Chapter 48
Chapter 48:
Sunlight filters into the room through the windows, falling over Isla’s sleeping face. She lies on her back, calm and peaceful, her her long hair spread across the pillow as her chest rises and falls with steady, quiet breaths.
God, she is.
She stirs beside me, her face once turned to the ceiling now shifting toward me. Her eyes flutter open, her long dark lashes revealing the beauty of her deep blue eyes.
Her lips curve into a smile that makes my heart stop briefly when she catches me staring down at her.
God, I would give anything to be the only one who gets to watch her wake up every morning.
“Hey,” she mutters sleepily. “Good morning p>
I smile down at her. “Good morning p>
We stare at each other in silence, drinking one another in. I still can’t believe she is mine—that after all these years, I finally get to hold her, kiss her, and look at her like this without having to turn away every time she nearly caught me gazing at her. And it feels good. It feels so damn good.
“What do you want to do today?” she asks, her fingers brushing against my cheek.
“I want to stare at you all day p>
She chuckles. “You can’t be serious p>
“What if I am? Will you indulge me p>
She smiles, her fingers tracing the stubble on my jaw. “Maybe p>
I let out a deep sigh, overwhelmed by the happiness surging through me. I want this forever, without worrying about what the future holds for us.
What matters is the now—but above all, what truly matters is her. Isla is my present, and I want to hold on to her as we both walk into the future.
Our future.
Because that is how it’s meant to be.
“Isla, can I ask you something p>
“What is it?” she asks, her fingers teasing along my jawline.
I take a breath, preparing myself for what I’m about to say. “Well, uhm, you’ll laugh if I ask you this, but I’m going to ask anyway.” I pause, drawing in another breath as I stare into her deep blue eyes. “Asher p>
“Will you be my girlfriend?” I blurt out, finally letting the question escape my chest.
Isla’s face turns to stone briefly, frozen in place. Her teasing fingers, which had been playing with my stubble, stop mid-motion.
New chapters now on.cøm
Then I see it—the crack of a smile slowly spreading across her lips, confirming my prediction.
“Isla, I swear if you laugh p>
Her laughter bursts out like shockwaves, echoing through the room, and the worst part is that I can’t even be mad. I should be, but I can’t. Her laughter lights up her face, its beauty stalling my voice and doing wild things to my heart. I feel torn between being angry that she’s laughing at something so serious or simply basking in the melody of her sweet, ringing voice.
I finally settle on the former, managing to slipped on a stern expression.
“Are you—” she starts, but her words die when she sees the seriousness etched across my face. Her laughter fades, and her eyes soften into a deep, honest stare, free of any playfulness.
She leans closer and presses her lips to mine, kissing me gently, softly, her fingers tugging at my hair. After seconds that feel like blissful eternity, she pulls away, biting her lower lip with a smile that’s both tender and irresistible.
“Asher, I love you. And yes, I want to be your girlfriend p>
Happiness floods through me like a mighty wave, washing away every trace of sternness from my face. I feel so happy. I feel so alive.
I feel so… complete.
“Why did you laugh like that?” I ask, pinching her cheek.
She swats my hand away. “You should have seen your face when you asked me. It’s not every day I get to see the anxious Asher Kane. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing p>
I raise an eyebrow. “Oh really p>
“Yeah,” she taunts.
Just as I lean in to kiss her again, my stomach growls.
“Wow.” She snorts, laughing. “We better fix that before it brings down the house p>
I rub my hand over my stomach. “Guess I’ll make some blueberry muffins and p>
“Who said you’re the only one who can make breakfast p>
“Fine,” I groan, raising my hands in the air. “You win. God, why is it so hard for me to win an argument against you p>
She shrugs. “It’s simple. Never argue with a lawyer p>
After heading back to my room and taking a shower, I slip into fresh black shorts and a gray sleeveless shirt. I spend about fifteen to twenty minutes on my work laptop, attending to some brief company issues and emails before finally leaving my room and hurrying downstairs toward the kitchen.
When I enter, I’m not surprised to see Isla already sliding the muffin pan filled with blueberry batter into the oven. I knew there was no way in Hades she’d wait for me to join her before starting breakfast.
From her fresh clothes, the slightly damp baby hairs at the nape of her neck, and the lingering vanilla scent filling the kitchen air, I can tell she’s showered too. That alone surprises me.
Is she The Flash? How did she manage to freshen up so quickly and still beat me here, to the point that the muffins are already in the oven?
I blink a couple of times before my feet carry me toward her.
“Babe,” I tease when I reach her, kissing the back of her neck and wrapping my arms around her slender waist. “You deserve The Flash Award p>
Though I can’t fully see her face from behind, I catch the corner of her mouth curving into a smile.
“Babe?” she teases back, turning around to face me, her smile still glowing. “I like the sound of that p>
She bites her bottom lip, presses her soft body against me, and wraps her arms around my neck. My entire body feels like it’s on fire, and all I can see are her deep blue eyes, shining like glass caught in the light— and mesmerizing.
She pulls me in and captures my lips with hers.
As always, sparks ignite in my stomach, rush into my chest, and explode like fireworks in my head. Her kiss is soft, tender, and sweet, tasting of caramel chocolate.
Caramel chocolate that I’m 99% certain she stole from the fridge.
She pulls away, staring deep into my eyes. “I love you p>
My fingers brush her her hair back. “I love you more p>
Just then, the doorbell rings.