Page 105 of Asher

She walked beside me to my truck. Opening the back door, I buckled Nix in. Stella climbed in the passenger seat.

“Thank you for the ride,” she whispered, staring at her hands clasped together tightly in her lap. “I’m sorry, Asher. I didn’t mean to cause any more problems. I just wanted to explain everything to Haley. I really am happy for you both.”

“Thank you and thank you for helping with Phoenix.”

“Of course. Do you want her to stay at Jim and Sheila’s while you go to the hospital?” She offered as we pulled into their drive. I looked over my shoulder at Phoenix who was sleeping peacefully in the backseat. My chest grew tight at the thought of letting her out of my sight.

I shook my head. “No. That’s okay.”

She reached for the handle, opening the door. “I really am sorry. I promise it won’t ever happen again.”

I nodded once, waiting for her to shut the door so I could make my way to see my other girl and come up with a plan on where to go from here.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

HALEY

“Ready to go?”Asher asked from his post at the door. He looked sexy as fuck leaning against the doorframe of our room at Mason and Rylie’s. The dark blue jeans he stole from Mason hugged his thighs in every single perfect way.

Thrusting thighs as some romance books referred to them.

I giggled.

His cheek twitched as he stepped further into the room. The white t-shirt pulled against his chest and making his arms look even more toned as the sleeves struggled to contain his biceps. Fuck. My husband was hot.

“What are you laughing at?” He lowered his voice. His hands landing on either side of my head as he leaned in to kiss me sweetly.

I loved sweet kisses as much as the next girl, but I couldn’t wait until he could be a little more demanding. That was the Asher I’d missed over the past couple of days. I reached up to push some hair out of his face, tucking it behind his ear before running my palm over his scruffy cheek.

“I was thinking about your thrusting thighs.”

He dropped his chin and chuckled deeply. “Thrusting thighs?”

“Yeah.” I traced my fingers over his jean covered legs, trying and failing to hide the wince of pain from moving that arm. Of course, Asher didn’t miss it.

“I am more than happy to show you how well I can thrust with these thighs as soon as you’re a little more healed up.” He stepped away from me.

“Spoil sport.” I pouted. Something I knew he hated. He narrowed his eyes as he stepped back up to the bed, careful not to jostle me. He was acting as if I had broken every bone in my body instead of just a few burns on my arm and hands.

Ugly, painful burns that were sure to scar. They were between first and second degree, so they didn’t require a skin graft. Just a long healing period.

I was incredibly lucky.

He nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck before nipping at my earlobe, sending pleasure straight between my thighs. His forehead pressed to mine before he kissed me harder.

Drawing back, he looked me square in the eye. “Until you don’t wince when you touch me, I’m not going there with you. You mean the world to me, and I will not cause you more pain.”

“Okay,” I said because how could I argue with him? It still hurt to move my arm, but every single ounce of pain was worth it. I saved Phoenix from having to go through this and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Without a single ounce of hesitation.

When I made it back into the house, the flames and smoke were so thick, I could barely see anything. The fire had started cutting up the side of the stairs and upstairs hallway.

In a weird sort of way, I had Stella to thank for even being alive right now. If She hadn’t knocked on the door, I would’ve been doing the dishes. I would’ve been standing in the room that exploded.

The room that no longer existed.

When I got to Nix’s room, she was huddled in the corner screaming. Terrified. I hadn’t even noticed the burns on my arms until after I lowered her out the window. Luckily for me, I could get her far enough out that Grayson caught her with ease, the same wasn’t said for me. The window didn’t open far enough for me to squeeze out and when I touched the doorknob, my hand burned because the flames had moved closer.

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