Crossing The Line

Crossing The Line


I quickly pressed the side button of my phone and silenced the call. Asher would be so furious if he knew who was calling me and at this hour of the night. Yikes…

I looked up, and he was already eyeing me with that awkward, questioning look. I forced a smile, trying to shake off the heat already clawing its way up my body. Nothing to see here. Just a girl ignoring a call that could destroy everything.

We went back to taking pictures with Seraphine. I smiled for the camera, but the truth? The excitement I’d been floating on minutes ago wasn’t the same anymore. Not with that unkind intrusion from him. That motherfcker.

Eventually it was time to go; I was gathering myself when my phone vibrated inside my handbag… I didn't bother to check who it was… because it was definitely Frederick again.

I bet he finally decided to redeem his cards. The ones he played that day at his father’s mansion months ago. My throat tightened at the memory.

I didn’t want to answer, but the echo of his threat slammed into me. “If I ever call and you don’t answer…” Yeah… I knew better than to ignore him again. I thought he had forgotten all about it, but that freak sure does know how to hold grudges.

I tapped Asher's arm lightly and whispered in his ear, “I will be waiting for you in the car.” And just like that, I slipped away from the crowd.

Asher didn't say much when I told him I was leaving first, but the look in his eyes said it all… he was displeased. I hated myself a little for it, but what choice did I have?

Immediately I got to the car, I hit the answer button. “It took you so long to call.” I blurted, not giving him a chance to speak first.

On the other end, his laugh slid down the line, smug and poisonous. “It took you so long to answer.”

I sighed, rolling my eyes at the sky. He didn’t deserve my irritation.

“Anyway,” he drawled, “I’m glad you had my number saved. I mean—you’re supposed to. We’re family, after all. Aren’t we?”

I could practically see the smirk plastered across his stupid face. None of it mattered.

“What do you want?” My voice dripped with disgust.

He chuckled low. “Oh, I nearly forgot—your sweet voice charmed me so well. Well, well, well… Mrs Camila Reyes, my lovely sister-in-law.” He dragged out the title like venom. “It took me such a long time to finally realise what you were doing in my dad’s storage room that very day. I’m sorry about that. But now… oh, now I’m sure. You don’t want your little secret exposed before everyone, do you?”

My chest tightened.

“Meet me at Aquinas Hotel. 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

My pulse hammered. “Are you out of your—”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The call cut off before I could finish.

“…mind.” The word fell flat into the silence.

I pressed the phone against my forehead. How did I get tangled with this fool? Asher's brother of all people. His arch enemy.

Oh, shit. Shit. Shit.

Dear universe, are mine not allowed to be happy for long? I sighed heavily.

I was still drowning in my thoughts when Asher's voice broke through. “Did something happen, Camila?”

I turned. His eyes locked on mine… They were filled with concern. Genuine concern. It was strange how much that shook me.

For a moment, guilt swallowed me whole. I hadn’t even properly thanked him for tonight, for the little-big sweet surprise he pulled off. Instead, I was here, weighed down by Frederick’s poison.

Before I knew what was happening, I saw myself suddenly moving closer to him…. Once I was one breath away from him, I wrapped my arms around his neck in a warm hug. What the heck did I just do?

“Thank you so much, Asher.” I heard my voice say out… tiny and calm as ever… as if what I just did was that normal.

Asher froze, caught off guard. Honestly, so was I. My hug lingered longer than it should have; I just wanted to defuse the awkwardness, to distract him from the call, from me sneaking out first.

“Camila, you know you can tell…”

I pulled back a bit, just enough to look at his face, and without thinking straight…. Oh my God…I claimed his lips in a hot kiss, silencing him from talking further. Now I'm doing too much. CAMILA!!!!

Asher immediately wrapped his arms around my waist, intensifying the kiss by claiming my lower lips and sucking It harder; his hands left my hips and ran down to my butt… He grabbed them, pushing me closer to his body, just enough for me to feel his already hardening cock. What?

The realisation hit like a bomb… What the heck are mine doing now? I'm not supposed to be doing this. Not with Asher. Not with my enemy's son.

I quickly pulled away and cleared my throat, trying to act like nothing happened. Of course something did happen. “Umm… I think we should get going.” Without meeting his gaze, I disappeared into the car.

But I caught it anyway…. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Asher's lips curve into that victorious smile he always wore when he achieved the impossible. Congratulations, Asher. You won.

And me? I felt dirty. Impure. Like I’d broken some ancient law written in blood. Why did I do that? Why did I touch him and kiss him? Am I...?

No. No, no, no. Impossible. I couldn’t be… falling for him? Not for Asher. Not for Edward’s son. No way.

Maybe it was because of the movie he took me to watch? I was just being too thankful. Yeah, I was too thankful.

That Samantha girl should be sued for telling him so much and being honest with him too? What does she want to achieve by doing that? Uggrr…

And now the other freak wants to meet up in a hotel? No… let's be frank… There's something seriously wrong with all the Reyes. Like, the fuck? It's more like every one of them is mad or something. Because what's all this exactly?

By the time Asher and I got to the mansion, it was past 2:00am in the morning. It was indeed a long movie night. A long one.

The ride back had been silent. I couldn’t bring myself to say a word, and neither did he. The tension pressed heavy between us, sharp enough to cut skin.

When we parked, I unfastened my seatbelt and practically bolted out of the car.

“Camila, your…”

I was already halfway to the door. I didn’t want to talk. Not now. Not after that.

He finished anyway. "...handbag. Come and take it, at least.”

But my bag was the least of my worries. I had too much to deal with… Frederick, the kiss, the weight of everything I’d just done.

I couldn’t face Asher. Not tonight.