Page 29 of In Case You Didn't Know

“Yeah you are. You fight injustice, just with code instead of a cape.”

“You have an overinflated sense of my worth,” I tell her. “I’m a damn idiot who can’t treat a beautiful woman right.”

“And that beautiful woman would be…me?” she asks, breathlessly.

“You know you’re beautiful,” I say. “You have to see it when you look in the mirror.”

“If I’m so beautiful, why is it that no man has touched me in four years?” She tips her head to the side. “Not even kissed me?”

For a second there’s silence. I try to take her words in. She hasn’t had sex since she was twenty-two?Fuck.

“What? How is that possible?” I shake my head. “I don’t…” Christ, what do I say here? “It’s their loss,” I tell her. “Maybe you haven’t met the right man yet.”

“I have.” Her eyes don’t leave mine. I feel the warmth of her stare pulsing through my body. I can’t look away. I don’t want to.

“Francie…”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything. It’s my problem, not yours.” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and my dick throbs. “It’d really help if my brothers didn’t intimidate every man who’s interested in me.”

“If they’re intimidated by your brothers, they don’t deserve you,” I tell her. “You deserve so much more than a dick who doesn’t want to fight for you.”

Her gaze dips to my mouth then back to my eyes. “Would you fight for me?” she whispers.

There it is. The one question I haven’t let myself think about.

This is such a bad idea. I think about stepping back. And yet I can’t pull my eyes away from her.

Pushing herself off the car, she steps toward me, closing the gap between our bodies. I don’t move, my feet so firmly planted on the ground that I’m not sure even an earthquake could loosen their hold.

“Would you, Asher?” she murmurs, sliding her arms around my neck. The floral sweetness of her perfume envelops me. Her body presses against mine in all the right places. Her soft breasts press into my abdomen. Her belly nestles against the thickening ache between my legs. I try to think but I can’t.

My brain decided to clock out for the night. It’s my body’s turn right now.

She tips her head back, her gaze meeting mine. And I’m well and truly fucked. The control I’m always so proud of maintaining is nowhere to be found. All I can think about is tasting her. Touching her.

Showing her what she’s been missing for the last four damn years.

“I’m done being careful,” she murmurs. “Kiss me.”

I let out a strangled groan. Her lips are right there, parted for me. I drag my tongue along my own, scrambling for one good reason not to do this.

But I come up with nothing.

There’s a steady throb between my legs as I angle my head down until my mouth is a breath away from hers. Our eyes are so close our lashes brush together. Cupping her jaw with my palm, I angle her face so it’s perfect.

“Francie…” I want to give her an out. But I also don’t.

Before I can say anything else, she’s the one who closes the gap. Her mouth meets mine and it’s so fucking welcoming I feel like moving in there. I kiss her hard, one hand on her face, the other trailing down her side, to the hem of her skirt where it meets her bare flesh.

I dig my fingers into her thigh and hitch it around my hip, turning her around so her back is against the car. When she gasps at the sudden movement, I swallow her low breath with my mouth.

Our lips move as one as I slide my hand beneath her hem, feeling the edge of her panties. She lets out a soft, broken sound, part need, part surprise. She hitches against me again, letting out a sigh like she’s almost in pain. “Touch me,” she whispers.

I obey, because saying no to her is no longer an option. I trace my thumb down the seam of her, feeling the warmth of desire through her panties. Her eyes widen as she whimpers at my touch. Four fucking years. God, I need to make her come.

“Asher…”

“It’s okay,” I murmur. “I’ve got you.”