“And I promise to give you space, even if I do hate every second that I’m away from you.” My lips curved but I meant every single word.
“Well, I promise to always come back to you. How does that sound?”
Ducking my head, I brushed my nose over hers. “It sounds pretty damn perfect.”
Mya
“Jesus, babe,” Asher rasped as I ran my tongue along his shaft. He’d already made love to me once and again in the shower. But there was something about tonight’s events that made me crave him.
His hands slid into my curls, guiding my mouth deeper over him. “That feels so fucking good.”
Despite his vice-like hold on me, Asher let me set the pace. After more than two-and-a- half years together, I knew exactly how to bring him to the edge. My hand jacked him slowly in rhythm with my tongue, as I licked and flicked, sucking him like a popsicle.
“Fuck, Mya...” he choked out as I took his dick deeper, relishing the clean taste of him.
Our eyes connected, and I held his stare as I ran my lips up and down, swirling my tongue over the tip. “I’m close...” His grip on my hair relaxed a little and I knew I had him right where I wanted him.
Asher’s head rolled back, a string of cuss words leaving his lips on breathy moans. I sucked him harder... deeper... flattening my tongue against his shaft and bobbing my head up and down.
“Fuuuuck,” Asher went to pull away, but I tightened my hold on him, not letting him go until I'd swallowed down every last drop.
Licking my lips, I sat up.
“Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you look like that?” He wound his hand around my wrist and tugged me forward. I went willingly, letting Asher pull me across his body. He leaned down, kissing me hard, not caring that he could taste himself on my tongue. Desire pulsed through me, but it was late, and we had class in the morning.
Asher must have had the same thought because instead of deepening the kiss, he rolled me over and spooned me from behind, wrapping his big body around mine. “We should fight more often,” he teased.
“That wasn’t a fight, babe. A fight requires raised voices, some smashed glasses, and a fist or two.”
He chuckled. “My little fighter.”
“What we had earlier was... a moment.”
“A moment. I can live with that. Let’s just not make a habit of it.” He snuggled me tighter.
Sometimes, when we were like this, it was hard to believe this was my life. The girl from Fallowfield Heights living in a prestigious apartment building in the city with her rich football-playing boyfriend.
Asher was everything I never wanted... and everything I never knew I needed.
“Penny for your thoughts?” He ran his nose along my shoulder.
“Just thinking how I ended up here.”
“You need me to remind you? Because I can. I can spend the entire night reminding you of exactly why we’re perfect for each other.”
A shiver rolled through me at the intention in his words.
“Do you think it will always be like this?”
“I think life will have its ups and downs,” he said, “but we’ll get through whatever storms blow our way.”
Glancing back, I smiled. “You always sound so sure of everything.”
“Because I am. I love you, Mya. I love our life together. And I’m excited about what the future brings.”
“Even if I want to stay in the city?” I wanted to work in the kinds of neighborhoods where I’d grown up. I wanted to make a difference to kids like me. I was one of the lucky ones, I got out. But so many kids thought their destinies were already decided for them. I wanted to show them there was always another way.
“I already told you, if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”
Rolling over, I stared up at Asher. He was so handsome, his features older and wiser, a young man on the cusp of great things. Turned out, Asher was whip smart like his father. He’d never wanted his father’s life, but since starting his business degree two years ago, Asher had come to love the very thing he’d once resented.
“But what about your dad’s business?”
“We’ll figure it out. He’s been wanting to expand. This could be the perfect opportunity. We have time.” He kissed the end of my nose.
But two years was nothing. Once we threw ourselves into classes and the football season, junior year would pass us by in the blink of an eye, and we’d be one step closer to making the big decisions.
“Hey, Mya,” Bella beckoned me over. “How are you... after, you know...”
“I’m good, thanks.”
She nodded. “Have you seen Faith yet?”
“No, but honestly, it’s not a big deal. She’s entitled to her opinions, so long as she doesn’t keep trying to—”
Bella widened her eyes and I turned just in time to greet Faith. “Hey,” she said around a sheepish smile. “Can we talk for a second?”
“I’ll just...” Bella left us to it.
“I’m sorry about last night. I had no right to—”
“No, you didn’t,” I said flatly. “Mine and Asher’s relationship is just that, Faith, ours. I won’t justify my decisions to you, and I don’t expect you to judge me for my actions, the way I won’t judge you for yours.”
“You’re right, you’re totally right.” She ran a hand through her silky red hair. “I’m just trying to be more in control of my life and sometimes it spills out. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
“Good.”
“Did you find Asher?”
“Yeah.”
“He probably hates me now, huh?”
“He doesn’t hate you, Faith. He just doesn’t understand you sometimes. Max was a good guy. I know you two had your differences, but I think the poem threw Ash for a loop.”
“I can see that. To be honest, I think the poem was less about Max and more about me and the pressure and expectations I put on myself.”
“You’ll get there, Faith. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
I wanted to graduate and become a social worker, but not the same way Faith wanted it. She lived and breathed it, out to prove to everyone that she could make it. Her tenacity was inspiring, but I also wondered if it was impacting on her personal life. Asher hadn’t been wrong, Max was a great guy. Solid and dependable with plans for the future. Most girls dreamed of meeting a guy like that. But not Faith, she’d run the second things got too serious.
“You’re a good friend, Mya.” She took my hand in hers. “Asher’s lucky to have you.” There was something in her eyes that looked a lot like regret, but I didn’t ask.
Faith needed to work things out for herself.
“Come on,” I said. “We should get to class.”
Asher
“You made a quick exit last night,” Diego said as we worked out next to each other.
“Yeah, we had shit to take care of.”
“I bet you did.” He shot me a knowing grin and I managed to flip him off.
“You know you’re punching above your weight with Mya, right?”