Page 61 of All That She Needs

"Sounds perfect," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

After a bit of a playful argument with Asha over who would pay for the meal—she insisted that the person who asked should cover the bill—I ultimately won and ended up paying.

I took her hand again as we stepped back onto the street, still buzzing with activity. People moved in all directions, their laughter and conversations blending with the hum of the city. The bright lights of storefronts illuminated the sidewalks, making everything feel vibrant and alive, creating a perfect backdrop for our evening.

"The jazz bar is a little spot called The Blue Note. It's just a few blocks away," I said as we walked. "My brother owns the place."

She turned her head to me, a hint of worry flashing across her face. I knew it was probably too soon to meet a member of my family when we were only on our first date. "Oh. Your brother?"

"Yeah," I replied, reassuring her with a nod. "But don't worry—he's a nice guy. I would really like you to meet him."

Asha suddenly stopped and spun around to face me. "Liam—" She paused, searching for the right words.

"But if you're not ready to meet my brother, I understand," I added quickly, feeling a flicker of panic as I noticed her worried expression. "We can go somewhere else." I gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, my heart swelling with affection. "I just want you to enjoy being with me, Asha. I'd never ask you to do anything you're uncomfortable with."

She let silence linger for a while, her eyes studying my face, driving me crazy as I waited before finally whispering, "Okay."

"Okay?" I parroted, a little stunned. "You meanokaygoing to my brother's bar?"

"Yes." She grinned.

"You sure?" I needed to make sure once again because I didn't want her to feel that she was obligated to say yes.

She grinned wider and nodded, her nose wrinkling adorably, and suddenly, I couldn't hold back any longer. I had to kiss her. And then I kissed her.

It was brief—just a press of my lips against hers, merely a tease—and when I pulled away, I found her staring at me in shock, her mouth slightly agape.

"I'm sorry," I said, taking a step back. "I shouldn't have done that... I'm really sorry."

I watched her with worry, holding my breath as she opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but then closed it again.

"Asha..."

"Do it again." Her voice was barely a whisper, but I heard her clearly. I just didn't quite believe it yet.

"Wait. You want me to—"

"Yes! Now."

Fuck.I didn't need much more encouragement. I wanted to slam my lips against hers and kiss her hard, nipping her, biting her, but this was our first time. I wanted to savor the moment, and I wanted to take my time. I gently grabbed her face and leaned down, brushing my lips against hers. I heard her breath hitch when I slanted my mouth and pressed my lips against the lips I had been longing for. My eyes halfway shut, didn't want to miss seeing her expression, and I noticed she did the same too. I deepened the kiss, pressing harder. I kissed her with everything I had, wishing she could feel the weight of my love from that kiss. Both my thumbs caressing her cheeks, both her hands gripping the lapels of my coat. Our breaths mingled, and our tongues danced. There wasn't an inch separating us. We stood on the sidewalk of a busy street, surrounded by people, but at that moment, we had forgotten about it. We had forgotten the world.

She whispered my name against my lips, and I shivered. Her voice was soft, yet it ignited a fire that surged through my veins. My hands slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer. She tiptoed, leaning onto me, pressing her hands on my chest, slipping inside my coat, and our kiss started to get frantic. Becoming needy and desperate. Our kiss completely seized my entire body, and I was unbelievably, painfully hard. I needed to stop this before it started getting out of control.

"Asha," I panted, breathless, as I pulled away. She instantly chased my mouth, her need mirroring mine. God, what I wouldn't give to teleport us to my bedroom and make love to her. "We need to stop."

When I saw the flash of hurt in her still dazed, glassy eyes, silently asking why, I knew I had to explain. I slid my hands to her lower back, pulling her close. Her eyes widened when she felt thehardexplanation on her lower belly. "That's why," I said with a smile.

A slow, amused grin spread across her face, followed by a soft giggle. I chuckled too. We were finally coming back to reality, the noise of the world gradually filtering in. Still, her hands rested on my chest, and my arms stayed wrapped around her.

"I'll need an encore," I told her firmly. "Promise me an encore."

"Okay," she giggled again.

"Still want to go to the jazz bar?" I asked.

She took a moment to think about it before she nodded. "Yes, I still want to."

"Okay,"

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