Love Me Not? (I)

Chapter 14

14

Reece

Monday came all too fast. I didn't want to get up for school, but I feel it is now my obligation to get up so I can get all my work for the past days I missed and get them all completed and turned in. Slowly, I got to my feet and stretched. Time for a long and uneventful day.

I walked out of my room to get some coffee started for me when the most wonderful smell filled my nose. I let it guide me as I shut my eyes. I stopped at the edge of my kitchen, half expecting Rorie to be making his special pancakes. What I saw instead made my heart freeze.

Asher was standing at my stove, flipping pancakes onto a plate. How the hell did he get into my house?!

Asher suddenly looked up and spotted me. "Morning, Reece." I just stared. "Did you sleep well?" No answer; still too stunned to even move. "Reece? You okay?" He flipped his last pancake onto the plate and flicked my stove off. He slowly walked over to me and wrapped me in a warm embrace. I stiffened at the sparks that flew between us. Asher slowly let his nose travel down my jaw line and to the crook of my neck. He inhaled deeply and sighed, content.

Still, I didn't move, not even to lift my arms, even though I wanted to. I waited for him to let me go, and when he did, I fought the urge to pout. He cupped my chin and made me look into his eyes. I could see the want in them as they lowered to my lips. I knew what he wanted to do then. I pulled out of his grasp and stepped around him.

I focused on the pancakes and didn't look at him as I spoke. "How did you get into my house?"

"Rorie let me in before he left this morning." He responded. "He said he needed someone to watch over you, so I volunteered so he could go to school."

"What time is it?" I looked at the digital clock on the stove. The time was after eight. Why didn't my alarm go off? Actually, I don't think I even set it at all last night...

"Well, it's time for us to be in school, but I had someone call us out." Asher said, suddenly really close behind me to where he was practically trapping me against my counter. "It's just you and me in this empty apartment. You need another day of rest before you go back to school and become bombarded with questions." He had a point...

I couldn't think straight with him this close to me. I swallowed hard and glanced around to find a quick escape. Asher was holding onto the counter on either side of me, preventing me from going anywhere, and his legs were also spread out around me.

"Yes, we are alone." I agreed as I planned my escape. "My parents would never let me stay alone if they knew a guy was in the house with me."

"Yes, I can see where that your be a problem." He buried his face into my mop of hair. "They wouldn't be able to trust a guy who might give into temptation." Okay, what is it with him and sniffing me? Seriously, this is so weird.

And yet I find my breath coming out in short gasps and my heart beating hard and fast. Why does he do this to me?! Why does he make me feel this way?! I let out a tiny squeak as he wrapped his arms around my stomach, pressing me close to him. He moaned softly at our closeness and held me tighter, afraid I might end up leaving.

And I didn't fight him. It was as if I was powerless against him. I let him hold me close and lovingly and smell my hair, neck, and collar bone.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when the doorbell rang. In this small window of time, Asher loosened his grip on me and I was able to wiggle free to answer the door.

When I pulled the door open, my hand flew up and connected with the person's face. "You!" I shouted down at him as he fell to the ground holding his nose. "How dare you have the nerve to show up here!"