Page 51 of Restrictions

“You heard me. I’m not Linc. I won’t be a fucking dumbass and fuck the wrong girl because I’m attracted to her. Because Iamattracted to you. Insanely fucking attracted to you.” His eyes dip down over my torso that’s fully clothed today in a blouse with a high neckline and a bra under it, but with his eyes on me I feel totally naked. “But I’m not my brother. I’m not either of my brothers.”

“I know that.”

“Good. I’m a Sterling, and we are clearly fucked-up, but I’m not Linc, and I’m not Colt. My dick doesn’t own me and neither do my responsibilities.”

“So who does? Own you, I mean.” I bite my bottom lip, fighting the lust creeping to the surface as his eyes glare into mine and then lower to look at my lips.

He doesn’t answer, he just turns and walks down the stairs.

I’ve known Asher for a long time, but never did he seem as lost as I see he is now.

Was he just that good at hiding it all these years?

22

ASHER

Ireally have to stop the broody shit with Viv. Easier said than done though. I care about her on a whole new level, and I don’t want to fucking hurt her. But how could she act so casual about what happened last night?

Not that I think she should be ashamed. Not even close. But fuck, it was a big deal.

I can’t stop thinking about it. Her hands. Her body writhing under their touch. Both of us wishing they were mine.

I’ve avoided her most of the day, but it hasn’t been easy since I missed the hell out of Baz, and now that he’s home I wanted to hang with him.

And maybe I miss her too.

A quick rap comes from my open door, and I look over, seeing Viv standing there in her plaid blue and pink pajama shorts with a sheer pink t-shirt with the words “Good morning, Princess” written on it.

“Can we talk?”

Now she wants to talk?“Baz asleep?”

She nods tentatively, walking into my room and taking a seat at the end of my mattress, tucking one foot under her thigh, her shorts riding up and showing me way too much skin. “He was worn out, I think.”

“That’s good.” I lean back against the wooden headboard and run my fingers through my hair.

Viv looks at me, shyly tucking her neck down. “Are you still angry with me?”

“I was never angry with you.”

Her eyes lift, her gaze smoldering, her lips in a pout. “Then why have you been avoiding me all day? Do you really think I have some crazy plot to seduce you? Is that what you think of me?”

“No.” I swallow, the image of her reclined and reaching into her panties hits me, washing over me and wishing for cold water to come out of somewhere to douse the fire burning through my body. “I know you didn’t plan it.”

“I didn’t.” She says it firmly. I’ve enjoyed watching her gain her strength seemingly overnight.

“I know.”

And I do. It was a dick think to accuse her of.

She sighs, and my brain is busy trying to decide if she’s wearing a bra or not when her sweet voice fills the space between us, bringing my eyes up to her pretty face. “When you walked in, I was shocked. I didn’t think you would be back for hours, but I fought through my initial instinct of being humiliated.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Fuck, I jerked off twice today already.”

She laughs, which makes me smile. I love her laugh. “My entire life, I’ve strived to be this perfect creature. To be this poised, perfect girl who did everything right. I just wanted you to see me as normal.”

“You’re not normal.”

---