Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 102177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“No, Lily. I can hear you loud and clear, I just can’t quite believe what I’m hearing,” he said tightly. “You’re walking home at three in the morning, alone in your neighborhood, am I correct?” His tone was flat.
“Yes,” I responded slowly, registering his anger, even on the phone.
“Fuck,” he shouted and I jumped. “Do you know how difficult it is knowing this shit and being half a fuckin’ hour away?” he gritted out.
“It’s fine—” I started.
“It’s not fine,” he cut me off angrily. “You live in a seriously shady part of town. It’s the middle of the night, you’re walking home alone. Have you got any goddamned sense of self-preservation?” he bellowed into the phone.
I straightened my spine, glancing around me. The neighborhood wasn’t great, I’d admit. And it wasn’t my usual habit to be out and about at this time, but I’d done it a handful of times and didn’t encounter problems. There were even a couple of scantily clad girls across from me stumbling home. A lot of college kids lived in this area, thanks to cheap rent.
“I have plenty,” I hissed. “What I don’t have is a horse drawn carriage to ferry me wherever I need to go whenever my heart desires. I live in the real world. Where I’ve got to eat and pay rent. Which means I need to work. I don’t appreciate someone yelling at me, because he doesn’t agree with the only choice of transportation available to me,” I informed him sharply.
“Why are you taking the bus in the first place? You have a car,” Asher’s voice was still hard, and he ignored my small monolog.
“Bex is borrowing my car, which I couldn’t even drive if I had it, considering I don’t want a DUI,” I informed him smartly. Bex was going to pick me up, but she was working later than I was, hence the bus. I wasn’t going to tell Asher that. I didn’t owe him an explanation.
“You’re fuckin’ drunk?” Asher exclaimed in disbelief.
Shit. Maybe that wasn’t as smart as I thought. “No. I’ve just had a couple of shots,” I backpedaled.
I heard a long sigh at the other end of the phone. I let out my own sigh as my apartment building came into view. My feet thanked the Lord.
“Please tell me you’ve got protection,” he said finally.
“Protection?” I repeated.
“Yeah, babe, pepper spray, taser, gun?” he listed off these things like grocery items.
“A gun?” I repeated. “Could you honestly visualize me knowing how to work a gun?” I asked him honestly, crossing my parking lot.
“No, which means I’m gonna teach you how,” he bit out.
I blanched at the thought of handling a gun. “No, thank you,” I replied briskly.
“Jesus, Lily. Do you know how crazy it makes me thinking of you in danger? Of someone hurting you?” he asked in exasperation.
I paused riffling through my bag for my key. “No,” I replied honestly. “Asher, I’ve never had anyone care about me. Not like you. Apart from my mom, and she was different. A lot different. She swore a lot less that was for sure,” I joked. I turned my key in the lock. “I’m not used to how intense this is,” I explained, sinking onto our lumpy sofa once I got inside our apartment.
Asher sighed again. “I know. Shit. I’m sorry, Lily. I try and remind myself of that. To take it slow with you. Be gentle….” he paused, his anger seeming to deflate immediately. “Where are you now?” he asked with concern.
“Home safe. Unmugged and unmolested,” I informed him, the walk not sobering me completely, hence my flippant demeanor.
Asher growled. “Don’t joke about that,” he warned. “You’re not bussing home again. You need a ride, it’s on the back of my bike. We clear?”
I nodded. The thought of actually seeing him, not just hearing a voice at the other end of the phone enticing. Of having someone to care if I got home safely.
“You alone at home?” he continued, taking my silence as confirmation.
“Yeah,” I responded quietly, expecting him to talk about the dangers of a woman in an apartment alone.
“Where are you?” he asked, something changing in his voice.
“On the sofa,” I replied, yanking my boots off and laying back.
“What are you wearing?” he questioned, his voice thick.
My stomach dropped. Desire tickled in my stomach. “Did you really just ask that?” I squeaked out.
“Yep,” he replied simply. “It’s what I dream about, Lily. What that beautiful little body is clad in every day,” he said. “You turned on, flower?” he continued.
I swallowed. I’d never done this before. I never talked aloud about sex, not to anyone.
“Yes,” I found myself whispering, my hand running over my breast.
“Me too,” he growled. “My cock’s hard as a rock every time I hear that throaty voice on the other end of the phone,” he rasped.