Chapter 192 Don’t Go Crazy!

Chapter 192 Don’t Go Crazy!

Ember's POV

I hung up the phone and rubbed my throbbing temples. I glanced at the mountain of files piled on my desk, let out a tired sigh, and told myself I'd finish what I had in hand and then go check on Zane.

Just then, the office door swung open. Asher walked in carrying a thermos. He took one look at my exhausted face and frowned. "Still not done?"

"Almost." I didn't even look up. "Why are you here again?"

I'd barely put my phone down when Asher leaned against the doorframe, his suit jacket draped over one arm, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, showing a stretch of firm wrist. "Get off work," he said. "Go home."

I picked up my bag. "I have something to take care of. You go ahead."

"What is it?"

"Zane had too much to drink and isn't feeling well. I'm going to check on him."

Asher's eyes darkened. "What does it matter to you whether he's feeling well or not?"

"And what does it matter to you, his ex-mate?" I walked around him toward the door.

Asher's expression went cold in an instant. "He's a grown man. Can't he take care of himself after a few drinks? Why do you need to run over there in the middle of the night? Besides, he has servants at home. It's not your place to worry about him."

I frowned. "He doesn't have any servants where he's staying." I'd been there once in high school. Other than a cleaning lady who came once a week, Zane was always alone.

"Then why can't he call one of his other friends? Why does he need a woman to come take care of him? He clearly has an agenda."

"Can you stop being so paranoid? He's just my friend."

Asher let out a cold laugh, his eyes full of mockery. "You think of him as a friend. He doesn't just want to be your friend. Ember, stop kidding yourself. You know exactly what he wants from you."

"Asher!" I was furious. "Can you stop talking like that? Zane isn't who you think he is."

"And who do I think he is?" Asher stepped toward me, his gaze sharp as a blade. "He's a hypocrite. All polished and refined on the outside, but darker than anyone on the inside. The closer you get to him, the more likely he is to hurt you."

"Enough!" I stood up. "I'm not going to argue with you. I'm going to see him tonight, and that's final. If you have nothing else to say, go home." I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

Asher caught my wrist, gripping it so hard it felt like he might crush the bone.

"You're not going." His eyes burned with jealousy and possessiveness. "Ember, you're my woman. I'm not letting you walk out on me in the middle of the night to go see another man."

"Asher, let go of me! You're being insane!" I struggled against him. "We're divorced! Where I go and who I see has nothing to do with you!"

"Nothing to do with me?" Asher gave a low laugh and pulled me into his arms, holding me tight. "How could it have nothing to do with me? You're mine for the rest of your life. Even if the bond is broken, that doesn't change." His presence wrapped around me, carrying that familiar scent of cedarwood.

My heart skipped a beat, then anger rushed back in to replace it. "Let go of me! You're out of your mind!"

Asher only held me tighter. He lowered his head, and his burning lips found my neck, pressing down with something that felt like punishment.

"I've been out of my mind for a long time," he growled against my ear. "Since the day you left me." He swept me up into his arms and carried me toward the office's back room.

"Asher! What are you doing! Put me down!" I fought against him with everything I had, but my strength was nothing compared to his.

Asher kicked the door open and dropped me onto the bed. Before I could react, he was on top of me, pinning my hands down.

"You wanted to go see Zane?" His eyes were bloodshot. "Let's see if he still wants to see you when you show up covered in marks." He crushed his mouth against mine in a kiss that was all fury and possession, stealing the air from my lungs.

I twisted my head, trying to pull away, but he held me firmly in place. Tears spilled from my eyes against my will, mixing with the heat between us and soaking into the sheets.

Asher paused for just a moment, a flicker of regret crossing his face, but it was quickly swallowed by something darker. He reached up and pulled open the buttons of my shirt, exposing my skin. His mouth moved down my neck, my collarbone, my chest, leaving a trail of red marks everywhere it touched.

"Asher… please… don't do this…" I choked out between sobs.

But my pleading only seemed to push him further. He knew he was being an ass. He couldn't stop himself. Every time he thought about me going to see Zane, every time he pictured the way Zane looked at me, something in him snapped. He wanted to hide me away and keep me only for himself.

The temperature in the room kept climbing. Asher knew every sensitive spot on my body. He stripped away my clothes and worked me into a frenzy, his fingers pushing inside me, moving fast, until my scalp tingled and my toes curled tight. Even then, I hadn't completely let go. "Asher, stop messing around!"

Asher dipped his head and took my breast into his mouth. "Still thinking about someone else? Guess I'm not doing enough."

He felt how wet I was and pushed inside me without waiting another second. He hooked my legs over his shoulders and rolled his hips in a steady, powerful rhythm, cupping my face in his hand. "Don't think about anyone else while you're in my bed."

By that point, I wasn't thinking about anything at all. My mind had gone completely blank. I stared up at nothing, my hands gripping his arms.

Asher looked satisfied. He leaned down and slipped his tongue into my mouth, tangling it with mine. Soft wet sounds filled the air between us, and the slap of skin against skin grew louder and louder.

Asher moved like he had no limit. My legs were completely worn out. I whimpered, "My legs are so sore."

He flipped me over, lifted my hips slightly, and took me from behind. I lay face down on the bed, letting him have his way with me.

I don't know how much time passed before everything finally went still.

I curled up on the bed with my back to Asher, my shoulders trembling slightly. My body was covered in red marks, especially along my neck and collarbone, so many that there was no way to hide them. My hands shook as I tried to get dressed. They were shaking too badly to manage it.

Asher reached out to help, but I pulled away.

"Don't touch me." My voice was flat and cold, thick with the sound of held-back tears.

Asher's hand froze in midair, then slowly dropped. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I lost control."

I didn't respond. I got dressed in silence. I walked to the mirror and looked at the marks all over my neck. A wave of embarrassment washed over me. Was I really going to show up in front of Zane looking like this?

Asher came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. "Don't go. Please. I'll take you to dinner and drive you home."

I shoved him off. "Asher, you are so selfish. You never think about how I feel. If you pull something like this again, stay the hell away from me." I grabbed my bag and walked out of the office without looking back.

Asher stared after me, then drove his fist into the wall.

I sat in my car and dug a cushion compact out of my bag, doing my best to cover the marks on my neck until they were at least less obvious.