Cassie's POV
The mansion was unusually quiet when we returned. I kept my face buried against Asher's chest as we passed a few patrolling guards, pretending not to see the curious glances and raised brows.
His grip never wavered, firm and steady, even though he hadn't spoken a word to me since the forest.
When we reached my room, he pushed the door open with his shoulder and carried me straight to the bed.
"Stay," he said curtly, setting me down gently before disappearing into the adjoining bathroom.
I swallowed hard, watching the door close behind him.
I hated the way my chest tightened.
Hated how the cold weight of our earlier argument still lingered between us. I knew I'd crossed a line, knew I'd scared him.
But gods, he could be infuriating.
When he returned, his expression was unreadable, face carefully blank, jaw tight. He carried a small metal box, the pack's emergency medical kit.
I expected him to say something, crack a joke, call me a reckless idiot.
Nothing.
Without a word, he knelt in front of me and reached for my ankle. His touch was careful, precise, but his face remained set in that stubborn, distant mask.
"I… I didn't mean to upset you," I murmured, breaking the silence.
He didn't respond.
I tried again. "Asher, I just—"
His fingers tightened slightly around my ankle, not enough to hurt, but enough to silence me.
"Stop," he muttered, voice low and strained.
I bit my lip, shame washing over me in a slow, suffocating tide.
He focused on cleaning the scrape on my knee first, his movements gentle. I could feel the tension radiating from him. His jaw clenched every time I so much as breathed.
I couldn't stand it.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I know I was stupid. I shouldn't have gone alone. I just… I need to find out what happened. I can't—"
I moved to shift closer to him without thinking and made the mistake of putting weight on my bad ankle.
A sharp, blinding pain shot through me.
I let out a sharp cry as my balance gave out. Before I could hit the floor, strong arms caught me.
"Cassie—dammit," Asher growled, grabbing me around the waist.
The momentum of my fall knocked him off balance too, and the next thing I knew, I was sprawled half on top of him, both of us tangled awkwardly on the floor. My hands landed on his chest, my face mere inches from his.
I felt his breath hitch.
And then… our lips brushed.
It was accidental. Unplanned. A soft, fleeting touch. But it sent a spark skittering through me like wildfire.
His silver eyes darkened, locking onto mine. The air between us thickened, charged, as if the whole room was holding its breath.
I should've pulled away, should've apologized, should've done something.
But I didn't.
Neither did he.
His hand was still at my waist, warm and possessive. His gaze dropped to my mouth, then back to my eyes.
The heat between us was suffocating, the unspoken words from earlier hanging heavy in the space we shared.
"Cass…" His voice was rough, low and dangerous in a way that made my heart stutter.
"I didn't mean it," I whispered, barely able to breathe.
He reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face, his touch feather-light.
"You drive me insane," he muttered, voice rough as gravel.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "I know."
For a moment, it felt like the rest of the world had vanished — just me and him, tangled up in guilt and want and unspoken promises.
Then, with a heavy sigh, Asher gently shifted me off his chest and stood, his expression carefully neutral again.
"Stay off that ankle," he said gruffly, offering me his hand.
I took it.
He pulled me up with ease and guided me back to the bed, not meeting my eyes.
I knew this wasn't over.
But for now, neither of us said another word.
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The house was still.
Moonlight spilled through the window, casting pale silver patterns across my room. The pain in my ankle throbbed dully, but it wasn't what kept me awake.
It was him.
Asher.
He hadn't come back after tending to my injury. I'd heard him moving around the house, speaking with one of the guards, but he never came to check on me.
And though part of me wanted to be stubborn about it, to let the silence stretch until morning, the ache in my chest wouldn't let me.
I needed him.
Before I could second-guess myself, the door creaked open.
Asher stepped in, closing the door quietly behind him. The faint moonlight caught the sharp lines of his face, the untamed wildness in his silver eyes. His gaze met mine, and for a moment neither of us spoke.
I didn't know who moved first.
Maybe it was me.
Maybe it was him.
But one second there was no distance between us, and the next his hands were cupping my face, his lips crashing into mine.
It wasn't gentle.
It was desperate, rough, and electric.
Every unspoken word, every argument, every fear and frustration ignited between us in that kiss.
I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer as he spun me around, his body pressed me back against the door. His mouth moved hungrily over mine, claiming, tasting, devouring.
I gasped when his lips trailed to the curve of my jaw, his teeth grazing skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Asher…" I breathed.
He groaned against my throat, one hand sliding to my waist, the other braced against the door behind me.
"You drive me out of my damn mind, Cassie."
"Good," I whispered, tilting my head to capture his mouth again.
The kiss deepened, growing hotter, more reckless. His tongue brushed mine, and I moaned softly into him.
My hands fisted the fabric of his shirt, tugging him impossibly closer. Every inch of him was solid, warm, familiar in a way that made my pulse race.
His hand cupped the back of my neck, holding me in place as his mouth claimed mine again and again, relentless and intoxicating.
I barely registered the sharp knock at first.
It came again, louder. A furious, jarring sound that shattered the moment.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
"Asher! Open this door right now!" Mila's shrill voice pierced through the air like a dagger.
I stiffened, breath catching, my lips still brushing his.
Asher let out a low, murderous growl, his forehead pressing to mine as he fought to calm his breathing.
"Gods, of all the damn people—"
BANG.
"I know you're in there, Cassie! Open this door before I tear it down!"
My stomach sank, the heat between us instantly replaced by cold dread.
"I swear to the gods, I'll kill her one day," Asher muttered darkly, pressing a final, lingering kiss to my lips before stepping back, his jaw clenched.
My body still hummed, my lips tingling, my heart racing.
And yet, I knew we couldn't ignore her.
I sighed, smoothing down my hair, trying to steady my voice. "What the hell does she want at this hour?"
"Nothing good," Asher growled, already moving toward the door, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Stay back. I'll deal with her."
But something in my gut told me this wasn't a simple interruption.
And whatever Mila had come for… it wasn't going to be pretty.