Unfriended(Love in New Highland Book 1)(35)

Only someone had triggered my panic button.

I had this need to … cement my position? Stake my claim?

Charis's negative feelings about her body made me uneasy. Aura had  burned me badly. I didn't think Charis approached Aura's level of  fuck-upedness, but women were funny.

I'd learned a couple of key facts recently, namely, A) my friend had no  idea how desirable she was, and B) Mel had nailed it about her carrying a  torch for me-some kind of torch, anyway.

Maybe I didn't know her as well as I'd thought I did.

I wanted there to be no mistake in her mind about us.

Or in mine either.

Charis, however, had different ideas. She restored her clothing, threw  me out of her bed and sent me home, saying she needed to clear her head  without me around to cloud it. I was ordered not to call her or text her  while we were apart.

Reluctantly I modified my plan, kissing her thoroughly at the door so she wouldn't forget our place.

"You've had the swoons for me for a long time," I reminded her when I came up for air.

"The what?"

"The swoons." I laughed as she swatted me. "A long time. A really long time. Those were your exact words."

What a long time meant in Charisspeak I wasn't sure, but I was thinking  it might be several weeks that her pussy had been creaming for me-maybe  longer, maybe even before I went underground to bond with Aura.

And all that time, I'd had no clue. It pissed me off that I'd had no clue.

"Yeah." She looked like she was regretting the words in question. Just  another reason to solidify my stance. Char was the Queen of Doubts. She  could doubt anything.

"So here's the deal. I want you to think of me as your primo source for  all things sexual. I'm your orgasm godfather. When you need an O, you  come to me."

"Yessir." She saluted. "But also … this thing … I mean, it's mutual, right? I  didn't misunderstand you? You have the swoons for me, you're still  attracted to me, true?" She sounded nervous.

Shit. I immediately cupped her head and fixed her with a stare. "I'm a  walking hard-on for you. The number of times I've had to talk myself out  of a Charis Sloane-induced erection approaches infinity. It's not going  away. Don't you ever forget it.

She sucked in her breath. "Okay."

I kissed her again till we were both panting. "That over there? Those  teeny weeny orgasms? That was nothing. I have only begun to fuck you.  You haven't even seen what I can do. I'm going to plow you till your  eyes roll next time I get you alone."

"Geez, Norrell, you are such a … "

"Cretin? Barbarian? Caveman?" I'm not ashamed of who I am.

"Cocky bastard, actually. Not that I'm complaining." She looked at me  through her lashes. (Holy hell, flirtation from Sloane? I felt like I'd  won some award.)

"Even after I got it on with your coat?"

That had her cheeks reddening, but she shrugged.

That was something, at least. I wasn't as cocky as she thought, truth be  known. Char wasn't like other women. Sure, she'd been attracted to me.  But what the basis of that was, I had no clue. At any moment, she might  decide I didn't live up to her hopes.                       
       
           



       

But if she liked what we'd done today … the mind boggled at what we could be together.

"You need to eat," I said, delaying. "You want me to fetch you some  takeout? It's critical that you keep your energy up, being old and all."

Laughter bubbled out of her. "I'll order something." She stood up on her  tiptoes and reached up to kiss my mouth, marking it the first time  she'd initiated a kiss, and my heart officially imploded.



MY PLACE IS AN IMPOSING THREE-STORY Victorian building just off of  campus past the Greek houses. I nabbed it with cash as soon as my  tracking device brought in its first mil. Everyone agreed I was due an  indulgence but most of my family thought the house was overkill.

For me it's all about the territory. Growing up in a crowd, you crave  your own space. So I got me some space. Here I could have my whole  family come visit and we'd be crowded but squeeze in fine. One day I'll  host Christmas here, if I can ever get Mama to budge from her kitchen.

Aura was perpetually telling me the place needed fixing up, and I was  glad now I'd never let her take out her decorating urges on it. It had,  in my view, charm.

Which was to say it was drafty, creaky, and smelled like old wood.

For whatever reason, Char hadn't been here very often. I woke up  Wednesday morning resolved to get the place up to snuff for her.

I dismissed the fleeting thought that this was a woman who wouldn't  notice if she was squatting in a cellar. I wanted her here a lot, and I  wanted her comfortable.

Before I started cleaning, I went through the shit ton of messages  waiting for me. Somewhere in there, a new text came in from Karl.



Karl: You and Charis cool now?

Asher: Looks like it. What, so you proposed to Aura yesterday just for me and Sloane?

Karl: Sure, why not.



I was expecting it, but it still blew me away. I took a minute to absorb  it all. At the end of the minute, I was feeling even more kindly toward  my brother.



Asher: Are you really planning to marry her?

Karl: Might as well. Aura's sure nice to fuck. Not sure I'd keep doing it as long as you did.

Asher: Jesus, Karl. It's your life. Just keep her away from Char.

Karl: Hey I got your back. Not saying a word about your new squeeze.

Asher: WTF are you talking about?

Karl: Pic of you and a "woman" arguing on the street. Aw, shucks you guys are so cute together.

Asher: Don't tell Char, she hates having her picture up on social media.

Karl: No problem from my end. But people are asking who's in the black coat. Good thing her face doesn't show.

Asher: Who's asking you about it?

Karl: Family

Asher: Shit. Char will get skittish if they start in on her. Give us a  few days of peace, will you, and don't tell them it's her I'm involved  with?

Karl: Lips are sealed, not my business who you're fucking

Asher: Don't talk about Char like that

Karl: Or what?

Asher: Or I'll clobber you with a can of coffee grounds before I cram it down your throat. What the hell?

Karl: Wooing, then

Asher: I am the fuck wooing her so fuck off

Karl: Will your kids have your Detroit mouth?



I grinned.



Asher: NOYB. How are your teeth, BTW? Did I knock any loose?

Karl: Nope. I'll show you how to do that if you want. For next time.

Asher: I may just take you up on that.



The next text I paused at was from someone I didn't know.



Unknown: Hi there Asher. I'm a friend of Winona's.



I wavered. Generally it's pointless to reply to personal messages from  individuals I don't know, because nine times out of ten, it's A) some  miscellaneous babe, or B) an attempt at a business connection from  someone I don't care to do business with.

My instincts told me to ignore it, but the sender had mentioned my  sister, and I wanted to finish all other business so I could move on to  spring break-i.e., Sloane.

I left it at: Then you know my email. Contact me that way.

The email came minutes later. I should have trusted my instincts,  because it included a full length photo. The woman's name was Elianna,  judging by her photo she was candy I would have jumped on back in high  school, and she hoped to see me at my sister's party.

I cursed Winona to hell and back.

I deleted the email, making a mental note to avoid her party with a ten-foot pole.

Last text was from my mother. She'd been calling or texting me every day since the breakup under the impression I was lovelorn.



Erica Norrell: Are you happy?

Asher: Yes, Mama



Done.

Nope, damn. She must have been stalking her phone because the phone  sounded moments after I put it away. She was texting, not calling. It  was Mama's latest thing; she'd been telling everyone proudly she was a  "texter." Word from Mel was she'd even started sending her grandkids  texts, including my baby nephew.



Erica Norrell: I know you'll find that special lady.                       
       
           



       

Asher: Yes I will

Erica Norrell: Anytime you want to just come over, you can.

Asher: I know, Mama

Erica Norrell: Are you eating well? Do you have enough socks?

Asher: Yes

Erica Norrell: Your sister's friend Hunt is having a birthday party Friday. It's a secret. Did you know about that?

Asher: She's only been sending progress reports every day.

Erica Norrell: I think you should go. You need to get out in the world again.

Asher: I just might.



That was, of course, a lie. My mother is fond of little white lies like that from her children. She says they show we honor her.



Erica Norrell: You can't hole up depressed forever, honey.

Asher: I know, Mama. I'm fine, I promise.



Like that would work.

Right. I should have known my family would be on my case to find a new  Aura until I got it into their skulls I wasn't looking for one.