~ Asher's POV ~
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
One minute Asher was laughing and hugging Zoie, then all of a sudden, she stood on her tippy toes and pulled his face towards hers. Asher was caught in a trance. Of course, he wanted to kiss her. He thought about doing this every time she was near. But because he was caught off guard, he didn't know what to do. He also knew this wasn't the right thing to do.
But then again...
Her lips were oh so near. She was standing with her body pressed against him and their lips were less than an inch away. Zoie's eyes were closed shut and her cheeks were glowing pink. Asher took a deep breath and he was enveloped in her delicious scent.
Fúck.
Asher couldn't hold back anymore. He closed his eyes and leaned into her, anticipating the moment when their lips would meet. Slowly but surely, they kept coming closer, until finally---
"ZOIE!!!"
A loud voice was heard and Zoie pulled away instantly. Asher jerked his eyes open and saw Zoie's friends waving their hands from inside a car. Zoie was quick to get away from him. She kind of pushed him away even. Asher didn't like that.
"Jo...? Nic...?" she gaped. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Surprise, surprise!" Jo yelled and honked the car's horn.
"Happy birthday, girl!" Nic came out from the passenger seat with sparkly balloons in her hand.
The next thing Asher knew, several girls were jumping out of the car from the backseat and they all gathered around Zoie. They were laughing and giggling as they took turns hugging Zoie.
"Oh my God, you guys!" Zoie was completely shocked. The girls were putting a crown over her head, a "birthday girl" sash over her body, and shoving flowers and wine in her hand. "What's all this?"
"A surprise, duh!" Jo chimed in.
"You said we're getting dinner and we're gonna hit the club for your birthday?" Nic added. "You didn't forget, right?"
"Ah, y-yeah... right..." Zoie stammered. Clearly, she had forgotten.
Asher stood back as he closed the car's trunk shut. He thought he could have Zoie all to himself today. After giving her the gift, he wanted to take her out for a drive. He even prepared a picnic and everything. But it seemed like that plan wasn't gonna happen right now.
"Well, come on! Let's get this party started!" one of the girls exclaimed as she pulled out plastic cups from her purse.
"Pre-game, yaaaas!" The other girls yelled and giggled as they started pouring the rose wine into plastic cups.
Zoie turned back at Asher and flashed him a sorry smile. The girls gave Zoie a cup and she took it. Jo also came up to Asher and gave him a cup. Asher took it reluctantly.
"Cheers, guys!" Jo exclaimed. "To Zoie!"
"To Zoie!"
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This was not how Asher thought tonight would be like.
Somehow, he found himself sitting in a club, nursing the eighth glass of cocktail in his hand. He was sitting on the couch of the VIP section. In front of him were five girls in their party dresses, dancing the night away. One of them was Zoie. She was wearing a bright red, backless dress and matching heels. She also had the birthday crown and sash on her.
Zoie's friends thought it was a good idea to bring her out to the club tonight. Nic was dating the manager of this club, so he got them into the VIP section for free. Drinks were pouring and the music was blasting. Zoie was having the time of her life, and it didn't help that everyone kept giving her alcohol. Some guys even came up to her to give her drinks. Birthday treats, they called it. Asher, of course, didn't let Zoie drink any of that. Which was why he was stuck sitting in the corner, watching Zoie as he drank the birthday drinks.
But damn it, she looks hot.
Asher swallowed hard as he finished that drink. Maybe it was the alcohol or what, but he felt his chest burning the longer he was looking at her. There was something about the way she moved. Asher remembered the first time he saw her. She was electrifying then like she was now. If only he could make a move, he'd do it in a heartbeat like he did then.
"Aren't you glad you decided to come out?" Nic said to Zoie, yelling over the loud music. She was yelling so loud, Asher could hear it even though he was a few feet behind them.
"Yeah!" Zoie nodded her head. "This is a lot of fun!"
"Great! We're glad you're having fun!" Nic replied.
"Yeah, girl!" Jo chimed in. "After all that shit you put up with Miles, you totally deserve a fun night out!"
"Hear, hear!" Nic hollered as she pulled out a bottle of champagne from behind her back. All the girls around them screamed and giggled. Nic proceeded to pop the champagne bottle and everyone shrieked in excitement.
Asher could only observe and let out a sigh. He checked his watch for the twentieth time that night. It was 12.55 AM. They had been in this club for almost three hours now and it didn't seem like they were gonna leave anytime soon.
The girls were now taking turns sipping the champagne bottle as they danced. Zoie got the champagne bottle next and she turned around and waved the bottle at Asher. Asher shook his head no and smiled. Zoie smiled back and turned around, downing that champagne bottle.
Woah. She needs to slow down!
Asher shuffled in his seat uncomfortably. All night long, he was watching Zoie and he lost count of how many drinks she's had. He made sure to keep an eye on the bar, though, and that every drink she took came straight from the bartender.
Asher also took note of all the thirsty looks that guys were giving her. The VIP section was located on a platform above the dancefloor. From his seat, Asher could see the entire club. He knew how many guys in the room kept giving Zoie the look. Zoie didn't pay them any attention, though. She was too busy having fun with her girlfriends, dancing to Lil Nas X blasting on the speakers.
"Hey, there," Another guy came up to approach her. This was probably the fifth guy that came up to her tonight. And every one of them Zoie had politely turned down.
Asher sat up straighter in his seat and he was ready to pounce at any moment. If any of these guys started acting in a disrespectful manner, he would smack the living daylights out of them so fast, it would be ridiculous.
"Hey," Zoie replied, smiling politely.
"I can't help but notice, is it your birthday today?" the guy asked.
Well, duh, dumbass.
"Yeah, it is!" Jo chirped. "She just turned nineteen!"
"Cool!" the guy nodded his head. "Today's actually my birthday too!"
"For real?" Zoie asked.
"Yeah, you wanna see my ID?"
The guy didn't give Zoie a chance to answer and he pulled out his wallet right away. He was opening it in a way like he was flaunting the wad of cash he had inside there. Asher let out a mocking scoff.
"See?" the guy pulled out his ID proudly. "I just turned twenty one!"
"Cool, happy birthday to you too!" Zoie responded.
"Thanks," he said as he put the wallet away. "Can I get you a drink? From one birthday celebrant to another?"
"No, thanks," Zoie said as she lifted her bottle of champagne. "I'm all set,"
Zoie then turned around and joined her girlfriends to dance. The guy looked dejected and his shoulders slumped in disappointment.
Yeah, man. Take the hint and go away.
But instead of doing that, the guy tapped Zoie on her shoulder, causing her to turn around again.
"Can I have a dance then, at least?" he pleaded.
Oh, geez. Don't be so desperate.
Zoie gave him a sorry smile. This guy was definitely not her type. For one, he was short and kind of stocky. He was also wearing a bright yellow button-down shirt that was too tight, and he had three of the top buttons unbuttoned.
Come on! You look like a freaking minion, dude!
"It's my birthday..." he pleaded again.
Zoie let out a sigh.
"Alright, sure," she shrugged finally, putting the champagne bottle away.
Asher was shocked. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Zoie was letting this guy lead her to the dancefloor and they started dancing. Her girlfriends weren't helping too. Instead, they were cheering for her.
"Yaaas, Zoieee!" they hollered. "Work it, girl!"
The guy looked like he had just hit a jackpot. He was smiling from ear to ear, dancing with all his might. Zoie left a bit of distance between her and him as she danced. Asher's fist curled up instinctively.
"Hey, Ash," Jo said as she sat down next to him.
"Want another drink?" Nic added, following her.
"No, thanks," Asher replied without taking his eyes off Zoie. As of right now, the dancing seemed tame. No one was touching nobody. If they could keep this distance between them, this wasn't gonna be a problem.
"Dude, I think it's dope that you're so caring about your sister," Jo commented.
"Yeah, I wish my older brother's like that, but he's just a pain in the ass," Nic laughed.
Asher wasn't paying these girls any attention. He kept staring at Zoie and the guy, and he noticed that he was moving closer and closer to her. And suddenly, he put his hands on her hips! Asher couldn't take it anymore. He put his glass down and stood up abruptly.
"Excuse me, I need to talk to my sister,"
Asher left before anyone could say anything. His eyes turned dark as he shoved through the sea of people, making his way to her.
"You need to come with me," he said as soon as he got to her, pulling her hand.
Zoie was too shocked to do anything. Asher wanted to pull her away, but the guy stopped him.
"Hey, man! What are you doing?!"
Asher gave the guy a deadly glare. The guy looked instantly terrified. Asher leaned closer and spoke lowly into the guy's ear, "Get your dirty fúcking hands off girl!"
The guy shuddered in response.
"Geez, sorry!" he said with his hands raised up. "I didn't know she was taken!"
Not wasting any more time, Asher pulled Zoie out of the dancefloor. He kept going until they reached the backdoor and they made it out of the club.
"Ash! What are you doing?!" Zoie tried to protest, but Asher kept a firm hold on her.
Asher's chest was filled with fire. All he wanted to do was cover her up and take her home. He didn't want any more lusty, dirty looks thrown at her. He didn't want anyone's dirty hands to touch her. He wanted her all for himself.
"Ash---!" Zoie yelled again, and this time, she managed to pull her hand away from him.
Asher turned around and his eyes were blazing into hers. Zoie looked somewhat terrified. She took a step back and he closed the distance between them again. Zoie took another step back and she hit the wall. They were standing in a dark alley at the club's back exit. Asher put a hand down on the wall and trapped Zoie. He leaned closer until his nose almost hit her cheek.
"I don't wanna see anyone else touching you," he said lowly.
Zoie swallowed hard.
"W-what are you talking about?"
"I want you, Zoie," he said it plain and clear. "I want you,"
* BOOM! *
As if on cue, there was thunder rolling in the sky. Lighting struck and a flash of light hit them. Zoie's eyes were wide open and her mouth fell to the floor.
"A-Ash... I..." Zoie wanted to speak, but no words were coming out.
The rain started to pour, but Asher didn't move an inch. He kept staring at her, his eyes were fixed on her lips. They looked so inviting and all he wanted was to crash his lips onto hers.
Asher looked up at her eyes again and he saw that look in her eye. Even though she didn't say it out loud, it was written all over her face. She was staring at him like he was the only man alive in the world that night. Her chest was heaving up and down and her cheeks were glowing brightly.
She wants me too!
So, in the blink of an eye, Asher crashed his lips onto hers.
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- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -