Asher

I kiss her.

Settling between her legs, I kiss her with everything I have. Her arms wrap around my neck, and a groan escapes me as I realize she wants me as much as I want her.

And god, do I want her.

Lowering my head, I find the crook of her neck and nuzzle her. She lets out a low, sexy moan that shoots straight to my cock. Damn!

Drawing away slightly, I look at her.

It's always been like this with her; this tug-of-war. I want to take my time and explore every inch of her body, yet I also crave to thrust deep inside her and fuck her hard the moment I have her naked before me.

She's looking at me like she wants me to devour her, and fuck if it doesn't make me feel like the luckiest man in the world.

Sitting up on my knees, I use the pads of my thumbs to circle her nipples until they harden under my touch.

"Ash," she moans, her eyes closing.

So incredibly beautiful.

Sucking in a slow, deep breath, I feel my body trembling as my fingers slide down her belly. She arches on the bed; her legs spreading wide. I love her like this; open, soft, and so sexy; it drives me to the brink of insanity.

"Tell me you know how much I love you," I rasp, my thumb finding her clit.

"Ash, please..."

"Tell me." I lower my head, my lips brushing over her nipples. "Tell me you know how crazy I am about you."

"Ah!" she moans when I suck her hard. "There's no one else, baby." I kiss her breast, my lips gliding down her skin until I'm hovering over her pussy.

"Show me..." she breathes. "Show me how much you want me."

"So fucking much." I spread her legs wide, my mouth watering for a taste of her. In a second, my mouth finds her soft skin. A rough sound escapes me and my cock gets impossibly harder.

The moment my tongue finds her clit, her fingers pull at my hair, tugging painfully at the root. It spurs me on, and I slide two fingers inside her. She gasps, her pussy quivering around my tongue.

"Yes..." She lets out a startled cry, her body tensing and twisting as she climaxes.

As she grows slicker and hotter, my hips grind involuntarily against the mattress. I'm aching to sink into her, but I keep licking her until her contractions subside.

Whipping my wet mouth on her inner thigh, I rise to my knees. I place one hand on the mattress beside her head and use the other to aim my cock against her tight plushness.

Holding her gaze, I thrust inside her.

Hard.

"Asher!" She closes her eyes, and I nuzzle her cheek, loving when she softens around me. Her legs circle my waist, and her nails dig into my back. I press my lips to hers, realizing our kiss lacks any trace of finesse.

"I love you, Em," I hiss through clenched teeth, desperate for her trust; desperate for her to understand that there's nobody but her.

Cupping her ass, I lift her and angle her body. The feel of her clutching the entire length of my cock is so good that I'm shaking. "So perfect, so tight..."

"So good..." She pulls me into a clumsy kiss, her hands gliding down my spine to my ass, urging me to move harder.

A groan escapes me as I go harder. Deeper. Faster.

Beneath me, Emma's eyes flutter closed, her back arching up towards me.

"Don't stop," she whimpers, and the little gasps for air leaving her lips make my balls draw up.

"Never," I rasp against her mouth, burying my face against the crook of her neck when her breath hitches and the walls of her sex clamp against mine.

A strangled noise escapes me as I pound into her, coming so hard I can't even remember my name.

Just hers.

Emma.

*****

I wake up slowly, my heart full as I watch Emma sleeping peacefully beside me. Her hair is tousled, and there's an undeniable serenity about her that contrasts with the intensity of last night.

I can't shake the thought that there's something she's not telling me. At the same time, I don't know how to break the walls she has built around herself.

Something tightened inside me last night when she said she was broken and not the same Emma. We spent years apart, and we're both older now, but knowing something has affected her so deeply doesn't sit right with me.

When I have her naked and sprawled in my bed, it feels like there's no distance between us. But then, life happens, and it's like we've lost that deeper connection and trust we once had.

Gently tracing the back of my hand along her cheek, I savor the softness of her skin. Regret for how I handled things when we were younger pierces through me, and I can't help but feel guilty for once leaving her. 

How can I make things right between us this time?

The clock on the nightstand ticks relentlessly, a reminder of the demands of my job. It's not even six yet, and I find myself torn between the obligations that await me and the desire to stay here with her.

Reluctantly, I pull myself from the bed, the sheets slipping from my body as I rise. The weight of being my family's company's CEO feels heavy on my shoulders, and expectations from all corners press down on me. The decisions, the meetings, the constant scrutiny – I'd trade anything to be back in time when it was just Emma and me against the world, making plans about the future.

As I get dressed,  the suit on my body feels almost suffocating, like a mocking reminder of everything I gave up to be here.

Sitting beside Emma, I gently brush the back of my hand across her cheek. Her eyes slowly open, and she frowns when she sees I'm already dressed. "What time is it?" she asks, her voice still heavy with sleep.

"It's too early," I say with a half-smile. "I have a meeting with a group based in Japan, but I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye."

"Hmm." She pouts, pulling me to her. "Remember when we'd lock ourselves in my bedroom on weekends watching movies and eating junk food? I miss that."

"I remember movie night being a code for getting laid." I nuzzle her neck, smiling when she snorts.

"Stop." She laughs. "We were friends before we started sleeping together."

I chuckle, savoring the warmth of her laughter against my chest. "True, true. Friends who happened to really, really like each other," I tease, leaning down to steal a quick kiss.

"Touché." She grins, her eyes sparkling with a playful glint.

"And let's not forget the amount of time I left your place with the hugest case of blue balls." I pull away to look at her, and her laughter rings through the room.

"Oh my goodness! You're such a guy!"

Grabbing her hand, I bring it to my lips. "I need to head to that meeting."

Emma sighs but nods. "I know. Duty calls, Mr. CEO."

I can't help but smile at her mockingly formal tone. "Are we okay?"

She gives me a reassuring smile. "We are."

"Let's have a movie night when we come home today," I say. "We could use a calm night in."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Good. Now, go back to sleep." I lean down, pressing a kiss on her forehead. "I'll see you tonight."

*****

As I arrive at the office, I notice the morning sun casting long shadows across the city skyscrapers. Thoughts of last night provide fleeting warmth, but the pile of documents waiting for me on my desk pulls me back to reality.

Going over the stack of papers, I find a single brown envelope with no recipient's name. Curiosity piqued, I open it cautiously, unfolding a note that sends shivers down my spine: "You have no idea who Emma Cavendish really is, but I can tell you if we agree on a reasonable price. PS: Isn't she stunning when she's naked? I love watching her especially when you're not around."

My heart races as I press my phone on the desk, dialing my secretary urgently. "Get in here now," I say, my voice betraying the rising panic within me.

As my secretary, Park, enters, I thrust the note at him. "Where did this come from?"

His eyes widen, a mix of surprise and concern. "I-I'm not sure, Mr. Sullivan. All the mail today came through the courier service."

Panic tightens its grip on me. I fumble with my phone to call Emma. It goes straight to voicemail, and my stomach churns with dread. "Get in touch with our security team. I need them to track Emma down."

"Mr. Sullivan, is everything all right?" Parker looks at me with genuine concern, and I let out a quick breath.

"I don't know, but I need security at Emma's place, the penthouse we'll be moving, and her shelter right now."

"Of course, sir."

Redialing her, I try to shake off the rising panic. But when the call goes straight to voicemail again, a knot forms in my stomach. "Cancel all my meetings, Parker. Something is going on, and I need to find out what it is."

"But, Mr. Sullivan, today is the last day–"

"I don't care, Parker," I say, rushing out of my office. "Just do what I told you and keep me posted," I call after my shoulder.

_____

A/N: Okay, two questions: 

1. How hot is Asher?

2. What's up with this note?

Please remember to vote and follow me here CelesteABrook for news & updates! I have a lot planned for these two!

Love you guys!

XOXO

Celeste