Page 59 of Lock Up the Darkness

Aurora: I could handle you just fine.

Asher: So it was an offer then?

Aurora: No. And aren’t you celibate? Outside of Jonah, apparently?

Asher: It’s a lack of interest.

Aurora: Jonah being the exception?

Asher: Once in a while.

Aurora: When your hand isn’t doing it for you anymore?

Asher: When I become dangerous.

If he was trying to scare me with that ominous line, he had another thing coming thinking it was gonna work, or even land well.

Aurora: Maybe you shouldn’t bottle it up so much then.

Asher: Like I said, lack of interest. It couldn’t be helped.

Aurora: Past tense?

Asher: Perceptive girl. Yes.

I swallowed hard, my fingers stilling. Was he—

Another text came in, interrupting my thoughts and answering my question at the same time.

Asher: But you’re not ready. And to keep my promise, I can’t exactly break you now, can I?

Aurora: Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not breakable.

Asher: I was already able to bend you, don’t forget.

Aurora: That was weeks’ worth of manipulation, tests, and mind-fucking. And bending is a whole lot different to actually breaking somebody.

Asher: Agreed, so let’s keep it that way. You’re still scared of the dark.

Aurora: Bullshit.

Asher: You hide it well, don’t get me wrong. The thing is, once you open that door, it doesn’t want to stay closed.

Aurora: There’s no door.

Asher: Your session with Jonah would beg to differ.

Aurora: That was merely scratching an itch.

Asher: Been a while for you, had it?

Aurora: Yes.

Asher: How long?

Aurora: None of your business.

Asher: Why?

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