“I don’t want to ruin your makeup.” I curled my hand around his and pressed his fingers to my lips. “But once this dinner is over …”
Asher touched his teeth to his lower lip and groaned. “Ruin me, baby.”
I chuckled. “None of that. I don’t want to deal with my family and an erection at the same time.”
“Or that erection might be just the distraction you need to get through it.” He winked.
I kissed his fingers once more, then turned to face forward. We had delayed enough. Mother would have something to say about it, no doubt.
“The man beside me will be all the distraction I need,” I said.
Asher righted in his seat, and we set off again.
The homes on either side of the street grew steadily larger the deeper into the neighborhood we traveled. My parents’ house was just visible through the iron gate barring the drive, enough so others could see what they could never obtain.
“Holy shit,” Asher whispered as the gate creaked open. “You grew up here?”
“No, but that house had been much the same. They moved when I left for college. My siblings grew up here.”
“Right. You said there was an age gap between you and them.”
I pulled through the curved drive. “Yes. I was the baby my parents needed to complete the image they were after. Mary and Paul were the children they wanted.”
“You don’t sound bitter at all,” Asher said honestly without an ounce of sarcasm.
“I’m not. I know my place in their life. I know what they expect of me.”
“But what do you expect from you?”
I wasn’t sure if he wanted an answer, and in any case, I’d have to think about it. “Here we go,” I said instead. “I’ll come around and get you.”
Asher nodded, transitioning smoothly into his role of catered-to girlfriend.
As I rounded the Range Rover, a valet stepped forward to take my key. Mother’s New Year’s Eve dinner party was something of a tradition for their social circles. There would be near one hundred people here tonight. Hopefully, enough of a crowd I could keep plenty of bodies between Asher and my parents.
Asher smiled sweetly when I took his hand as he stepped out. He let me help him into his coat, then shivered and curled into my side.
The house was lit by spotlights and wreaths at every window. A huge tree was placed over what was normally a fountain and decorated for the season.
“Did your family drive around Christmas light lookin’ every year? Mine did.”
“No, we never did that. My parents hosted holiday parties all season for as long as I can remember. Other than charity events, they never took me to see anything festive.”
“Were they ever fun? The parties?”
“Depends on your definition of fun,” I muttered.
Asher stopped me just before we reached the stairs. “Hey.” He put his soft hands on my cheeks. “I know you have to do what you have to do to get through this, but remember, it will be over at some point. This won’t last forever.” He glanced at the front door and back to me. “And when it is, when we walk out that door to leave, it’s you and me again. No matter what goes on inside, it’s you and me out here. I’m yours. Don’t forget it.”
I slid my hands inside his coat and held his hips. To remind myself this man truly existed, that I hadn’t plucked him from my dreams, but also to agree, I whispered, “You’re mine.” I placed a soft kiss on his lips, and to myself whispered, “He’s mine.”
Asher stepped back and laced our hands together. “Now, let’s go pull off the most epic rebellion ever.”
I chuckled, because of course he brought it out of me, and marched for the door. It opened as we approached.
“Good evening, sir,” Marcus drawled.
“Marcus, how are you?”