"So … that's it then?" I asked, confused. I was prepared for a three-hour ordeal.
"Do you think there is something wrong with dress?" She asked, perching her hand on her hip, cocking a perfectly tweezed and drawn-in eyebrow at me.
"No, God, no! I love it. I was just checking."
"You take off dress. I have it delivered to your hotel tomorrow after pressing."
"Ok, then." I had obviously offended Elena. I took the dress of, delicately hanging it back up and leaving it on the hook I removed it from. I went to leave the boutique, but Elena stopped me, making sure to kiss both my cheeks. Alright then.
With an extra few hours I hadn't planned on, I decided to walk back to the hotel instead of taking a cab. It was a beautiful afternoon in the city and I felt much more at ease being here than I had even a few days ago. Something about being here solely for my art, and talking with Asher about the things that were bothering me, had made the city not so excruciatingly lonely for me. I still felt like a visitor, but more like a visitor who was happy to be there. I could enjoy the city, not feel overwhelmed by it.
After a few hours of strolling through the streets, admiring the buildings, wandering through parks, I finally made it back to the hotel. Again, I was disappointed with the lack of over-the-top flowers waiting for me on the counter. It was nearly dinner time and I still hadn't gotten any flowers. Maybe he took me seriously and stopped sending them.
"Ma'am!" I turned back to the concierge desk with a wide grin and the woman rolled her eyes at me. She waved me back over and when I got to the desk she leaned forward. "This display is far less impressive. You might want to hold out on him." I quickly leaned back, moving away from her with a confused look on my face.
"Excuse me? That's rather rude." She shrugged her shoulders at me and placed a small clear container on the counter. When my eyes fell upon it and registered what it was, my hand came up to cover my mouth and my eyes immediately began to water.
On the counter sat a clear plastic container that held a single, coral colored, rose corsage, on a bed of baby's breath.
"Oh my god," I whispered, my hand still covering my mouth.
"Here's the card," she said with irritation as she slid it across the counter. I took it with trembling hands.
Bit, coral roses symbolize desire. I desire you, in every sense of the word: physically, emotionally, intellectually – did I mention physically? When I first gave you this corsage when we were fourteen, I hoped that one day you would be mine in every way. I desired you. Today, I give you this corsage with the same hope. I want you for myself. I'm afraid I can't wait any longer to spend forever with you. Hoping to be all you desire, Asher. P.s. Don't forget to tip the delivery guy.
I looked up at the woman with tears in my eyes, confused by the last part of the note.
"Is the person who delivered this still here?"
"Yes," she said as she pointed to a chair in the lobby.
Sitting in the chair was Asher.
As soon as I laid eyes on him, he stood and he looked delicious. He wore dark jeans with a black tee shirt and a gray blazer. He looked better than anyone should have after riding an airplane and then sitting in a hotel lobby for who knows how long. My stomach jumped at the sight of him, my throat closing a little, not letting enough air in. He walked towards me purposefully, as if he was supposed to be here all along.
"Hello, Bit," he said, stopping just inches from me, his hand coming to rest on my waist.
I looked up at him, a smile appearing on my face, giving away my extreme happiness to see him.
"What are you doing here?"
"You," he said as his hand slid from my waist and traveled dangerously close to my ass, "refused to give me a date as to when I could see you again. So I decided to take things into my own hands." He gave my ass a firm squeeze with the last words and I gasped a little at his forward gesture. He moved forward and I felt his mouth at me ear. "Don't make me have to ask to go upstairs with you," he whispered. I swallowed hard, instantly set ablaze by his words.
"Would you like to go upstairs?" I said softly, feeling his hand move gently back up to my waist, definitely a more appropriate touch for a hotel lobby, but still doing inappropriate things to my heart rate. His face moved so that his mouth was just barely touching mine.
"I'd love to," he said against my lips before kissing me senseless – so much for appropriate displays of affection.
We didn't say a word on our way up to my room. I still swam in a pool of disbelief, not really comprehending that he was here, with me, in New York. At my door, I took out my keycard and smiled a little when he took it from me, amused by his incessant need to be in control. He unlocked the door and led me inside. He set his suitcase on the floor next to the king-sized bed and I tried to keep my eyes completely open when they threatened to flutter closed as he slid his suit jacket off and laid it over a chair, the sight of his body straining through the fabric of his shirt affected me immediately.
"Come here, Bit," he said in a gravelly voice, using his fingers to motion me towards him. I took a few steps towards him, my hands instinctually went to his chest and they slid over the firmness of his muscles. "I missed you," he said before leaning down to kiss me.
"Is that why you came all the way to New York?" I asked shyly after pulling away.
"Yes and no. I came because I missed you, but also because I wanted to see your show." He pushed back a wisp of hair from my forehead, his fingers continuing down to the ends. "I'm proud of you and your work, and I'd like to see you in your element." He smiled at me with something that looked like pride in his eyes.
"Ok," was all I could say in response. Hearing him say he was proud of me, seeing him show up here, it affected me in a way I couldn't have anticipated. It had been a long time since I felt like someone was in my corner. I knew it was because I spent a good portion of my life pushing people away and keeping them at an arm's length. I never expected anything from anyone because I knew that meant that they would have expectations of me. Allowing Asher in brought me a startling and wonderful rush of warm elation and contentment. I pressed my cheek into his chest and snuggled in, embracing the happiness that washed over me. "I love you."
"Mmm. I love you too, Bit."
Chapter Seventeen
Asher
Nothing compared to waking with her in my arms. Her soft skin humming against mine was the best feeling in the world. Her hair, wrapped around every single part of me, well, that was awesome too. I pulled her in closer, her back pressing up against my chest, naked and warm. We used each other last night too many times to keep clothing on. I needed to be buried inside of her and she needed to be consumed by me. I could see her when I closed my eyes: atop me, underneath me, on her side gazing into my eyes, and bent over in front of me, crying out my name. It was the reunion I imagined on the plane ride over and it didn't disappoint. The only disappointment would come from leaving New York and not knowing when I'd see her again.
"It's too early," she mumbled sleepily. I kissed her temple.
"Agreed."
"Then why are you waking me up?"
"Did I?" She nudged her round ass up against me and felt my cock harden even more. "I'm sorry. He has a mind of his own. I can't control him."
"Mmm. You did a pretty good job of controlling him last night." She rolled over to face me and wore a sleepy grin. The golden sunlight coming through the windows illuminated the soft colors in her dark hair and brightened her face. The dark circles she worn under her eyes since the day she returned to Willow Falls were nearly gone and I could have sworn she'd began to eat during the week we'd been away from each other.
"You're beautiful," I said, sweeping my thumb over her cheek. Her smile grew and the sight of it anchored something in me. Resolution? Possession? Need? All of these feelings flowed through me and in that very moment, with my hand cupping her face, her hair flawlessly flailed around our bed, and her beautiful amber eyes smiling up at me, I knew we'd been brought together for a reason. I could only hope she felt the same way. I kissed her chastely and pulled away, content to just hold her.