Drowning (1st book)

9. Asher's Past

Asher stays with me the entire night for some reason. I don't understand him. He's hot, then he's cold.

I lay awake staring at the ceiling at one o'clock in the morning. He is sitting by my windowsill.

The way the moonlight reflects off his raven black hair makes me crazy. His beautiful eyes are very focused on the moon.

Asher averts his gaze to meet mine.

"Hey, you're up."

I smile and nod.

He stretches and the bottom hem of his shirt slightly lifts up to reveal a muscular chest. My eyes light up like It's my first Christmas.

Rosie wants...

I try to avert my thoughts to something else. I know he can read them.

Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks.

"Do you have gym at school tomorrow?" Asher asks me with a confused tone.

"Yep. I just, uh, hate sweaty gym socks..."

He moves towards my bed. He sits down at the bottom. I am still laying on my back, staring at the ceiling. I can tell that he knows I'm very attracted to him.

Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks. Sweaty gym socks.

He moves his body to be hovering over mine. His electric blue eyes bore into my green ones. What a contrast, green and blue...

Sweaty gym socks! Sweaty gym socks! Sweaty gym socks! Sweaty gym socks!

Sweaty gym socks! Sweaty gym socks!

"Rose, do I," he starts and leans down and kisses my neck," make your heart beat very fast?"

A warmth fills the area where his lips meet with my skin.

Yes you do, I want to scream, but I don't. I may be very attracted to him, but I do have self-control, though it may be limited.

Swooooon! Sexy, sexy, Asher, my brain screams; but I try to keep myself in check.

I turn my head so he won't see my cheeks burn an awful red color.

"Rose?" he seductively asks.

I push him off me and sit up.

I breathe like I just ran twenty laps around my gymnasium.

"Tell me about your human life," I ask in a weary tone.

He glares at me.

"No." He turns around.

I place a hand on Asher's shoulder.

"Asher?" I ask with sincerity.

He pushes off my bed and goes back to the windowsill.

"I said no!" he grunts.

"Asher, you're being a coward!"I argue

He shakes his head.

"Ash-" he cuts me off.

"It was 1865, I lived across the street from this house. I was in love with your great-great-great grandmother, Rose Smith, that was her maiden name."

His words shock me, like a bullet in the heart. He's actually going to tell me something about his past!

"She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I loved her so much. I cannot fathom how much I loved her.

"She looked exactly like you. Beautiful chestnut brown hair," he pauses for a moment and gazes into my eyes.

"But she never loved me. She had her eyes set on another man, Thomas White. My family and her family arranged a marriage. We were to be married. When we were engaged, a week before our wedding, I went up to her room to find her. But what I found was...disgraceful," Asher bites his lip and shudders with disgust.

"Thomas was draped on top of her, naked," a silent tear slips down Asher's face. I gasp.

"They were doing disgraceful things. I was so heartbroken. She loved him, not me. I had always fooled myself into thinking she loved me. They never saw me. I left, but the next day, by the lake she and Thomas were talking. I had brought my rifle. I- I shot him. I fell to the ground disgusted with myself after I had done it. I couldn't believe I had sunk so low. I missed his heart and got his leg, so he survived. I dropped the gun. She picked it up, tears rushing down her face. She shot me, in the heart and threw me in the lake. No one ever found out. They payed off my family, they took it and moved to Texas. They acted as if I was never born."

He stares at the ground for a long time.

"So you're the body at the bottom of the lake," I questioned.

"Yes," he says emotionless.

"Why did you go to Hell?"

He chuckles.

"I was an atheist, obviously I was wrong."

I feel a surge of confidence.

I grab his hand.

He squeezes my hand and smiles to himself.

I slowly get up and move to straddle his waist. I sit on top of Asher's lap. I want to comfort him.

His confused and curious eyes meet mine.

"Rose, what are you-" I shush him.

I slowly put my arms around his neck. His arms slowly, but surely, find my waist.

His breathing becomes rough and fast.

"I-" I cut him off.

"I'm not her, okay? It's just me, Rose White. Different person. I'm not going to hurt you."

He nods his head.

I inch closer to his lips. I've never been kissed before. I'm about as virgin as it gets.

Hmm, how does the virgin Rose sound?

He smells like an ocean breeze.

Asher's eyes widen as my lips and his are just centimeters apart. I can feel his breath on my neck, and it's intoxicating.

I can feel his fingertips trail up and down my arms, leaving goosebumps.

I want to kiss him so badly.

My lips brush his for a brief, whisper of a kiss.

Then I fall face first on my bed.

I lift my head up to see an open window and my shades moving with the outside breeze.

He left, he left me.