I didn’t want him tofeel like he was losing anything else. Even if it was only me.
“Okay.” I cleared my throat,settling in. “Chapter Eight, First Report of Dr. Watson. From this pointonwards, I will follow the course of events by transcribing my own letters toMr. Sherlock Holmes—”
“Do you think they werescrewing? Holmes and Watson, I mean,” Ashley interrupted.
“Wasn’t that illegal?”
“It’s been illegal in yourlifetime. It stillisillegal in lots of places. Doesn’t mean peopledidn’t do it.”
“Point,” I said. “I dunno,maybe?”
“I think they were,” Ashleysaid, more serious than I’d expected him to be about it.
I’d assumed at first that hewas just teasing, but now I was starting to think he actually cared.
“They loved each other,” headded. “They’re like an old married couple. Comfortable.”
Thinking back to thebeginning of the book, I could see what he meant.
“I guess they are.”
“Plus they both ejaculateall the time.”
I laughed, harder than Imeant to at Ashley’s deadpan delivery. “I think it used to mean something else.That was a masterful setup, though.”
“Thank you,” Ashley preened.“I only get to do that joke once per person, and you held the door wide openfor me.”
“I’m honored,” I said wryly,combing my fingers through Ashley’s hair again. “You wanna listen to this, ornot?”
“Yes, please.”
He looked up at me withwide, hopeful eyes. How could I deny him?
He must have been anightmare when he was little. How couldanyonedeny him?
“Okay. Stop me if you wannatalk about which characters you think are fucking.”
“I will,” Ashley saidgrinning against my leg. That was half promise, half threat.
But this was too peaceful togive up, too nice to argue about.
“My own letters to Mr.Sherlock Holmes,” I repeated. “Which lie before me on the table.”
Ashley sighed, shuffledcloser, and closed his eyes, fingers curling around my thigh.
I’d read to him all night ifit meant I got to have him like this.
NINETEEN
ASHLEY
The wind was still howlingoutside when I woke, taking a moment to remember where I was. Logan’s warm bodybeside me soothed any panic I might have felt at waking in a strange place,steady breaths reassuring me that he was here, and everything was okay.
He was right about wantinghim within arm’sreach. Everything was so mucheasierwhen he was close.
“Can’t sleep either, huh?”
His voice was rough, barelyawake, but I got the feeling he’d been lying there watching me for a while.
