“No, not at all. Too many lights,” I said. “This is amazing.”
“I thought you'd appreciate it,” he said. “I come out here a lot just to look at the stars, but no one else seems to care. We all seem to take it for granted out here. Not me though. I can sit here for hours, just looking up at them.”
“What a shame,” I said. “I could probably soak in this view every single night and never get tired of it.
We stood there, hand-in-hand, just staring up at the sky. He pointed out a few constellations, none of which I'd seen before in the city. They were like chips of diamond set against a black velvet background. They twinkled and flashed. We even saw a few falling stars. It was absolutely magical.
We sat down in the grass, and before long, I found myself leaning into him. His hand was around my shoulder as we talked, and I found myself staring at his lips, trying to work up the courage to kiss him. Trying to drown out the voice in my head that was sounding the warning bells and screaming that it was a terrible, terrible idea.
“I'm so glad you're here with me, Rose,” he said, pushing a strand of my hair out of my face.
“Me too, Asher,” I said.
He leaned his face closer to me, and I had a split second to decide if I was going for it or not. My brain was desperately trying to throw the brakes on and stop us in our tracks. But my heart and my body were busy hitting the accelerator.
“Just friends,” I muttered as I closed the distance between our lips, pressing mine to his.
“Just friends,” he said with a laugh, but he kissed me back.
He took my face into his hands and kissed me in a way that wouldn't be acceptable between friends. I enjoyed every second of it though. I couldn't resist touching him, stroking his chiseled jaw and face, and then moving lower to his chest. His hands moved over my body gently, as if he was still waiting for permission to touch me. I was still too nervous to give myself over to him completely, but his lips and hands were driving me crazy.
The fire in the center of me was back, burning brighter than a bonfire. My body was responding to Asher's touch in a way it hadn't responded to anything in so long. I felt myself growing tense, growing wet, the feeling of absolute need in me burning as bright as the stars overhead.
Asher pushed me back gently on the grass, rolling over and bracing himself on his arms so he didn't put his full weight on top of me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and arched my body upward, our kissing growing more heated, more passionate. His erection was pressing against his deliciously tight jeans and he ground himself against that warm, wet center of me.
I moaned softly – I needed him inside of me. I reached down and removed his belt, which was all the permission he needed to strip me down naked. Removing my shirt, he kissed my breasts, his tongue flicking quickly over my nipples, drawing a gasp from me. He slid the tip of his tongue down my body, moving lower and lower until he was between my legs.
With a lascivious grin on his face, he held my gaze as he slid my jeans and panties down my legs, tossing them over his head and into the grass. I swear I saw the stars reflected in his eyes as he lowered his face to my most intimate parts, kissing and sucking me gently as he went down on me.
With my hands in his hair, I tugged and pulled, grinding myself against his mouth. He slid his tongue inside of me, licking and sucking on that warm center of me. Asher continued to work me over with his mouth as he slid two fingers inside of me, pumping them in and out, sending shockwaves of sensation throughout my body.
I didn't hold myself back – we were totally alone, so there didn't seem to be any need for discretion out there. I gave myself over to the pleasure of his mouth and fingers in me, calling his name at the top of my voice. He continued licking, sucking, and fingering me and I felt that low pressure building up inside of me. I knew my climax was rushing toward me like a freight train, but I wanted it to last, I wanted the pleasure he was giving me by going down on me to never stop.
“Asher, yes! Yes!” as he brought me to orgasm with his mouth in minutes.
No man had ever made me come just by giving me oral sex before – mainly because no one had ever tried. The men I'd been with in my life had expected me to get their rocks off for them, but when it came to giving me some pleasure, they couldn't be bothered. Asher, on the other hand, was a natural, and even with one orgasm down, he was already working toward giving me number two.
But I needed him inside of me. As amazing as his mouth felt on me, I wanted to feel his hard cock deep inside of me.
I pulled his hair so he was looking up at me, a grin plastered across his face, my juices on his mouth shimmering in the moonlight. I didn't even have to ask, it was like he knew exactly what I wanted. Still looking me in the eye, he slowly moved above me, placing the tip of his cock against my opening. Even that lightest of touches was enough to send a ripple of pleasure through me that made me gasp.
“I need you,” I said, my breath shallow and ragged. “I need you inside of me.”
Asher leaned down and kissed me and when he pulled back, the look of pure hunger in his eyes very nearly took my breath away. With my legs wrapped around his waist, I pulled myself up, and once again helped close the distance between our bodies. He entered me slowly, and I savored every inch of him as he slipped between my moist lips and then plunged himself deep into the center of me.
He stared down at me as he moved his hips, our gazes locked as our bodies became one. And gently, he started moving in and out of me, our bodies finding that perfect rhythm that sent waves of sensation through me, causing me to call out his name, over and over again.
“Asher, yes, Asher!”
I dug my nails into his back, drawing a hiss from him. He smiled and kept his rhythm going, even as he took off his t-shirt, letting me rake my nails across his skin. He dropped back down and increased his speed, increased his rhythm, and was driving me absolutely crazy. The fire inside of me was burning out of control and I thought my heart was going to burst through my chest. I held on for dear life as our bodies moved together, the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoing in the night air.
We kissed with a passion and intensity I'd never felt before. One that tore through my body and made me tremble as Asher's movements became more and more desperate. He moaned, said my name softly, and he buried himself deeper and deeper inside of me. I tightened myself around him, causing him to groan louder and louder with each thrust.
I knew he was close, and I so badly wanted to make him come for me. Wanted to make him feel as good as I did when he'd made me orgasm by going down on me. I stared into his eyes once more as I squeezed my muscles around him, tightening myself up just as he thrust himself deep into me.
Asher's eyes widened and a low growl escaped his throat. His body tensed and he squeezed his eyes shut, gritted his teeth, and then he couldn't stop himself from going over the brink. His body shuddered and he cried out, calling my name so loud, it echoed around the lake. I felt his hot seed spurting inside of me and that threw me over the edge. As he continued to unload inside of me, I trembled and cried out as I came hard along with him. Wave after wave of pleasure rippled through us and I felt like the sensations coursing through me would never end – hoping that they wouldn't.
But of course, they eventually did. He slipped out of me, leaving only the feel of warmth and wetness behind. Our breathing was ragged, but there were smiles on both of our faces.
“Rose, oh Rose,” he muttered after he was spent. “That was amazing.”
“Yes, yes it was,” I said, feeling breathless. “Incredible.”
A voice came from behind us, taking us both by surprise. A jolt of adrenaline shot through me and fear replaced that shimmering post-coital glow I'd been wrapped up in.
“Glad someone was having fun,” she said.
Asher quickly stood up and grabbed his pants off the ground and tried to pull them on quickly. “Mariana, what are –”
“I was looking for you,” the woman said, glaring at me w
ith pure contempt and hatred in her eyes. “Thought you might be at the cabin. Didn't know you'd have company though.”
I turned and saw a stunningly beautiful woman standing only a few feet away from us. I grabbed my clothes and tried to cover up my nakedness, humiliation making my face burn bright. I wondered how long she'd been standing there watching us. Wondered how much she'd seen.
“Oh God,” I said, throwing my clothes back on as quickly as I could.
“Yeah, you better be freaking out, sweetie,” the woman said as she strode toward me.
Her high heels dug deeper into the grass with every step, but it didn't slow her down too much. Before she was able to reach me, Asher put himself between us. He was so large that I couldn't see the other woman at all. At least I had a little privacy to get my clothes back on.
“Leave her out of this,” he said. “This is between you and me, Mariana.”
“Is this why you don't want to screw me anymore, Asher?” she asked. “Found a new whore already? Before we're even married? Most guys usually wait until after they're married and life gets a little boring. But then, you've never done things the traditional way, have you?”
“What is she talking about, Asher?” I asked, standing up and tugging at the bottom of my shirt. “A - are you engaged? To her?”
“Yeah, sweetie, he's engaged. To me,” Mariana said. “I'm his fiancé. And who the hell are you?”
“It doesn't matter,” I said, I looked over at Asher, hoping he might say otherwise. But he just stared at the ground, a lost and forlorn look on his face.
Feeling utterly humiliated and angry, I took off toward the front of the cabin. Asher called to me, but I didn't break stride. I just kept running. I was an idiot for believing him. An idiot for trusting him. Once again, a man had abused my trust. Used me. Hurt me.
“Rose, wait, I can explain –”
There was nothing for him to explain. He was just another asshole in a long line of them throughout my life. He was exactly why I said I wouldn't date anyone again. He was exactly why I preferred to be alone.
Asher caught up to me, grabbing my arm, and spinning me so I was facing him. He looked at me with humiliation in his own eyes – but also regret. Regret for getting caught, more than likely.
“Let me go,” I said. “I'm calling a cab. I'm leaving. You need to fix things with your fiancé, or whoever the hell she is. I was an idiot for trusting you. Thank you for being such a prick, Asher.”
I yanked my arm free from his grasp and walked to the front of the cabin. Tears rolled down my face, but I wasn't going to give in to them. I'd screwed up. Made a bad decision. Again. I had allowed myself to open up to Asher and I'd gotten burned. Live and learn.
Though, you would have thought, given my track record, that I would have learned that lesson already. Clearly, I hadn't.
I could hear shouting out behind the cabin. Mariana was rightfully pissed and Asher was trying to defend himself. Truthfully, I couldn't bring myself to listen to any of it. I was too busy trying to keep from crying my eyes out and feeling sorry for myself.
Chapter Ten
John
“Asher, buddy, you sure spend a lot of time in that bookstore,” I muttered to myself as I watched him slip inside the store from my car.
The place was closing soon, and he was obviously not shopping. So, why was he there? What was he after? Asher stopped at the counter and talked to the woman inside – a cute, redheaded human – before the two of them left. Together.
My phone rang. It was Roan. I watched them walk down the street together as I picked up the call and pressed the phone to my ear.
“Looks like our friend Asher has a new plaything,” I said, by way of a greeting.
“Oh yeah? Mariana not good enough for the lad?” he laughed. “He's a fool. Mariana is beyond gorgeous.”
“I guess not,” I said. I watched them turn onto Second Street and then followed them until they stopped outside Big Al's BBQ.
“Who is it?”
“The curvy redhead that just started at the bookstore,” I said.
“But she's human?” Roan said.
“Yeah, well, she's his sidepiece,” I said, climbing out of my car. “No laws against taking a human as a mistress, just can't marry one.”
“Fair enough,” Roan said.
“Yeah, well, if we have our way, there won't be a wedding,” I muttered. “Listen, I have to go. I'm going to grab a bite to eat and keep an eye on things.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Roan said. “Hey, just a thought, but you think this sidepiece is maybe someone he cares about? If so, maybe we can use that to our advantage.”
“Maybe so,” I said. “Just have to wait and see.”
Already, a plan was percolating in my brain. I had an idea, something that could push things past the boiling point and over the edge for us. I said goodbye to Roan and went inside, not worried about anyone seeing me because Asher and I had never once met before. I was just a nobody in his mind, a male from a lesser clan. Less than a nobody, really.
But that's where his biggest mistake was. I may have come from a lesser clan, but I was a man with ambition. A lot of ambition. Before I was done, I had vowed that I would take my clan to greater heights. I would surpass the N'gasso and even the mighty Q'lapa in terms of relevance and dominance. My clan, though lesser at the moment, would be the greatest ever. I would make that happen or die trying.
I took a seat toward the back of the restaurant, sitting close to where they were at, and listened as they laughed and talked together. I could see the way he looked at her and knew that I had him. And when they left, he took her by the hand and they were both smiling as she climbed on the back of his bike, flirting and touching in a familiar way.
That was game, set, and match. Looked like he cared about her to me. Which meant that she was suddenly a very important piece on the board. They headed north, out of town. And I could think of only one place they might be headed.
I texted Roan, Send Mariana over to the Blackwood Cabin. She's going to be in for a surprise.
Roan would do it, because he had his own reasons for wanting to take Asher and the Q'lapa down a few pegs. He loved Mariana and hated he couldn't be with her himself – which meant that by extension, he hated Asher. Which made Roan useful to me. Also, being from a lesser clan meant no one really cared about him. And that he had no chance with somebody like Mariana. But if all went well, my buddy Roan might get his wish.
It was a win-win for all of us. Well, all of us except, of course, Asher Blackwood and the Q'lapa.
~ooo000ooo~
“It worked,” Roan said, grinning from ear-to-ear when we met up later. “Mariana went over there and caught Asher with the human woman. She's pissed. Beyond pissed.”
“Now it's your turn to move in, brother,” I said.
His face fell, though and he looked almost despondent. “I don't know if it's going to be that easy,” he said. “I mean, she's pissed, but it's her duty to marry him. She doesn't really have a choice in the matter. I don't know that me playing the white knight and being a shoulder to cry on is going to help my chances any.”
“She has a choice alright,” I said.
“But doing what we want her to do – that's going to start a war between the two largest clans in the country,” he said. “I don't think she's stupid enough to do that. Especially, because she knows that it's a war her clan is very likely to lose.”
“You don't know women, Roan,” I said, taking a long pull from my beer. “She's emotional, needy, she's not going to let this injustice stand. You know the old saying, Hell hath no fury...”
Deep down, I knew more than I let on. I stared over at Roan, the son of Austin Flint, the Chief of the O'roja clan. My clan. The often-forgotten clan that has been dwindling in numbers ever since the Q'lapa moved into the area fifty or sixty years back. We had been there first, and I would be damned if I allowed the Blackwoods to push us out of our town.
I couldn't le
t Roan know my other plans though, because they included implicating his precious Mariana in the murder of Asher's mistress. A little fact I had to leave out or else, risk Roan not working with me. And I needed all hands on deck for this. I needed flexibility and options. And he gave those to me.
As much as I hated to hurt and use my friend, I couldn't let this alliance between the Q'lapa and the N'gasso take place. I couldn't let either clan remain in power.
It was time for us, the smaller clans, marginalized and pushed to the side by those two, to be back in control once more.
Chapter Eleven
Rose
Paula had hardly moved all day. As soon as I got home, I made sure to feed her and do whatever I could to make her comfortable and take care of her. I felt guilty for not being there for her all night, for not making sure she'd eaten earlier. She was still in her pajamas, on the couch where I'd left her when I headed out to work that morning, and she hadn't moved an inch. Not even to use the bathroom.
“Here you go,” I said, putting a bowl of soup down in front of her.
My heart ached as she stared back at me with dead, vacant eyes. I hadn't been there with her but for a few weeks and already, I could see that she was taking a turn for the worse. I thought we had more time to spend together, but it was becoming obviously and painfully clear that we didn't. The doctors had ceased chemo, said it was no longer working. They'd encouraged us to let my aunt live out the rest of her life out in peace, however long that might be. And to spend whatever time with her that I could, enjoying her last days with her.
I lifted the spoon to her lips and fed her, trying not to cry.
“You don't have to do that, Nancy,” she said.
Nancy was my mother's name. Her sister.
“I'm not Nancy, I'm Rose.” I said, my voice soft and on the verge of breaking.
“Damn, where is my head at? Of course, you're Rose,” she said. “My lovely niece, Rose.”
“Yes, aunt Paula,” I said, feeding her another bite.
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