Starstruck Read Online Paige Laurens

Categories Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Tags Authors: Paige Laurens Advertisement

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I head down a small hallway and find myself in a kitchen. White cabinets and an expensive looking counter top. It looks new. Beyond that is that dining area I saw before. It flows back around into that larger space below, and soon I'm back in the foyer trying the other side. "Hello?" I shout again. Next I open a door to a bathroom. Then I hear footsteps coming from above.

I head back to the foyer and stop at the bottom of the stairs.

"Hey." Asher appears on the landing.

"Oh my god!"

He hurries down and sweeps me into his arms. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too," I nod. "What are you doing here?"

He doesn't respond. Instead his face closes in. I'm all too happy to meet him halfway. My fingers tangle in his hair as his lips briefly touch mine, once, twice, and then his tongue takes over. His hands grip, firmly. Mine grab, frantically. It's hard to pull back, but I want answers. "Asher?"

He smiles and takes my hand, leading me back down to that area with all the windows and balcony. "What do you think?" he motions around him.

"It's nice. What is it for?"

With a smirk he pulls me against his chest and kisses my forehead.

"I’m moving my tour rehearsals to New York, and myself too."

"What?"

He breaks into the widest grin I'm sure he's ever given as his hands cup my cheeks. "I love New York. I'm so in love with New York. I want to see her all the time. Know she's at a place we call ours, even when I'm not around. And when it's time for me to come home I want to come here, to her."

"Wait, really?"

"Definitely," he nods, taking me into his arms and lifting me. I twist my legs around his waist and hold on tight. I'm so happy I could cry.

"No one tells me what to do, except maybe you." He starts walking, carrying me up the stairs. "Gonna show you our bedroom now."

"Of course you are," I roll my eyes.

"Is that not okay?" he chuckles, still walking.

I shrug.

"Liar," he calls me out, his hands lingering on the place he knows will prove me wrong.

"Asher, this feels like a dream. This is...."

"Before you finish," he sets me down. "There's one more thing I should probably tell you," he pauses, taking in my panicked expression. "I'm gonna need you to sign some paperwork."

"That's not even funny."

He smiles anyway.

"I had to," he grins. "Seriously though, I put your name on this place too. I'm not kidding when I say it's ours."

"Wait, you're giving me half a penthouse? Asher..."

"Half a penthouse," he shakes his head, laughing like I said something completely hilarious.

"Okay," I nod. "Gonna finish my thought now - this is crazy!"

"Is it though?" he pulls me into the bedroom. "Isn't living together a next step sort of deal that people take in a normal relationship?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Look at it this way, I can't kick you out and throw your clothes all over the sidewalk," he teases. "This place is equally yours to claim."

"Cute," I cross my arms. "And by the way I left, he didn't ki-"

"I love you, Elle. I've loved you for a long time." He narrows his stare and licks his lips, getting frustrated. "Remember that time at the night club with Brad and Jess when you told me I had the most amazing eyes?"

I don’t recall the moment exactly, but I vividly remember the next day when he showed up at my parents house.

"You know what my response was?"

I shake my head.

"I love you."

My eyes widen. "No you didn't-"

"Yeah, I did," he confirms. "I said it then. Meant it too."

I'm shocked.

"It was crazy and insensitive of me to hold us back. I never meant to silence you. But doing this isn't crazy, you know? It feels right."

"Your entire team is going to kill you."

"Yeah but that's just it. It's my money. My life. I call the shots. And if that means people don't go out and buy my music so be it. No one tells Asher Montgomery what to do," a smile teases the corners of his lips. "Except maybe you."

I give him a look of disbelief. "Okay, Montgomery," I skeptically agree. "We can give this a go. But don't be surprised when I leave you. I'm basically a millionare now."

"You're so corny it's cute."

"So you called Smith."

"Yeah," he laughs. "Figured out pretty much as soon as you left what I was gonna do. I wanted to make sure you were going to be okay. I called my Mom soon after. Then yours. They're so different but always knock sense into me. I figured when they both agreed on what a jerk I was, well, you know. Plus I wanted your Mom to look out for you. I was worried."

"So my Mom knows that you bought us a place?"

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