Page 87 of Asher Black (The Five Syndicates)
“That’s because this,” he points to the cookies and water, “is like dipping cookies into milk for you.” He grimaces. “You drink fat free, lactose free milk. That stuff tastes like water.”
“No, it does not!” I say, indignantly. To prove my point, I hop off my stool and pour a tall glass of fat free, lactose free milk for him. I hold it out to him. “Try it. I promise it doesn’t!”
He eyes it in disgust. “No, thanks.”
“Please.”
He sighs, but there’s a small smile on his face… until he takes a sip of it. His smile morphs into a grimace, but he still downs the whole cup quickly. “It tastes like water, you liar.”
I shrug. “No, it doesn’t.” There’s mock outrage in my voice.
But I’m smi
ling ear to ear, because he drank the whole thing even though he hated it.
He studies my smile. “Lucy?”
“Asher?”
“Thank you.”
“You already said that.”
“I don’t think I can say it enough.”
I flush. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Stop. It was.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Maybe a lot.”
“You’re welcome.”
He’s silent for a little while. “It was wrong of me to coerce you into this,” he says, shocking the Hell out of me, “but I’m lucky I did. Still, I shouldn’t have done it, and if you want to, we can stop this charade. No more favors. No more faking.”
I gasp. This is it. My opportunity to get away from this scot free. I should want to take it, but I don’t. I’m enjoying myself. I’m in like with Asher. I don’t know if he feels the same way, but I know he wants me physically. I felt that desire pressed against me in the car when I straddled him during our kisses.
But is that enough?
Can I give up my freedom—my way out—without knowing if he wants me?
I would be stupid to.
But stupid feels so good.
He remains silent for a few more minutes. “Lucy? I’m giving you an out. No strings attached.”
“Hold on,” I say, pressing my fingers to my temples. The headache is rapidly brewing. “I’m thinking.”
I know what Aimee would say. She’d advise me to say no, then run to his bed and demand that he ravage me. Which is why I know I should do the exact opposite of that. After all, Asher is giving me an out not an in.
Gosh.
Why do I want his offer to be an in?
An invitation to make this real.
