Chapter 73

ASHER

I’m jolted awake by Atty sliding into bed next to me. The sheets shift, letting in the chilly morning air, and then he’s there, right in front of me as I blink my eyes open to find him gazing at me.

He’s practically vibrating with joy as our eyes meet.

“You’re home,” he declares.

“Seems so,” I mumble, still half-asleep.

A rustle from behind me makes us both tense up. It’s Maddison, sitting up slightly in bed as she hears Atty’s voice, the sheets moving with her as she wraps them around herself.

I roll onto my back in surprise, my hand instinctively reaching up to gently cup her cheek, even though we’re not together or anything of the sort.

What on earth is she doing in my bed, and when did she get here?

Why didn’t I wake up?

Atty’s taken aback, his eyes wide and his cheeks flushed. He can’t believe what he’s seeing, and for a moment, he looks at Maddison with a hint of resentment.

He’s jealous, which makes me think he had plans for us today, and she just threw a wrench in them.

Damn, how’s he going to react when I tell him there are two more in our sister’s room?

Maddison groans, her head falling back onto the pillow next to me.

“I was supposed to leave before you woke up…” she murmurs so softly that I wonder if I’m imagining it.

“Bro, can you give us a few minutes?” I ask him.

Atty reluctantly agrees with a nod, climbing out of bed in just his pajama bottoms, and I feel a pang of guilt for him.

I know he’s uncomfortable with people seeing him in such a state of undress, so I do the worst thing possible.

I roll toward Maddison to block her view of him, but to Atty, it probably looks like I’m about to kiss her—or even sleep with her.

But that’s not what’s happening, and I roll right off her as soon as the door closes.

“What are you doing in my bed, Maddison?” I ask, getting out of bed.

I’m completely naked, having taken off my bottoms to jerk off last night.

And unfortunately, I used my encounter with Maddison as inspiration.

And now she’s here in my bed, where I could easily slide between her legs and taste her just like I fantasized about last night.

My mom’s right; there’s something seriously wrong with me.

These girls are nothing like the others I’ve been with…nothing at all.

Maybe that’s the problem.

If I just go and have sex, maybe these urges will go away.

After all, this is the longest I’ve gone without.

“I couldn’t sleep—and when I came in here, you were asleep, so I climbed in beside you. I promise that’s all, Asher.”

“Why?”

“You make me feel safe,” she admits.

“How many times have you done this?”

“Every night,” she confesses, looking a bit embarrassed.

I have to turn to her then. Still naked and now aroused, but it’s not like she hasn’t seen me or even touched me before.

What does she mean, I make her feel safe?

Me, Asher fucking Henderson. The womanizer of the year, and the year before that—the idiot who already took advantage of her—makes her feel safe?

No fucking way.

And where was she the night Ebony came onto me?

“That’s a dangerous game you’re playing, Maddison.”

“Is it?” she asks, crawling to the end of the bed to reach for me.

I should move; there’s plenty of room behind me, but I don’t. I stand perfectly still and naked as she looks at me, her hand outstretched.

Her fingers touch my abdomen, followed by her palm a few seconds later.

If she would just lower her hand…

“Stop,” I say out loud, but I’m not talking to her. I’m talking to myself, trying to convince myself to do what my mom asked and not fall into bed with this beautiful girl in front of me.

“Why? It’s just sex, Asher.”

“It’s more than that, and you know it. What happened the other night shouldn’t have, and it can’t happen again,” I tell her.

But then her hand drops, her fingers brushing the short hair I keep down there. And even though I catch her wrist to stop her, her fingers brush against me.

“Maddison,” I say, putting all my energy into her name to stop her from making another mistake today.

“Why not? We’ve already been there. We already know we liked it…”

“Use the damn shower, not me,” I retort, my eyes rolling in frustration at her words. The anger bubbles up, hard and fast.

Sure, it was just sex, and yeah, we both enjoyed it. But that doesn’t mean we have to keep doing it.

Especially not when my mom specifically asked me to keep my hands off her.

“Asher,” she calls out to me as I head toward the bathroom.

I can’t help but think she’s trying to make me break the promise I made to my mom. It wouldn’t be the first time, but I really don’t want to go back on my word so soon.

“Yes?” I respond.

She just stands there, watching me as I get the shower ready.

Is she thinking about that night, fantasizing about straddling me as my fingers explored her? Because I sure as hell am.

~Get a grip, Asher. You’re not doing yourself any favors.~

I step into the shower, determined to ignore her. The water pours over me, soothing the chill in the air and warming me up as I rest my hands on the cold tile.

Better there than on her… ~Right?~

But my moment of peace is short-lived; Maddison joins me in the shower, her hands wrapping around my waist from behind.

I grab her hand, pulling her in front of me and pushing her against the wall.

“You’re going to be the end of me, you know that?” I ask her.

“There’s nothing wrong with us messing around. I want you…” she sighs.

“I paid for you…”

“Before we slept together or after?” she counters.

“After,” I lie. “But it doesn’t matter, Maddison. I still paid for you. If anyone finds out we’ve been sleeping together, I’m basically aiding in your trafficking. And no offense, but I can’t go to jail. One, it would kill my mom, and two, I don’t think I’d last a day with the inmates.”

She sighs, a look of sadness crossing her face.

Damn, she really wanted this.

~But why?~

Her eyes are pleading, like a puppy begging for a treat.

Don’t do it… Please don’t do it…

~Oh, hell.~

“Fine, you play along and give us the information we need, and I’ll make sure you’re satisfied…”

“I can’t,” she whispers, her voice filled with sadness.

I drop to my knees, pulling her closer to me as I start to tease her.

Mom said no sex, right?

“They need your help, Maddison. Working with us could mean every single one of them gets to go home. Without you, they’re forced to take drugs and be used…”

She closes her eyes tightly. I take the opportunity to tease her some more.

She shivers, even the heat of my breath affecting her.

“Sleep with me, and I’ll think about it…” she proposes.

“Nope, no sex. I’ll make you climax for every useful piece of information you give my dads. A quid pro quo, Maddison.”

She squints at me, pretending to be offended, but then she smirks.

“Give me an orgasm now, and I’ll share some things over breakfast.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Maddison,” I say before pulling her closer.

My tongue is ready, meeting her instantly.

I tease, nip, and blow.

I lift one of her legs to rest on my shoulder for easier access.

She’s so tense it’s as if she needs this to function properly.

The thought makes me second-guess myself, wondering if I made the right choice agreeing to this.

But Maddison holds my head, forcing me closer to her.

She knows what she wants, and she wants this.

Let’s just hope she holds up her end of the deal.