Beyond the Horizon (Sons of Templar MC #4)(27)

Asher frowned, stroking my cheek. “That’s what I’ve been doing for three years, babe. Gotta say, I’m not fond of givin’ you more,” he grumbled.

I opened my mouth to argue, but his finger on my lips silenced me.

“Said I wasn’t fond of it, not that I wasn’t gonna give it to you,” he continued.

I let out a breath of relief. As much as every fiber of my being wanted him, I knew I couldn’t handle the complications. I needed to sort myself out. Figure out how to pick myself back up, rearrange my life around the gaping hole that was left in it.

“One condition. The boyfriend is out on his ass,” he growled.

I sighed. “You don’t get to dictate that,” I told him quietly. I didn’t have the energy to snap anymore. As quickly as the fire started, it burned out, leaving only the ashes of me left.

He opened his mouth, his jaw hard.

This time I was the one to silence him. “I’m going to be breaking up with Aiden,” I enunciated his name, “because it’s not fair to him. Because I don’t need nor want a boyfriend right now,” I said firmly, hoping my point came across.

His eyes softened slightly. “Good thing I don’t wanna be your boyfriend,” he stated flatly. “What I am is your man.”

He kissed me firmly, silencing whatever weak protest that would’ve come from my mouth. I sank into his body as his arms went around me and his lips worked their magic.

When he released me, my brain was free of the troubles that been plaguing it.

He brushed my hair out of my face. “I’m givin’ you time ‘cause you need it, babe. Don’t need too much of it, though, okay? We’ve got three years to make up for,” he said softly against my mouth.

I didn’t respond. I was still recovering from the kiss.

He smiled slightly. “You need anything, I’ll be there. In a second, just a phone call away. Don’t hesitate,” he ordered.

He waited for my nod and when he got it, he kissed my head softly.

“Get in the car, babe,” he ordered.

“Okay,” I murmured and turned to walk toward my car. Halfway there, I turned back. Asher was still in the same spot. “Thanks, I needed ... you,” I told him, my stomach dropping at the declaration, and the truth behind it. I hadn’t let myself think about it during my grief, but I had been craving him, yearning for him to be my port in the storm. It was that yearning that stopped me from even entertaining the idea of calling him. Needing someone that much, meant heartbreaking agony when they were taken away. That’s what scared me about this. No, terrified me.

His frame tightened and his eyes blazed at my words. “I’ll always be here when you need me, Lily,” he uttered. “And I’ll always need you, too,” he said in a much quieter voice.

I gave him one last look, then climbed into my clunky car and drove off. I looked in my rear vision mirror. Asher stood watching my car until I turned out of sight.

The troubles he erased with his kiss came hurtling back, as soon as my eyes lost sight of him.





“Lily,” a frantic voice exclaimed as the front door slammed behind me.

Aiden rushed to me and grabbed my shoulders, a too little tightly.

“Where have you been?” he demanded. “I woke up to you gone, your phone still here, no note. You scared the hell out of me, Lil,” he declared.

“I told him, you were unlikely to be tied in a basement somewhere considering your car was gone,” Bex added from the kitchen, clutching a coffee and looking bleary eyed. “Most likely you just needed some alone time, since you haven’t had that in a while,” she emphasized the word “alone” staring at Aiden’s back—no, glaring.

She directed a softer look at me. A look of understanding. She knew me. Knew I needed my own space to process, and to sort my head. I didn’t do well with people living in my pocket. I liked my own company. Needed it. She’d been living with me for three and half years. She got it. Most people, like Aiden, didn’t get it.

Aiden ignored Bex.

“Where were you?” he demanded, rather sharply.

I squirmed in his grip. “Aids, you’re hurting me,” I told him quietly.

He looked down at his hands as if he was surprised they were there. He immediately released me and I rubbed my shoulders absently.

“Sorry,” he said quickly, frowning at his hands. “I was just worried. You disappearing, going through what you’re going through. I didn’t want you to be alone,” he added.

I inwardly cringed. I wasn’t alone. I was with the man who’d haunted my dreams for the past three years. I’d let him f*ck me on his bike. Correction, I had done the “f*cking.” Guilt washed through me, turning my stomach.

“Coffee,” Bex declared from beside me, handing me a cup.

I took it gratefully. She gave me a knowing look. Like she knew exactly what I was doing.

“I’ll be in my room, sleeping until a normal hour, now that we don’t have to call in Liam Neeson to retrieve Lily from a hostage situation,” she declared drily.

She moved in to kiss my cheek. “Here if you need me, Lils babe,” she said quietly in my ear, her eyes darting to Aiden in disdain.

I gave her a smile. “Love you,” I whispered, needing her to know how much her quiet support and even her snarky remarks helped.