Page 26 of Addiction

Surprisingly, his hands grip my hips, and my body responds effortlessly as he pulls me toward him, resting his forehead against my stomach. The feel of his warm breath and palms against my cool wet clothes causes heat to travel throughout my body.

“What do I do?” he whispers, now looking up at me, tears threatening his red-rimmed eyes. “Tell me how to make it stop, Wade.”

I release the towel and cup the nape of his neck. Loving the fact that this beautiful man is so close yet hate that he’s so broken. “Make what stop?”

“This feeling that’s eating me alive.”

Lowering myself to the coffee table, I sit facing him. His hands move with me, sliding to rest on my thighs. His bloodshot eyes, mixed with confusion and the effects of the alcohol, find mine. I’m surprised he’s not pulled away because we are dangerously close. But as I hold his gaze, alarm bells start to ring in my head regarding what could be eating him alive when he reaches up to cup my jaw, bringing me closer.

“You talk. You let whatever you’re feeling or whatever is holding you down escape. You just let it out,” I say lightly. “You’re not on your own here, Asher. People want to help you. You don’t have to fight the war in your mind on your own.”

“I’m always at war. No matter where I am, I’m always at war and I’m always alone.”

“No one is ever alone, Asher."

“I am,” he whispers. “And that shit fucking hurts.”

When his eyes fall to my lips, I know this beautiful man is fighting something far more personal. Want and need grip me hard along with the rapid increase of my heartbeat.

One touch.

One touch is all I need to fuel my desires, but I’m not one to take advantage of a drunken man, especially one who is fighting so many battles.

Needing to break this sudden lust, I pull back a little and think about the one man we all miss more than ever and who wanted nothing more than to see his son happy.

“Your dad would hate seeing you like this if he was here,” I murmur.

But my words facilitate a reaction I hadn’t expected.

He falls apart right in front of me. Resting his forehead against my shoulder, he cries as I’ve never known a man to, releasing all the anguish, pain and hurt that has consumed him for I assume some time as I hold him close.

When I woke the next morning, the spot on the couch where I had left him was empty, and the next time I saw him after that, it was like that night had never happened at all. He’d been too drunk.

“So, I hear you are home early?”

“Yeah. I thought I’d surprise everyone.”

“You certainly did that,” Fiona adds. “He brought me to tears.”

I smile at her. “I can imagine. I know how much you’ve been waiting for him to be back.”

“It’s been a long time coming, that’s for sure.” Fiona smiles, just as Nora approaches us.

“Sorry, guys. Can I just grab Mom for a second? I want to run something by her.”

“Go ahead,” I say. “But once you’re done, I want Baby Ava cuddles if she’s awake.”

“Noted. She’s missed you.”

“I’ve missed her.” I smile.

“Asher, help Wade to get some food.”

“I’m sure Wade is capable of getting his food, Mom.” Asher chuckles as Fiona and Nora walk away.

My heart beats faster with it being just the two of us.

“It’s about time her smiles reached her eyes,” I say without thinking.