Page 36 of Consorting with Romance

His chest wasn’t moving.

I whimpered as I kissed his forehead, his jaw, his eyelids. I could make him stay. I could make him come back to me.

I whispered into his skin, begging. Please just hold on. Please stay with me. Please be ok.

“I love you.”

His cheeks were wet. I curled my body tighter around his as my tears fell on his skin.

He gasped; loud and long and panicked as his back arched off the bed and his arms struggled against my hold.

“Ash. It’s ok. It’s ok now. I’ve got you. It’s Jesse ok. I love you. I’ve got you.”

I rambled in thankful whispers as his starved lungs pulled in breath after breath and his hands clutched at my shoulders. My lips brushed the skin of his cheeks, wet and salty, as his body curled up into mine. I pulled him further into my lap, our bodies clinging to one another, our breath mingling.

I jumped as a hand landed gently on my shoulder, my body curving further around Ash, protecting him in any way I could.

“He’s ok. He’s going to be ok.” Casey’s soft voice sunk into my consciousness.

Ash was still with me. His laughter and his light and his love. Still with me.

He shifted in my arms until his lips found mine. Our kiss was slow and gentle as I cupped his face in my hands. It was everything.

“Let’s get him out of here.” Casey’s voice was firm, and his fingers squeezed my shoulder briefly.

“Are you ok, love? Can you help us get you to the other room?”

Ash was already shifting in my arms, already moving to sit and slidingtoward the edge of the bed. I ducked down, bringing his arm over my shoulders so that I could carryas much of his weight as he’d allow. Casey held out a sheet, wrapping Ash tightly as he stood.

My throat tightened as we turned, and I surveyed the scene. The giant was handcuffed and tied to the desk chair. Blood coated the side of his head and ran down below his jaw as he sat dazed. Broken ceramic littered the room around us.

I guided Ash slowly, navigating his bare feet away from the shards in front of the door, his weight heavy and comforting as he leaned against me for support. Casey followed closely, closing the door behind us before taking Ash’s other side as we settled him onto the couch in the waiting room. I settled in at his side, my hips pressing tightly up against his ribs as I leaned over him, whispering gently and trailing my fingers through his hair. I heard Casey on the phone with the authorities as my lips traced Ash’s cheeks and I watched him drift to sleep in my arms, his hand clutching my leg.

Ash

A sharp pounding resonated through my skull. I hadn't felt anything like itsince the night I'd drunk myself into a stupor and tried to leave Jesse. I forced my eyes open anyway. Jesse’s face swam into view. He looked relieved, and terrified. What was going on? Fuck. That fucking giant had tried to kill me. I sat up quickly as my adrenaline surged once more. Resting in the center of my chest, Jesse’s hand held me down gently.

“Shh…it’s ok love. You’re ok.” Though his voice was calm, his eyes were anything but.

I looked around, taking stock of where I was. I was on the couch in the waiting room, naked, save a sheet wrapped around my hips. I was startled to see my long-time client Casey standing not far behindJess. Right, his appointment had been after the giant's.As our eyes caught, he appeared just as concerned as Jesse.

“Where is he?” I asked, startled at the sound ofmy own voice. It was harsh and gravelly, and it hurt when I spoke. I brought my fingertips up to my throat. Tender. He’d done some damage. I was furious.

“It’s ok.” Jesse spoke gently. “We’ve got the fucker tied up with his own cuffs and locked in the bedroom.” Jesse rarely swore; a testament to the emotional turmoil rumbling under his calm demeanor.

I jumped, startled by a knock at the front door. Jesse increased his hand’s pressure on my chest and Casey moved toward the front door.

“It’s ok.” Jesse said once again.“It’s just the authorities.”

I shifted to a seated position, pulling the sheettighter around my hips as I heard Casey leading them over to the seating area we occupied. Two officials, and older woman and a younger man, came to stand facing me, looking concerned and compassionate.Jesse moved to sit at my side on the couch with his hand resting on my knee.

“What happened here?” Theserious looking womanasked kindly. Her gaze and question directed at me.

I shook my head a bit trying to remember as I started,“He was a new client. Everything was going well, and as we neared the end, he just started….” My hand moved to my throat automatically. “He’s huge. I couldn’t get him off me. I guess I was able to reach the panic button before I passed out.,” I said half questioningly as I turned to look at Jesse.

He nodded and started talking. “I was at the desk when it went off and…”

She interrupted him. “And you are?”

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