Page 177 of The Sidekick

“I left the lights on in the living room again.” Why did I just now think about that? I don’t want to get up. I like snuggly Asher time too much for that.

“It’ll keep,” Asher sighs and kisses my shoulder. “Sleep now.”

“Says the guy who doesn’t pay the electric bill,” I grumble without much heat.

“I’ll pay for it. Now go to sleep.”

I pout until I do.

I’ll be waiting, even if you shut me out. I’ll always wait for you.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Tera

Loud rock music startles me awake and I blink, completely disoriented. What is that?

Asher grumbles from behind me and rolls over to reach out and slap his phone. When the guitar riff cuts off, his arm drops around my waist heavily, making me huff out a breath.

“I’m usually up before it goes off,” he mumbles and pulls me into his chest.

“It’s ok. We were up really late.” He sounds like he’s about to fall back asleep. My eyes are wide open. “Did you hit snooze?”

“No idea.”

“What time is it set for?”

He rolls into me, tilting me forward until I’m half-pressed into the mattress. His erection presses into me and I inhale sharply, trying to resist the urge to wiggle. When he doesn’t make any effort to move off of me, the urge gets stronger.

“Asher?”

He makes a questioning hum.

“Are you teasing me?” I chew my lower lip as a blush starts to spread across my cheeks.

His body tenses above mine. I bite down harder. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

“Do you need something, angel?” He suddenly sounds wide awake. The husky tone of his voice is a seduction all its own. His weight settles more firmly on me, holding me down in a way that makes me breathless. I don’t feel anxious about being trapped. Surprisingly I feel the opposite as my body warms.

“Do you?” My voice comes out as a nervous squeak. I wince, burying my face in my pillow.

“I need a few things,” his voice turns thoughtful. “I need us to talk so that you know we’re more than just sex for one. We need to lay down some ground rules we can both be comfortable with.”

That sounds like a wonderful morning in an emotional sense but I have a more pressing concern. I have to be brave to say that out loud. It’s difficult to feel brave when I’m wearing a dress inside out with morning breath and a rat's nest for hair.

“Okay,” I mumble and press my face deeper into the pillow. I internally berate myself for bringing it up.

“I’d also like to have a night with you that doesn’t involve me screwing everything up,” he says wistfully and shifts his weight off of me.

“I think that was both of us last night, so I’m sure it’s my turn tonight,” I turn my head to tease him. “You can’t have all the attention.”

“Careful angel,” he sits back on his heels to look at my prone form. His weight pulls on the skirt of my dress. “Or I’ll rethink my next need.”

“A shower?” I giggle and put a hand over my mouth to try and stifle it.

“Someone is a morning person,” he chuckles and the tension on the skirt lets up as he moves back.

“Don’t tell anyone,” my voice comes out muffled from behind my hand. I can’t stop smiling at our banter. I want every morning to be like this.

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