Revelation (13 page)

I figured he would vanish into thin air
. Instead, he walks to the front door. Just as he opens it, I turn to him. “In the end, what makes you think I will choose this as my destiny?”

Michael takes in a sharp breath and turns to me
, simply stating, “Free will.”

11
Rejection

“Please tell me you’re not going to eat every single one of those?” Callan lifts a
n inquisitive brow.

“Maybe
. What’s it to you?” I snip in aggravation.

“Eve
s, I know they’re really good but seriously, twenty-four chocolate chip cookies will make you sick,” he chastises, refilling my hot cocoa and taking the cookie container away.
Jerk
.

“Do I
even get sick?” I challenge him.

“I don’t know
. Do you?” he asks playfully as I roll my eyes at him.

I sigh. “I guess
. I did have the sniffles last year.” I place my half eaten fourth cookie back on the plate and push it toward him.

He leans on the island
, chomping on his own cookie. He’s watching as I text Aria to let her know I’ll be staying here tonight since she’s out with Leo again.

“You know these cookies don’t just appear like magic out of nowhere
. It takes time and love to get the chocolate and oatmeal proportions perfectly in sync so they’re chewy and gooey.” He smirks. I throw a mini marshmallow at him.

Asher and Abby walk in
, disrupting our moment of normal. Abby glides up to Callan, planting a big kiss on his cheek. “Hello, my love.”

Callan
wiggles his eyebrows at her. “Hey, baby.”

“
Ick. Your couple cuteness is going to make me toss my chocolate chip cookies,” I whine.

“If you throw up
, it’s because you ate four huge cookies,” Callan banters. Abby smiles.

“For someone who doesn’t like sweets, I can’t believe you ate four of Callan’s sugar coma cookies
.” Abby looks at the half eaten cookie on my plate and scrunches her nose.

Asher moves to stand next to me
, brushing the hair off my shoulders. His expression is serious, his eyes are intense as he scans me over for any sign of emotional trauma.

“You okay
?” he asks in a soft voice.

“
Is one ever okay knowing they’re the key to defending the world from evil?” I throw at him.

“Eve
—”

I cut him off, raising my hand before he can continue.

“Look, Asher, I get it. It’s sinking in. Could we just, for the next hour, pretend like things are normal and I’m not some weird weapon between good and evil and you aren’t some creepy protector that does everything but watch me get dressed?” I rant without thought.

His eyes bore into mine,
a sexy smirk forming on his lips. “Creepy protector? Is that what you think I am?” he questions, his voice seductive. I can’t tell if he’s serious or joking.

I swallow. “I just meant,” I stutter
, looking to Abby and Callan for help but they avert their eyes.
Traitors
.

Asher
leans in and his breath tickles my cheek. “Would you like me to watch you dress and undress, siren?”

“That’s not what I meant,” I babble
, flustered by his proximity.

“What did you mean?” He’s amused and enjoying my discomfort.

“I just meant you’re required to watch me, that’s all,” I huff a determined breath.

He raises his eyebrows in response.
Great job, Eve. Once again, you’ve stuck your foot in your mouth.
Asher looks at me with his panty-dropping gaze. “You know what I would love to watch you do?” he purrs in my ear.

Breath hitched
, my eyes meet his. He turns my chair so he’s standing between my legs, arms on either side of me, caging me in.

“What’s that?” I ask breathlessly.

He moves closer and whispers in my ear, “This.” Without warning, he throws me over his shoulder. I squeal.

“
Ashherr, put me down.” I yelp.

He smacks my ass. “Oh
, I plan to, siren, after I watch you swim.” He heads for the French doors to the pool.

“Don’t.
You. Dare,” I threaten as we reach the pool’s deep end.

He laughs wickedly before he throws me in.

I come up for air and wipe the water out of my eyes.
He actually threw me into the pool. Fully clothed. Shit
. I turn my angry eyes toward him.

“Are you
fucking insane?” I scream.

Laughing and amused, he just watches me. Probably because I look like a floundering wet rat.

“Eve, it’s heated so I know it’s not that cold,” he says. It’s like bathwater but he still sucks.

“You’re evil,” I say, swimming to the
side of the pool to hold on for dear life.

His face turns
cold. “I never said I wasn’t.”

Asher’s demeanor causes me to pause. We just
watch one another for a moment. Something changed. His face is hard and his body rigid. I feel the need to soothe whatever’s upsetting him.

I speak
quietly. “Ash, I didn’t mean anything by what I said. I’m sure if I looked deep enough into your eyes, I wouldn’t see a trace of evil there. I didn’t mean offense,” I say, trying to pacify him.

He shakes his head. “Darkness is all there is behind my eyes, so don’t look too close
, siren. You might not like what you find.”

All of
a sudden, Asher is a blur and then a big splash in the pool as Callan laughs hysterically after pushing him in. 

“Serves you right
, man. Good luck, Eves,” Callan says, throwing towels on the chair and walking back into the house with a smug look on his face.

“Wait, Callan
. You aren’t going to help me?” I screech.

“You’re on your own
, cutie,” Callan tosses over his shoulder while walking back inside.

“TRAITOR,” I scream as
Asher is suddenly beside me, treading water and laughing.

I splash him. “I thought you were suppose
d to keep me safe, not drown me.”

Without warning
, he wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me toward him. Slowly, the gorgeous man runs his hands down the back of my legs, forcing them to wrap around his body as I clasp my hands behind his neck. My heart pounds from the way our bodies are tangled.

Once satisfied I’
m positioned securely, he moves us to the side of the pool, pressing my back against the cool tile as a slow, sexy, sinful smile travels all the way to his eyes as they scan my face.

“Let me be very clear,” he says earnestly
. “I. Will. Keep. You. Safe. That’s a promise.” He brushes my cheek with the back of his hand, increasing my heart rate as my stomach muscles clench.

Asher’s
eyes darken as he tilts his head, bringing his face to my neck. He nuzzles his nose just under my ear, inhaling as my throat goes dry. The lust starts to build and the need to have him closer is overwhelming. He presses me harder against the side of the pool, his body holding me in place. All the places we touch tingle with heat and energy, sending a shiver down my spine.

“
I can’t keep up with you, Asher.” My voice is breathy. “You’re hot one minute and cold the next.” My chest is rising in quick and shallow bursts.

He leans back
, making eye contact as he exhales a breath of frustration. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s not my intention to give you mixed messages.”

I can’t function
or think when he is this close to me. My body hums with energy. It’s like he sucks all my coherent thoughts out. Asher’s face looks forlorn and the urge to comfort him surfaces.

“I love this
.” I reach out a hand and run it across the stubble on his jaw, leaving a trail of glistening water on the small hairs that I just want to lick off.
Check your hormones, Eve.

He grabs my hand then presses it against his cheek, closing his eyes for a moment. When they reopen, his look
is desolate.

“I’m bound by my duties as your protector. I took an oath
. I pledged to put your protection above all else. The consequences of going against those promises are dire. Not just for me but for you and my family.” His eyes scan mine. “I wasn’t supposed to have contact with you but now that I have, I don’t want to let that go.” The admission hits me hard.

“Then don’t
. I don’t want you to let me go,” I plead, grasping at him.

Asher cups my cheeks and touches his forehead to mine. “I don’t want to let you down
. If I do and you get hurt,” he closes his eyes and inhales, “I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Ash
, open your eyes and look at me,” I demand. “You won’t let me down. I know it. I see you. I believe you’ll keep me safe. Always.” I feel him slipping away from me again.

“
I’m sorry, siren. I have to honor the position I’ve been granted as your protector. This can’t happen. I’m duty-bound.” The rejection was gentle but firm.

I lock my eyes onto his lips
. The disappointment hurts. Our breaths entwine with one another.

“Okay,” I barely whisper.
Hurt crawls up my throat, stinging my eyes.

“Okay,” he
confirms, his voice hoarse.

Gently, he takes my wrists and pulls my arms away from his neck a
nd my legs fall from his waist of their own accord. 

“Come on
.” He reaches out for my hand. “Let’s get you out of those wet clothes and into bed.”

I raise my eyebrows.

“To get dry and sleep, siren,” he confirms, giving me his sexy smirk.

We get out of the pool and wrap ourselves in the towels
, quickly walking back into the quiet house. I guess everyone is in bed for the evening.

Asher g
rabs my wrist, turning me around. His face is concentrated with the need to say something but instead he frowns, focused on my blue, chattering lips.

“Are you cold?”

“Y-yes.”

He
laces his fingers with mine. “Come on. It’s late. Let’s get you undressed.”

I raise my eyebrows again
in fun.

The sides of his mouth tilt up
. “To shower, change into dry clothes, and go to sleep. Alone,” he clarifies. I internally pout.

I stand in the shower for what feels like hours
, allowing the hot water to warm me. Closing my eyes, I try to let the stress and anxiety of the day wash away. After I’m satisfied my body is warm enough and I’m relaxed enough for sleep, I get out and wrap a fluffy towel around my body. I notice the t-shirt and shorts Asher left for me on the counter.

I lift the dark grey shirt that says: Property of London and smile
, knowing it’s Asher’s shirt. I bring it up to my nose and inhale the scent that is all him, smoky wood and leather.

Eyes closed
, I get lost in his scent, not realizing he’s entered the bathroom until he clears his throat. My eyes pop open and meet his. Mortification creeps up my cheeks in the form of pink hues.
Could I be any more obsessed?

Arms crossed, he casually leans aga
inst the doorway, looking utterly entertained at catching me sniff his clothing like a stalker.

I clear my throat. “I was just, um. I thought
…I was just about to change. Thank you for thet-shirt,” I say inarticulately before coming to my senses. “Don’t you knock?” I narrow my eyes at him, trying to change focus because I’m standing in only my towel and still dripping wet.

He shrugs.
“Nope, it’s my house and you left the door open. For the record, from my viewpoint, it looks like you might be smelling my shirt.” His smile is sinful as he watches me.

Crap
. This bathroom felt a lot larger earlier.
Is it closing in?
I clutch the shirt to my chest as I laugh with a nervous edge.

“No. I was actually just wondering if the shirt was clean and if it was large enough to wear without shorts.” I internally roll my eyes, telling myself to stop talking. “You know
, since the shorts are too big and all.”

His voice
is husky as he says, “Do you want me to leave or stay and do something creepy like watch you get dressed?”  Asher smiles, proud of himself for bringing that back up.

“I think I’ve got it
. Thanks.”

“Alright then.
No protector needed to dress. Good to know, siren.” He chuckles and leaves the bathroom.

I close the door
, placing my forehead against it, then exhale. “Way to be articulate, Eve,” I mumble to myself.

Once dressed in the t-shirt and extra boy shorts that were in my bag, thank you
, Aria, for your ‘always be prepared motto,’ I brush my hair and teeth and slather myself up in my lotion, also found at the bottom of my bag. I slowly open the door, eyes scanning for any sign of Asher.