I’m surprised we’re still heading in the opposite direction of where we came. “I said I wanted to go back.”
Ignoring my request, Asher lowers his sunglasses over his eyes and pushes the throttle faster. My body jolts backwards for a second with the increase in speed, I have to reach my hands out in front of me to brace myself on the dashboard.
I take back what I said earlier. This guy doesn’t know how to follow orders.
“Slow down.”
His body stands tall, unaffected by the increased speed. I, on the other hand, am an unstable mess.
“I said, slow down!”
He drops the throttle down another level and the horsepower kicks up a notch, sending my ass into the seat behind me. Do these things come with seatbelts?
I’m trying to breathe but the wind in front of me fills my chest and I think I’m going to have a panic attack. Asher, on the other hand, is stoic and calm, acting as if he’s taking a Sunday drive.
I raise my voice to him. “I want you to slow down, now!”
The engine is now growling a loud thunder. Chancing a look behind me, I see the island getting smaller as we head into the open waters. This is not the direction I want to go and not the speed I want us to drive at.
“Sometimes you don’t always get what you want.” His deep voice echoes over the boom of the ocean.
I turn my head back to face him and see him for who he is. Asher may be Devon’s hand but he’s not a servant. He’s not a slave or a submissive. This is a man who does whatever the hell he wants and gives no apology. He doesn’t need someone to worry about him because he can take care of himself. Asher is in control.
I have no control. Everything in my life right now is way too slow. And it doesn’t matter how safe you are, you can still get hurt. I don’t know why but I find myself saying, “Faster.”
He looks over at me. “Are you sure?”
I nod. “Go as fast as you want.”
It was the right answer because I am rewarded that Asher smile. It’s so worth it.
Almost. He pulls the throttle as far down as it can go and my body hits the back of the seat. I have to grab onto the metal bar to my left and brace myself on the wall portion in front of me. A large lump forms in my throat and I think I’m going to be sick. My legs are shaking and I have to look down to block the fear of what could happen from my brain.
I start to count, in measures and downbeats, but my head can’t wrap around the chords in my head.
“Emma!” he calls out with an outstretched hand. “Come here.”
I shake my head no and he slows the speed. My heart settles back in my breastbone from its previous position in my stomach. I start to breathe normally again. My chest is heaving up and down, my fingers gripping the sides of the chair.
The boat is still moving but at a much slower speed. With one hand on the wheel, Asher reaches over to me and grabs the hand I have resting on the arm of the chair, closest to him, and pulls me toward him.
Like a rag doll I float over to him, dragged by his impressive strength until I am gently lodged in the space in between him and the helm. Asher encloses his body around mine, my body nestled in between his strong thighs, my back pressed against his solid torso.
My breath hitches when his arms swing around each side of my body, leaning down to place his hands over mine. He raises them and places my left hand on the wheel in front of us, and the other on the throttle to the right. His chin rests just above my head making me feel like I’m wrapped in a security blanket of rock hard silk.
Asher’s mouth grazes down the side of my head until its nestled just above my ear. “Ready?”
I swallow and try to tame my breathing, which is still erratic but for completely different reasons than it was earlier. All I can do is nod my head.