Chapter 194

Cecilia was terrified—horrified as she watched Asher fall to the ground. She let out a scream, which was quickly muffled by Landon’s palm.

“Shh,” he hissed. “Quiet.” Then he went still, like he could hear something. Someone was passing by outside. Cecilia heard their footsteps come with a sliver of hope, and then heard them go with great disappointment. “Scream again and I’ll find a way to shut you up,” Landon said.

Cecilia wanted to bite his head right off, but she could do nothing with Asher unconscious on the ground beside her. She dared him with a look—one that begged the question she wished she could ask, but couldn’t beyond his muzzle.

“We could’ve settled this the easy way,” Landon muttered, looking her low in the eye. “But you had to make a scene. You ruined my business, my future plans, my freedom. It’s all gone, and because you couldn’t shut your fucking mouth.”

Cecilia felt tears climb to her eyes. She didn’t want to cry. It was the last thing she wanted, actually—but she couldn’t help it when she felt as helpless as she did. Asher was laying there, unconscious on the ground—probably hurt, and it was all because of her. Yet again, she’d put him in danger. Yet again, he’d taken the brunt for her. How many more times was she going to get him hurt?

Suddenly, something began to ring. It frightened her, and it must’ve frightened Landon too, because he jumped a little before reaching into his pocket and taking out his phone. “How many times did I tell you not to call me?” he asked. Then he went deadly still as he listened to the voice on the other end. “Okay. Fine. Give me a minute.”

Suddenly, he was clawing at Cecilia’s arm, dragging her into the bathroom where he shoved her down by the shower, and eventually dragged Asher’s unconscious body inside with her.

“I’ll be back,” he said. Then he reached down and took the phone from Asher’s pocket. “Make a sound and I’ll kill him.”

The door shut, and something was shoved beneath the knob. The moment she heard him leave, Cecilia leapt to her feet and gave the doorknob a wriggle, but it wouldn’t move. They were stuck, but that was the least of her problems. She flung herself to the floor and laid her head to Asher’s chest, listening to his heartbeat. And once she heart it steady in her ear, she gave a sigh of relief and gently pulled his head onto her lap.

“You have to wake up,” she told him, gently running her fingers through his hair. His face looked so peaceful, though a bruise was welling on his skull.

Gently, his eyes began to flutter open and she found him gazing up at her in the darkness. “Cecilia?”

She felt her eyes well, thankful that he was awake, but also grateful for a moment where he seemed…just for a few seconds like his old self. And then something happened. That look on his face didn’t go away. A rush of emotions flashed behind his eyes and they widened as they gazed up at her. “I remember,” he said.

Cecilia wiped a tear from her cheek, sniffling desperately. “You do?”

“Everything,” Asher said. He reached up and captured her by the back of the neck, pulling her down into a kiss. Cecilia couldn’t control herself enough to kiss him back, but she tried with all she had until she couldn’t stand it anymore. She pulled him up and threw her arms around him and bit her lip to keep from crying as she buried her face in his neck and hugged him close.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I put you through all this.”

Asher didn’t respond, but pulled back and grabbed her face in one hand—his palm cupping her chin, his eyes roving over her sad expression. “You almost let me get married.”

“I tried,” Cecilia said, tears flowing. “I tried to wake you up, but every time…you just hated me more.”

Asher pulled her in by the chin and kissed her again, and this time, Cecilia let herself fall into it. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she treasured his lips—his deep kisses, his slight tongue, the way he often grazed her with his teeth. He only broke when they both ran out of breath—broke and leaned into her ear, panting low and hot. “Why do I feel like this?” he muttered.

“Feel like what?” asked Cecilia, still sniffling.

“Like tearing your clothes off.”

She laughed a bit, holding his face in her hands to get a good look at him. It was like he’d reverted—the look in his eyes no longer full of hatred. No longer decimating her with his gaze. She kissed him again, full of relief. It was like waking up from a nightmare.

“I’m…” he started, mumbled against her lips. She hadn’t expected he would finish the sentence. Asher wasn’t one for apologies and never had been. So when he trailed off, Cecilia smiled and brushed her fingers along his cheek.

“It’s okay.”

He relaxed in her hands, then turned his attention to the door. “Hit the lights,” he said. “Did he leave?”

“I think so,” said Cecilia. She climbed to her feet and felt the wall for a switch, the light flashing on and blinding them both. Asher struggled up too, though Cecilia didn’t allow him to do it on his own.

He gave the door a budge, but it didn’t open. Then he threw his body against it. Still, it didn’t open.

“He’s got something wedged against it,” said Asher. “Probably a chair.”

“Then how do we get out?” Cecilia said.

Asher threw himself against the door several more times, but Cecilia could tell the action was taxing on him. He swayed and slouched against her and she caught him before he lost his balance. He searched for his phone in his pockets and came up with nothing but a box. A small, black one that seemed to confuse him at first. He opened it to the sight of a glinting diamond ring.

Cecilia felt her heart plummet when she saw it. An awkward silence followed as he cleared his throat, closed the box and shoved it back into his pocket.

“You bought her a ring,” Cecilia muttered.

“I guess I did,” said Asher.

“It’s nice.”

She knew it wasn’t the time—that she could be sad about this entire situation later on when it actually mattered. That right now, the only thing that should be on her mind was getting out.

But somehow, she couldn’t help but feel betrayed nonetheless.

“Listen to me,” Asher snapped. Suddenly, he had her by the jaw, forcing her gaze on him. “I’m not going to forget you again.”

Cecilia felt the prickle of tears returning. She looked up at him, feeling the velvet touch of his lips against her own. Yearning to kiss him and kiss him until there was no air left in the room they were locked into.

Then, he seemed to go weak. He slumped a little against her, looking suddenly foggy.

“I need to lay down,” he muttered.

Immediately, Cecilia snatched him by the arm and tried to hold his weight up. “No, no, no. You have to stay awake. This could be a concussion.”

Asher gave a small scoff. “Since when were you a medical professional?”

Cecilia frowned. “It’s common knowledge.” Quickly, she turned on the shower, preparing a spray of like-warm water. “Get in,” she said.

Asher looked at her incredulously. “Excuse me? We’ve been held captive and you want me to shower?”

“You have to stay awake somehow,” said Cecilia with a frown. “Get in.”

When he didn’t budge, at first she thought it was because he was being stubborn. Then Cecilia realized, he was too dizzy to move. She hurried to his side, took his arm and flung it around her shoulder. Then she led him to the shower door.

When she began to remove his clothes, Cecilia stalled at the sight of him. The teeth and nail marks that ravaged his neck and his chest—the hickies on his skin. She felt…sick. But her jealousy wasn’t important right now. Keeping Asher awake was.

She swallowed her pride and helped him into the shower, wetting her own clothes as she helped keep him steady. “I’m fine,” he muttered, shrugging her off, but Cecilia didn’t want to leave him on his own. So she sat on the bathroom counter and watched as he sobered himself beneath the water. The more she saw of him, the more jealous she grew. Was there any part of him Clover had not been?

“If you’re going to look at me like that, you might as well get in,” Asher muttered.

Cecilia had not expected to be caught peeping. She flushed and looked down into her lap. Her stomach was beginning to pudge when she sat, and the more she looked at it, the larger her urge was to tell him the truth. But now wasn’t the time.

“I should try to get us out of here,” she muttered, slumping down to give the door another try.

“Cecilia,” Asher promptly replied. She turned to face him, his expression firm and full of thought. “I said get in.”