Between Hello and Goodbye(42)

“Feel that?” Asher said thickly, when he wrenched his mouth away, his breath coming hard like mine.

“Yes…”

He pressed in closer. “That’s what it will be like when you’re in my bed, Faith. It’s going to feel like that while I’m fucking you.”

Sweet Jesus…

His thumb brushed over my lip. “We can’t pretend we’re something we’re not.”

“What are we?” I breathed.

“Don’t know. But it scares me too.”

Asher bent his head and kissed me again, sucking on my lower lip, tasting me and turning my insides to mush. I’d felt lust before, plenty of times. But this was…more. A desire that went beyond my body. A need for Asher Mackey that sank deeper with every passing minute, touching a part of me that’d been kept tucked away, safe and sound where no man could reach me. Every caress dropped little flares into that untouched space, revealing something raw and naked. Vulnerable and soft and so delicate, it would break at the slightest mishandling. It was the part of me I kept protected from pain and—I realized—the most perfect joy.

It was too much. I concentrated on what Asher was doing to my body as his lips moved down to my neck. Everywhere he touched me sent licks of heat skimming over my skin, down my back, between my legs. I could only cling to him, my muscles loosening like sand under his touch, and then moan into his mouth as he captured me in another searing kiss.

Finally, I pushed at his chest with both hands. “Car. Now.”

“Your condo is forty minutes away.”

“And your house is…?”

“Less than that.”



The short ride to Asher’s house went by in a blur. Night had fallen, and a panorama of diamonds smattered across the sky as he took the road east. I could hardly look at Asher for wanting him so bad and took his hand that was on the gearshift. I’d only intended to hold it, but instead, I hiked up my dress and laid it on my thigh.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said coarsely.

I moved his rough palm over my smooth skin, higher.

“Faith…I’ll miss my turn.”

Now I pressed his fingers against the dampness of my panties and a whimper escaped me at how good it felt. How right.

“Jesus…” he growled.

“Eyes on the road, firefighter.”

I moved his fingers where I wanted them, and then he took over. His hand slipped under the silk of my thong, and I stifled a cry as his fingers found naked flesh. Jaw clenched, eyes hard and facing straight ahead, Asher worked me over, his calloused fingers on my most delicate, sensitive skin, moving in circles before plunging two fingers inside me.

“Ah, God…” I cried, arching off the seat.

For a few ecstatic moments, I held his hand where I wanted him, but he tore away too soon, breathing hard and muttering, “Going to have an accident.”

Thankfully, I only had to endure the torture for a few more minutes, as he made a hard left and a sign flashed outside my window: Anini Beach, Private Drive.

My eyes widened as we drove through a small neighborhood of not-so-small houses tucked into Kauai’s lush greenery, each overlooking the ocean. Asher continued on an even more secluded road and pulled into the drive of a huge old-country Hawaiian-looking two-story house—red with white trim, much of the ground floor elevated by wooden slats.

I climbed out of the car, and my heart swelled another ten sizes that this man could’ve had a sleek, pampered life in the city, and instead chose to work a grueling job, saving people’s lives.

Asher misread my incredulous stare as he came around to my side. “You disapprove?”

“Disapprove?” I ringed my arms around his neck and the words poured out. “Everything you do and everything you are, Asher, just makes me want you more.”

He kissed me softly, then harder, and the flame that had been simmering rekindled. I shifted against the car to let him in closer. A low sound issued from deep in his chest as I moved his hand between my legs again.

He growled hotly against my ear. “I’m about ten seconds away from fucking you on the hood of my Jeep.”

“Do it,” I breathed, delirious at the feel of his fingers touching parts of me that had ached for him so badly.

He bit off a curse as he went deep, and I cried out, riding his hand. Too soon, he shook his head and withdrew.

“No. Bed…”

Asher lifted me up and my legs went around his waist. Somehow, he managed to get us inside while kissing me, his hands cupping my ass. His house was dark, lit only by moonlight. Impressions of it came to me in heated flashes. Huge with modern fixtures and furniture, despite its barn-like exterior. A state-of-the-art sound system and mega TV sharing space on a wall with tribal art that I didn’t recognize, and a Maui hook carved from wood. Masculine décor that honored the island.

Because this isn’t just his house, it’s his home. This island is his home.

I squeezed my eyes shut against the thought and kissed him harder.

Asher carried me all the way upstairs to his bedroom. He lay me on the bed, then sank on top of me—so perfectly heavy—kissing me roughly. His hands were in my hair, and mine sank into his thick silken locks at the back of his head while our hips rose and fell together, grinding and frustrated by clothes.