Page 72 of Stone Temptation
All of me ached.
“I can’t be here. I can’t be here. I can’t be here. I can’t be here.”
EIGHTEEN
Asher
Ipaced my room, questioning my judgment.
Man, I’d been too black-and-white. Going for honesty. Too fucking honorable. And look where it got Luke.
Fuck!
I picked up some rose quartz, drawing on its energy to keep me sane.
Fuck Seth and his lack of accountability. Fuck Carissa and her diluted bullshit, not chewing him out for his fucked-up ways.
It hurt my pride being trapped in here. Usually loved my room, but now it held me back.
I should storm back to the meeting room, demand better, and take Luke away from here. Knock Seth’s nose out of joint. Literally.
Ah, so sweet.
Luke needed me. Beating Seth’s ass wouldn’t help my mark.
He was my world now.
I’d read stories on the gargoyle marks from back in the day. Tales of heroic actions, sometimes romantic, sometimes lusty obsessions, so many boxes ticked while averting death and murder.
They were bonds, metaphysical contracts. Intriguing, yeah, but did I want this for myself? Was this the sort of spicier life I wanted?
Maybe. Luke made it easier to swallow.
You’re as deep as a puddle!
“Fuck!” I roared, stopping myself from punching the wall.
No. I’d come too far, thanks to the crystals. The days of putting my fists through walls were long dead.
These rising pangs for Luke were crippling, unwanted as much as this waiting around.
His scent lingered, his face burned into my retinas. He’d burrowed himself deep into my core in no time, sitting there like a piece of molten rock.
Mine to keep safe.
Mine to…drool over? No. Yeah. Maybe there was a glitch in this marking. Everything was overwhelming now. Things would calm down after a good night’s sleep and a cold shower.
Right?
That body, though. Whoa. Right up my street.
Perfect for my fingers to explore, my tongue too. And that ass…
Enough!
I flung the balcony doors open for some fresh air.
“You’re too far away,” I spoke to Luke, gripping the balustrade. “I want you here.”