we settle on a date, Dad.”

“Good. Good. I’ll talk to you later then.” He ends the call. He was always a man of few words. I’m not really shocked.

Asher picks me up and turns me so I’m straddling his lap. He kisses me long and hard. “Feel better?”

“Much. That was a weight on my shoulders.”

“Do you believe me now?” Asher asks, mirth dancing in his eyes.

I lift my hand between us and stare at the huge diamond. “I’m starting to. What did you say your name was again?”

He tickles me, and I giggle as I squirm on his lap.

Seconds later, he lifts me off his lap, turns the desk chair to one side, and lowers me onto my knees on the pad.

I instinctively part my knees and set my palms on my thighs, pulling my shoulders back .

He lifts my chin. “My name is Asher Bennett. You may call me Asher when I’m making love to you. You may call me Mr. Bennett or Sir when I’m fucking you. Any questions?”

I smile wide. “Just one.”

“What’s that, baby?”

“When are you going to fuck me?”