Page 29 of Fatal Vengeance

After it’s clear I’m not going to speak, Asher shifts again, tipping my chin up with his finger until I’m staring into his eyes. “I hate chocolate,” he blurts, holding my gaze with the kind of intensity that makes me a little nervous, and yet also gives me butterflies. “I prefer winter over summer. I broke my leg in the eighth grade, falling off a fence Creed dared me to climb. I’d choose a burger over steak any day. I like cars, but I can’t work on them for shit. When I was a child, I wanted to be a pirate; nobody could convince me that it wasn’t a viable career option until I was like twelve. I’m allergic to kiwi. Blue is my favorite color. And… I realized I was bisexual freshman year of college, when I’d walked in on Griffin masturbating, and I’ve wanted him ever since. I never acted on that because I was afraid to lose his friendship, but look at us now. We're more than friends, even if I made so many mistakes along that way that should have sent him running. And that gives me hope that I can mend things between you and me too."

My brows raise more and more throughout his speech until I’m sure I look ridiculous by the end. “Why are you telling me all of this?” I ask slowly. It’s not like I didn’t like the total over sharing, especially the part about him seeing Griffin touching himself, but I don’t understand Asher’s motives right now.

He rakes his teeth over his bottom lip, pulling it into his mouth and sucking on it while he considers his words. His eyes never leave mine, even while he struggles for something to say, and the intense eye contact makes me feel far more exposed than my naked body does.

Finally, Asher drops his gaze to stare at his wet jeans, mumbling, “Griffin told me to talk to you. To allow you to get to know me.” With a one-shouldered shrug, he adds, “But I don’t want to wait weeks or months or whatever it takes for us to get to know each other. We might not have that much time. We could all die tomorrow, and I’d go to the grave with this massive regret.”

“I’m—I’m still not following. I thought I already knew you pretty well.” I don’t say it aloud, but my brain so helpfully follows my words with a bitter, and you’re a dick.

Asher laughs, but it’s dry and humorless, shaking his head and giving me his full attention once more. “No, pet, you knew the version of me that my father always wanted. You knew the asshole who was too weak to prevent getting manipulated into being their weapon. You don’t know me and I want that to change. So… this is me laying it all out. Fresh start or whatever.”

“Fresh start? And why are we getting to know each other?” I ask cautiously, though I can't deny the way my lips try to pull up into a sad little smile. This feels so much bigger than that truce he called for, and I'm caught between keeping my walls firm and allowing him to bulldoze right through them.

“Because I want you. I’m shit at showing it and I’m a fucking dick, but it’s the truth. Somewhere along the way, I grew attached to the impossibly strong redhead who went toe to toe with me at every fight. I don’t know where to go from here, but I want to earn your trust and forgiveness and have my own piece of you… If you’re okay with being split in three between Creed, Griffin, and I.” He frowns a little, looking so awkward right now that it’s kind of adorable. If nothing else, at least he’s good at pulling my mind from my sorrows.

There’s this small voice in the back of my head that’s telling me to give in… because I’ll regret not doing it when I slink back to The Celestials and offer them my life to save everyone else. When I look at it that way and measure what's left of my life, how can I not give this a try?

“Fresh start… Okay,” I drawl, and then shiver because the shower is really starting to get icy. I ignore it, though, taking a steadying breath. “Hi, I’m Prudence. My dad is a psychotic killer in a dangerous cult. My mom was severely mentally ill my entire life until that cult had her killed. I’m scarred, inside and out, and incredibly self-conscious about it. I don’t like clowns. Or cats. My favorite food is pasta, which I’ll gorge myself on until I’m sick. I won the spelling bee in the third grade. I was a virgin until coming to college, and now somehow, I’ve managed to have feelings for… three guys. Even if one of them has been a complete prick to me.” I smile a little shyly, tears forgotten. “So, um, yeah. That’s me.”

“Nice to properly meet you, pet,” Asher breathes, a soft smile on his lips as his eyes study every inch of my face. “Now, let’s get out of this shower before you turn blue. Creed will have my balls if he knows I let you sit in here for so long.” Without waiting for me to agree, Asher stands, shuts the water off, and then starts stripping his soaking wet clothes from his body.

My eyes widen as his shirt drops to the ground, revealing his chiseled abs. “What are you doing? We’re not fucking right now, Asher.” I only just manage not to snap the words out like a whip, but seriously. If he thinks a little chat earns him his place between my legs right now, after I’ve been sobbing in the shower, then I might just punch his dick.

Asher rolls his eyes as he drops his jeans, leaving his gray boxers on, thank fucking god. “Relax, Prudence. We only just met. I’m not that kind of guy.”

I arch a brow, which has him laughing. The sound is so warm and carefree, so unlike the cold chuckles he's given me before, that I actually believe there's a side of Asher I'd very much like. I just hope I get to see it before I go.

“Fine, I could definitely be that kind of guy. But I’m also smart enough to read the room, and nothing about you screams fuck me on the shower floor. I’m just getting these clothes off, so your sister doesn’t skin me alive for trailing water all over the floor. Okay?” He bites back his smile as he stares at me, shaking his head like he's shocked at my train of thought.

I nod slowly, avoiding looking at all that tan skin and taut muscle. "Okay," I agree, trying to fight my own stupid smile too.

He gets out, grabbing the only towel waiting on the rack. I’m assuming he’ll use it for himself, but Asher hands it over to me without hesitation. “Here, pet. Dry off and get warm,” he murmurs, and when I don’t move to do as he says, he steps forward, pulls me to my feet, and then carefully and tenderly dries me. When he’s finished, he cups my cheeks, smooths his thumbs over my drying tears, and rasps, “I’m not that bully you had to deal with back at Blackwood. This is me. Or at least, who I want to be for you. I just hope you let me in, so I can show you that.”

I blink at him a few times, fighting a blush from how abrupt and sweet and vulnerable Asher’s being. He’s never been so open with me. This is more telling than his display the other day when he’d pushed me against the wall and almost fucked me.

Without thinking about it, I lean in and kiss him. Nothing obscene, nothing lingering, just a simple, sweet press of my lips to his, silently telling him I’ll do my best here as long as he promises the same.

When he helps me back into bed for the night, he crawls in too for the first time since getting to the cabin. Until now, he’s been crashing on the couch, which must not have been very comfortable. Asher gets in close, but doesn’t try to pull me in to cuddle, which I appreciate. He just lies there, settling between me and Griffin, and the lazy smile on his face shows just how much he likes being there.

It makes my heart hurt thinking about all that could be one day… But I’ll never get to see it. The Celestials will be a threat unless I deal with them.

Soon, I think sleepily as I start drifting off. My life is going to end very soon.

20

Creed

“I should check on Prudence,” I rumble, pushing off the couch, ignoring the way my hands are trembling.

“You’ve checked on her eight times today, man. Give it a rest. She’s fine, she just needs… time,” Asher argues, though there’s no heat in his voice. He’s just as worried about her as I am.

Actually, no, I’m more worried. Asher had some time with her in the shower the other night, something he won’t divulge any details about, but at least he got her talking for a while. But the next morning, it was evident that she was still shell-shocked and hurting, shut off in bed to deal with finding Annie’s head.

That was yesterday.

Now it’s fucking, you know, today, and she still won’t get out of bed or humor me with her adorable sassy mouth or even so much as smile at me. She lets me feed her, and she melts into me and Griffin whenever we go lay with her, but other than that, nothing.

I’m going fucking crazy.

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