Page 105 of Sweet Like Whiskey

His lips twitch. “Worried about me, were you?”

“So fucking much,” I admit, not even trying to hide the truth of it from my voice. I press my cheek to his as Colton packs up our things, my eyes prickling. “You’re not allowed to scare me like that again, sunshine.”

He hums, the sound light and almost happy. “I’ll try my best, darlin’. Now would you kiss me? I know I’m a mess, but—”

Ash’s words cut off, a soft sound pressed against my lips as I kiss him. His hand grips the side of my neck, my fingers tangle in his hair, and we breathe each other in, no words needed to express what we’re feeling. The happiness. The relief.

The lingering ache.

When we pull apart, it’s not to go far. We stay tangled until Colton lets us know we’re ready to go. Then, oh so carefully, I help Ash to his feet and atop Starlight’s back before joining him. Shorty follows behind us.

The whole way home, my arm stays wrapped around Ash’s chest, my hand never leaving his heart.

Chapter 25

Ash

“All right?” Jackson asks.

I eye my overprotective partner, who’s currently attempting to fluff the pillow behind my back. “Fine,” I say mildly.

“Comfy enough?”

“Jack.”

“Just checking,” he says, letting the pillow go.

“Mhm. Get back in bed with me.”

“After I—”

“Jack.”

He sighs, sliding into bed in his jeans. He leans against my side as we sit at the headboard, his fingers toying lightly with the material of my pajama pants. “Coffee all right?”

“It’s great,” I tell him before taking another sip. Luckily, I’m able to use my dominant hand. It’s my left arm that’s currentlyresting in a sling, all but useless for the time being. “What’re you doing today?”

Jackson fidgets, his own coffee waiting in a thermos on his nightstand. “Figured I’d take it easy. We’re not too busy right now, so—”

“Jackson Darling,” I warn, setting my coffee down before turning to him. “It’s been a week. I’mfine. You need to go back to work.”

He huffs. “Everybody’s always telling me I work too hard, and now I’m not working hard enough? Can’t win around here.”

I refrain from rolling my eyes. “You’ve been babying me, Jack. I—”

Jackson swings over my legs, causing my words to dry up. He settles gently on my thighs, barely giving me his weight, his hands coming to rest along the sides of my neck. His focus is absolute, eyes bright and so very blue as they ping between my own. “You dislocated your shoulder. Threw out your back trying to get up that hill one-handed. You got a mild concussion. Had scrapes and bruises all over your body.”

“Most of which healed in a few days,” I say softly.

He shakes his head once, lips in a firm line. “I’m talking now.”

“Oh, you are, are you?” I snark.

His kisses me hard, a quick press of lips meant to shut me up. I hate to admit how well it works.

When he leans back, he holds my gaze, and I keep quiet.

“You were battered and bruised, and you’re still healing,” Jackson says. “I’m allowed to take care of you. I’m allowed tocare. I get that you don’t wanna be treated like a child, but you’re not, Ash. You’re a grown-ass man who had his ass handed to him. What kind of partner would I be if that didn’t affect me?”

---