Page 83 of Deceit

I don’t answer when he parks the car, not even when he turns the engine off and turns in his seat to face me. His head is angled to the side curiously, his eyes narrowed as if he was on guard. If what I saw tonight was just a glimpse of his childhood, then it makes a lot more sense why Asher is the way he is. It’s not an excuse by any means, but all the pieces are starting to fit together.

“Because, despite this villainized image you have of me in your head, I’m a good person, Asher. I’m not my father’s daughter, just like you’re not your father’s son.”

His brows cave in as he speaks.

“If you tell anyone about what you saw tonight—”

“Trust me, I have far more interesting things to discuss than you,” I say on a scoff, though I don’t miss the way his shoulders relax, and he eases back into the seat.

This piece of him I really get. Christopher must be exactly like my dad. Image is everything.

Without another word, I grab my clutch and my phone and push my door open, shutting it without a backwards glance as I make my way to my dorm. My head is reeling with everything that happened tonight. From the way Asher’s father treated him, to being told I’m getting married in a little over thirty days. To a man that can hardly stand me, to top it off. I feel myself visibly frowning until I open my bedroom door, revealing a smiley golden retriever of a human laying on my bed watching a movie.

When his eyes lock on mine, he smiles so wide that I can’t help but return it.

“Babygirl! You’re back early.”

He closes the distance between us, cupping my face and dragging me in for a kiss that I lean into, all too willingly. Whenwe break apart, he grins at me, making my heart flip flop as he reaches for my hand.

“C’mon, the movie just started.”

I chuckle at him as I stand in place.

“I want to change and take a shower first.”

“Great idea. I could use a shower too,” he says, with a waggle of his eyebrows.

I roll my eyes and shake my head as I move to the bathroom, shooting off a quick text to Ronan that I’m home safe, before setting my phone onto the bathroom vanity.

“That wasn’t a no!” Liam shouts, before walking into the bathroom.

He’s behind me in a flash, his hand on my dress zipper while the other rests on my hip.

“What are you doing?” I laugh.

“Shhh, I’ve always wanted to do this move,” he smirks as he slowly pulls the zipper down, chasing the newly exposed skin with his finger as he does.

It sends a shiver down my spine and forces a deep chuckle to escape him.

“Am I supposed to believe you’ve never done that before?” I ask breathlessly.

“Doesn’t it sound better if I say yes?” he asks.

I snicker.

“You’re such a manwhore.”

“Was,” he says, reaching around to cup my jaw and force my eyes to him over my shoulder. “Abso-fucking-lutely was before you. Now, I’m just your whore.”

My pulse quickens and I feel my chest tighten. That isn’t sweet. Is it? I don’t know. Maybe it is.

I’m about to speak when my phone starts ringing. It startles us both for a moment before Liam turns to look at it, smirking when he accepts the facetime call.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Liam

“Well, hey there, hot stuff,” I smirk into the camera.

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