Page 21

21

ASHER

T he back door swings open, and Brody bursts out onto the porch, clearly in a panic.

“Fuck. There you are.” He strides toward Billie, worry radiating off him.

Billie glares up at him and stands to her feet, crossing her arms over her chest. “What are you doing here?”

“You promised you’d tell me if you left. Well, this funny thing happened, where you fucking left and didn’t tell me. I’d trusted you to be honest with me. Do you know what I had to do to track you down? Your brothers are freaking out, and so are your parents. You can’t leave without telling anyone. How did you get here?”

He’s livid, and I haven’t seen him this upset ever.

“Please tell me you didn’t drive that fucking motorcycle here.”

Her jaw is locked tight, and her eyes are zeroed in on him. Like a tiger, she’s contemplating her next move. Go for the jugular or give it to him easy.

Billie continues her cold glare. “You drove two hours to treat me like a fucking child? You will watch your tone when speaking to me. Family or not.” Her voice is calm. Slow. It’s frightening.

“I was extremely concerned about you. You’re not safe, wandering around without some sort of detail while you’re dating Prince Louis,” Brody sarcastically says between clenched teeth, glancing back at me. “If something happens to you on my watch, I’ll never be able to live with myself. I trusted you, Billie. My ass was on the line, and you disrespected that. I’m sure Easton and Weston will be more than fucking pleased to know where you are. Your parents too.”

“Brody, please. Please do not tell anyone that I’m with Asher. I will forgive you if you keep this part to yourself.” Billie’s not backing down. She’s fierce and flustered.

My eyes slide down her body, and I memorize her.

“I’m nearly thirty-one years old, Brody. You’re literally ruining one of the greatest moments of my life. Please be invisible,” she whispers, and then he takes a step back.

With disdain, he walks away. As he passes me, his nostrils flare. “You hurt her, and I’ll fucking kill you,” he says to me, then walks back through my house and disappears.

A few minutes later, I hear an engine roar and growl as it takes off.

“That went surprisingly well,” I say to her, breathing out.

I don’t know if any of the Calloways would be happy to discover we’ve been fucking around. Another reason why it’s best to keep it to ourselves. This situation gives me the courage to finally admit something I should have a long time ago.

Although we’re alone again, the mood is spoiled.

Billie breathes out and closes her eyes. “Have you ever wanted to disappear from this life? To just live? I’m so envious of people who have a normal life.”

“Yeah. All the time. We didn’t get a choice, did we?”

“No,” she whispers.

I give her a smile and nod, loving how she thinks.

“I come here a lot to escape,” I admit, moving close to her, resting my hands on her shoulders as I face and meet her blue eyes. “It’s my safe space. When Eden passed away, I left everything in the city and disappeared here for three months. It healed me in ways I hadn’t known I needed. Anytime life becomes too much, I’m here with the sand between my toes and the saltwater breeze on my skin. Luckily for me, now you’re here, too, and we get to escape life together even if it is just for a few days. Sometimes, that’s all you need.”

I kiss her forehead, and it feels so natural. She wraps her arms around me. I hold her for a long time, and she holds me back. And it’s just us with no other worries in the world as the sun beams down on us, kissing our cheeks.

Billie eventually pulls away from me. “Did you buy this home because my parents’ house is in this neighborhood?”

I laugh. “Actually, no. This beautiful turn-of-the-century mansion belonged to my mother’s parents—my loving grandparents. Your father actually purchased the Calloway estate because of them.” I tilt my head at her. “Wait, do you not remember meeting me when we were, like, twelve? Best summer of my life. My grandparents threw huge parties, and all the adults got wasted. And at the end of the summer, we did too.”

Her brows furrow. “What? I met you at Stanford.”

“That’s not completely true. We got drunk on spiked punch and put a blanket on the sand at the end of the boardwalk. We counted satellites in the sky and made wishes on stars. And I totally kissed you.” I chuckle. “It was a standout memory for me. It was the summer I was made a man.”

She stares at me. “No. His name was Max. Max Holly. His parents were in Africa that summer.”

I nod. “My parents were in Africa, trying to rekindle their failing marriage, so I was dropped off at my grandparents’ house. That summer, I forced everyone in my life to call me Max. And I stopped being a Banks. It’s short for my middle name, Maxwell. It was cool. Hip. Three letters. Unforgettable,” I say.

“Oh my God,” she whispers.

“It was my tagline,” I say with a laugh .

Billie shakes her head. “I don’t believe you.”

“Hold on. I have proof.”

I pull my phone from my pocket and quickly find the photo my mom texted me a few months ago when she was going through photo albums, reminiscing like I’d had a perfect childhood. It was dysfunctional. I hand my phone to Billie. It’s a picture of the two of us, and we’re dressed in Hawaiian shirts. My arm is around her, and she is smiling wide. Later that night, twelve-year-old me made a move, and a part of me never got over her.

“Aww.” Then she pokes me hard in the chest. “I’ve searched for you since that summer. Jerk! Why didn’t you say something sooner? Not a hint? Nothing. You just kept this information for … for … nearly twenty years?” She takes a step back, really studying me. “You went from a chubby, braces-wearing, four-eyed kid with pimples to a Greek god in six short years when we met again?” She gasps. Realization washes across her face. “ You were my first kiss.” She covers her face with her hands. “I might have a mental breakdown.”

“I thought you recognized me the day we ran into one another at Stanford. When our eyes met, I immediately knew it was you,” I admit. “I didn’t know how to be like, Hey, remember me? I stuck my tongue in your mouth on the beach when we were twelve ? That would’ve went over really well.”

“At least you asked first, like the perfect gentleman.” Her face softens. “That moment we shared as kids, under the stars, was magical. It’s the story I’ll tell my children, if I have any.” She glances away, as if she’s reliving it. “I came back every summer, hoping to run into you again. Your grandparents weren’t here either. It had felt like a dream, something I’d imagined.”

“I’m sorry. When my mom learned my dad was a cheating bastard, I became the thing they fought over having ownership of. My grandparents became obsessed with cruises and started only visiting in the spring. Because I loved this house so much, it was left to me when my grandfather’s estate was settled. My grandmother was convinced I’d find love here. I guess she was right,” I admit.

Billie steps forward, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I didn’t recognize you. I automatically hated you because I felt something when I looked into your eyes. Maybe it was familiarity. I was so worried that if I met the love of my life at eighteen as a freshman in college, I’d give up everything. I’d be forced to work for my father, and I wanted to experience life. Hating you has always been easier than loving you.”

I wrap my arms around her. “I understand and don’t fault you. Being a Calloway comes with a lot of pressure. You did what was best, just as I did.”

Her lips gently brush mine.

“I always dreamed of what I’d say to Max Holly if I ever saw him again.”

I laugh, pulling away from her. “Yeah? Tell me. Please.”

“Thank you. After you kissed me that summer, I felt pretty. No one had ever made me feel that way before. Just you. It gave me the confidence I needed to fuck up little teenage boys in boarding school.” She smirks. “I was a terror because of you.”

Laughter roars out of me. “Glad I could help. But, if it’s any consolation, you’re not pretty, Billie. You’re fucking gorgeous.”

“It was always you,” she whispers loud enough for me to hear. “Un-fucking-believable. Just wait until I tell Harper.”

After we eat, we go onto the balcony and watch the sunset and the storm rolling in. Her eyes shine, and I see the past unfolding behind them—the girl she once was and the woman she’s fought so fiercely to become.

“I’m proud of you,” I tell her. “No bullshit.”

“Thank you,” she says just as the sun sets below the horizon. “That means a lot to me.”

“It’s official. We’ve spent the entire day together,” I say.

“From sunrise to sunset,” she whispers. “I’ve spent so long running from this.”

“Fuck, me too,” I admit.

Darkness is upon us, but so is a storm.

“I’m so used to building walls and putting distance between me and anyone who tries to get too close. It’s safer, easier.” Billie pauses, her voice trembling slightly. “But I’m so fucking lonely.”

“I am too,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. My chest tightens.

She exhales, the warmth of her breath grazes against my skin. “Can we be lonely together?”

“When I’m around, you’re never alone. Anytime we’re together, it always feels like it’s just you and me,” I admit.

Slowly, I reach up, gently cupping her cheek and tilting her face toward mine. Our eyes lock. Hers are vulnerable, searching; mine are steady, reassuring.

I know what I’ve always wanted. Her.

She slides her fingers gently through my hair as she stands in front of me. My hands rest on her ass.

“I’m done fighting this, fighting you,” she admits.

Her confession resonates deep within me, unraveling something raw and intense. The energy between us shifts, growing more electric, more desperate. Need and want take over.

I pull away. “Wait a goddamn minute. Are you finally surrendering to me? Is that a white flag I see?”

“Call it what you want.” Her plump lips part, and her voice comes out shaky. “You have no idea how hard I’ve tried to hate you. Fuck, I was so close. I’d almost convinced myself you really were my enemy.”

“I was,” I admit. “Purposely.”

She chuckles. “I should kick your ass. The harder I pushed you away, the more I wanted you. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is?”

“Coincidentally, yes.” A small, amused smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Funny how that works, isn’t it? It’s almost like we have no fucking control over what we want.”

She laughs. It’s bittersweet and beautiful. “Now that I think about it, you’ve always enjoyed tormenting me. Even when we were kids.”

“You always started it. I just ended it,” I tease.

Her thumb grazes my jawline. “This doesn’t feel real.”

“It doesn’t,” I say, my voice growing serious. “If it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up.”

“I don’t either,” she whispers.

Billie’s lips paint against mine, testing the waters. A nervous energy bubbles beneath her touch. I deepen the kiss gently, encouragingly, feeling her body relax and melt into mine.

“I’m scared,” she whispers against my lips.

“Don’t be,” I say, pulling away. “I’ll catch you if you fall.”

Lightning crashes and causes us both to jump, pulling us momentarily apart. We glance toward the sky as rain slams down on us. Dark clouds are overhead, and I watch Billie bite her bottom lip.

“Come on,” I say, grabbing her hand and leading her inside.

Droplets of water are on our faces as we stand in my bedroom upstairs.

“I hate sea storms. They’re always more violent.” A wave of nervousness is in her voice.

“No matter how bad it gets, it always passes,” I reassure her, taking her hand as lightning strikes again. This time closer. “Come on. Let’s move away from the windows. I don’t want Brody killing me.”

The lights flicker as we move out of my room and down the stairs. Billie releases a sigh of relief, and immediately after, the house power cuts, and we stand in darkness. The buzzing of appliances stops, and it’s complete silence other than the gusting wind outside.

Billie inhales sharply, gripping my arm tightly. “Please don’t leave me.”

“I’m here. You’re safe,” I say calmly, pulling her closer. “The backup generator should come on at any second. I’ve got you.”

We wait in the dark.

Lightning brightens the room for a few seconds as the thunder rolls. I impatiently wait for the electricity to click on, but nothing happens.

She breathes a little harder. “It isn’t working.”

I wrap an arm around her waist. “I guess not, but we’ll make the best of it. I won’t let you go. Come with me.”

I carefully guide her through the living room and back into the kitchen, grabbing candles from the cabinets and drawers. I light the gas stove, and it brightens the room. Once I have a long candlestick lit, I catch the other wicks. Within moments, warmth flickers throughout the space, our shadows dancing across the walls.

We move to the living room, setting them around the room. Billie smiles at me, then kneels by the fireplace, arranging logs and kindling. The fire quickly sparks to life, casting a golden glow across her face.

“Girl Scout?” I ask.

“No, tactical survival courses,” she says.

“Oh, it’s like that?”

She nods. “I can take you down in ten seconds flat.”

“Might have to test that out,” I tell her. “When you told me you’d fuck me up, I didn’t realize you meant literally kicking my ass.”

“Stop flattering me.”

Billie scoots back and leans against the couch, mesmerized by the fire, and I sit next to her. We settle together on the plush rug. The crackle of firewood fills the silence between us. Billie leans against me, her head resting comfortably on my shoulder, fingers tracing patterns on my thigh .

“Tell me about your relationship with Eden,” she says, staring into the flames.

My heart clenches, as I know the two of them were friends. I hesitate only briefly before speaking, my voice thick with memories. “She was the best sister anyone could have. Brilliant. Honest. Happy. She wanted the best for me. And I loved how she made everyone around her feel special, like they could do anything. Eden was sunshine, wrapped in strength.”

Billie’s fingers pause. “I’m sorry you lost her, Asher. After it happened, I wanted to talk to you, but …”

“I know. I was in a bad place. There are days when I still blame myself,” I admit quietly. “She called me that night and asked me to meet her, but I was too caught up in work and my own shit. I thought it could wait. I thought we’d have tomorrow. I didn’t know …” My voice trails off, heavy with regret.

Billie gently turns my face to meet hers. “You didn’t know. That’s not your fault.”

“I could’ve answered the call,” I say. “If I had, maybe she’d still be here. Maybe that fuck who was driving drunk would’ve crashed into a building instead of the car she was in. My decision could’ve changed everything .”

Her eyes fill with empathy. “Ash, I’m so sorry.”

I nod. “It’s why it’s so important for us to cherish every minute. The now is all we have.”

Thunder roars overhead.

“I’m so grateful you’re with me right now ,” she whispers.

We stare back at the wood.

“Sometimes, I feel her. Like she’s pushing me to do things. Or I’ll ask myself in certain situations, What would Eden do? I miss her a lot. I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same,” I whisper, my words raw and painful.

She threads her fingers through mine, gripping tightly. “You honor her every day by living your best life. That’s what she would want for you. She’d be so proud. ”

Emotion thickens my throat, and I nod silently, breathing in her comfort. This wasn’t a conversation I expected to have, but it’s healing to talk about Eden. Usually, everyone avoids the conversation. Everyone except Nick. He misses her as much as I do.

We sit quietly for several moments, leaning against the couch, stretching our legs before us.

“Who was your first love?” I ask.

Billie laughs gently, and her cheeks transform into a rosy pink. “Besides Max Holly?”

I smirk. “Besides that nerd.”

She hesitates, sighing. “I’d say Josh was my first real love. My fling with Louis was never serious. Neither of us saw one another that way. With Josh, I almost imagined a future with him. I don’t think I was ever truly in love though. It felt like a business relationship with mediocre sex.” Her voice lowers. “It never felt like this. It never felt like kissing Max Holly.”

Her gaze is vulnerable and honest.

My pulse quickens. I tilt her chin upward, our lips nearly touching.

“Fuck, princess.”

Our mouths meet and tenderness bleeds into something far more passionate. My hands roam down her body, and I memorize every curve of hers as her fingers slide under my T-shirt. The firelight flickers warmly across her face, illuminating the desire in her eyes.

“If we cross this line, we can never take it back,” I warn.

“I don’t want to.” Her eyes meet mine with certainty. “You’re who I want.”

Billie’s soft lips trace my jaw, the sweet torture of her touch making my heart pound wildly.

The storm outside grows louder, rain hammering against the windows, matching the fierce rhythm of my heartbeat.

My hands cup her face as I claim her mouth deeply, possessively. “You’re sure? ”

“I chose you, Asher. I told The Wolf to go get fucked for you.” She clings to me, her body warm, surrendering completely.

I rub my nose against hers, laughing. “You’re so damn stubborn.”

“You love it,” she whispers.

“I do. In the worst possible way,” I admit, my mouth crashing onto hers.

The storm rages outside, the kind that makes the world feel like it’s ending. Thunder cracks like a whip, like it’s desperate to break in. The electricity’s been out for half an hour. The fire illuminates Billie’s face like a fucking masterpiece, painted in shadows and desperation.

An undeniable tension hangs between us. It’s thick and electric, just like the air is right before a lightning strike. Billie sits beside me, her legs folded under her, her eyes locked on mine, like she’s daring me to make a move.

Her hair’s messy, and I think it’s the first time I’ve seen it out of place since we were adults. Her lips—fuck, her plump lips—are swollen from the random kisses I’ve stolen from her. I can see the pulse in her neck, quick and erratic, and I want to put my mouth there, to feel it jump under my tongue.

“Asher,” she says, desperately like she’s been screaming, crying, or both. “What in the fuck are you waiting for?”

“I don’t want to forget or rush this,” I admit, reaching for her.

My fingers trail against the bare skin of her arm, and she shivers—not from the cool draft in the big house. Her eyes flutter closed for a second, and when they open again, they’re darker, hungrier. I lean toward her, closing the space between us, and her breath hitches against my cheek. I can smell her—sugar and salt and something else, something fucking intoxicating that makes my cock twitch.

I kiss her like I’ve been waiting for this, for her, my whole damn life.

I have.

Her lips part under mine, and I plunge my tongue into her mouth, tasting her, claiming her. She releases throaty moans. Her hands fist in my shirt, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us. I can feel every curve of her body pressed against mine as she climbs onto my lap and straddles me.

It’s still not enough.

I need more. I need all of her.

I break the kiss long enough to carefully pull her shirt over her head. She gasps as goose bumps trail over her bare skin. Her tits are perfect—full and soft, with nipples already hard and begging for my mouth. I don’t hesitate. I take one, sucking hard, and she arches into me with a whimper, her fingers tangling in my hair.

I flick my tongue over her peak, teasing it, and she whispers my name like a prayer.

“Asher,” she breathes, her voice trembling. “Feels so good.”

I move to the other breast, giving it the same attention, and her hips jerk against me, searching for friction. I can feel the heat radiating from her pussy through her pants, and I groan against her skin, my cock so fucking hard that it hurts. I slide my hand down her body, over the curve of her hip, and she gasps when I reach the button of her pants.

“Is this what you want?” I growl, my fingers pausing.

“Yes,” she whispers, her voice full of need. “God, yes.”

I undo the button and pull down the zipper; my heart pounds rapidly.

I shimmy her pants down her legs, and she stands to kicks them off impatiently. I leave her in nothing but a pair of black lace panties that are soaked through. I can smell her arousal and it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to bury my face between her legs right fucking now as she stands before me.

Instead, I hook my fingers in the waistband of her panties and pull them down slowly, revealing her slick, delicate pussy. She’s beautiful—swollen and wet, her clit hard and begging for attention. I press a finger against her entrance, and she moans, lifting her hips into my hand .

She whimpers, “Please don’t tease me.”

I slide one finger inside her, and she’s so fucking tight, so wet; it’s all I can do not to come in my pants. I move my finger in and out of her slowly, watching her face as she takes me. Her eyes squeeze shut, and her lips part in silent pleasure. I add a second finger, stretching her, and she cries out.

“More,” she begs, her voice breaking. “I need more of you.”

Fuck, I want to give her everything, but not yet.

I pull my fingers out of her and bring them to my mouth, tasting her. “Mmm. I’ve missed that.”

She watches me with wide eyes, her chest heaving as she tries to catch her breath.

“So fucking good,” I murmur, and she blushes, but there’s no shyness in her eyes.

Only hunger.

I pull her onto the floor and lay her back against the rug as I kneel between her legs, spreading them wide. She’s fully exposed now, completely open to me, and I can see every inch of her pussy glistening with arousal. I’m responsible for this.

“Fuck,” I growl.

Slowly, I lean down and lick a stripe from her entrance to her clit, and she jerks like she’s been electrocuted.

“Oh my God,” she moans, her hands flying to my hair. “Asher?—”

I don’t let her finish her sentence. I fully bury my face between her legs, licking, sucking, and fucking her with my tongue like it’s the only thing keeping me alive. She tastes even better now that I fully have my mouth on her, sweet and salty and so fucking addictive.

Billie, my buffet.

I focus on her clit, flicking it with my tongue as I slide two fingers back inside her, and she writhes beneath me, her hips bucking uncontrollably.

“Asher,” she gasps, her voice high and desperate. “I’m gonna—oh God?— ”

She comes with a cry, her pussy clenching around my fingers as she rides out the wave of pleasure. I don’t stop—I can’t—and soon, she’s coming again, harder this time, her whole body trembling as she screams my name and gasps for air. I pull my fingers out of her and lick them clean. She watches me with hooded eyes, and a lazy smile spreads.

“I don’t think I’ve ever come so fast in my life.”

“Really?”

She’s breathless. “A Guinness record.”

“Can’t wait for my trophy,” I mutter.

Billie gazes down at my bulge that’s thick for her, straining against the cotton pants.

“Wow. I’ve—” She gulps. “I’ve won the cock lottery.”

I try to hold back laughter, but fail miserably. “Congrats. Now, what will you do with your prize?”

Every secret kiss, every stolen glance, every agonizing moment we’ve shared culminates here in this perfect collision of passion and truth.

“Treasure it,” she confesses.

Thunder shakes the walls, but we barely hear it. Our connection is louder, stronger, and unbreakable.

I’ll surrender to her, knowing exactly how high the stakes are, but no longer afraid of the fall because she’ll catch me.

Billie might have chosen me, but I chose her first. In this game, we both win.