“What can I do to help?”
“Just be you, Bit. And keep calling me out on my shit. I don't want to be an asshole. There's just a lot going on right now.”
“You'd tell me if it was something more than that, right?”
“Of course,” he said as he bent down to kiss me. He pulled away too soon for my liking, but we had places to be. “Let's go.” He swatted my butt as I slid past him through the door. Once outside he laced his fingers with mine and gave my hand a squeeze. I smiled up at him but noticed his smile didn't make the lines around his eyes form. His eyes weren't sparkling like they usually were. My mind immediately began to search for things that could be wrong. Had something happened with his parents? Were classes getting him down? Pre-law was a lot to take on and his father had really high expectations for him. Had I been doing enough to make him feel like a priority? Of all the possible problems I could come up with, that was the only one I could directly affect. Sometimes it was very easy to take our relationship for granted. There was a finality and sense of being settled when it came to Asher. I knew he was it for me, that we were it for each other. The real deal. The forever kind of love.
We crossed over the pedestrian bridge that led through a small wooded area. I stopped walking and Asher noticed when my hand tugged on his. He turned around and gave me a concerned look.
“Something wrong?” He asked, his eyebrows furrowing in the middle. I grabbed his other hand and pulled them both behind my back, forcing his chest to come into mine. My neck strained as I looked up at him towering over me.
“Do you remember the first time you told me you loved me?” I asked him. He gave me a sexy half smile, but still looked confused.
“Yeah. It was under our bridge at the park. Why?”
“I've loved you, in one way or another, since the day you stopped Ryan from throwing rocks at me in fifth grade. There's never been anyone else for me, Asher. And there never will be.” I saw as his smile grow and I saw the light come back into his eyes. “Who we are right now – college students, boyfriend and girlfriend – this isn't who we are meant to be; this is simply one of the bridges we have to cross to get to the rest of our lives together.” I saw his head begin to dip towards me and I raised up on my toes to kiss him. Our hands were still linked behind my back but he pressed them against me, pulling me further into him. I sensed people walking past us, a few people grumbled that we were blocking the path, but none of it mattered. He matters. We do. His mouth moved against mine and my mind went hazy as his tongue slid against the seam of my lips. Slowly, we used our mouths to affirm our love to one another. Nothing was as perfect as the way Asher kissed me. His teeth pulled gently on my bottom lip as he ended the kiss, sending shockwaves down to my belly.
“I love you, Bit.”
“I love you, Ash. One hundred percent.” He chuckled and then turned to ease back into the stream of people heading towards the stadium.
Not only did we win the game, but our house won the float competition. Who knew that getting cute co-eds to recreate scenes from Magic Mike would garner such an enthusiastic response from the crowd? Luck was in our favor that so many women came to the game and they screamed louder than their male counterparts when the time for voting came. No one out screamed college girls when faced with shirtless male strippers – no one.
Reeve and I were at the frat that night for the after party and things, as I was growing accustomed to, were getting a little crazy. The frat had what they called an “Around the World” party. All the doors in the house were shut and locked aside from a few sprinkled throughout. Each unlocked room was assigned a different country and liquor accordingly. The idea was to visit each room and get a drink from each country, completing your trip around the world. Each room had a brother assigned to it who gladly took part in getting girls drunk.
I attended a few parties at the house since school started, but this one seemed to be a little wilder than the rest. Every once in a while I caught a glimpse of Reeve bouncing around the dance floor or getting a drink from one of the guys. I caught sight of Tracy, the girl who’d not-so-subtly checked out my boyfriend as I stood right next to him. She was at the frat a lot and seemed to be making her way through a lot of the brothers. I rolled my eyes as her long blonde hair swished around at her animated flirting. She irritated me more than I liked to admit.
Asher did his duties as a brother and made sure everyone was having a good time. Periodically he stopped as he passed by me and asked if I was enjoying myself, kissed my temple, and then left me to tend to all the partygoers. I walked through one of the main rooms of the bottom floor when one of the brothers came up to me with a bottle of peppermint schnapps in one hand and a bottle of Hershey's syrup in the other.
“Open wide,” he said to me with a slimy smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes in disgust and turned away.
“Charlie, I'm kidding. Really, here,” he held up both bottles like they were a prize. I looked at him trying to put a name to his face. I recognized him because he was a part of Asher's frat, but I couldn't remember ever really talking with him. The fact that he knew my name told me he knew I was with Asher, so he was more than likely not trying to use a smarmy pick-up line on me. I relented and moved closer to him, pointed my face up, and opened my mouth like a baby bird, much like I'd seen many girls do in front of him tonight. He smiled. I closed my eyes. I felt the sting of the schnapps as it hit the sensitive skin under my tongue, then I smelled the sugary sweetness of the syrup as it mixed with the cool peppermint liquid.
“Close your mouth and shake.” I heard him say loudly into my ear to combat the noise of the music. I followed his instructions and shook my head back and forth, mixing up the contents inside. My mouth tasted like a peppermint patty. It was delicious. I swallowed and then blushed slightly when I opened my eyes to find him still staring at me.
“Which country is that from?” I asked, partly trying to be a smartass and partly trying to hide the fact that I was uncomfortable. He hadn’t moved back from me, even though there is no need for him to be standing so close anymore. I stepped back to try and put some distance between us but I bumped into someone. My stomach dropped because I knew exactly who I’d backed into. I felt the hardness of his abs and chest up against my shoulders. His hands came up to my arms and gripped me sturdily, helping me keep my balance.
“Blake.” That was all he said. I figured that was the name of the guy I was standing too close to. Blake nodded at Asher and walked away. I felt Asher's hands spinning me and I turned my head up to look at him.
“I was just taking a shot from him,” I yelled over the music. His finger came to my chin and tipped my face up towards his. I thought he was coming towards me to kiss my lips and I involuntarily licked them, tasting the chocolate and peppermint still lingering on them. His mouth bypassed mine and moved to my ear instead.
“I know, Bit. But that doesn't mean I have to like finding you staring up at him with your body so close to his.” My heart dropped hearing his words. I never wanted to give him a reason to feel like I was not completely his. I was nothing if not his. I pressed my cheek into his, putting my lips right next to his ear.
“Take me to your room.”
He pulled back and looked in my eyes for a few moments, then his hand slid down to lace his fingers between mine. He turned and led me to the staircase. Once we were to his room, he pulled out his keys, unlocked, and opened the door. I walked in first and breathed a small sigh of relief to see his roommate was not there. I sat on the edge of Asher's bed and watched him as he placed the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the outside doorknob. That sign usually bothered me. I didn't like the idea of the guys in his house walking by his door knowing or assuming anything was happening inside. It was none of their business. But in this case, I was glad he pulled it out and announced to the world that we needed some privacy.
I watched as he walked to his dresser and as he faced away from me, he reached behind his neck and pulled his tee shirt over his
shoulders. His bare back was strong and muscular. I could see each individual, defined muscle move as his arms free themselves of his shirt. He was beautiful.
“I'm sorry.” The whisper was out of my mouth before I even had a chance to realize I said anything. He stilled, but eventually turned his head over his shoulder to look at me.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Charlie. I know nothing happened. You just took a shot from him; that's the whole point of this party.”
“I'm not sorry for taking a shot. I'm sorry for giving you a reason to feel, even for one second, that I would lend myself to anyone else. That anything I give to you so freely or happily, is ever given to anyone else.”
“I don't like the idea of lending you in any capacity.”
“You'll never have to,” I replied.
“I'm sorry I make you feel this way. You have every right to have fun at a party. You weren't doing anything wrong.”
“If it made you feel anything besides happy or loved, even for one moment, then I am sorry.” I stood up and walked over to him, placing my hands on his ribcage. His skin was warm and tight over his muscles. I reached up on my tiptoes and placed a kiss right between his shoulder blades, then rested my cheek against his back. “I love you.”
“I know, Charlie.” I felt him turn and his hands were on my face. “You don't have to prove anything to me.” I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. The painful lump started to form in my throat. “Bit, what's wrong?”
I got a little relief that he called me Bit. He never used my nickname when he was upset with me, so to hear him say it eased my worries a little. I shrugged my shoulders and immediately saw him roll his eyes with a smile.
“Tell me,” he pleaded.
“I have spent so much time trying to encourage us to be independent of each other that it never occurred to me that we could grow apart.” I took a deep breath. “Back home, no one would have ever flirted with me the way he did. No one. Everyone knew that we were together and no one ever tried to mess with that. And I'm a little disappointed in myself that I let him stand that close to me. That I let him flirt with me.”
“Would you have kissed him? Would you have let him touch you?” Asher asked with a gentleness in his voice.
“Never,” I said with absolute conviction.
“Then you're getting all worked up over nothing.” He rubbed his thumb over my cheek and I could see him thinking hard about something, figuring out a way to put it into words. “We're going to be tested, Bit. There are going to be a million different scenarios in which we'll be given an option to choose us, or ruin us. I know we're going to be ok. Everything I do is for us. There will never be a day or a time when you aren't my first priority, and I know you feel the same way.” He placed the smallest and most chaste kiss against my lips then rested his forehead against mine. “The hardest part will be having faith in each other's ability to keep choosing us. You will have to trust me and I will have to trust you.”
“I trust you. I trust us. And you can trust me. I promise.”
“What else can I do with you?” He asked, his voice suddenly darker and deeper. Bolts of excitement shot through my entire body and I shuddered when they ended at the core between my legs. Asher saw my reaction to his words and laughed softly. “I haven't even touched you yet, Bit.”
“I'm pretty sure you could make me come with just your words,” I whispered against his mouth, wanting him to take mine so badly.
“Hmm...” he groaned as he rubbed his mouth across mine. Not kissing me, but teasing me. “That sounds like a challenge. I accept the challenge, however, we'll have to test your theory some other night. Tonight I want you. All over me.”
And there was a challenge I would accept. He gripped my hips and picked me up so I was level with his eyes. I always felt like a feather when he picked me up and I'm pretty sure it made him feel big and strong. No denying his size, he started growing one summer and never really stopped. When he stopped growing tall, he started growing muscle. I loved all his muscle. He wasn't bulky or beefy, he was hard and powerful. His arms were just big enough to hold me and make me feel protected and safe.
His lips crushed mine and my hands found the back of his head, hanging on to his hair. He walked me over to his bed and laid me down. He stood over me, undoing his belt, looking at me like he hasn't eaten in days. He was hungry. His pants fell to the floor and he crawled over me, trailing kisses all along my body where his mouth could reach my skin. Up my forearms, the sliver of skin between my jeans and my shirt that rode up my stomach, along my collar bone. Everywhere he kissed I felt warmth bubbling to the surface of my skin. His mouth traveled along my jaw, over my chin, and when he finally made it to my lips, there was a knock at the door.
“No fucking way,” Asher nearly growled. “Go away!” His face came back down to mine and he tried to start his seduction over.
“Asher?” I heard the voice and immediately I was off the bed and ran to the door. I yanked it open and saw Reeve on the other side, tears streamed down her face.
“Reeve, what's the matter?” I asked as she walked past me into Asher's room. She hadn’t noticed that he wasn’t wearing any pants, and he hadn't tried to cover up the fact that he was only wearing a pair of boxer briefs. Luckily for him the interruption was enough to calm him down a bit so that even though he wasn't necessarily covered, he wasn't indecent.
“I was hoping,” she said between hiccups and tight breaths holding back sobs, “that you would be ready to go back to the dorm.”
“What happened, Reeve?” I brought her in and sat her down on Asher's bed. Asher exhaled loudly and started putting his clothes back on. Reeve wiped at the skin below her eyes, trying to erase the wetness from the tears streaming down her face.
“I was downstairs dancing with Caleb. We were having a good time and he told me he had a drink in his room he wanted me to try. At first I didn't want to go, but I guess I figured there were drinks all over the house, and that was the whole point of this stupid party.” She shook her head and I could tell she was starting to blame herself for whatever had happened next.
“So, I went with him to his room, but once I saw that his room was locked and no one else was in there, I stalled. I told him I forgot my purse downstairs, I tried to leave.”
My stomach began to turn as she was telling me the story. I didn't know exactly where the story was headed, but I could guess and my blood was starting to boil through my veins.
“What happened?” I heard Asher ask, his voice sounded just as on edge as I was feeling.
“He told me my purse was safe, grabbed my hand and convinced me to go in.” She started crying harder, but still silently. “When he shut and locked the door behind me I started to panic. I told him that I needed to go, but...” She couldn't continue. She cried uncontrollably now. I brought her head to my shoulder and ran my hand along her smooth hair. I looked over her head at Asher and recognized the rage in his eyes. He tried to control himself and I wasn't entirely sure that I wanted him to exercise control in that moment. But I knew we needed to hear the whole story before he went off to confront Caleb.
After a few minutes of holding her and trying to soothe her, I softly asked, “Reeve, can you tell us what happened?” She pulled back from me eventually and tried to dry her eyes and nose on the back of her hand. Asher produced a box of tissues for her and she gave him a small smile, but it was only on the corners of her mouth, it didn't light up her face like it usually did.
“I asked him to let me out and he said that I didn't want to leave and that he knew what I really wanted.” I could actually feel the tense waves and rage flowing off of Asher from hearing that one sentence. “I kept saying no, but he cornered me and then he pushed me up against his closet door and kissed me.” Her face dropped into her hands and she let out a few more sobs. “It shouldn't be a big deal, I've kissed him before, but this felt different.” She looked up at me, her eyes bloodshot and her face red and puffy. “I was scared,” she whis
pered.
We both jumped when we heard Asher punch the wall. He moved over to his desk chair and picked it up off the floor and slammed it back down so hard one of the wheels went flying across the floor, broken off from the force of his blow.
“Can you tell me what happened next?” I asked gently.
“He had me by my arms and he forced me over to his bed and tried to make me lie down. I was telling him no, and I couldn't understand why he wouldn't stop. He was supposed to stop!” She became panicked. I knew I was going to lose her in a moment, but I needed to get the information out of her.
“Reeve, take some deep breaths. He can't get to you in here. Right, Asher?” I looked over at him, hoping he could help me.
“I'll fucking kill him, Reeve. Don't worry about it. I've got you.”
I don't think I had ever loved him more than I did in that moment. I helped her take some deep breaths and when she had regained some of her composure she continued.
“I was on the bed, and he was over me, holding my arms down by my wrists over my head. He tried to get my shirt off. I kept telling him no and to get off of me.” She sniffled again but kept going. “He kept calling me a whore and a cock-tease. I tried so hard to get him off of me. He leaned up a little, I think to try and undo the button on my jeans, and there was just enough room between us for me to knee him right in the junk.”
My eyes went wide because, honestly, that is not what I expected to hear.
“You got him in the balls?” Asher asked from across the room. She nodded.
“Yeah, I got him good too because he immediately rolled off of me, holding himself and groaning. I jumped off the bed and he rolled right off it onto the floor. So then I kicked him in the stomach. I left right after that, but I heard him throwing up as I was running down the hall.” She looked back up at me. “I figured this is where you were, so I ran straight here.” She looked over at Asher.
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