Chapter-19 (Part 2)

“Put me down!!” I shouted, thrashing my legs against his hold. “Put me down! What the fuck!” I punched him hard but, of course, he probably didn’t even feel it.

“I told you not to try me,” Asher muttered, throwing open the door. “This could have gone much better.”

“Put me down!!” I screamed, struggling against his grasp. “Put me down, Asher Gray!” Even if I was upside down and all I could actually see was his…well, ass, I could feel several curious eyes watching us.

“I am going to kill you,” I threatened as he opened the car door.

“Sure,” he said, absolutely disinterested. Leaning down, he lowered me into the passenger seat, surprisingly gentle, and shot me a look. Just as I was about to open my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and fastened it around my mouth.

“This should keep your mouth shut for a while,” he said. I reached out to hit him, but fast as lightning, he had both my hands in his grasp. I glared at him, trying to wriggle away as he shot me a cool look.

“I really wouldn't try myself,” Asher muttered. “Spare that for later.” I let out a muffled growl before undoing the handkerchief and throwing it away. Asher leaned in and fastened the seatbelt around me before starting the ignition and pulling out. My scalp prickled with fury and I knew the moment I got out of this damn car, he was so going to be dead. I was clueless as to where he was taking me, but I could see we were heading uphill. I was too mad to talk, so I didn't bother to ask where we were headed. It was pointless anyway.

I glared at the darkness outside the window instead, trying to keep myself calm by thinking of a million ways I could kill him. Maybe I can sneak some wolfsbane into his coffee someday? Or how about some silver? I was so lost in my revenge plan that I didn’t realize it when the car came to a halt. I shot him a questioning look, to which he responded by climbing out of the car and walking over to open the door for me.

“Look, I know you are mad…” he started, but I didn’t wait for him to finish and landed a hard punch at his jaw. I put all my strength into it and even though it felt like I had hit a steel wall , it gave me immense pleasure to see him stagger back a bit.

“Don’t you dare ever manhandle me like this again!” I snapped, panting with rage. “Next time, I swear I will kill you!” Asher shook his head and then stood up straighter and a bit of my fury melted instantly as I noticed the traces of blood on his lip. He wiped it with his thumb, looking somewhat surprised before it was replaced with a scowl as he took a step towards me.

“Happy now? Did that help?” he grimaced. “Goddess, you are a little monster in disguise,”

“I could be a fucking lot worse if you try me again,” I hissed.

“I just wanted to talk in private, but you had to make things harder, didn’t you?”

“There’s nothing you couldn’t have said there. What is with you and sneaky ways?”

“What I wanted to say… or am going to say, ought to be in private first,” Asher muttered, his eyes turning very serious.

“Oh…and what is that? Another pathetic attempt at apologizing?” I scorned. His dark eyes studied me intently, and I bit the inside of my cheek as he stood up straighter and moved closer to me. I took a step back until my back hit the car door, definitely not liking his heated, steel-like body so close. I also didn't like the look in his eyes. What does he want?

“Move away please,” I demanded, poking at his chest with my index finger to push him away, which was another vain attempt. He was just a giant wall of rock-hard muscles that wouldn’t budge.

“You need to listen very carefully to what I am going to say,” Asher said.

“Just get it out,” My mate pulled back his shoulders, his jaw clenching and a troubled look danced in his eyes as he parted his lips. The movement was very distracting, shifting my focus for a second. It was so eerily silent around that I was sure he could hear my heart pounding, his masculine scent quickly sneaking into my senses.

“Ivyanka…” Asher whispered, pressing his hands on either side of my head and leaning closer. There was barely any space between us. “Will you…will you marry me?” I blinked at him, my jaw practically hitting the floor.

What did he just say?