Ash’s honesty seared him. Drew kissed his neck. “It’s all right to be afraid. Everyone is afraid.”
“I’m not afraid, Drew; I’m fucking scared to death.”
And there they were. Two lost souls bobbing around in the choppy waters of their lives, desperately holding on to keep afloat. Somehow they’d found each other, and tentatively they reached out to become the other’s shelter from the storm.
“Let me help you deal with it, Ash. Lean on me. Talk to me. I’m not running away.” Drew rubbed his cheek against Ash’s shoulder. No one would ever guess the power and confidence Ash projected was all a facade to cover up his fractured and broken mind and body. “I’m here for you; whatever it takes.”
“Why, Drew? Why me? I’m not sure I’m worth the effort.”
The heart wants what it wants, or else it does not care. Drew remembered that line from an Emily Dickinson poem he’d read in high school. He cared. Lying here with this man, listening to him open his heart, made him realize how much he cared for and wanted Asher Davis. He swept the hair off Ash’s brow and kissed him. “I think you might be worth everything to me.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ash breezed into his office, coffee cup in hand and a smile on his face. “Good morning, Laura. How are you today?” He stopped by her desk to pick up his messages.
“I’m well, Mr. Davis, thank you.” She gave him a once-over. “You’re looking happy.”
He stopped to think for a moment. He and Drew had spent almost every night together in the past week, having dinner after working at the clinic or relaxing at one of their apartments. Spending his nights buried inside of Drew, having his warm, lean body wrapped around him every night was becoming a highly addictive habit.
“I am, Laura. Very much so, as a matter of fact.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for putting up with me all these years.”
He never thought he’d see Laura speechless, but he grinned at her obvious surprise. “Is something wrong? You look shocked.”
“Oh, nothing, Mr. Davis. It’s nice to see you happy; that’s all.”
He winked at her. “It’s nice to feel this way as well.”
He strode into his office and sat down at his desk. The first piece of mail he opened was a large envelope from the court. A huge grin broke over his face, and he immediately picked up the phone.
“Hello?” Though he’d only left him an hour ago, Drew’s sexy, sleep-roughened voice sent a pang of longing through Ash. He wanted to be back in bed, running his hands through Drew’s silky curls, kissing his soft pale skin.
“Hey, baby. Did I wake you, sleepyhead?”
“Yeah.” Ash could hear him stretching and yawning over the phone. “Some crazy sex maniac kept me up all night doing unspeakable things to me.”
“Oh really? Are you complaining?” Ash leaned back in his chair. The memory of Drew, naked and impaled on his cock, riding him into oblivion had him instantly hard and wanting.
“Yeah.” Drew dropped his voice low until it purred in his ear. “I’m here alone in my cold bed, and I miss him.”
“It sounds like you’re the sex maniac.” Ash laughed. “I called with some news.”
“Mmm? What is it?”
“I got the papers from the court. Your divorce is final, baby. You’re a free man at last.”
The silence at the other end of the phone surprised Ash. He’d thought Drew would be happy or at least say something.
“Drew, are you still there?”
“Yeah. It’s funny, you know. When you said it now, I have to admit, I’d almost forgotten what she looked like. I certainly don’t have any great memories of Jackie. But I married her. Shouldn’t I feel something—sadness, or a wish that things could’ve turned out differently?”
Unease gripped at Ash. Was Drew upset about their relationship? “Do you? Wish that you were still married to her, or with a woman, instead of being with me?” His heart thumped in his chest.
Drew’s answer came swift, with no hesitation. “No. I don’t want to be with her or any other woman. Or man, for that matter. I’m exactly where I want to be.” His whispered voice calmed Ash’s frenzied pulse. “I’ve never been happier in my life, thanks to you.”
Ash wished he could be there with Drew to hug him and thank him for everything he’d done. He remembered so well the first time he’d seen Drew across the conference table, so pale and sad, and compared him to the sweetly sleeping man he’d left all flushed and sated in his bed. “Who would’ve ever thought that day we first met, six months later we’d be together celebrating your divorce. Hey.” An idea popped into his head. “Let’s have people over to celebrate on Saturday night. Esther is well enough to come to you now, right?”
“Yes, and it’s not like I could keep her away. I think it’s great. I’ll call the guys and Rachel.”
