Page 144 of The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

“There is nothing wrong with The Kissing Booth.”

“Did you suddenly grow a pussy overnight?”

“Jase!” everyone yelled.

“Oh, lighten up. If Cam wants all of us to get in touch with our feminine sides, I’m down. Just don’t blame me when I raid the place for ice cream and want to braid your hair.”

“You’re so weird.” Felicity rolled her eyes.

“Is that so, Giles?” He cocked his brow. “Takes one to know one.” Jason attacked her with his mouth, planting wet, sloppy kisses all over her face.

“Get off me, you big jerk.” She tried to bat him off, but it was futile. His arms were wrapped tight around her waist, anchoring them together.

Hailee and Cameron shared a knowing smile, in that way only two people in tune could. And me and Asher, well, we sat there pretending everything was fine.

“Guys, seriously?” He finally groaned.

“Sorry,” Jason replied. “We’ll do better.” He moved Flick off his lap and tucked her into his side, before grumbling. “Are we watching the movie or what?”

I sat there like a statue while I was pretty certain Felicity and Jason spent more time watching each other than the movie; they were barely able keep their hands off one another. Hailee and Cam weren’t much better, and by the time the credits rolled, I jumped up, desperate to escape the overpowering sexual tension.

I escaped to Felicity’s bathroom. It had been the longest two hours of my life, my body hyper aware of Asher sitting across the room in Mr. Giles’ favorite armchair. After washing my hands, I dried them on a fluffy hand towel. I liked Felicity’s house. It wasn’t small but it wasn’t huge either. I felt at ease here. Comfortable. Unlike Asher’s house where I’d always felt out of place. Like Cinderella swept up into a fairytale.

Except Cinders had gotten her Prince in the end.

Clutching the rim of the basin, I took a couple of deep breaths and looked at myself in the mirror. I could do this. I could totally do it. All I had to do was go back out there and pretend like everything was fine.

“Asher,” I gasped as I opened the door to find him standing there.

“You took your time

.”

“I...”

“I’m joking, Mya.” His lip curved into a tentative smile.

“Oh, right. Well, I guess I’ll just get out of your way.” I went to move around him, but he filled the space, making no effort to move. Our chests brushed as I tried to wiggle through the tight gap. His smell, the cologne I loved so much, punched me right in the stomach.

But then, Asher was backing me into the bathroom, giving me no escape.

“Asher, what are you—”

“I’ve tried, Mya. I’ve tried so fucking hard to give you space, to figure out how to fix this.” He motioned between us. “So you need to help me out here. You need to tell me what I have to do to fix it.”

I edged back as he advanced with slow, sure strides. The air crackled around us, the bonds between us twisting and tightening. “Tell me what to do.” Asher loomed over me, the edge of the counter pressing into my back.

“Asher...” My hands slammed against his chest as I desperately tried to resist his charms. His smell. The way he looked at me with so much love and yearning. “It’s not that simple.”

“It is that simple,” he countered. “I love you. I fucking love you, Mya.” Asher’s chest heaved with the weight of his words as he leaned in to touch his head to mine. “I need you, babe. I need you more than I need air. It’s like I can’t breathe when you’re not around.”

A tremor tore through my reinforced walls, shaking their foundations. He sounded so desperate. I wanted nothing more than to take away all his pain. Even now, I wanted to fix him.

“Asher, it’s not—”

“Ssh, don’t say it. If you don’t say it then there’s still hope.” His eyes shuttered as he inhaled a shaky breath, trying to rein in his emotions.

Oh God. What was I doing?