Page 24 of Age of Shade

I can’t lie to myself anymore, and I can’t delay the inevitable. I have no more reason to be here, and he clearly doesn’t care. I’d known it was the end when I woke up, but this isreallythe end.

My heart is lodged in my throat as I cast one last look around the room to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything, carefully avoiding looking directly at Asher. My poker face isusually foolproof but right now, when I’m feeling all these big, conflicting emotions, I’m not sure I can pull it off.

I swallow, attempting a cheerful, casual tone as I stare at the doorknob. “Well. Thanks for dinner.”

“Adina.” There’s a quiet command in his voice, and I can’t resist obeying.

Reluctantly, I turn to face him. “It was fun. The food and the, um, orgasms? Thank you for that.” I wince. God, could I sound any more awkward right now?

Asher chuckles quietly. “Come here.” He reaches for me, and like my body has a mind of its own, I draw closer to him. The moment I’m within reach, his hands find my waist and he tugs me forward so I’m standing between his legs, staring down into his bright-blue eyes.

He’s silent for a long time, looking conflicted. Finally, he speaks in a quiet rush, “I’m going to be back here next weekend. Would you consider meeting me here?”

My pulse throbs, and my stomach knots as his words sink in. Looking down at him, Asher looks… vulnerable, actually. Dressed in only boxers and glasses, he gazes up at me apprehensively. Understanding washes over me, and suddenly, I want to laugh. He’s worried thatI’mgoing to say no, thatI’mgoing to want to stick to the one-night-only agreement.

Unable to help myself, I reach forward, weaving my fingers into his messy hair. My thumbs find his temples and I press slightly, massaging until the tension bleeds from his shoulders and his eyes drop shut. The quiet groan that rumbles from his chest makes the tender muscles between my thighs tense.

Holy crap, this is actually happening.He wants me.

“If you could stop being so hot for two minutes, that would help me think a little more clearly.”

Ash’s eyes snap open, eyebrows lifting in disbelief at my comment. “I think if either one of us is punching above ourweight class, it’s me.” He smiles wryly, and there’s only one way I can respond to that. My heart throbs as I lean down to kiss him softly.

It’s perfect. Slow and familiar, as that little ember of hope that was all but dead only a few minutes ago begins to grow, warming me all over. He had his head between my legs less than twelve hours ago. I thought I knew just how good this man could make me feel, but this is so much better.

Asher’s arms wind around me, pulling me close, and I melt. I’m pretty sure I would be a puddle on the ground if he weren’t holding me up.

Oh, fuck.Yes. Definitely so much better.

The way he tastes, the warmth of his almost naked body seeping through the borrowed clothes into my own, and the knowledge this isn’t the last time I’ll see him…

I pull away, stepping back toward the door before I throw caution to the wind, call out sick, and spend the whole day in Asher’s arms. My heart swells at the way he leans forward, like he’s resisting the urge to follow. “Next Friday?” I confirm, my face splitting in a huge smile.

He nods, his throat bobbing. “I’ll leave a key at the desk for you.”

Okay, then.

My heart feels about twenty times lighter than it did when I woke up as I gather the last of my things and my hand finds the door handle behind me. I push it open, backing out into the living room. “See you Friday, then, Mr. Roth.”

CHAPTER TEN

ASHER

I’m annoyed, but not surprised, to find Liam Witt sitting in procedure room two.

It’s the Monday following my weekend at The Witt, and I’m just returning from lunch. Upon entering the building, I found my dental assistants being much more giggly than usual, and a (mostly eaten) box of gourmet pastries from a downtown bakery on the reception desk. Having been friends with the man for the better part of twenty years, I’m familiar with Liam’s tactics for charming groups of women.

Sure enough, my friend/the living poltergeist is grinning proudly up at me from the exam chair when I walk into the room instead of the six-year-old I was expecting to encounter.

Sighing in resignation, I drop the chart on the counter and snatch a pair of gloves from the holder. If he’s here, he can at least get a checkup. Somehow, I doubt Liam is keeping up on his regular preventative healthcare. Snapping them on, I glare at him. “What are you doing here?”

Liam shrugs, leaning back without complaint as I press the button to drop the chair. “I was in the neighborhood. I didn’t hear from you after Friday.”

“I’ve been busy.” I turn on the overhead light and pull it into place, trying not to feel defensive. I didn’t do anythingwrong. Liam fucks his way through a good chunk of Manhattan’s population—male and female—every fiscal quarter.

My spending the night with one woman isn’t going to shock him. What might is that we didn’t have sex, yet I’ve still been replaying our night together on repeat since I left The Witt.

Meeting her was, without question, the most intense night of my life, and I still haven’t recovered from it.

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