“Okay, that’s enough.” She shoved at his shoulders. He was hard as granite and as immovable as a mountain.
Asher pinched her chin. “It’s not nearly enough.” Tilting her face up to his, he took her mouth once more. This time he kissed her top lip and then the lower one over and over. Then he nibbled them before he sucked upon the lower one. His tongue whipped at the corner of her mouth, seeking entrance.
“No,” she said faintly to his unspoken query. Asher used the opportunity to lay claim to the new territory. His tongue plunged deep. She gasped and she clasped handfuls of his t-shirt. Asher groaned. His arms went around her and pulled her forward. He crushed her chest to his and his mouth slanted over hers as he deepened the kiss even more.
It went on and on. She’d never been kissed this way before. His hunger both swept her up and frightened her. Ariadne was drowning in his taste, his heat, his smell. She moaned helplessly as, despite her best efforts, her body responded to his expertise. Her nipples were tight sensate peaks. There was a pulsing between her thighs that increased each time his tongue stroked over hers. She shifted and twisted in his hold, trying to find some relief for the growing ache.
Asher growled and she knew he wanted much more than this kiss even as heated as it was. He didn’t even try to hide it. One of his large palms slid down her back, cupped her ass, and drew her forward. He arched his hips against hers, giving her intimate knowledge of his aroused state.
Ariadne wrenched her mouth from his. Her panting breaths mixed with his. He bent his head as though to kiss her again. She couldn’t let that happen. Already she didn’t know how much time had passed. It was a minor miracle that no one had walked in on them. Erika was going to have a meltdown as it was when she found out about this. Turning her head and blocking him with an arm across his chest, she managed to stop him from taking her mouth.
Burying his face in her neck, he groaned. “Ari, you’ve got me hurting so bad.”
She shoved at his shoulders but it did no good. She couldn’t break his hold. “Let me go.”
“Go out with me.”
Her heart stopped. Asher wanted to date her. Well, he probably only wanted to have sex with her. But even if the chemistry between them was amazing, she couldn’t do it. It would break her best friend’s heart. She couldn’t stab Erika in the back like that. She would never forgive her. Besides dating Asher would be a gamble. His girlfriends didn’t last long. She recalled one girl he’d dated when he was in high school who’d basically turned into a stalker when he began avoiding her. Admittedly, Susan hadn’t been nice to any of them. But then, neither had been Asher’s sentiments about her after he’d dumped her. “I didn't want to date her. I wanted to do her. And I did. And now I'm done.” So, no, she wouldn’t risk her friendship with Erika for a mere fling. “You’ve got to be kidding.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Do I sound like I’m kidding?”
She struggled until he finally let her go. “Good grief, Asher!” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “I only let you kiss me because of the dare. There’s no way in hell I would put myself through the indignity of dating a wastrel like you.”
His eyes narrowed. “You enjoyed that kiss as much as I did.”
She didn’t bother to try to deny it. She didn’t want to challenge him. “Look, it was nice-”
“Nice?”
“But I’m sure it’s no more than what you’ve experienced with hundreds of other girls. Thanks, Ash, but I’m not interested.”
“Fine,” he said shortly. He opened the door. “You’re right. There are hundreds of other girls that are far more willing.” He preceded her out of the room. For the rest of the party, if they happened to cross paths, he either ignored her or glared at her. After that night, their relationship had gone from mildly antagonistic to all out warfare. Thus she had begun to avoid him whenever she could.
And now she was married to him. She had to admit that nothing she had seen over the last few weeks reminded her of the guy she had known before. He seemed more mature and more grounded. It was an ironic twist. Once she hadn’t even considered him proper dating material and now she would be proud to introduce him as her husband at her family reunion .
Chapter Six
July third dawned cloudless and hot. Ariadne let Asher do the driving. She’d asked her mother if she wanted to ride with them but Aurora was travelling with her new boyfriend. They drove straight to the park where a many of her family members were already gathered. Ariadne’s mouth began to water at the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers being cooked on the grill. Breakfast, a simple meal of tea and toast, had been hours ago.