The Progeny (The Progeny Series) (6 page)

“I know.”

Ascher released her, having heard the truth in her thoughts. She wanted him. Channeling was better than any lie detector test. He opened her car door, closing it when she was safely inside. “I’ll see you at the bar.”

“I’m looking forward to the movie.”

Ascher stood, watching her drive out of sight. He desperately needed to close the Ursula chapter. It was the only way he’d be able to explore his feelings for Shauna. He wasn’t confused about what he wanted now and simply needed a way out of the sealing. Until he could kiss Shauna with a clear conscience, their first kiss would have to wait.

* * * *

Ascher stood behind the counter of the bar at Rousseau’s, polishing the same spot while thoughts of Shauna flitted through his head—her smile, the way her dark eyes flashed when she was excited about something, the innocence of her kisses on his cheek.

“That sure is a goofy face you’re making
,” Quinn teased. “What’s with that face, anyway?”

“My face isn’t goofy, Quinn. I’m just thinking
.” Ascher answered with slight irritation.

“Can I make three guesses about whom?”

“Stop teasing me.”

“Ash, you
need to be clear about this. You know what will happen if you don’t do it. While I don’t care about fighting the darklings, others might not feel the same.”

“I know. I just don’t understand why it has to be me who seals to her. Why not one of you
...is it not the same bloodline?”

“Old Klaus saw
you
.”

“Do you mind if Shauna and I cut out of here early tonight? I’m taking her to
see the new horror movie.”

“
You’re asking
me
? Hell, of course I don’t mind, considering you’re technically my boss. Just think about what I said. I know you think there is something there, but you need to be sure it’s worth risking your life.”

Ascher was so engrossed in his conversation with Quinn
that he never noticed Shauna arrive. It surprised him when she covered his face with her hands.

Quinn gav
e her a smirk and moved away.

“You guys seemed pretty intense before I walked up. What was that all about?”

“Quinn is a worry wart. He thinks we should be careful about our friendship.”

“I agree with him.”

“You do?”

“I think we should take things slow. I’ve waited twenty-one years
, and I’m in no rush.”

Ascher
wasn’t confused about what she meant, but he wasn’t supposed to have an inner channel to her mind. “Waited? Are you telling me that you’re a virgin?”

“Is that so hard for you to believe?”

“It isn’t the norm. Some women your age already have children and husbands.”

“Catholic guilt, remember?”

“You’ve had boyfriends, right?”

“
I’ve had one or two but nothing serious. Definitely nothing physical.”

A flustered frustration swept him.
If she asked him the same question, he wouldn’t have
that
answer. Though he had no religious guilt about his lack of virginity, he loathed the fact that
Ursula
was his first experience. If he told Shauna that he was a virgin, it was only half-true. He’d never been with a
human
before, but he couldn’t blatantly lie to her when he was lying about so much already. “I’m not,” he finally blurted out.

“You’re a guy. I figured as much.”

Once he blurted the first part, the rest spewed from his lips. He had to admit that coming clean felt good. “I’ve only been with one person. It wasn’t serious, but we were monogamous.”
Like that makes it better.
“We broke up a couple of months ago.”
More lies.

“Do you think you’ll get back together?”

“No. That was over a long time ago. You don’t need to worry. ” He took her into his arms, resting his lips against her temple. “I really enjoy spending time with you, Shauna.”

His thoughts
weighed heavy with the consequences of his decisions. So many were affected by his choice—his family, Ursula’s family and Shauna. He couldn’t deny what he felt. Ascher wanted Shauna more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. It wasn’t just about the physical part. His heart wanted her, too, desiring for her to love him as much as he was beginning to love her. He was finally ready to admit it to himself—he was falling in love with her, and she was changing him. The raw reality of his emotions hit him like a ton of bricks. His actions, thought processes and reasoning were becoming that of a
human
.

Six ~
Decisions

Sheridan, Massachusetts

Ascher was
wide-awake, staring at the blue walls of Shauna’s guest bedroom. She was stirring around in the living room attempting to be as quiet as possible.

Their friendly date
turned out to be a fun one. After the movie, they’d gone for coffee at a hip jazz café a couple of blocks from the theater. Only when the closing announcement came over the loud speaker, did they realize how late it was. They left the café and went back to her place.

T
hey’d talked until the sun came up, covering most of their early childhood during the conversation. She’d opened up, sharing some of the pain of her upbringing. He’d told her as much as he could without exposing what he was. Afterwards, she’d insisted that he stay over. Excitement made him unable to close his eyes or sleep a wink.

Sh
auna tiptoed into the room with a smile gracing her ecstatic, but tired, face. He’d heard her fumbling around in her room all night. “Good morning.” She offered him a glass of orange juice. “I really enjoyed the movie last night.” Her chipper greeting contradicted the darkness under her eyes.

“I can’t believe such a weak example of horror unhinged you.
Some horror movie enthusiast you are. That zombie make-up was so poorly done.” He gave her a teasing smirk. “You lost the wager. Where are you taking me to pay your debt?”

“Where do you want to go?”

“You can choose. It’s your dime.” He’d never let her take him somewhere she couldn’t afford.

“Since it’s my choice, I think we should eat here. I’ll cook for you.”

“You can do that?”

“Does that surprise you?”

“No. You’re amazing. World renowned chef is just another thing I can add to your lengthy list of accomplishments.”

“Smart ass,” she
mumbled. “I don’t know about
that
, but I make great veggie lasagna.”

He gave her an unenthusiastic
nod of his head. “Yum, I can hardly wait.”

* * * *

Shauna chose crimson colored candles, hoping they’d evoke passion and desire. They sat at her tiny two-chair table having the loser’s dinner she’d prepared. The room was dark except for those two red candles on the table between them. The atmosphere bordered on romantic, but she hoped he’d find it a nice gesture.

“So,” he began, “we were up to Jimmy and fifth grade.”

She narrowed her eyes with confusion. It was hard to concentrate with his face so close to hers. He was gorgeous, and the candlelight did nothing to dispel that truth. Each flicker of the flame lit his face in a way that shouldn’t be possible. His skin seemed to absorb and bounce the light off his unique facial features. It both mesmerized and gave her the creeps.

Ascher reached out, his fingers
sliding across the back of her clasped hands. Flashes of fire prickled her skin, willing her occupied mind back to reality. “I’m sorry.” She swallowed hard. “What did you say?”

“I see you’re having another bout of A
.D.D. They have medicine for that…you know.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. “The kid who used to pull your hair in class…”

“Oh, you mean Jackson.”

“Sorry. Yes, I meant
Jackson
. You know he only pulled your hair because he liked you, right?”

“Maybe, but he could
’ve saved me a lot of worry if he’d just told me. School was bad enough without the added stress.”

“What kind of stress could you have had at such a young age?”

“I was a little different than most of my classmates.”

“I’m sure you were
cuter
than most of your peers.”

“I’m being serious, Ascher.”

“Sorry.” He covered his smirk with an authentic look of concern. “What made
you
so different?”

“The kids teased me because I
looked
different. My complexion wasn’t light enough for some, while it wasn’t dark enough for others.”

“I don’t get it. I think your complexion is lovely.”

“You do?”

“Shauna
.” Ascher speaking her name in his French accented English made the hairs on her neck stand on end. Stroking her cheek with the back of his hand, he murmured, “I think you are very attractive. Do you not know how stunning you are?”

She shook her head.
The smallest part of her knew that she was pretty, to some degree, but not gorgeous and never beautiful. She’d never see herself that way.

“I know how you feel. My peers teased me
—
a lot
. I was smaller than most of my classmates for a long time. I’d dare those creeps to try me now!” He growled through clenched teeth, flexing an impressive bicep. “At least Jackson got it right. He knew a pretty girl when he saw one.” Clearing his throat, he whispered, “I agree that he should’ve told you how he felt but you know us guys. We never do things the easy way.”

“So I’ve seen. When you like a girl, do you come out and let her know it? Or do you play games like Jackson?”
She knew her question might be a little forward, but she
really
wanted to know the answer.

“I’ve often felt that a direct approach is best.”

She bounded out of her chair, feigning intent to clear the dishes. Mostly, she needed to have her back to him. The embarrassment of the conversation caused the burning in her face. She’d never had a man say the types of things he said to her, or treat her the way that he treated her—as if she was the most precious and engaging person in existence.

Each time he touched her it was like a feather gliding across her skin. His touch was silky, entrancing and electric. She sighed
, realizing he would afford her no escape.

Following her
, he brought the remainder of the dishes into the kitchen.

“I could’ve done that.”

“What kind of a guest would I be if I didn’t help out? I’d be pretty lame.”

Ascher
handed her the dishes while she submerged them into the soapy water. The warm water and his piercing stare only perpetuated the heat in her face. She exhaled a breath of relief when he moved to the opposite sink to help her rinse. She had more questions for him, more things she was curious about but was too embarrassed to ask.
Don’t be such a coward, Shauna. How do you expect to know anything, if you don’t ask him?
“So,” she whispered in a voice breaking with nerves. “If you liked a girl, how would she know?”

* * * *

Ascher smiled at her clever way of extracting information from him. As he took the wet dishes from her, their hands brushed, causing an electrical charge to flow between them. He paused, trying to think of something shrewd to say and found nothing. He wanted to be genuine, allowing her to glimpse the real Ascher. “That’s hard to say. Having little experience with the matter, I can’t tell you much.” He locked gazes with her. “I suppose that if I
really
liked a woman, I’d spend lots of time with her. I’d probably take her to the movies. I’d carry her books to her car. And I’d probably do this...”

Cupping her
chin, his hand lifted her stunned face to his. Gently, he ran his fingers along her jawline, picking up the excitement in her racing pulse. Pulling her closer, he leaned in cautiously, carefully, combing her thoughts for the least bit of hesitation.

There was none. She wanted this kiss just as much as he did.

“I want to kiss you, but only if you want me to,” he whispered against her lips. He knew it was weird to ask her permission, but he somehow needed to
hear
her say the words.

Shauna raised her fingers to his hair, weaving them through his dark locks. “Yes
.” She breathed the word out and closed her eyes.

The magnetic pull of their attraction concentrated, surging between their anxious and waiting lips. She stepped backward, leaning against the wall behind her. He leaned into her, angling her head up to him. Gently, as if the fate of his existence rested on this one small moment, he pressed his lips to hers and gave her the softest flutter of a kiss.

Her eyes opened, a wide smile exposing her deep dimples. “I was wondering when you’d get around to that.”

“You have just as much free will as I do.
You
could’ve kissed me.”

“Call me old fashioned, but don’t guys usually lead in those sort of matters?”

“I never pegged
you
as the old fashioned type.”

“There’s plenty about me you don’t know.”

“I hope you’ll allow me to know you better. I’d really love that.”

“Enough with the
talking, Ascher.” Her finger hold tightened in his hair. “No more words.” She tugged his head to her face, bringing his lips back to hers. This new kiss was deeper, more passionate, impatience spurring her forceful actions.

A tiny fire sparked inside him, causing him to crush her against him. He wanted her
to be more than a friend, and it was obvious that she felt the same. Kissing was easy enough to do. He concentrated on her mind and her thoughts floored him.

I bet he’s something in bed.
God, his lips are so soft. I’ve never felt anything like them before. I can only imagine how they’d feel on my body. If he kisses this gently, just imagine how gentle he is between the sheets. I don’t know how I’m going to keep myself from attacking him.

For someone who was a virgin, she had some
explicit thoughts. When she slipped her tongue into his mouth, he knew they’d had enough for one night. Ascher pushed away from her, quickly enough to convey his disapproval but slow enough that he didn’t upset her. “Shauna, I think we’ve had enough for tonight. We need to slow things down. The kiss was nice. I really liked it, but we can’t get carried away.”

“
Jeez.” She let out a frustrated sigh. “Please tell me you aren’t one of those who believe in saving it until marriage.”

“No
. I’ve already given it up, remember? We haven’t known each other that long. Sex is a big deal, especially when it’s your first time. I’ve already had one lover, and we aren’t together now. I want to take it slower this time around…not jump into sex before we’re ready.”

She seemed to consider his explanation.
“You’re right. I don’t know what came over me. I’m usually so level headed and cautious. I understand what you mean.”

Ascher
stroked her face with his open palm. She was exquisite. A weaker man, in less control of his hormones, would take her to bed now and worry about the consequences later. Though he was in control, it didn’t stop the throbbing in his shaft. He shifted his weight to alleviate the uncomfortable pressure of a growing erection.

“As long
as you’re understanding things.” Briefly, he kissed her again and pulled away. “I want you to understand
this
…” He focused his stare deep inside her eyes, until he could almost see down into her soul. “Je t’adore.” He’d let it slip from his lips before he could stop himself, even though he knew she’d never understand what he’d said. Ascher
did
adore her. His mind searched for a more contemporary phrase. One she’d understand. “I’m completely and totally into you.” There, that was much better than his multi-lingual declaration of infatuation. “I’m not going anywhere. When it’s right, it’ll happen. I’m in no rush.”

He gave her a softer, more reserved kiss before getting his things to leave.

* * * *

Langley, Massachusetts

Sitting in Langley Park, waiting to see Ascher’s old friend wasn't Shauna’s idea of a fun time. She grumbled, “I still don’t see why we have to meet her
today
. I’m exhausted, and I need to sleep before my shift tonight.” She’d much rather think about their first kisses. He was so different. The fact that he wanted more from her, made him more desirable. She was now sure that she was falling in love with him.

“
I’ll cover your shift, so you can rest.”

“No!”

“You can grab a nap in my office upstairs.”

“You have an office upstairs? You told me you
weren’t
my boss, Ascher!”

“I’m not.”

“Why do you have an office?”

“We all have one. It’s no big deal.”

Shauna fiddled with her hair and narrowed her eyes at him “We aren’t finished with this discussion.”

“I don’t see why it’s such a big deal to you
, whether I’m your boss or not.”

“It makes a huge difference.
They’ll think I’m a slut sleeping my way to the top.”

He chuckled
and gave her a teasing glance. “Shauna, you’re not
sleeping
your way to anywhere. Besides, why do you care what
any
of them think?”

“I don’t want to feel like I’m getting
preferential treatment, just because you like me. I can’t imagine any other boss offering to cover my shift so that I can stay home and sleep.”