18. Asher

CHAPTER 18

ASHER

I should just lether go. I know that would probably be better for both of us in the long run, but I can’t bring myself to do it.

“Madelyn, wait.”

She stops, and I shrug. “We’re so different.”

She tilts her head to the side. She scrunches her nose up like I’m speaking a foreign language or something. “That’s funny, because I was thinking that we have a lot in common.”

She’s standing at the top of the stairs. “Come here.”

She wraps her hand around the beam. “I’m not coming over there just for you to break up with me, Asher. I’ll stay right here if you don’t mind.”

I thread my fingers through my hair and sigh in frustration. “I’m not breaking up with you, Maddie.”

She blurts out, “It sure feels like it.”

I would go to her, but I don’t want her to stumble down the stairs if she tries to back away from me or something. I hold my hands out to her. “Will you please get away from the stairs and come here?”

By the look on her face, she wants to ignore me, but she surprises me when she walks toward me. As soon as she’s within reach, I grab on to her hands and search her eyes. “I wasn’t breaking up with you… I was saving you.”

She doesn’t understand. “Saving me? Saving me from what?”

I tighten my hold on her. “You’re rich.”

She laughs. “My parents are rich. I’m not rich.”

“You like to travel.”

She shrugs, not seeing the issue, so I continue. “I can’t remember the last time I was out of Georgia.”

When she doesn’t say anything, I keep going. “You’re a city girl. This is a job to you. You said it yourself… your dad said it…. You’re committed to the end of the summer, and then you leave. I just think we’re better off…”

I let my voice trail off because I can’t finish what I’m saying. Probably because I don’t want this to end. Even though I know it’s probably for the best, I still don’t want it to end.

She puts her hands up to my chest. “Look, Asher, I know you were hurt before, but I’m not Janet.”

“I know you’re not.” She is looking at me, trying to see if I’m being sincere or not. “I’m serious. Maybe at first, I thought it, but I promise you, I know you’re not like Janet.”

Madelyn grabs on to the front of my shirt and tugs it. “Right, well, I’m not. I would never ask you to give away something you love. I would never ask you to give up The Wild Peach, but I’ll be honest with you, Asher. These last few days have been amazing and some of the best I’ve ever had. Even with the bee sting and everything, you made it good. But if you’re already making up reasons of why we can’t—or shouldn’t—be together, then maybe you’re right. Maybe it is better just to end it now.”

She releases me and turns around to walk off.

She gets one step and I sling her up in my arms and walk with her into my bedroom. I kick the door shut behind us.

“I’m a fool.”

She nods. “You are.”

I smile, loving the fact that she doesn’t mind calling me out on my shit. “I am a fool, and I know I am. I should be enjoying every second I have with you. I fucked up, Maddie.” I nuzzle her neck. “Do you forgive me for being an ass?”

She hesitates but finally says what I want to hear. “Yes, I’ll forgive you.”

“Are you going to let me make it up to you?”

I lay her down onto the bed and then stand up and start to undress. She raises up on her elbows to watch me. “Are you sure you want to?”

I know what she’s saying without her actually saying it. “I told you that doesn’t bother me. I just want to be inside you, Maddie. That’s all I care about.”

She looks up at me hesitantly, and I continue. “If it makes you uncomfortable, then we can just lie here. I don’t care.”

She sits up. “You know, I read somewhere that having sex when it’s that time of the month actually helps with cramps.”

I sit down on the bed beside her. “Are you having cramps? Why didn’t you tell me? I can get you something for the pain… or maybe a heating pad… does that help?”

She pulls me over top of her. “You help. Just being with you helps.” She looks unsure and hesitant. “But I don’t think I can… you know.”

I touch my hand to her cheek. “It’s okay. Just having you with me is enough.”

She blinks at me in surprise. “You know what I’d like?”

I suck in a breath. “What?”

She bites her lower lip, and I smooth it with my thumb. “Say it. You can say anything to me.”

“I like to feel you against me… without a shirt on. Can we sleep like that?”

I nod even though I know it’s going to be hell to feel her curvy body against mine and know I can’t have her, but I’m finding that Madelyn can ask me for anything and I’ll give it to her.

“I’d like that, Maddie.”

We lean into each other and kiss. When my tongue slides against hers, she moans, and I take full advantage by deepening the kiss. When I pull back, I tug at the hem of her shirt. “You have too many clothes on.”

She sits up and helps me remove her shirt and then reaches for me. “You have too many clothes on too.”

I reach for the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head. As soon as my skin is bared to her, she’s touching me. “You feel so good, Asher.”

I reach for her, baring her breasts to me. “You do too, baby.”

She leans against me, pressing her breasts to my chest. I fit our bodies together, sliding my knee between her legs. She moans, and I swallow it with a kiss. I would love to have her pussy bare, but I’m not willing to make her uncomfortable to do it.

“Can you hold me, Asher?”

I wrap my arms around her and hold her so she knows she can’t escape me. “Try and stop me, honey.”

And even though I want her, I’m finding that just having her in my arms is perfect too. Everything about Madelyn Weston is perfect.