Page 144 of Deceit

“Speak for yourself,” Asher scoffs.

“Oh no, lover boy. No going back now. I know what I saw. You’re into my girlfriend. It’s a good thing I love to share,” Liam smirks.

Asher rolls his head to Liam, a dubious look on his face.

“Or are you dating my soon to be wife?”

Liam frowns at that before shaking his head.

“I don’t like the sound of that. I had her first. Dibs.”

I can’t help but let out a laugh.

“You’re ridiculous,” I say as I push Liam out of the way. He quickly steps back, and I turn to Asher.

“I need my hand back if I’m gonna go inside.”

He looks down at it, as if he were contemplating how he could hold onto it for the night without chopping it off. Lifting our joined hands to his lips, he presses a featherlight kiss against the back of my hand.

I smile at the tender gesture.

“You don’t want to come in, do you? Stay for a while?”

His eyes darken, and I honestly think he’s about to say yes when his phone begins buzzing in the center console. I watch as his eyes shutter closed and when they open again, all desire seems to be drained right out of them.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nod, trying and failing to hide my disappointment when he frees my hand and picks up his phone. I slide out of the car without another word, giving him a half a wave that he returns before I close the door and he answers.

“C’mon, I can’t wait to see the look on Vincent’s face when he finds out he has to share you with Asher too!” Liam practically giggles.

“You’re such a little pot stirrer,” I laugh with a shake of my head.

“Oh absolutely.”

Chapter Forty Nine

Skyla

Turns out, Vincent wasn’t as upset as Liam or I thought he would be. Vincent and Ronan were waiting for me in my room when I got back, and before I could even sit them down and explain my feelings for Asher or what happened, Liam word vomited it to them.

“Guess who I just found making out with our girl in the parking lot?”

It took half a second for Ronan and Vincent to simultaneously say, “Asher.”

Apparently, they saw it coming even before I did. We all talked about it, Ronan said it didn’t matter to him and Vincent said that as long as he is the one who gets to kill him if he hurts me, then he’s fine with it. Which is very on brand for him but sweet, nonetheless.

The next morning, Liam and Vincent got called away early. Assumingly, to be summoned for tonight. Ronan spent the entire day with me, though, and his watchful eyes tracked every move I made.

I’ve been trying to keep it together, to not picture how absolutely embarrassing and humiliating it will be to be so vulnerable in front of so many people, a bunch of strange men no less. A knock on the door sends my body jolting, which Ronan takes note of before standing up and answering the door.

Waiting for me on the floor is a white box. He carries it inside, setting it onto the desk for me. The way he’s looking at it, it’s like he already knows what’s inside.

Peeling back the top, I reach inside and hold up the white silky material. It’s a nightgown, so smooth and sheer it’s practically see through, with at least fifty buttons going down from the neck to the floor. There is a card at the bottom. I lift it up to read the perfect scrawled penmanship across it.

This and nothing more.

Looking forward to seeing you.

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