Page 40 of The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

“It’s not that simple.” He ground out. “It won’t only be me that suffers. I have to think about Mom. Me and Dad are all she has.”

“I’m just saying—”

“Can we not do this right now?” His eyes were soft despite his callous tone. “It’s been a rough couple of days and I’m exhausted.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I should go—” I went to stand but Asher caught my hand.

“I don’t want you to leave.”

“You don’t?”

He shook his head. “Stay.”

“Asher, I’m not sure…”

“Look, I know you don’t want anything serious and I know you’re still hung up on your ex, but I like you. I like you a lot. I can go slow, if that’s what you need.”

He looked so adorable staring up at me with his big blue eyes. “Give me a chance, Mya, please. That’s all I’m asking.”

There were so many reasons it was a bad idea.

So many.

But how could I deny him when he’d trusted me with something he’d never trusted anyone else with?

“I’ll stay but I’m not making any promises. Our lives are both complicated and us being more than just friends will only complicate them further.”

“I can live with that.” He got up and hooked his arm around my waist, drawing me into his body. His eyes homed in on my lips and he started to lean in.

“Asher, friends don’t kiss.”

“Maybe we can be the exception to the rule,” he said around an irresistible smile.

A dangerous smile.

A smile I knew would get us both into a lot of trouble.

Asher

Mya stared up at me, lust and indecision swirling in her eyes. She wanted me. She wanted this. But she was still fighting it.

“I promise I won’t fall in love with you, if that’s what you’re worried about,” the words were barely a whisper against the corner of her mouth. “I know we’re heading in different directions. I know this is only temporary, but you make all the shit fade into the background.”

“Asher,” she breathed, pressing her forehead closer to mine.

“I won’t hurt you, I promise.” But you might destroy me. Because although I’d promised her I wouldn’t fall in love with her, I could already feel myself doing exactly that. It was a small price to pay though, if it meant having her in my life.

Mya fisted my t-shirt, fighting whatever battle raged inside her. Maybe it was her lingering feelings for her ex, or maybe it was the fact he’d hurt her and she didn’t want to trust another guy so soon. Whatever it was, I wanted to prove her wrong, to show her nothing else mattered except the way we made each other feel.

This time when I brushed my lips over hers, Mya didn’t resist. She pulled me closer, anchoring us together, deepening the kiss. Our tongues tangled in soft lazy licks, setting my body on fire. My hands glided down her spine, finding her perfect ass, pressing her into my rock-hard dick.

“See what you do to me,” I said against her swollen lips. “See how much I want you.”

Mya whimpered, rubbing herself on me, letting me rock into her at the perfect angle. I wanted to strip her down and take her right here on the couch, but I knew she wasn’t ready. She was only just getting her head around us being kissing friends.

“Come on,” I said, pulling away, smirking at how flushed and breathless she was. Leading her back up to the first floor, we walked in comfortable silence upstairs to my bedroom. “At least I can walk in a straight line tonight,” I joked.

“I should probably text my aunt,” she said.