Page 112 of The Love Penalty

“I love you.” His husky voice sends tendrils of pleasure curling through my body. Or maybe it’s his words. Or the look that’s still swimming in his eyes.

I nudge my hips toward him, reaching down to part my folds and guide him inside me.

Our eyes stay connected as he slides home, his rigid cock piercing me with a beauty that’s indescribable.

Gripping his shoulders, I urge him with my hips, enjoying his second thrust, loving the way our bodies glide together. We find our rhythm easily and bask in it. My hands travel down to his butt, my fingers sinking into that firm ass as ecstasy glides through me, one wave after another.

His breathing hitches in my ear, his lips dropping kisses from my cheek to my shoulder as he gets lost in the feeling of us.

“Ahh,” he groans, picking up his pace, his arms trembling as he shifts his weight from his elbows to his hands.

Rising above me, he changes the angle, stars scattering before my eyes as he thrusts even deeper, becoming a part of me as only he can.

I tip my head back, soft whimpers spurting from my mouth as he drives into me like a piston.

Yes, yes, yes!

“Asher,” I cry out as I’m blinded by a thrill so fierce, it takes out my senses.

He spasms inside me, choking out a sound that’s all pleasure as he takes his fill and thrusts into me two more times before splintering apart in my arms.

We couldn’t move for a while after that session. I lay beneath him on the couch, our naked bodies relishing the skin-on-skin contact. There’s seriously nothing better. We could have stayed there all night if someone didn’t tap on the door, letting us know dinner was ready.

I couldn’t bear to get fully dressed, so I borrowed a T-shirt and some sweats off Asher. The pants were way too big and kept sliding off my hips, but I held them when I walked, and once I was sitting at the table, they behaved themselves.

We, of course, got a chorus of wolf whistles and eyebrow wiggles as we entered the room.

“Whatcha been doing?” Casey laughed at us while Fezzik jumped and yipped around his ankles, wanting to know what the fuss was about.

Baxter scooped him up, giving him a kiss before settling him on his knee.

He really does love that dog.

I took the teasing with as much dignity as I could. It was made a little more challenging by the falling-pants situation, but Asher’s grin was filled with pride, like I was the best prize at the table. As much as I hate the thought of being someone’s prize, there’s also something kind of nice about it.

He loves me. I’m his girl.

Dinner went well. We talked about everything but the ugly cloud of uncertainty hanging over all of us, so it was easy to pretend that life was grand and all was well. Asher and Rachel told us about their business idea, and Ethan put them through their paces like he was a judge on Shark Tank or something. But it was probably good for them. Asher rose to the challenge with a grace and dignity that completely turned me on. He’s so smart and capable. He deserves every good thing to swing his way, which is why this situation with his family is killing me.

As nighttime took over and we slipped into bed, the whole thing started weighing on me again. I think it was bothering Asher, too, but we couldn’t talk about it. Instead, we made slow, easy love in the darkness. It was a languid dance—soft and gentle. He came inside me with a murmured grunt, and I clung to his shoulders, never wanting to move from beneath his blanket of warmth and strength.

But that’s not reality, is it?

We can’t play pretend. We can’t not talk about this.

Actions need to be taken.

Because Caroline and Mick are right. I need closure… and Harvey can’t just get away with what he did to me.

Uncertainty rumbles in my chest again. What if it’s not Harvey?

But what if it is?

There has to be a way to know for sure.

Asher’s going through all this shit because of a hunch. I need concrete evidence, irrefutable proof.

As the early morning light dawns, I wake from my restless slumber with an idea that must have brewed in my dreams. As my eyes pop open, a question comes to life that I can’t shake.

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