Page 151 of Lock Up the Darkness

“Well, you know what they say, little beast?” He eased my head off his shoulder so he could look at me, so I could see his sexy silver eyes burning for me. “There’s a thin line between love and hate.”

“Well, we’re well over that line now. Hate is so far in the rearview mirror and we’re coming up on the other thing.” My words were unsteady next as I forced them past my lips, “What if they use it against us, Asher?”

“The sentiment is already there, the emotions and connection between us already established. All we can do is own it and march on, sweetheart.”

“Yeah,” I murmured, resting my head against his chest now.

We stayed that way for a long while, both relishing the comfort, and a moment in time that wasn’t touched by the outside world.

With what had happened earlier, it would likely be one of the last before real hell broke loose.

* * *

Asher’s grip loosened in mine as he stumbled across the threshold, then launched into a coughing fit.

I went to him and helped him steady himself against the wall.

“I’m fine,” he croaked. “I’ll be fine soon anyway. It’s being treated now.”

“Resting would help with that.”

“Not possible right now.”

“Is it actually possible ever?”

He stared at me for an intense moment. “An issue for later.” He pushed off the wall then and continued leading the way through the foyer, then up the spiral staircase.

“We’re not going to the salon or the dining room, the kitchen, where you’re usually holed up?” I asked.

He looked back over his shoulder with a smirk. “You said I needed to rest more.”

“And?”

“I’m taking your advice—and Jonah’s. My laptop is in my bedroom now.”

“And this is what you need my help with regarding the Liza and Killian situation? Coding?”

“Actually, another one of your talents I discovered when I spent time researching everything about you.”

“Hmm, not everything. You’re dreaming there.”

He laughed, almost launching into another coughing fit, but managing to ward it off.

We reached his room and he punched in the daily changing code to his overly secure pin pad door lock.

As it chirped, the door opening, he went on in and slapped on the light switch.

“Don’t be shy. I already said no fucking so you don’t need to fear my monster cock doing anything untoward while we’re trapped in here together with no witnesses.”

I shook my head as I walked in, then shut the door behind me. “Wow, even when you’re trying to put me at ease, the way you phrase things just won’t let that be. Creepy as shit a lot of the time and ominous too.”

“Force of habit.”

“You have to be that way with everybody else.”

“I do.”

He walked to his bed, then eased himself onto the left side, grabbing his laptop off the nightstand and settling against his mountain of pillows. He patted the space beside him.

---