Page 152 of The Story of You

We’re not far behind the others, but they’ve scattered by the time we’re home. We’ve brought Gen who I guess will have to come up with us. Jarvis nor the kittens are in sight.

“I’m gonna say hi to Octavius. You two get comfortable,” Darius says, racing off before either of us can stop him. Lord almighty. We’re gonna have to haveanotherchat about his matchmaking.

“You need to take a shower or anything?” I say to Asher.

“Yeah. I’ll do that.” He tosses his bag by the bed and heads into the ensuite bathroom.

I made my big speech about getting to know him in non-sexy ways, but Darius is seldom wrong. Maybe I should go in there? “What do you think, General? Should I do it?” I say, crouching down to scratch behind her ears.

She yips. I interpret that as a yes. Okay. I can do this. I used to make the first move all the time. I made a big move tonight, a move one could argue is more intimate than sex for someone like me. I take a breath, lift it to the door handle and push down.

Locked.

Okay, locked. If he wanted me to come in, he would have left it unlocked. He’s not ready.

I change into sleeping clothes instead, set some clothes out for Asher—one of my t-shirts and a pair of Darius’s black pajama bottoms—and get comfortable on the bed, reading my motivational book to keep my mindset right for training. A half-hour passes. Still no Darius, but the shower turns off and Asher’s about to walk out.

I glance at what I’ve put out for him. Maybe I shouldn’t have set out one of my shirts? It’s too late now. He struts out, a towel wrapped around his waist, strawberry blond tresses wet.

“There.” I point him to the clothes at the end of the bed. He doesn’t say anything about them, dressing slowly. When he’s attired, he stares at the bed. “You can climb in. I’m sure Darius will be back soon.”

He raises his brows. “You know he’s not coming back, right?”

I shake my head. “No?”

“Yeah. Odds are, he’s slipped in between Lakshan and Silas. There are a million beds in this place, but he doesn’t like to sleep alone, and especially after what happened this morning he won’t sleep if he’s by himself.”

I pat the spot next to me on the bed. “Why don’t you come up here and tell me about it, darlin’?”

He’s unsure for half a second. “Okay.” He climbs up from the end and settles next to me but leaves enough space we’re not touching. “When we lived at the place in Winchester River, we had two beds. I slept with Simon and Shane—except for when it was fucking hot in the summer, then I slept on the couch in the living room. Darius slept with Oliver and Silas.”

These might be the most words he’s ever spoken to me. “Yeah?”

“Yep. At the time it was functional but being torn away from his brothers fucked him up. He got used to having someone in bed with him. Usually his brothers.”

“That why he’s in there now?”

“Yeah, nah. That’s just why he’s not sleeping alone. He’s left us together because I think he wants us to spend time together.”

“You okay with that? I can find somewhere else or drag his ass back here.” He’s owed a spanking anyway.

“I’m okay with it, but—” he huffs. “Look, we don’t have to do this. We get along fine, and we’ll keep getting on fine enough for me to keep Ari.”

“What if I like you too?”

“You …” He runs hands through his wet hair. He’s a ball of nerves.

I set my book aside this time and turn out the light. Sometimes the dark can make things easier. I go ahead and trap him against me like I’ve wanted to all night, stealing his breath. “I don’t make offers to be just anyone’s daddy—don’t know if you knew that about me.”

It takes him a moment or two. He’s all tense. Finally, he lays a palm flat against my chest. “You’re so big.”

His angry exterior breaks, only a crack, but it’s enough for me to squeeze inside, big as I am. “Big enough to take care of you, darlin’, if you’ll let me.”

“I’m—” He presses his forehead to my chest and his fists ball up again. “This is terrifying. Claustrophobic.”

“I can let go.”

“No, don’t!”