Until November (Until, #1)(29)
“How many stitches did he need?”
“Just three. Why are you so worried?” he asks, narrowing his eyes. Suddenly, he looks angry.
“He was hurt and he’s your brother,” I say slowly. “What do you mean, why am I worried?” I ask, confused. He doesn’t say anything. He just stares at me then I realize why he’s asking that question and I want to kick him. “Seriously? Your own brother?” I ask him, shaking my head in disbelief and again trying to pull away.
“Let me up,” I say but his arms only tighten. “I'm serious, Asher. Let me up right now. I cannot believe that you would even think that I would be sitting here with you if I was even a little interested in your brother. I mean, obviously we don’t know each other very well but if you want to get to know me, you’re going to have to trust me. Otherwise, don’t waste my time.” I pull away and am finally able to stand. I leave him sitting on the couch and go into the bathroom and hop up on the counter, wondering what the hell is wrong with him. First Nick, now his brother. I want to scream at the top of my lungs. The door opens and I look up. He’s just standing there, looking at me, not saying anything. I'm starting to feel like I shouldn’t be here anymore and should risk respiratory failure and stay with my grandma.
“I think I should go stay with my grandma,” I say quietly.
He still doesn’t say anything and I start to squirm on the counter under his stare. Then I see him take a deep breath and he lunges at me and his mouth crashes into mine. His hands go to my ass, pulling me to the edge of the counter.
I'm caught off guard but my body takes over and my hand goes to his back. My other hand digs into his hair as he bites my bottom lip, then lightly bites my chin and then comes back to my mouth where he devours me. His tongue is in my mouth and playing with mine, nipping and biting my lips. I feel one of his hands leave my ass and travel around and up the front of my shirt, cupping my breast through my bra. I whimper into his mouth and try to press closer, knowing my panties are soaked. I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on in my life. Then pulls away, kissing me softer and setting his forehead to mine.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he rumbles and I feel the vibrations of his words straight between my legs.
“I don’t want to go anywhere,” I tell him truthfully, knowing that I should leave because this situation has heartache written all over it.
He presses his forehead to mine and takes a breath. “Almost every woman that I’ve f*cked has also f*cked one or more of my brothers,” he says quietly. I can feel bile crawling up my throat and a horrible pain hit my chest at his words. He was actually opening up to me but I wasn’t sure I wanted to know this.
I don’t know why, but I feel like I need to share something about me to make us even, to make him understand that he isn’t the only one with baggage.
“I was engaged and found out that my mother had been sleeping with my fiancé during the whole time we were together,” I blurt and immediately wonder why the hell I said it like that. Why I couldn’t just keep my damn mouth shut. “I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have told you like that. It’s just…I know how you feel. Well, not that I have sisters that have had sex with the same guys as me but if I did, I would tell them that it’s really gross. Who does that?”
I feel his body start shaking and I wonder what the hell could be funny about this conversation. “Are you laughing?” I feel his body still and he takes his face out of my neck and holds it in his hands, running his nose along mine.
“I'm not letting you go, November.” His eyebrows pull together and I can see something working behind his eyes. It looks like hope but I don’t know him well enough to be sure.
“Just try and trust me, okay,” I say, watching my finger travel across his bottom lip. He places his forehead against mine again and doesn’t say anything for a long time. What is he thinking?
“I'm gonna try,” he says softly, taking a deep breath.
“I'm going to try too, you know?” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “I feel like I have a lot of competition to deal with. All those women constantly throwing themselves at you.” He opens his eyes and looks at me seriously.
“I promise that it’s you, only you, for as long as this lasts. Now, we need to pick up the pizza so get your ass in the jeep.” And just like that, the conversation’s over and he’s pulling me off the sink and onto my feet. He kisses my nose and walks out of the bathroom, leaving me there with his words replaying in my head.
It’s you, only you.
I smile to myself in the mirror and walk out to the living room. I grab my bag then get my ass in his jeep.
************************
I wake up wrapped around Asher. My thigh is over his, my arm is across his waist and his arm is holding me close. Last night, after we got the pizza, we came back to his house, put in a movie and lounged on the couch while we ate. Then he moved the pizza box, got us both another beer, and stretched out with his bare feet up on the coffee table and dragging me by the hand until I was pressed into his side with my leg wrapped over his thigh and my arm around his waist, holding my beer and my head on his chest. After the movie, we got up and Asher pushed me toward the bedroom, telling me to get ready for bed and that he would let Beast out.
I did my normal nightly routine, brushed my teeth, moisturized, took my hair down and brushed it out. I dug out my pajamas. This time it was a night gown with slim straps and a built-in bra. The cotton material gathered under the breast and went to above the knee. It was cute and not too sexy for sleeping with a new boyfriend. Well, I thought so anyways until Asher walked in. “Jesus,” he mumbled and I watched in fascination as his eyes got dark.