Page 14 of The Striker (Gods of the Game 1)
“Did it live up to your expectations?” I quipped.
“Half of it did. You look like a Scarlett.” His gaze briefly touched my mouth, and my skin warmed yet again.
“Ah, but the DuBois threw you off.”
“You could say that.” The careless grin he threw my way shouldn’t have made my pulse race, but it did. “However, I have to commend you on achieving something that I thought was impossible.”
“What’s that?”
“Making melikesomeone with the last name DuBois.”
I rolled my eyes even as I fought an exasperated laugh. “You are an incorrigible flirt.”
“Flirt? Yes. Incorrigible? That’s a matter of opinion.” Asher followed me into the hall, his long legs keeping easy pace with my brisk stride. “Besides, I have to be extra nice to you now that I know you’re Vincent’s sister. You’ve suffered enough.”
My laugh finally broke free, and his answering smile soothed my sting of guilt over laughing at Vincent’s expense.
I truly wasn’t prepared for how charismatic Asher was in person. I’d glimpsed it at the pub last week, but the effect had been muted by the beer spill and our crowded surroundings.
Being alone with him after seeing him in action during training and bearing the full weight of his attention when there was no one else around…that was a whole other matter.
He commanded attention the way no one else did. It was dangerous.
“Are you two stepsiblings?” Asher asked when I didn’t respond.
“Adopted.” It wasn’t a secret, though we didn’t go around screaming about it. “Before you say anything else, this…” I gestured between us. “Ends now.”
Amusement slid across his infuriatingly perfect face. “What’sthis?”
“The flirting. It’s unprofessional.”
“I’m afraid flirting is part of my nature, darling.”
Ugh. It should be illegal for any word to sound as delicious asdarlingdid in Asher’s deep, silky voice.
“Well, change it or suppress it.”
“That’s not how nature works.”
“It is at RAB.” I spotted my salvation at the end of the hall. “Carina! There you are.” I sped up my pace. Finally, someone who could act as a buffer. “I was looking for you.”
She glanced up from the sheaf of papers in her hands. “You were? I mean, of course you were.” Her eyes fell on Asher, and I swore I heard a dreamy sigh.Oh, no. Not you too. “Hi.”
“Hey.” His grin could only be described as panty-melting. “I saw you at the pub last week with Scarlett, right? I’m Asher.”
He held out his hand, which she grabbed with far too much enthusiasm. “Carina. It’s so nice to officially meet you. I’m ahugefan.”
Asher upped the wattage of his smile. “Thanks. Perhaps you can help convince Scarlett I’m not the devil then?” He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t think she likes me very much.”
“Oh, she doesn’t like anyone very much, but don’t worry. She’ll come around. Eventually.”
“Excuse me.” I crossed my arms. “I’m standingright here.”
“Yes, I know,” my traitor of a friend said. She tacked one of the papers to the bulletin board. “Let me finish putting this up, then we can leave.”
Asher examined the sheet. “‘Staff showcase auditions,’” he read aloud. “‘This year’s featured performance will beLorena.’ I’ve never heard of that ballet.”
“It’s a newer piece,” Carina explained. “Contemporary, not classic.”