Page 40 of Descent

More emotion than I ever thought Asher Putnam was capable of passes across his face.

“Not as much as it hurt me knowing you were bearing the brunt of a punishment meant for me. Not as much as me knowing that you were in pain, bleeding…. because of me,” he says, with a rough swallow.

“You didn’t hit me, Asher. You are not the enemy here.”

“Then what am I, princess? What am I, to you?”

I open my mouth to respond, all words seeming to fade away and rendering me speechless. He doesn’t let it go, though, his face inches towards mine.

“What am I?” he asks again.

Still, I don’t answer. He leans in a little more, so close our lips accidentally bump against one another for a second before he speaks again. He draws out his words slowly, so his lips drag against mine.

“What. Am. I?”

“Mine,” I whisper shakily, fearing what this is, what it means, and the impending rejection I’ll feel, again.

“That’s right, princess,” he says, his words like a whispered prayer. “I’m all fucking yours.”

My heart flips in my chest, but I don’t have time to process it before his lips are on mine. Butterflies race through me, and the feeling of coming home washes over me. His lips move gently against mine, his tongue softly teasing my own as he deepens the kiss. He pulls away from the kiss, peppering my face with gentle, loving kisses as he begins speaking.

“I’m so sorry this happened,” he whispers. “I promise I’ll never let it happen again. I can’t live through seeing you like that ever again.”

He pulls away for a moment, looking into my eyes.

“You’re everything to me, Skyla. Fucking everything.”

His promises and declarations of adoration pluck at the buried hurt inside caused by none other than the man himself. I shouldn’t be so stupid as to forgive him, just like that, and I’m not. All I know is that I need him, and right now, he needs me too.

A few hours go by before a knock comes from the door. Slowly, Ronan, Liam, and Vincent file into the room. Each pausing when they see Asher and I wrapped up together. I turn my head, so I’m fully facing them, but am still on my stomach as I look at them.

I’m not sure what I expect them to say or how they should react, but I definitely wasn’t expecting this.

“Oh, for fucks sake! You’ve got to be shitting me!” Vincent practically snarls.

“Vincent,” Ronan says with a shake of his head.

His gray eyes fly over to Ronan before he shakes his head.

“No! Fuck this. This is all his fucking fault. Why are we even allowing him to be in the same room as her, let alone fucking touching her!”

“It’s not his fault,” I say. “It was mine. He was getting whipped, and I jumped on top of him. He didn’t force me. He didn’t ask me. I did it. It was my decision.”

The gray in his eyes turns to granite as he grits his jaw and shakes his head.

“Please don’t tell me you forgive him. Do you remember what that piece of shit did to you?” Vincent snarls, like Asher isn’t in the room. Or maybe he just doesn’t care.

“I remember but…” I trail off, turning to catch Asher’s impassive gaze. Or at least, he’s trying to appear impassive. I know him better than that by now, though.

“Things change,” I say as I turn to face Vincent again. He looks seconds away from detonating as I continue. “I love you, and I know you might not like it, but I…I need him. I want him around, and I’m sorry if that upsets you.”

I feel Asher’s arm that’s around me tighten softly, like a hidden message just for the two of us. Vincent continues staring at me, not moving or speaking as Liam takes up the spotlight.

“So, are you two together now or?”

“No,” I say while Asher says, “Yes.”

The guys stare at me for several seconds before Ronan speaks.

---