Page 123 of Sweet Like Whiskey

His lips tremble as I kiss his knuckles, my hands doing their best to keep his warm. His voice is almost amused when he says, “I can’t believe we’re doing this with our dicks out while we freeze our balls off in a river. First the hayloft, now this?”

My laughter is a raspy thing, sharp almost in the quiet night.

Ash leans against me, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “We’ll both fight for this. It’s what you do when you’re partners.”

“Partners.”

“Yeah, Jack. That’s us.” He hums before adding, “Look.”

The sun is barely visible now, the smallest hint of gold above the mountains. I sigh as it sinks fully away.

“I like that story,” Ash says softly.

“Me, too.”

He loops his arm through my own, the both of us huddling together for warmth as the river laps at the tops of our thighs. “So…” Ash says slowly. “How long do we stay out here? Not that I’m complaining, exactly. But I’m starting to lose sensation in my dick.”

I snort through my nose. The sound turns into a chuckle and then a full-out belly laugh. Ash laughs with me, the two of us clinging to one another as we freeze. It takes me a moment to hear theothernoise coming from behind us. The hooting and hollering.

“Oh, hell,” I mutter.

“Is that…” Ash turns his head, looking over my shoulder. “Yep. That’s everyone, isn’t it?”

He lifts a hand and waves at what is surely the entire dinner crowd at the ranch house having caught us in the nude. I decide if I don’t turn around, I can pretend it’s not happening.

“They’re just standing there,” Ash says, still waving. “Shit. I think Colton took a picture.”

“I’m gonna hide every single piece of his underwear in the damn milking barn,” I grumble.

Ash laughs even louder. “I’ll help.”

Huffing a breath, I point out the obvious problem we’re now facing. “You realize we only brought one towel, right?”

“What does that have to do with…Hey.”

I take off, and Ash runs after me, both of us splashing through the water as we race toward shore. I hold one hand in front of my junk, but honestly, if folks are still watching, it’s their own damn fault if they get a peek. I make it to the side of the river first, snatching up the bathroom towel and holding it out wide.

Ash is puffing when he catches up to me, immediately sinking against my front. I wrap the towel around us. “Thought you were going to leave me here,” he says, a little out of breath.

“Considered it,” I admit.

He huffs, and we turn as one, heading for my house as someone lets out one final wolf whistle. It’s a little clunky holding the towel around our midsections, but I manage, keeping our dignity somewhat intact.

“Everything ready for your mom’s visit?” I ask. Ash’s arm is around my waist, his body brushing against mine as we walk.

“Yep. She’ll stay in my old room.”

“Yourold room, is it?”

He chuckles. “It was mine for a little bit. I’m excited for her to see this. To meet everyone.”

I give Ash a squeeze. “You realize my mom’s gonna have her mucking stalls by the end of her stay, right? It’s how she shows she cares. By roping folks into manual labor.”

Ash grins my way. “Remind me to take a picture.”

I snort.

By the time we reach the house, we’re a pair of icicles. We jump into the shower, setting it to scalding, both of us huddling under the spray to warm up. Once we get out, we dress and wander into the kitchen, Ash grabbing some leftovers to heat up while I warm some cider on the stove. He brandishes a container my way I hadn’t noticed earlier.

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