“Is she mad?” I grimace.
“Oh, God. She’ssopissed at me… I love it when she’s mad at me.” He laughs again, and I can’t help but smile, knowingexactlywhat he means. “She gets it, though. You know? She knows what we all signed up for…” He takes a deep breath in, and I can almost picture his grin. “Damn, I’m a lucky man.” His tone is wonderous, almost soft like a hum. “Speaking of lucky men, how’s Ash?”
“Better. We got back from the hospital about an hour ago. She’s been worried about you.”
“Tell her not to. I’m fine. If I can take Zeke’s dick, I can take a bullet.”
My jaw hits the floor. Ashia perks up, lifting her head off the pillow and giving me a look that says exactly what I’m thinking.
What the fuck?
Alex sighs, and I almost hang up.
“I just said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“Yep,” I reply sharply.
“Can we pretend I didn’t?”
I bet he’s wincing right about now—and not from the pain.
“Sure can.”
“Okay, great. I’m going to take a nap now.”
“Yeah, you do that. Call me in the morning.”
“Yep.” He hangs up before I can, and I slowly make my way into the bedroom. Ashia sits up a little more, and her brows pinch together in worry.
“What did he say? Is he okay?”
I think I actually blush.
“Oh, he’s fine—high as fuck.” I swat my hand, making sure she doesn’t worry any more than she already is. She lets out a tired, relaxed giggle and lays her head back down.
When I step up to the bed and pull the blanket back, I’m a little taken aback by the lack of fluff that’s been separating us lately. I smirk and tilt my head as she turns her head to look back at me.
“I turned the pillow the other way. I think it’ll work the same, and that way you can be closer.”
I’m swooning so harshly that my eyes roll.
“Thank fuck.” I smile as wide as I can and practically jump into bed, sinking into her laughter as I wrap my arm around her and cradle her belly. Her scent rushes up my nose as I bury it in her hair, and I inhale it like I’ve been dying for the hit. She relaxes against me completely, allowing my strength to support her.
“God, I’ve missed this,” she admits softly.
“Me too, baby.”That’s the understatement of the year.“Are you sure you’re comfortable?”
She nods lightly and pushes back against me, soaking in the touch.
“The most I’ve been in weeks.”
I kiss her temple, then her cheek, and then her jaw, unable to stop myself. As I melt into the mattress, with her weight pressed against me, the heaviness of sleep already threatens to cover me.
“Today was horrible…” she admits quietly, breaking the tiny peace bubble we found ourselves in.
“Yeah, it was…” I admit. Grief threatens to overcome me, but I will it away, knowing that she needs me right now.
“Is it awful of me to be glad you did it the way you did?” she continues. “Kade said he only did that to lure you away… To distract you while Satori got their men out… Which means he told him you were coming. He knew the whole time… What if you had tried to get him alone?” Her body tenses again. “He could’ve killed you if you tried to take care of him quietly…”
