CHAPTER 52

Tears welled up in her eyes sadly. "Oh Asher," she managed to say weakly and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. He hugged her back tightly and they remained that way, just holding onto each other, for a long time.
It was not the response Asher had anticipated but she did not have to say the word. He knew how she felt about him. He would be a fool not to see that.
"I love you," he said again. He realized saying the words made him feel like a man who had the whole world within his grasp. Now, he was not just happy, he was satisfied with his life.
Shana raised her head from where it was cradled on his chest and she looked into his eyes with a smile. He did not know if he was imagining it, but the smile was sad. "Asher, I need to talk to you about something," she said softly.
He didn't know what, but something told him he didn't want to hear what she was about to say. Since he did not want anything to ruin the perfect moment, he shook his head and took her lips in a kiss. He realized he was hot for her. He had been since the moment he woke up and looked down her cleavage. "We can talk later but right now, I need you," he said roughly as he shifted above her and resumed the kiss.
He was distracting her and by God, how she loved the distraction. It would not hurt to be with him like this for the last time.
Asher yanked down the thin straps of her nightwear to reveal her pale breasts. He traced his fingers over her pink nipples and she inhaled sharply. "You are so beautiful. I can't ever get enough of you," he said as he bent his head and took a pouting, blushing nipple into his mouth. She moaned loudly from the pleasure, cradling his head in her arms like he was a child as he sucked and squeezed her other breast in his hand.
"Asher," she moaned his name, and her hips jolting off the bed when she felt his prying fingers between her legs.
"You are ready for me," he said in satisfaction, lifting his head from her breast to give her a rakish grin.
"I'm always ready for you," she managed to say through the haze.
"I'm the luckiest wolf alive."
Then, he dropped a quick kiss on her lips, then her neck. She felt his tongue play with her mating mark, then travelled down to lick her breasts. He helped her out of the thin nightdress as his tongue moved down to her belly, then lower.
"Asher...," she said softly.
"Keep saying my name. I love the way you say it in bed, especially when I'm buried deep inside of you," he growled possessively as his tongue delved into her hot, wet fold.
Shana jerked and sat up at the contact but he pressed her back down on the bed with a hand placed firmly between her ribcage. He kissed and played with her feminine nub while his finger moved in and out of her.
"Asher," she moaned loudly. It was all too much. He was drugging her senses as his finger moved in and out of her. Shana wrapped her hand around his head and pressed him closer to her feminine mound. She was so close. Then he withdrew his finger from her. She groaned in and pulled forcefully at his hair in protest.
"Ouch. That hurts wildcat," he said as he crawled up her body. "And you deserve to be punished."
"Then punish me my Alpha," she said with desire ladden eyes. She was so gone she was not even seeing his face clearly. She just wanted him to love her, to fill her up till....
"Oh," she gasped as he seated himself inside her.
"That was for pulling out a couple of strands mate," he said as he started to move inside her.
She soon found her rhythm and she moved with him, her eyes not leaving his as they made love slowly. His hand brushed back the hair framing her face and she did the same to him, memorizing every plane and angle of his handsome, and perfect face. She memorized the look in his eyes as they gazed down at her. The love she saw in them took her breath away.
"I love you," she said as tears ran down her temple. There was no use saying them now but she just had to. She felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest if she did not. "I love you so much, it hurts."
Asher never cried but his throat tightened up and his eyes became wet, like he was holding back on the tears and emotions that threatened to choke him. It felt so good to hear her say the words. "Say it again," he groaned.
"I love you," she said looking into his eyes. His rhythm became fast and jerky. They both came joyously as they looked into each other's eyes.
★★★★★★★★★★
"I don't think I can move for the next couple of days," she moaned weakly as Asher's fingers moved soothingly through her hair. They had made love again and it had not been as gentle and sweet as the first time.
"Fine by me. Having you available in bed for twenty four hours straight has been my only dream since I met you," he said as his head moved to rest between her breasts.
"Don't you have a company to run and a pack to lead?," she asked laughing.
"The company runs just fine without me and the pack runs just as fine," he said as he took a pink nipple into his mouth. He noticed the red beard burns on her skin and stopped to touch them. "I need a shave." He sat up rubbing his chin.
"I can help you," she said rising with him.
Shana was happy and momentarily, she had decided the confession could wait. He had told her so many times than she could count how much he loved her that morning. Nothing was going to ruin this last happy moment together,yet. But she also hoped it won't be the last. Asher might forgive her after he heard everything she had to say. After all, her only crime was being a Crier and keeping it from him so far. He already knew she loved him and she would never hurt him like Adam wanted. She just had to make him understand why she had kept it from him so far.
"Are you kidding me?," he asked chuckling. "What makes you think I'll trust you with a razor to my throat when I can still feel the burning on my scalp because of the strands you pulled when you didn't have your way?"
"No you don't," she said giggling. "And I thought I got punished for that. You should forgive already."
"Doesn't mean I've forgotten. I think I've a bald spot though," he said moving his fingers through his thick curls.
"Stop it." Shana could not control her laugher as he tried to find the bald spot.
Watching her laughing and happy made him happier. "I could let you on one condition," he said with a wicked gleam in his eyes. She knew the look well enough.
"What condition?"
"You get to shave me, naked," he replied as his gaze travelled down her naked body.
"You pervert," she said with mock innocence, her eyes widening.
"But you love my perversions," he answered with a knowing smile.
"I guess I do and I'm willing to let you have your way," she said, moving into his arms as his gaze grew hot. Then, they were interrupted by a discreet knock at the door.
"Let's ignore it," Asher suggested as his hands roamed over her body. The knock came again.
"What can I do for you Elise?," he shouted and Shana giggled.
"Mark is here to see you and he says it's urgent. He said you've to come down now," Elise replied loudly.
He looked at Shana's naked body and sighed regretfully. "Tell him I'll join him in a minute," he said back.
With another regretful sigh and a kiss on her forehead, he rose from the bed to put on his clothes. "I guess there won't be any twenty four hours in bed for us Mrs Anderson."
"I'm certain we'll have one soon," she said smiling but she was not so sure about that. He nodded and moved to leave. "Asher?," she called at his departing back.
"Yes my love?," he said turning to her with an indulgent.
"I love you," she said with a forlorn look. There was no holding off when he got back.
"Come on. Don't be so sad. I'm sure I'll be done with Mark in no time and I'll take the day off. Just you and me in bed all day and you can tell me what you wanted to talk to me about," he said as he came back to give her a kiss. Shana gave a short nod and forced herself to smile.
★★★★★★★★★★
Asher descended the stairs quickly, wanting to meet Mark and be done with whatever urgent matter it was his friend had to discuss with him so he could go back to his mate. He had not liked the look on her face when he left her. She was not the giggling happy girl of minutes ago. Instead, she had looked so sad, like she lost something. It was more than just being sad that he was leaving without rocking her world again. Something was up with her.
Could it be about what she had been wanting to talk about all morning? By God, could she be pregnant and she was upset by the news? But he reasoned that should not be something to be sad about. She knew how much he would love to have a baby, their baby. Unless she was not ready for one.
He needed to get back to her as soon as possible to discuss whatever was bothering her.
"This had better be as urgent as it sounds," he growled at Mark immediately he saw him pacing around the room.
"Hi" he replied nervously.
Asher noticed the other wolf's repressed energy. Something was definitely going on and it was urgent. "Coffee?"
"No. I need to speak to you about something."
"I got that and it's the reason I'm here," Asher replied.
Mark cleared his throat and moved out of Asher's reach. "Is Shana in?" Of course he knew she was in. He could smell her on Asher as could any normal wolf and the stench of sex rolling off his friend was like he had been doused in it. He just did not know a way to say what he was about to.
"You don't expect me to answer that, do you?," Asher asked grinning happily.
The grin was enough to stop him but he plunged in. "I hate to do this Asher but I've to. I need you to listen to what I've to say before you react. And I want you to know I won't ever lie to you. All I'm saying is, I need you to trust me and listen to me," Mark said in a panicked rush.
The earnest look in his eyes made Asher pause. He nodded for him to go on.
"It's about your mate," he said. "You agreed to listen to me," he added when he saw the fiery look that entered Asher's eyes.
He sighed resignedly. "What about her?"