Page 186 of XOXO

“For the Snow Moon day. Do you want—”

“I want you to stop talking.”

Her nails dug into my ass, thrusting me deeper into her, and I lost my ability to think.

Harder, she wielded.

With my hands planted firmly on either side of her, I did what she wanted, our sweaty bodies smacking off each other with every thrust.

“Oh, fuck!” Her screams of pleasure filled the room.

Any thoughts of love or missions faded away with the blissful feeling of her pussy clenching around me, wetting my cock further, and sending me over the edge.

A rush of euphoria coursed through me, causing my muscles to tense and a warm sensation to spread in my lower abdomen as I reached climax.

With heavy breaths, my head fell against her chest, her heart thundering in my ear as I softened inside of her.

She gently stroked her fingers down my back and whispered, “I love you, Val.”

Lucky.

I was lucky.

Chapter Four

Since I hadn’t completed yesterday’s mission, I had a strong desire to see if I could get Ember to let her shield down today. The sun had barely risen and Flaik Luna had been the only thing on my mind. With my thoughts elsewhere while sparring, Asher had a perfect opportunity to slam his hickory weapon against my chest, knocking the air from my lungs. Before I had a chance to recover, he swung his staff again, sweeping my feet from under me. I fell forcefully, my back slamming onto the mat.

Rarely did I get defeated in battle and honestly, I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had knocked me flat on my ass. I laid there for a few seconds, contemplating my entire existence before Asher stepped into my view.

His emerald green eyes sparkled with excitement as he peered down at me. “Point.”

“You got lucky,” I huffed, catching my breath.

“Need some air.” He wielded his wind magic, a light breeze blowing over my body.

“And that’s why Cash calls you Ass instead of Ash. You’re quiet until you’re not.”

Asher laughed and leaned into his staff with one hand while reaching another down, helping me from the floor.

I dusted off my bruised ass and ego before turning toward him. “You better relish that point because you won’t get that opportunity again. It’s just your lucky day.”

An accomplished smile rightfully played on his face when he left the floor and propped his staff in the corner.

“A point’s a point, and since I rarely get any with you, I don’t care how it happened.”

With a chuckle, I headed toward the rosewood table against the wall, grabbed a towel, and tossed it to him before grabbing my own. “My mind is elsewhere today.”

“Though I appreciate getting a point now and then, I don’t like that my friend is worried about something.” He rubbed the towel over his alabaster face, clearing it of sweat before continuing. “Do you want to talk about it?”

An uneasiness settled in my stomach and I twisted the sweat rag in my hands. “It’s not that serious.”

Asher’s brows arched. “We are currently tied with two points each, Val. That’s never happened before. It appears to be a serious matter to me.”

He scrubbed his towel through his shaggy sepia hair, drying up his sweat while I contemplated our relationship.

The undeniable truth, Asher was an honorable man with a gentle soul, yet I still hesitated to share my feelings with him because we had never formed that kind of friendship.

Of course, he was my friend and I would fight to the death for him—like everyone in the house—but unlike Cash and myself, he was a soft-hearted male. More like Zayn, but even sweeter.

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