Page 15 of My Grumpy Valentine

Asher’s love is strong enough to last for seven years, surviving all those years even after separating. Despite never receiving anything in return, his love burned fiercely. The way he wants me feels like nothing I’ve ever experienced.

As bad as it’ll make me sound, I kind of wish I would’ve met this man first. Something tells me he wouldn’t have let me go. At the time, our worlds seemed so far apart. One thing my ex-husband did right was bring Asher into my life.

Standing up, I round the table and approach him. He tilts his head up, his eyes watching ever so carefully. My fingers are trembling as I cup his face. “You already know I’m a handful. I’m always late, and I smell like I’ve bathed in oil half of the time. That doesn’t bother you?”

He shakes his head. He’s hesitant about touching me at first. Once his hands are resting against my hips, he’s squeezing my body. I don’t miss the sigh of relief that slips from his lips.“I’ll keep loving you. It’s a curse, Pen, always looking from the sideline. Trust me, I’ve tried to stop. No matter how much effort I put in, it’s all useless. Even when I thought I succeeded, all I had to do was see you one single time, and all my effort over the years went up in flames.”

Hearing the ache behind his words, I stroke his cheeks as I try to imagine going through the same thing. I guess I haven’t experienced a love so raw to feel something so intense. “I’m sorry for never realizing.”

He’ll want me to take back my apology. Before he can demand I do so, I swoop down and kiss him. Nothing too intense, just a simple brush to distract him from the words forming in his head. I need to take a moment to register all this new information, anyway.

He loves me. Asher wants me.Thisguy wants me.

I find it hard to believe for all three seconds before he moves. Standing up, he remains bent, refusing to break the kiss for even his comfort. Needing this just as much as I do, his hands move more freely. Making it known how thin my shirt is from the way his touch burns my skin, one of his hands moves down to grab my ass.

The groan that leaves his lips matches my own. Hearing him mutter a curse, he can’t seem to get enough. As he flattens our bodies together, I can feel the tension coiling in his body. Against my stomach, his jeans do very little to hide his arousal.

Asher, getting all worked up over a kiss? It’s laughable compared to how he used to act. It’s one of those things that makes me feel powerful. Just when I’m feeling like I’m on top, he grabs me.

A gasp leaves my lips when he plucks me up. I cling to his body, and our kiss resumes as he abandons the kitchen.

“Your room,” he starts before groaning when I nip his lip. “Is it too soon to tell me where it is?”

Not too soon. There’s a heat growing in my stomach, burning up those butterflies fluttering around minutes ago. Last night, I was kept awake by the same heat. I need this. I need him.

Barely giving him direction, we’re on the move. He’s a master at deciphering my gibberish. In a matter of seconds, we’re in my bedroom. I don’t think either of us minds the mess as he makes his way to my bed. Gently setting me down like I’m precious, he joins me immediately.

Flattening me against my blankets with his bulk, he nips at my lips, my chin, and finally, my throat. His teeth scrape my skin, and a rumble vibrates through his chest like he’s a starved man who has found his first meal in a week.

“You have no idea how badly I wanted to join you last night,” he groans against my ear as he licks his way back up. “It took all the strength I didn’t realize I had.”

My hips try to lift, but once more, his body denies me the movement. I can feel his arousal digging into my stomach even harder, stabbing me with temptation. If his words aren’t enough to convince me of his feelings, his body proves the fact.

“I wanted you to know how I felt first,” he continues as his mouth grazes my throat. “Needed you to know how badly I want you. How badly Ineedyou, Pen.”

Just when I think he’ll mark up my skin, he does the opposite and lifts to look down at me.

“Though, I’m tired of keeping my distance. I can’t stay away after this. Be mine, Penelope. I won’t make the mistake of letting you go.” He frowns at that, knowing how much my divorce hurt me. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Marry me before I go crazy. I’ll let you pick out a ring, a size too small if you’re worried I’ll ever consider taking it off.”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard this man sound so serious about anything.

As scary as the thought of history repeating itself is, I don’t think I need to worry about Asher. Not when he’s acting this intense. Sure, we won’t tie the knot tomorrow, but the way his grip on my heart tightens at the pleading tone of his voice, I can’t help but nod.

“Okay,” I agree in a whisper.

He left me once, and the sadness that came from it was more than it should’ve been. I don’t want him ever to leave again. If he marries me, then he’s going to be stuck. I’ll refuse to sign any more divorce papers.

When I tell him that, he laughs.Laughs.Sounding so rich and happy, I realize how gone I am for this man.

Asher is the man meant for me. Shame it took a few bumps on the road to get to my final destination.

With talk out of the way, he takes a moment to look at me. Shaking his head, his smile remains. With that, he swoops down for one more kiss before the real fun begins.

7

Asher

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve fantasized about this very moment. How many times I’ve fisted my cock with her name on the tip of my tongue, only to be reminded by the cruel reality of how she’d never be mine.

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