31. Asher

Her face has never been more beautiful. My Hawaiian Hottie, my queen. I’m in awe that she trusted me enough to let me do that. I’m honored by it. I’m stoked that it fucking worked. At one point, I thought she was about to bail on me. And that would have been fine. Disappointing, sure, but totally understandable.

“You’re so strong,” I murmur, feathering my fingers through her hair and wanting to stay inside her forever.

But my body’s relaxing, and I can feel her pushing me out as we come down from our highs together.

“You wanna shower?” I whisper, and she nods, obviously struggling to find her voice.

I kind of need her to say something soon, because Lani not having a voice freaks me out a little. She usually has plenty to say, and if she’s going through some kind of silent torture right now, I need to know.

“Boo, are you?—”

“Please don’t ask me if I’m okay.” She grins into the mirror, then turns to face me. Resting her hands on my shoulders, she rises to her tiptoes to peck my lips. “Thank you.” She murmurs the words against my mouth and ends up kissing my smile.

I can’t help it.

It worked. It fucking worked.

Holding her face in my hands, I study her bright eyes and perfect nose and that silky skin of hers. She’s the most stunning woman. I love her color, her smell, her taste, her shape.

I love… her.

I love her.

The thought rises in my chest like it’s just been waiting for me to figure this shit out.

I love her… and I want to tell her, but I’m not sure where we’re at on this whole thing, and if I whisper it now, will I just freak her out and send her packing?

She’s still got an element of unpredictability about her. She’s constantly surprising me, and I don’t want to fuck up what’s just happened by going too far.

So, I swallow those three words and turn for the shower instead.

As easy as it would be to make this another chance for sexy times, we both seem content to just soak under the hot spray. We stand sideways to the showerhead, the water running down our bodies while I hold her against me. I make sure the spray isn’t hitting her directly in the face, and eventually we pull apart for a quick wash.

I offer to soap her down, but she shakes her head.

“No way. My body is still buzzing from before. I think another round will kill me.” She laughs. “Your fingers are dangerous.”

“Good dangerous?” I wiggle them.

“Oh yeah.” She grins before turning her back to me and quickly soaping herself. Before I can follow suit, she’s stepping out of the shower and reaching for a towel.

Wrapping it around herself, she walks out of my bathroom, and I stay under that hot spray, still reeling over how things have unfolded since that first time I drove her home from Denver.

I seriously thought she’d be my enemy forever. Her sharp tongue and snippy comebacks still drive me crazy, but they also ignite me in ways that no one else can. She’s got depth and soul beauty that I’ve never found before. I didn’t even know I wanted that, but I obviously do. She lets me be myself. I never have to check myself when I’m with her. Seriously, the shit that comes out of my mouth sometimes, it’s a miracle she sticks around.

But this woman seems to be full of miracles.

She’s got me falling faster than I thought possible, and holy fuck if it doesn’t feel amazing.

“I love her,” I whisper, laughing into the shower spray and shaking my head.

I’m not sure when I’m going to tell her, but a sudden urgency to be next to her again fires through me. I slap off the shower and jump out, grabbing my towel and quickly drying myself. I can’t wait to slip into bed with her, wrap my arms around that lush body, and hopefully fall asleep together. I want to wake up with her beside me for once.

I know she said she’ll stay for a while, but after what we just did, surely she’ll be happy to stay the night. I don’t want to drive her back to Huxley Hall or have to say goodbye. I want her here. With me.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I head back into my room, expecting to find her standing there in my T-shirt or slipping between my sheets, but instead she’s hovering by the door, lifting her bag onto her shoulder and waiting for me.

“What are you doing?” I grip the towel at my waist.

She points behind her like it’s obvious. “It’s probably time for me to head back to my own bed. I can call an Uber if you don’t want to drive me.”

Seriously?

All those happy, giddy, light feels from the shower disintegrate in a heartbeat as I rest my hands on my hips and frown at her.

I thought tonight was going to be this perfect, magical thing… but obviously not.