Page 78 of Rejected By My Stepbrother Alpha
My words hung in the air, and we stared at each other for an endless moment.
“Right now, we need to focus on how best to protect Adrian and learn to trust each other again,” I said, and he nodded in agreement. “We should get some sleep,” I said and looked through the glass door into my bedroom. I flushed when I realized how my words could have been taken. “In separate rooms.”
Asher let out a low chuckle. “I assumed that’s what you meant.” A lock of his light brown hair fell onto his forehead, and the gold flecks in his eyes sparked with humor.
He’s too handsome for his own good.
We walked back into my room, and even though he wasn’t touching me, I could sense his warm body behind me.
My hands clenched, and I sped up, but I was still overly aware of his presence.
I bit my lip as Asher shut the sliding door. I could already feel the walls around my heart shattering when it came to my former Mate.
But if I trusted him again with my heart, would he break it just like last time?
Chapter 30
Guarded
Asher
When I woke up the next morning, Ivy was in my bed. Even before I opened my eyes, I knew she was lying next to me because of that familiar honeysuckle scent. Early morning light came in through the window, caressing her like I craved to and making her pale skin warm and golden.
Her hair fanned across the pillow next to mine like a curtain of auburn. Ivy’s face was turned toward mine. I wanted to reach out and trace her smooth skin. I wanted to run my fingers over her plump lips and thread my hands through that silky hair. But I didn’t want to disturb her. Yesterday had been hard for her, and she deserved to sleep in.
I was more than content to let her sleep. The white comforter had slipped down over the night, giving me the perfect view of her breasts. Ivy’s breasts were just the right size to fit in the palm of both of my hands. It was as if they were made for me. Her nipples were two hard pink peaks that I wanted to pull into my mouth and flick my tongue against.
The slope of her hip made my mouth dry, and her smooth stomach led to her warm center that was still covered by the comforter.
As I stared at her gorgeous body, my dick hardened under the blanket. I had to bite the inside of my cheek so I wouldn’t groan at the feeling of the soft blanket against my erection. How good would Ivy’s warm little hand feel around me?
At that moment, Ivy’s dark red eyelashes fluttered, she shivered slightly, and goosebumps erupted along her arm.
Afraid that she might be cold, I reached out to pull the blanket over her, but my stomach sank when I lifted my hand.
She was no longer there.
Damn it.
Ivy had never been in my bed in the first place. It had been my overactive imagination playing tricks on me again. Now that I was only staying one room away from her, my fantasies were going to be even more frequent.
I hurried through a shower, mentally going through my agenda for the day. But, like usual, my mind wandered to my favorite topic.
Maybe these vivid images of Ivy weren't just from my imagination. Seven years ago, we had spent the night together. Last night, I'd accepted the fact that we had sex because I knew that Adrian was my son. I'd known it from deep within my soul the first time I met him.
But why did I have no memories from that night? Could I really have drunk enough champagne to blackout? What I wouldn't give to get my memories from that night back. What I wouldn't give to spend the night with her again…
Stop.
I didn't have time to think about that right now. Ivy and Adrian's safety was at risk. There were tasks that had to be completed and measures that needed to be put into place. Ivy was right when she said we needed to learn to trust each other again. I had betrayed her by rejecting her, and then she had kept a big secret from me for seven years. We had both made mistakes. But I was hopeful that we could find our way back together. That was what I wanted, and I believed she did, too.Well, I hoped.
And what better way to learn to trust each other again than to protect our child?
Quickly, I dressed in jeans and a crisp white button-down shirt. Last night, while the staff had gotten this room ready for me, I went back to my penthouse and packed a bag with essentials. In my closet, I'd seen something of Ivy's that I needed to return to her, and I put that in my bag, too.
I put on a gold watch and slipped into my black oxfords. After I put my laptop in my briefcase, I left my room. Despite my fantasy, the sun had not actually risen yet. It was only five-thirty in the morning.
I paused when I was outside Ivy’s hotel room door, staring at it for a moment, wondering if she was dreaming of me.
