Page 37 of Consorting with Romance

Jesse and I spoke at the same time.

“My partner.”

“I’m his assistant.”

She looked at each of us once more.

I caught Jesse's gaze and smiled lovingly. “He’s both. We just don’t usually reveal our relationship at work.”

We turned back to her, and she simply nodded.

Jesse continued. “When I got the doors open, Ash was just lying there. That huge…thing...had his hands around his neck.” His voice was hard and quiet. “I thought he..."

He trailed off and cleared his throat before continuing. “He panicked when he saw me, jumped off Ash, and charged toward me. I wasn’t even thinking and took a swing when he got close enough. It just pissed him off and he kept running, but Casey was right behind me. Casey broke a lamp over his head, and he went down. His handcuffs were on the chair. They must be his, we don’t have anything like that here. I went to checkon Ash, and by the time I let go of Ash to look around, Casey had the cuffs on him and had used the bathrobe belt to tie him to a chair. We got Ash cleaned up a bit, brought him out here, locked that fucker in the bedroom, and called you.”

I watched him closely as he spoke. While he'd conveyed his story professionally, the amount of emotion on his face was startling.

Sheturned to Casey. “And your role here, sir?”

“I’m a client.” Casey said. “I’ve been working with Ash for eight years now. We have a very good professional relationship, and…” he glanced at me as he continued. “I consider him a friend.”

A friend. I had a fiancé and a friend. I nodded softly and smiled as our gaze met.

He turned back to the official and continued. “Clearly something was wrong when Jesse jumped up and ran to the doors, so I followed. The guy rushed at Jesse. Ash was on the bed, not moving. I just grabbed the closest thing and swung it at him without thinking. He went down, thank God. I don’t know that the two of us could have taken him otherwise. Jesse went to check Ash, and I cuffed him and tied him up before I joined them.”

She nodded shortly. “That should really be everything we need for now. We’ll get him out of here for you. Assault on a consort isn’t taken lightly.Do you need us to get a physician here?”

I shook my head. “No, thank you. Jesse is a medical student and I feel fine.”

She looked doubtful. “You’re sure?”

I nodded once more. “Yes, I’m fine thank you.”

“Then we’ll get him out of here and be in touch.”

We all simply nodded, still in shock.

As they brought him out, Jesse stood. I had no desire to see that...thing...again, so I watched as Casey and Jesse glared while he was led out. Casey followed them, and I heard him shut and lock the door as they left.

Jesse shifted to kneel on the floor in front of me, taking my hands in his, and as tears fell silently down his cheeks, he reverently took my ring from his finger and slid it back onto my hand. He brought my fingersup to his trembling lips and kissed themtenderly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Casey behind him watching the exchange before he moved off in the direction of the kitchen.

I took his hands in mine and smiled gently down at him. “I’m ok, sweetheart. We’re ok.” My voice still sounded strange.

When he dropped his forehead to rest on our hands, I slid one away to trace it along his neck and shoulder.

“I thought I lost you.” His voice was shaky, heavy with pain and fear.

“Shhh. I know you did. But I’m here. I’m just fine.”

His body trembled as tears continued to fall and I tightened my hand in his. I glanced up as Casey made his way back in, holding a tray with a pot of tea and two mugs. His eyes wore only concern as his gaze held mine across Jesse’s back. Casey poured tea and held a mug out in our direction with a raised, questioning eyebrow.

I urged gently. “Come on, hun. Casey made tea. Why don’t you have some? It’ll help.”

Jesse nodded against my lap and pulled himself together enough to turn and take the mug from Casey with a quiet, mumbled thank you before settling on the floor with his back against my legs.

Casey smiled gently as I took the other mug from him with one hand and let my fingertips play across Jesse’s shoulder with the other.

“So, the two of you, huh?” he asked curiously, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

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