“As in Bob Marley?”
“The very same.”
“I’m a fan.”
“Are you talking about me or his music?” I laugh.
“Both.”
I swallow thickly as his intense eyes hold mine. I take in the sharp lines of his handsome face. The rugged beauty of the man before. It almost feels rewarding that his attention is focused solely on me.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your hot, new friend?” Peter’s voice from behind startles me.
Asher narrows his eyes as Peter steps forward. “Peter, this is Asher; Asher, my friend Peter.”
“Pleasure is all mine,” Peter says, extending his hand.
Asher grips his hand, giving it a firm shake. “Nice to meet you.”
Peter looks him up and down, shamelessly checking him out, but Asher is unfazed. I’m pretty sure he’s used to both men and women checking him out.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asks Peter.
“You can buy me anything you want,” Peter murmurs, and I swat his arm. “’Rita on the rocks, please.”
When Asher turns around to place the order, Peter leans down to speak in my ear. “Oh my gahhhhh, you are so getting laid tonight. Did you see the way he was looking at you? Like you’re a fucking snack.”
God, if Peter had even a clue as to the nature of my and Asher’s real relationship, he would not be encouraging this behavior, but I can’t deny his words either. Asher’s heated stare is not only unapologetic but it’s also hungry. Equivalent to mine. I’m drawn to him in a way I’ve never been drawn to anyone before and that is not only terrifying but also dangerous.
Asher spins around, handing Peter his drink. “Thank you,” Peter says, taking the straw in his mouth. An awkward silence descends as Asher’s intense gaze returns to mine. “Okay, so, I’ll just leave you two kids to it. Nice to meet you, Asher. Hope to see you around again soon.”
“Trust me, you will,” he replies confidently, and it makes my skin tingle with anticipation.
Peter walks off, his drink in hand, but not before mouthing, “Oh my God,” over his shoulder before walking away.
“He’s an interesting character,” Asher notes.
I laugh. “You have no idea.”
Several people walk behind me and I take a step forward to move out of the way. The place has grown even more crowded in the last few minutes. Asher twists his body, making a small space for me at the bar, but taking up that space could have very well been my biggest mistake because now we are so close we are nearly touching. His large frame towers over me, making me feel small yet protected, a unique scent invading my senses. Every inch of my skin practically leaps from my body, goose bumps trailing across my flesh in an attempt to be closer.
“Do you come here a lot?” he inquires.
“My first time here. You?”
He nods. “It’s one of my favorite places.”
He takes a long glug of his beer and my eyes are drawn to his strong finger curled around the bottle.
“Your hair looks different,” he states, and it’s the first time he’s acknowledged that we know each other outside of this moment.
I point to the curls. “Natural.”
“Better.” He smiles.
The compliment warms my blood. I twist the top of my water, downing another sip. “Is this how you do it?”
“Do what?”
