Page 21 of Can’t Help Growling in Love (Harmony Glen #9)

Chapter

Fourteen

JUNE

I glance over at Asher, and my belly tingles at the memory of how well he took care of me.

He’s driving me home because I need to sleep and shower and change.

I sort of wanted to dump my clothes from yesterday in his washer and crash at his place, but we’ve just begun this…

thing, and I don’t want to be too clingy.

Asher needs to set the pace. He’s new to this relationship stuff, and I don’t want to impose.

We have all the time in the world, so there’s no need to rush.

Even though I want to. Being with him is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I know enough to recognize what a unique connection we have. The question is, will he know the same? If his attention to me is any indication, then yes, but I have to give him time to figure things out on his own.

“Can I see you again tonight?” he asks, breaking through my musings.

I can’t help but smile at his hopeful expression. “Yeah, I’d like that. Want me to swing by the station again?”

“That would be great, but if you’d like, I could pick you up at your place? That way, you don’t have to hang around the station and wait for my shift to be over.”

I think of how we spent the two hours this morning, and my body heats instantly. “I didn’t mind waiting with you.”

Asher’s nostrils flare, and he huffs out a laugh. “No, I guess you didn’t. Okay, text me when you’re close, and I’ll unlock the door for you.”

We roll onto my street, and I show him where to stop the car. It’s almost noon, and I really need to get some sleep before tonight’s shift, or I’ll be dead on my feet.

“This one is mine.” I indicate the small house at the end of the street. “Thanks for driving me home.”

I told him I could easily ride my bike, but he wanted to drive me, and I let him. I did say I was working on letting others help me. If I could spend more time with Asher, I wasn’t going to deny myself that opportunity.

“Your home looks nice.” He cranes his neck to see better. “I see why you were so worried about my front yard now.”

I grin as I unbuckle my seat belt. “Gardening is a bit of a hobby for me. I can help you if you’d like. With your front yard, I mean. Just say the word.”

Asher’s warm gaze rests on me. “All right, I’ll take you up on that. We can drive down to the garden center, get some tulips and stuff.”

“Tulips and stuff?” I shake my head in mock despair. “We’re going to need to rent a backhoe first to dig out some of those stumps and brambles. The fine touches will come much later.”

“Deal.” He holds out a hand for me. “It can be a joint project. I’d love to spend more time with you.”

His words echo my thoughts so closely, my heart thumps harder. I lean in and press my lips to his. He returns the kiss immediately, his hand coming up to dig into my hair.

“I’ll help you with your bike,” he rumbles after a long moment. He swipes his thumb over my cheek, then down to my mouth in a possessive gesture. “If I don’t leave now, I’ll probably try to talk my way into your house and kiss you again, and then we’ll both be late for work tonight.”

I let out a deep sigh. “It’s not that I don’t love your idea, it’s just that I need my job to keep the lights on.”

It’s a joke, but it comes out sadder than I intended. I want to take the words back, but why would I? They’re true. I do need the money, but if I could, I’d spend the day with him for sure.

Asher kisses me lightly on the lips, then releases me. “Do you get any days off? I mean, are you on for this weekend?”

Warmth spreads through me at his question. He wants to plan the weekend with me?

“I’m working on the night of the full moon, but I’m off the day after.” I push my hair behind my ears, suddenly nervous as a thought occurs to me. “By the way, you’re the only guy I’m dating at the moment.”

He frowns at me. “Uh, okay?”

God, he’s really not used to the current dating scene.

“I mean, I’d like for us to be exclusive if we’re sleeping together without protection.” I stare at my lap, the words tumbling out too fast. “It’s not unusual for people to date around, but if you’re—if you’re sexually active with someone else, I need to know that so I can?—”

“June.”

Asher’s voice cuts through my babble, and I look up to find him grinning at me, his eyes glowing golden.

“You’re the only person I’m interested in dating.” He takes my chin and presses another quick kiss to my lips. “I doubt that’ll change anytime soon. You have nothing to worry about.”

I’m in trouble. If any other man said these exact words to me, I’d be suspicious as hell. But this is Asher, and I believe him.

I don’t let myself kiss him again. If I do, we might get arrested for public indecency, because I won’t be able to stop.

The magnetic pull between us grows stronger, but I wrench myself away, and Asher lets me.

He blows out a long breath, opens the door on his side, and jumps out, then jogs around to open the door for me, too.

He stands back, which is a good thing. That’s what I tell myself, at least. I step past him and my entire body buzzes with awareness.

He’s dangerous to my sanity, and I don’t know if I can afford a distraction like him.

So why am I staring at him as he lifts my bike from the back of his truck?

His biceps pop, stretching the short sleeves of his black t-shirt, and my mouth goes dry.

I felt some of that strength earlier, and I want him to use some of that strength on me.

I don’t know how to communicate that to him without pushing past his boundaries, though, so I bite my tongue and stay silent.

But Asher sniffs, and his eyes glow golden. He crowds me against the side of his truck, his arms suddenly caging me in. I stare up at him, my breaths quickening.

“What are you thinking about?” he demands.

My eyelids flutter shut. “Nothing I can share right now.”

He lowers his head until his lips brush my cheek in a warm kiss. “You can always share with me. I need to know what you want.”

Fuck, he’s right . This will only work if we’re both honest. If he trusts me enough to show me all of himself, I should do the same.

I glance around to see if anyone’s near enough to hear us, but it’s midday on a workday. Kids are all in school, and adults haven’t come home from work yet, not in this family-friendly neighborhood.

“I was thinking that I like how strong you are,” I murmur, just loud enough for Asher to pick up. “I told you I won’t mind it if you’d like to take control, but once you’re comfortable, I’d like you to…”

“Yeah?” He presses the length of his body to mine, his cock hard against my belly. A lick at my ear sends shivers down my body. “I’m comfortable now. Tell me.”

It’s a command now, as if he’s instinctively taking the control I mentioned. That he’s so attuned to me is a huge turn-on, as is his godsdamned scent… I close my eyes and inhale, huffing the incredible aroma like an addict.

“I’d like you to let go of your control with me.”

My admission slips from my lips, and I want to take it back immediately.

Asher freezes—I don’t even think he’s breathing.

His big body brackets mine, and for the first time, I worry I’ve gone too far.

That I’ve blown it and scared Asher, which is fucking ironic because he’s been worried all this time that he might scare me .

But I can’t undo the words, and the longer I stand there, staring up at him, the more I feel that I’ve hit an issue that could become a problem between us. So I lift my chin and stare him down.

His throat bobs as he swallows. “I could hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

My faith in him is unshakeable. He’s done everything in his power to keep me protected, but despite how much bigger he is than me, I want all of that, unleashed.

“Gods, June.” Asher touches his forehead to mine. “You have no idea how much I want to throw you over my shoulder and carry you inside your house and fuck you on the first flat surface we find.”

His voice trembles slightly, betraying his fraying control, and I fucking love it. My nipples pebble. A low growl reverberates from his chest, and I put my hands on his shoulders on instinct, clinging on so my wobbly knees don’t buckle.

“I won’t break,” I whisper. “I promise, I won’t. You don’t have to hold back. Or hide yourself from me. I want all of you.”

He kisses me, his lips crashing down on mine, and I return the kiss with all I have.

His teeth, blunt in his human-shaped form, sink into my lower lip, and I whimper at the pinch of pain.

He groans and soothes the sting with lick after lick.

I dig my fingers in his short hair and tug his head down, barely resisting the need to hop up and wrap my legs around his waist.

I will not fuck my new boyfriend in the street for the first time .

Asher lifts his head, his irises a liquid gold. “Tomorrow. I’m gonna let you go now, but you’re mine tomorrow.”

I shiver at his declaration.

You’re mine tomorrow .

“Okay,” I breathe. “I’ll hold you to that.”

I wave at Asher from the front stoop and let myself into the house.

The rumble of his truck’s engine fades into the distance as I shuck my jacket and put my gear away, still glowing from the kisses we shared.

I walk into the kitchen and run the tap to put the water on for tea, a nice calming brew before bed, then turn the water to hot to wash the bowl and spoon I left in the sink last night.

But the hot water doesn’t come. I frown, turning the knob again, and wait with my fingers under the stream of water.

Nothing.

Battling away the sense of foreboding, I shut the water off and take the stairs down into the basement.