Tip Eight; men have a g-spot too, it's his prostate. Can be found by pushing on the skin between the balls and anus. Have fun. But also ask consent before you do this.

"You're coming to the party."

I look at Charlie in astonishment. "You really want to be seen with me after that?" I wave a hand to encompass the air and everything that just went on today.

"You're my best friend. I'm not going to pick and choose when you can be seen with me." She rolls her eyes.

"Char-"

"You're going to let them win? No." She shakes her head. "You're going to go to this party and look fucking hot and show them that you don't care. And maybe you'll even see your secret man candy out and you can finally prove to yourself that the only one that was bad that time was Dain and his fucking ego."

I'm still not convinced.

"They're going to talk regardless so you might as well give them something worthwhile to yap about."

"Charlie." I try again, "I don't-"

"You're going, and we're going to have fun and maybe you'll even find yourself under some hunk of a guy that will make you forget about this whole day."

"Doubt that."

I don't think anything could make me forget about this clusterfuck of a day.

"They're going to talk regardless so show up and show them that it doesn't affect you," Charlie chides, "or are you going to hide forever?"

I hate when she does that, asking a question so it has the opposite effect, pushing me into action.

I hate even more that it works. Every time.

Charlie smiles when she sees my resolve dissipating.

"Now that that is settled, let's get you dressed." She takes my hand and drags me up to her room, my eyes moving towards the door opposite hers, the door to Asher's room.

I'd never entered, only ever looked at it in vague curiosity, curiosity about the boy who is best friends with my brother, a boy who had always been in my life but never actually apart of it, just there. Always there.

It was odd to think we now shared a secret between us that would hurt not only my bestfriend but my brother as well.  

I look to where Charlie grasps my hand in hers. A secret that could ruin the only friendship I really have.

Charlie pulls me into the room, shutting the door behind me before diving for her closet, pulling dress after dress out and piling them on her bed.

"We're going sexy, irresistible, completely mind blowing." She says over her shoulder, moving towards her shoes. "Maybe backless is the move, or a short but not too short dress. Boots? Heels?" She looks over her shoulder when I don't reply. "What are you feeling?"

The air had a bit of a chill in it so I moved towards her collection of boots, looking for a pair that I wouldn't break an ankle in.

I point to a burgundy pair, knee high with a thicker heel and Charlie grins. "I have just the outfit." Then she moves towards her skirts and starts rummaging. She pulls a mini black skirt out and flashes it towards me excitedly. "It's a skort." Before she reaches for a boat neck burgundy top and a black long sleeve top, chewing her lips as she decides between the two before picking the black top and throwing it towards me. "Get ready, I'm doing your hair and makeup, no matter what, you will be the hottest thing to ever walk the earth tonight."

I smile at Charlie's enthusiasm and walk towards the hall and the bathroom, the bundle of clothes in my hands. The house is silent and I breathe a sigh of relief. Asher and Leon must already be on their way to the party, meaning they most likely won.

• • •

Charlie checks my makeup, her eyes narrowing before she nods in satisfaction. "I did well." Then she's out the door and beckoning me with her.

My hand is on the door and my mind is telling me to open it but my hand isn't listening. I swear it's not me.

"Ivy." Charlie beckons and I scowl before pushing out of the car, my heart beating double time in my chest.

I step up beside her, staring at the house pooling with college students and probably some high schoolers like I'm off to war.

"Let's go." Charlie says, stomping off towards the house while I follow like I'm being lead to the gallows.

We step through the doorway, the smell of alcohol and sweat permeating the place and a body instantly sidles up between us.

"Lousy lay!" The boisterous guy yells, thankfully only a few heads turning our way but it's enough to have me cringing away. "How're you doin?"

"Shut up Jakob!" Charlie snaps, her hand finding mine once more. "You're only acting a big man cause the only lay you'll ever get is the blow up doll you hide under your bed."

Then she's dragging us through the crowd and towards the drinks, relief coming over me when she hands me a drink and takes one herself. "We'll dance, and then we'll find you a guy to make out with."

I open my mouth to - say what, I'm not sure but shake my head instead and walk towards the makeshift dance floor, forcing myself to get lost in the music and crowd of bodies.

Charlie's face is thrown back in glee, her blonde hair falling down her shoulders in waves and I smile at the freedom she's feeling, wishing I could escape my head long enough to feel it too but instead all I can feel is the eyes on me.

I lean forward, tapping Charlie's shoulder briefly before shouting over the music that I'm going to go find a toilet and she points to herself, silently asking if I want her to come but I shake my head and walk off. Leaving my barely touched drink on a random table for someone else to deal with and make my way up the stairs, searching for the toilet.

I don't find it, instead finding Asher, his attention focused on the girl in front of him who laughs at something he says and lifts a hand to squeeze his bicep.

I don't know why I suddenly feel jealous. Asher isn't mine.

I didn't even like him like that. Did I?

Shock rushes through me, my mind trying to pinpoint the exact second that my indifference for my best friend brother became a crush.

One of my brothers team mates moves in front of me, smiling in greeting and I dip my head back at Justin, trying to stare over his shoulder at Asher even as I tell myself to be indifferent again, he's not mine.

"Hey, Ivy!" Justin mutters, "you seen your brother around here? He said he was gonna go check on you but now you're up here and he's down there." He laughs at the end but I shake my head.

"Haven't seen him, sorry Justin."

He shrugs, "it's all Gee, I get to speak to the better looking sibling anyway, don't I?" He moves closer and I smile back uncomfortably, not knowing what to say to his attempt at flirting and he shifts to the side, ducking his head to say something when a hand lands on his shoulder, gaining his attention.

I blink at the hand, leading all the way to Asher's thunderous face. He looks to me and his eyes soften, mouth opening to say something but I don't give him the chance to voice his thought, turning on my heel and making my way back down the stairs, leaving through the houses back door.

I pull my phone from my pocket, texting Charlie that I'm heading back early and she sends me a thumbs up before following up with a message to leave her here, that's she'd found someone to occupy her time.

I smile at the message before liking it and shoving my phone back in my pocket, but pulling the car keys free and walking towards where we'd parked the car.

• • •

The house is silent, Leon still at the party celebrating their victory and mum and dad away for the weekend, off on one of their many weekend getaways that they took - nearly every weekend if I was being honest.

I pad down the stairs, cozy in my flannel pyjamas with strawberries and blueberries on them, fuzzy socks on my feet before entering the kitchen and moving for the fridge to grab something to eat.

The body leaning against the arch way is not what I was expecting to see and the scream that exits my mouth is surely not what the would be robber was expecting.

The man, judging by the wide shoulders and tall physique leans forward, flicking on a light and I breath a sigh of relief before blinking up at Asher.

"What the heck are you doing here?"

"Why are you avoiding me?"

I blink at the accusation and curiosity in his tone, staring around the empty house. "How'd you get inside?"

Asher pushes off the wall and talks forward. "I have a key, Leon gave me one."

I huff and cross my arms over my chest. "Doesn't mean you can use it whenever you want."

"I think having a key means exactly that."

I narrow my eyes. "Shouldn't you be at the party?"

"I saw you leave." He says in reply, coming to stand across from me.

"So you left?"

He shrugs and doesn't answer, eyes dragging down my body and raising a brow at the socks on my feet.

They may or may not have his sister's face on them.

I duck around him and move for the kitchen, opening the fridge to grab dinner, which just so happen to be the small tub of yoghurt in there and start to hightail it back to my room.

"Well, I'm sure Leon will be home soon-" I pause on the stairs. "Or not if he found a girl to occupy his time." I scrunch my nose. "So you can stay in his room."

Asher follows me up the stairs silently and I count the steps between us as I take one up and he follows, my heart beating double time.

I stop at the threshold to my room and point with the yoghurt cup towards Leon's room. "You know where it is."

But Asher doesn't move towards Leon's room, instead finding his way into mine and shutting the door behind him.

I spin towards him, unsure what to say to get him to leave.

"You didn't answer my question." He mutters, stepping forward.

"Your question?" I say, my voice coming out breathy. I clear my throat and step back.

He tilt his head, raising a curious brow and takes another step forward.

I take another step back, "what was your question again?"

He smiles, taking a step forward and I stumble back once more, the backs of my legs hitting my mattress before I take an unceremonious seat on my bed.

"I asked if you were avoiding me?" He takes a step forward, his knees so close to mine. "Or if you're just avoiding the fact that you want to kiss me again?"

"Kiss you," I swallow, "again?"

He looks amused at my lack of English language and mortification fills me before I crawl backwards on the bed, settling into my pillows to give something else to do and opening my yoghurt.

It's only then I realise I forgot the spoon.

The mattress dips beneath the weight of Asher and I look up, my mind going to the memory of having him in my bed only a few days ago, even if it does feel like it was ages ago.

"What are you doing?"

Asher reaches forward and curls his fingers around the yoghurt, removing it from my hand and placing it on my bedside table. "I'm getting my answer." He looks at me with a light in his eyes before dragging a hand from my exposed collarbone in the large button up top to my flannel covered shoulder and arm, fingers dragging all the way to my hip where he squeezes me.

I watch his face as he watches his hand descend and I say nothing when he hooks a finger under the elastic of my pants. His finger lingers there slightly before moving down, the heat of his touch scorching me through my pyjamas until he reaches my ankles. He drags his fingers back up, watching my face for a reaction.

A shiver follows each point of contact he makes before his fingers slip under the elastic of my sock and pulls it off, following with the other one.

My toes curl, feet curling into each other. "My feet are cold." I mutter, watching as he scrunches the socks up into a ball and throws them far away. The thud of them hitting the wall and then the floor the only noise besides the sound of my beating heart in my ears.

"I don't really want my sister's face staring at me when I kiss you."

I suck in a breath. "You're going to kiss me?"

He grins, "Oh, I'm going to do more than that."

Asher's lips crash into mine with a force that steals my breath away. It's not the soft, tentative kiss I expected. It's urgent, almost desperate, like he's been holding back for too long. His hands move to my waist, pulling me against him, and my brain short-circuits. All I can think about is how warm he is, how good he feels pressed against me.

I shouldn't be doing this. He's my best friend's brother, and this is just supposed to be a lesson—a continuation of the tutoring sessions, right? Except it doesn't feel like a lesson anymore. It feels real. Too real.

"Asher," I mumble against his lips, trying to pull away, but his hand moves up to cradle the back of my head, holding me in place, and I don't resist. Not really. I don't want to. His other hand slides up my arm, slow and deliberate, making my skin tingle under his touch.

He pulls back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark and full of something I can't quite read. His thumb brushes across my bottom lip, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. "Ivy..." His voice is a low rasp, almost a warning but he doesn't finish his sentence, his head falling forward to rest on my shoulder, breathing heavy. "I can't-" he pauses, "we-"

"I want to learn, Asher. I want to learn it all." The words suddenly spill from my mouth and his head lifts, eyes connecting to mine, staring between them like they hold answers he's searched for forever. "I trust you."

"Ivy, you deserve-" he shakes his head, looking lost.

I know I should be thinking about the consequences, about what happens after this, but right now, the only thing I can focus on is the way he's looking at me, the heat in his eyes, and the way my body responds to him.

"I don't care," I breathe, surprising even myself. "Just... show me."

His grip on me tightens for a brief second, his jaw clenched like he's fighting something within himself. Then he closes the small gap between us, and his lips are on mine again, but this time it's slower, more controlled. His hands roam over me, tracing the lines of my body, and I feel like I'm on fire.

I can't think. I can't breathe. All I can do is feel. The sensation of his mouth moving against mine, his hands exploring my skin, the heat pooling low in my belly—it's overwhelming. And it's everything I didn't realize I wanted.

His mouth moves to my neck, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses along my throat, and I can't stop the small sound that escapes me. My fingers dig into his arms, trying to hold onto something solid as the ground shifts beneath me. Every inch of me is buzzing, alive, as his hands wander lower, slipping under the hem of my shirt.

"Asher," I gasp, barely recognizing my own voice and I shake my head, feeling my heart pounding as I watch his watch me. "This is all still lessons right?" I hold my breath, awaiting an answer and I'm not even sure which one I want him to say.

He pulls back, his forehead resting against mine as we both catch our breath. His hands are still on me, his fingers splayed across my bare skin under my shirt, but he's stopped, like he's waiting for me to say something and then he nods, swallowing.

"Yeah, still lessons. We have a deal."

His hand lifts, brushing my cheek as he gives me a grin.

"You're not falling in love with me, are you, Ivy?"

My heart drops, so does my stomach.

"No." I say. "We had a deal. No love remember."

Asher blinks, his hand dropping to my shoulder. "Right. No love."

And then he kisses me again.