Chapter Fifteen
Echo
I knew his gaze was roaming over every inch of my body, and I couldn’t find the fucks to give. There was this strange connection between us, and it made me feel completely comfortable around him, even naked. I changed into his clothes, and once I was covered up, I faced him. I didn’t see any hints of shame on his face from looking, only adoration and awe gracing his expression. It was strange feeling as beautiful and womanly as he was making me feel right now. Especially after knowing I turn into animals.
There was just something different about him. I felt it even when I was a cat, and I knew it had nothing to do with the fact that I needed him to survive at the time.
“I smelled something down there where Lisa had been attacked. Like a waxy smell, very strong. Komodo dragons can smell prey ten miles away, I’m guessing that would have been useful for comparing the scents of the two scenes.” I walked past him to leave, but he grabbed onto my arm. My head turned toward his, and I felt déjà vu.
“What does your tattoo mean?” he asked, his usual swagger missing from his words.
“I saw it when I helped you change back the first time, and now I need to know.”
“Dreamcatchers were once used by my people to protect their loved ones from harm. Now it’s a touristy thing for bad dreams. The spider’s web between the wood would trap the evil that wanted to hurt us. I try to be a dream catcher, protecting people from harm. The two feathers hanging below are for my parents, to help remind me of my cause. Protect people from going through what I did.” The final words were barely above a whisper. The dream catcher tattoo on my hip was one of the only vulnerabilities I let myself have. The tattoo and my car. Both meant so much to me, both left me open.
Slowly and gently, his grip pulled me back toward him. I stared into his eyes and wondered if he was going to try and kiss me again. Would I let him?
There was no denying there was something between us, even if he was sometimes annoyingly charming and I stayed in perpetual eye roll around him.
“You don’t need me.” He pulled me closer until I could feel the heat coming from his body, caressing my skin.
His hand left my arm, moving up softly until it reached my jaw, settling there like a cradle.
“I don’t need you,” I whispered.
A small smile touched his lips, and I found myself looking at them.
“You don’t need me, but you feel this hunger as much as I do.” His head descended, our breath mingling, lips an inch away from connecting.
“What is it?” I felt something for him, and it was beyond anything I’ve felt before. It was raw and untamable.
“The instinct to claim what’s yours.” His words tickled my lips before they brushed against me softly, slow and gentle.
I also thought that kissing was meant to be this clashing of desire and red-hot passion, but this was something completely different.
Asher knew me without me needing to tell him how I felt all the time. I never get close to people. I’m a bitch, and I know it most of the time, but it’s better to be standoffish than lose more people I care about.
This kiss was him showing me that I could let him in. Building trust, instead of letting this craving between us consume my thoughts and scare me away.
His lips were perfect and controlled with each press against mine. I was starting to feel the desire to push for more, to caress his tongue with mine, to enjoy the strange current that flowed between us in a soothing rhythm.
“Have dinner with me?” He pulled back to look at my uncontrolled expression.
“I should probably get home; we’ve got a busy day tomorrow.” I took a step away, and his hands dropped to his sides. His eyes were spearing into my soul, trying to understand if he had pushed me too far, and I was running away or not.
“Do you have employees to cover you?” I asked, and he nodded. A small smile on my lips gave him what he wanted.
“Anything I can do to convince you to stay for a late dinner? I make a mean peanut butter and jelly…maybe some fresh bottled water?” His stupid, charming grin was back to trying to convince me to stay.
I was about to tell him I’d pass when my stomach growled.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I swear his grin widened.
Without another word he came closer, pressed a single peck to my already kiss-glistened lips, and then walked out of the bedroom.
What in the world was I getting myself into? Serial killers to hunt, an ultimate bad guy to unmask, save mankind, be an active participant in the Hero Society, and apparently dating for the first time since I was a young teenager.
I shook my head at myself and chased after the man who was rustling around in the kitchen.
He hadn’t made us peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but whipped us up some mean grilled cheeses and a can of tomato soup. He snapped his finger and the lights turned off, and an old red candle he’d place on the table lit.
“I don’t put out on first dates, so you know.” I sat down and looked over the meal he had prepared.
“Getting you to call this a date is a big score in my book. It’s enough for now.”
I didn’t even need to look up to know that grin was back on his face again.
Together we chatted while eating, what I imagined was normal first-date conversation: favorite hobbies, music, movies, and all the other random info we could think of. An hour passed quickly once we got into the topic of family. Mostly his. His father was a martial arts master from China, his mother was from the States. He was raised on the other side of the country, but the energy of this area called to him and demanded he be here. So here he was. I didn’t open up much about my parents, but I did talk about the car my pop and I had rebuilt.
Talking with him was so easy, and it wasn’t until I started yawning that I decided it was time I headed home.
“Sure you’re okay to drive? That grilled cheese could put you into a food coma, and you’d pass out at the wheel,” he teased as we walked down to the front of the bar together.
“I think I’ll survive.” I turned to look at him and say goodbye when his body invaded my space, pressing my body against the door with his own large presence.
He didn’t say anything before he kissed me, this time with more fever than before. This kiss was not one of building trust—this kiss was meant to scorch my mind and make me remember each touch of lips, each stroke of tongues against the other. I was totally wrapped up in his gripping hands and strangled moans when he stepped back, giving me space.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He unlocked the door and held it open for me.
I felt the subtle vibrations inside my chest before his eyes flashed with amusement making my cheeks reddened.
He didn’t say anything as I threw myself in the Camaro and slammed the door shut with a huff, embarrassed as hell that I had no control over myself around him.
His eyes were on me, though, and I swore I could hear his thoughts as I drove home.
“Kisses so good I make my girl purr.”
I’m not sure which was worse, the fact that I randomly purred while around him, or that I just thought of myself as his girl in my head.