Page 39 of Where the Stars Heal

“Hey, hey, Halle.” Asher’s concerned voice breaks through the storm rolling through my head. “I need you to breathe for me, sweetheart.”

My eyes lock onto his, and he motions for me to take in a deep breath. I follow him blindly because when I look at him, when he touches me, everything goes silent, like he’s throwing a safety net over me. My heart races, and I hiccup on the next breath as the tears keep pouring from me. Slowly, he pulls me from my storm, and I slump into his arms. They tighten around me as he rests his hand on the back of my neck, drawing me to his chest, holding me close. Keeping me safe.

“I don’t know her story, or yours, the life you’ve had to live after your brother left. All I know is Hunter’s story and Halle, I don’t think you really know his, just as he doesn’t know yours,” he says as I breathe through the emotions threatening to drown me. “Maybe it’s time to have that talk with him. To find peace together and move forward.”

Pulling back slightly, my eyes search his, and I nod, offering him a weak smile because I know deep down he’s right. He leans forward, resting his forehead on mine, and for a moment, peace engulfs me. The birds flying and singing overhead fill the air, breaking the quiet of the morning as the tension slowly leaves me.

“I’m sorry, I’m a mess,” I whisper to him.

“What have I said to you about saying sorry?” He pulls back just enough to look at me.

His hands come to hold either side of my face, and a small gasp leaves me, his touch causing my pulse to spike. I can’t tear my eyes away from his lips, and the way he bites down on his lip ring stirs something deep inside me. The warmth of his hands on my skin awakens me.

“I want to kiss you,” he says, his voice deep and raspy, “but I’m not sure now is the right time, and when I do kiss you, I want it to be so consuming that neither of us can stop.”

My lips part, and butterflies assault my stomach. I lean in and wait for him because right now, he’s consuming every part of me, and I would love nothing more than for his lips to crash down on mine. Making me forget it all, even for a moment in time.

A child’s squeal pierces the air, shattering the moment, and we both jolt back as if we’re two kids caught eating candy in the middle of the night. Laughing quietly, we turn toward the sound just as a parent yells, “Get back here!”

Asher turns to face me, a smirk tugging at his lips. The playfulness in his expression makes my heart speed up as he eyes the water in front of us.

“Ever gone swimming under a waterfall, sweetheart?” he asks.

My eyes glance down at what I’m wearing and then back to him, my brows raised. Somehow, I don’t think denim shorts and a tee so oversized it’s like a dress would feel too good to swim in.

“Clothes have never stopped me before,” he says with a grin, standing up and grabbing the back of his shirt to pull over his head.

My jaw pops open, and my eyes widen. The way his muscles ripple and tense with the movement sends a wave of heat to my core, and I can’t look away.

Asher steps in close, gently placing his thumb under my chin and guiding my head back to meet his gaze. “Careful, Halle,” he whispers huskily, “you’ll send my imagination wild with your mouth open like that.”

I don’t breathe. I can’t breathe. Did he just…? Am I hearing…? My face feels hot all over, and my mouth goes dry. I start to tap my pencil, my nerves firing off inside me, and I can’t hide how flustered I’ve become by his words. His hand drops, and before my mind can catch up, a gravelly chuckle escapes him as he winks at me.

“Swimming and I don’t really work,” I say, glancing out at the waterfall, feeling embarrassed by my confession.

Standing to gather my things, the sunlight on the water catches my attention, creating a rainbow in the mist. It’s beautiful and distracting. In one moment, I’m lost to how the colors dance together, and the next, Asher’s arms are suddenly wrapping around my legs, lifting me effortlessly over his shoulder. A startled squeal escapes me as my hands grasp at his back.

“Asher! What the hell!?” I laugh. “Put me down!”

“Nah, sweetheart, we’re going swimming!” he shouts over his shoulder, his hold tightening on me.

Laughter bubbles out of me, catching me off guard. The thrill and excitement rushing through me is something I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s almost like I’m watching from the outside. I don’t think or worry. For once, I just give in and let myself live. I stop squirming and surrender, letting my body go still as I take in the view. And Asher’s ass is a nice view from up here. I can’t help but imagine how it would feel beneath my hands. Strong, firm, and… Before my mind drifts any further, I’m suddenly airborne. With a loud yelp, I’m thrown into the cold water, clothes and all. The shock takes my breath away as strong arms wrap around my center, pulling me to the surface. I’m gasping and spluttering as I wipe my hair from my face, instinctively wrapping my legs around his hips.

“Asher!” I yell, glaring at him.

He chuckles, moving us backward. The roar of the watercrashing down drowns out everything else, and I barely hear him when he leans in and says, “You ready?”

Before I can get a word out, he spins us in a quick circle. The pressure of the water crashes down like a heavy weight dropping on my shoulders, and I tense as the force of it makes me fall into Asher’s chest, my arms locking around his neck. Feeling his shoulders shake under me, I pull back to find him silently laughing, and I playfully smack his chest. The cool mist of the water hits my back, and the damp stone, mossy leaves, and freshwater fills my nose, reminding me he just pulled me under a waterfall with no warning.

I stare around us in awe. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful, so loud and chaotic, with the world fading into the background before. This is better than the stars.

“But the stars are where we heal,” Asher whispers into my ear, his voice soft.

My eyes fly to his, and my lips part, unaware that I said that out loud. My pulse picks up as his intense gaze falls to my lips, and I feel my breath catch as my core tightens. He slowly brings his hand up to cup my face, his thumb brushing my lower lip. I have no idea how long we float there in the clear, shallow water. Seconds? Minutes? Time blurs as I watch him fight with his morals, his eyes flicking between mine. A low groan escapes him when he snaps and gives up on the fight. My nerves take flight low in my core as my legs tighten around him.

“Fuck it,” he mumbles as his lips crash down on mine.

18

---