Page 36 of The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée
"You don’t know your own appeal, do you? Perhaps that's what Jace likes."
I stare in disbelief, and he chuckles. Walking to the bar, Asher pulls out a bottle of whiskey, pours two glasses. A good-sized portion of the golden-brown liquid from the bottle disappears into the glasses.
"Here."
I walk toward him, taking the offered glass.
"What should we drink to?" he asks.
I look from him to the glass, then back at him. "To Jace."
His eyebrows shoot down over his nose, before his eyes crinkle. "To Jace's girlfriend."
He clinks his glass to mine, throws the liquid down his throat.
When he slams his glass back on the table, his hand is unsteady. He's not as calm as he seems.
I recall again the look on his face when Jace had turned away from him outside the bar.
Something doesn't quite add up, but I can't put my finger on it. Then that thought too fades as Asher walks to the bed in the center of the room. He flings himself on one end, on the covers. Pats the space next to him.
I hesitate.
"Do I have to dare you once more?" A wicked smile lights up his face. "Besides, I'm harmless. Relatively."
His eyes fall on my lips, travel down to the thrust of my breasts.
Desire shimmers off him.
It surprises me, the sexuality that swirls around this guy. It's like he's wearing a cloak, a tangible, living, breathing need that moves with him. A vivid image of Asher pulling Jace to him flashes across my mind.
Asher is still in love with Jace. And he'd invited me to his room, and now he's trying to seduce me. Why?
A frisson of disquiet runs down my spine.
Harmless, my ass.
Still, I can't help but be impressed at his audacity. He knows I'm Jace's girlfriend, that Jace would hardly be pleased by what he's done.
Asher'd thumbed his nose at the entire Walker clan. Sent a clear signal to them that he didn't care about their money, or their prestige. And for that, at least, I admire him.
As the adrenaline from the evening wears off, a slight drowsiness creeps over me.
"I should go back to my own room."
I don’t turn to leave. Don't move toward the bed either.
"You don't want to be alone tonight." Asher's voice is soft, unthreatening. He folds his arm behind his head, throwing his chest in sharp relief.
The thought of going back to my own room is unappealing. I've already burnt my bridges with Jace. Nothing I do can make it worse.
Can it?
Besides, I'm tired. As I think that, a wave of fatigue washes over me. I want to take the weight off my legs. It won't matter if I lie down.
I walk around the bed and, placing my still-filled glass on the side table, flop on the other side of the bed. As far away from Asher as possible.
We sit there for a few seconds and when he doesn't make any further move to reach out to me, my muscles begin to relax.
