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“Two,” she continued, ignoring me. “Don’t call me darling.” “What about honeybun?” “No.” “Madame?” “No.” “Tinkerbell?” “Only if you want me to kick you in the tinkerbell between your legs.”
The warmth in my veins melted into honey. Hell, everything melted. At this rate, they’d have to scrape me off the driveway with a spatula. “You looked up chronic pain?” A wash of dull red colored Asher’s cheekbones.
“Like a rocking good time. Did you see that story a few years ago about the soap star who hooked up with him? She said he does this incredible thing with his tongue—” “Carina.” “I’m just saying, there’s documented proof that the man is a god in bed.”
That wasn’t true anymore, but a girl could dream. Sometimes, dreams were all we had.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” I took in her stiff posture and the rosy flush darkening her cheeks. A slow smile spread across my face. “Wait. Scarlett, darling…are you jealous?” “You wish.”
“What’s so important that you had to drag me away from my conversation?” “I leave you alone for five minutes and you pick up the captain of England’s national rugby team,” he said. “Impressive.” Seriously? That was what he wanted to talk about?
Men. Everything was a dick-measuring contest to them.
“Why are you so interested in what I do with Clive, Asher? Are you jealous?” I threw his question from Monday back at him. “What if I am?” The air stilled.
“Never seen the great Asher Donovan that possessive over someone. Must be serious.”
She wasn’t wearing a mask. This was the Scarlett I’d see if we were dating—if I picked her up at her flat, flowers in hand; if we walked down the street, our fingers intertwined; if we woke up in the morning, her head on my chest. This was what Scarlett would look like if she were mine.
“You called her darling.” Scarlett’s voice was smoke and velvet, threaded with a tinge of hurt.
“I wouldn’t know.” The satisfaction of getting under her skin with that tactic was minute compared to my exhaustion. I was tired of our games. “I’ve only called one woman that and meant it.” Scarlett’s soft inhale was nearly my undoing.
Look at Eldorra’s royal couple. They overcame a centuries-old law to be together.
BRIDGET AND RHYSSSS
Football is my life, but I was slowly losing my love for it. It terrified me. And as much as I liked my team at Holchester, I felt like I was trapped in this bubble where I couldn’t breathe.”
Stoppp that hits too much
“If it makes you feel better,” I said. “I prefer Asher to Asher Donovan.”
However, I was glad it was exclusive. The thought of Asher with someone else made me squirm with jealousy.
said. My resolve firmed. “You’re right. We’ll add my practice to our training sessions.” “Good.” Asher’s smile was as slow and languid as the warmth seeping under my skin. “That’s my girl.” That’s my girl. Three words shouldn’t have the power to undo me, but they did.
It was total bullshit. I’d never been to Hawaii or St. Lucia, but a disgruntled Asher was too cute not to tease.
“Asher, please.” A sob rent the air when I resisted. “Patience, darling,” I soothed. My lips grazed the shell of her ear. “Let me play with you first.”
“Smash my face into the wall?” Asher had obviously overheard Vincent’s threat. “I’d like to see him bloody try.” “Tone down the testosterone for a moment and focus,” I admonished. “Do you know how close of a call that was? If our timing had been just a little off…” “He’d beat me up? Please. I’d wipe the floor with him.” Asher snorted, but his frown released with a sigh at my warning glare. “Fine. I’ll behave.”
“Be honest,” Scarlett said as we sat down. “Was the heli tour inspired by my joke about a similar ride over Hawaii?” “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But hypothetically, if it was, it’s a lot better than Hawaii, isn’t it?” Amusement pulled at her lips. “You know that date didn’t exist. I was baiting you.” “I know. That’s why I said hypothetically, mine’s better.”
The universe knew what it was doing after all. “I’ve been here since day one, darling. I was simply waiting for you to join me.”
Only the memory of Scarlett’s tears stopped me. I can’t wake up every day wondering if that’s the day your luck runs out, and I’ll get a call saying you’re gone. I can’t lose you. I swallowed the ball of rage in my throat. My pride wasn’t worth breaking my promise to her.
“There is a point.” My jaw tightened. “When Brooklyn called and told me you were in the hospital…there are no words to describe how I felt. It was like the world had collapsed and buried me beneath its rubble. And even though she told me you were alive and that you weren’t in serious danger, I couldn’t think, couldn’t even fucking breathe until I saw it with my own two eyes.”
Being a great footballer is about more than skills and drive. It’s about focus. It’s about teamwork. It’s about the discipline and self-control to stop and think before you act. Emotion is a powerful motivator, but it can also be your greatest enemy.”
Reading this hit way tooo close to home especially with how closely i can relate to it
“For fuck’s sake, what do you want me to do?” he shouted. “Coddle you like you’re a fucking baby? You can’t improve if all I do is pat you on the head and say good job every time you kick the bloody ball!” “I’m not asking you to coddle me. I’m asking you to act like my father and not my bloody coach!”
“I’m here as your captain, and I’m telling you to get your shit together.” Oh, for fuck’s sake. Was it Kick Asher While He’s Down Day and no one told me? Why was everyone barging into my bloody house to yell at me?
“Now I’m going to say this once—and if you tell anyone, I’ll fucking deny it—but we need you back on the pitch.
Most importantly, you need to get your shit together and figure out a way to win Scarlett back. For some reason I can’t fathom, she still has feelings for you, and frankly, I’m sick of seeing her mope around too.”
“She’s moping around?” He gave me an exasperated look. “Out of everything I said, that was your takeaway? And yes, she is, unfortunately, moping.”
My heart skipped a beat. I hated the thought of Scarlett being sad, but moping was good. Moping meant she hadn’t moved on.
“Did you two finally kiss and make up?” Elliott, a midfielder, called from his seat next to the fireplace. “Are our parents not divorced anymore?”
“Excuse me.” Vincent looked insulted. “I’ve been your captain for years. He only transferred in this year.” He jerked his thumb at me. “We are not on the same level. There’s only one parent here, and it’s me.” “Sure,” I said. “You can be the annoying parent. I’ll be the fun older brother.”
the hint of spice in his aftershave, the strength of his hand as it cupped my face. I barely heard the team’s whistles and catcalls as I gave in to the sweet headiness of the moment.
“Just promise me one thing.” “Anything.” “Take the Jag back from Vincent. He’ll be insufferable with it.” As much as I appreciated Asher’s commitment to change, I wasn’t going to make him give up his favorite car. It suited him; the saloon didn’t.
Unfortunately, it was harder to convince Coach I’d changed than it was Scarlett. I doubted telling him I loved him and snogging him in front of the team would help.
“Can’t tell whether I’m running a team of professional athletes or an episode of bloody Gossip Girl at times.”
“Does she know what an idiot she’s dating?” “Yes, sir, and she loves me anyway.” Coach’s mouth twitched in the closest approximation of a smile
Asher laughed. “Scarlett, this is Jules, an old friend of mine.” “And this is Josh, my boyfriend,” Jules added, gesturing at the man beside her.
However, his smile visibly cooled when he glanced at Asher. “Donovan.” Asher looked like he was trying not to laugh. “Josh. Always a pleasure.”
Jules elbowed Josh in the side. “I was right.” “You were.” He didn’t sound particularly thrilled. Josh slid an arm around Jules’s waist and glared at Asher while we chatted during our wait for curtains up.
Well, he and Jules kept in touch. I could tell by Josh’s scowl that he was not an Asher fan.
“Glad to have you at Blackcastle, by the way,” Emma’s father said, shaking Asher’s hand. “I’ve been a fan of yours even when you were at Holchester. I think this year is our year.” Asher smiled. “I think so too.”
“Scarlett,” I said. “Welcome to the Valhalla Club library.” The Valhalla Club was an ultra-exclusive society for the world’s wealthiest and most powerful. It had chapters in every major city, and its London branch occupied one of the most splendid mansions in all of England.
“Hi!” Her smile dazzled. “You must be Scarlett. I’m Isabella. Are you a hugger? I’m a hugger.” Scarlett made a strangled noise when Isabella Valencia, her favorite author, came around the table to greet her with a big hug.
“Lucky she’s your fan,” Scarlett teased. “Though I don’t think I can say the same for Kai. He kept glaring at you for some reason.” “Maybe he’s not a Blackcastle supporter.” I shrugged. “Though apparently, I don’t poll well amongst engaged or married men between the ages of twenty-five and fifty. I’m not sure why.” “Their loss.” She twined her arms around my neck. “I think you’re pretty great.” “Pretty great?” “Exceptionally great,” she amended. “Better?”
I wanted to pound into her and hear her scream, to see her claw at the desk and come apart around my cock, but I wanted to hear her say it first.
I groaned. God, I could never say no to, nor get enough of, her.
I caught a glimpse of Scarlett’s deep blush before she buried her face in my chest. “I can’t go to dinner like this,” she said, her voice muffled. “I look…” “Like you’ve been fucked thoroughly?” I chuckled when she lifted her head to glare at me,
“Best anniversary ever so far,” I corrected. Scarlett laughed. “You are one of a kind, Asher Donovan.” She stood on tiptoes and gave me a soft kiss. “I love you.” “I love you, too.” I kissed her back, my heart giving a heavy thump of agreement. “More than anything else in this world.”
