Page 41 of Comforted By The Mountain Man
I try to respond but choke up. Asher’s lips take mine and passionately, I lean in, letting my relief, joy, and love pour into my kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck. Asher bends, then lifts me off the ground. I don’t even care that we have an audience. I’m never taking any moment with Asher for granted.
The rest of the day,we fought with a stubborn Asher who refused to get checked by a doctor even though he had bruised ribs and a cut on his left leg. Grayson’s military training gave him enough medical experience to patch him up. The rest of the night, Ryder never left our side, especially Asher’s.
It wasn’t until late at night, with Ryder asleep between us, that Asher tells me everything. As the other MC members fled, a few stayed. One of them being Sulfer, who couldn’t resiststicking around to taunt Asher. Just as the police came, they started fighting.
I knew he wasn’t giving me the gory details but that didn’t keep me from worrying. The cops took three MC members down who shot back and two are in custody. Thankfully, for now, one of them is Sulfer.
A dark part inside me won’t admit it out loud but I was hoping he was one of the fallen members.
Deputy Murphy, who drove Asher home, apparently is one of the good ones. He saved Asher from being marked as one of the perpetrators and got him out of going to the station. He’ll still have to come in, as will I, regarding Ryder’s kidnapping.
“We’re not out of danger,” I whisper, hand tucked under the pillow.
His hand gently combs through my hair. Ryder's face is tucked into Asher’s chest, his little butt pushed up against me.
“The MC knows the Eden PD will have their eye out for them. They won’t be risking coming here anytime soon. Murphy told me they have enough on the two in custody. They won’t be getting out anytime soon. They’re transferring them eventually to a precinct in California.”
That should give me some relief but it doesn’t. I’m already thinking of ways to live here without ever needing to go back to town. Irrational, I know. But I can’t risk Ryder’s life again.
“Hey,” Asher cups my face. “I will wage war with hell before I let anything happen to you or Ryder again.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“Do you love me?” he asks.
It still feels surreal. In the best way. “Yes,” I whisper.
The soft evening glow from the moon through the window lights up the grin on his face. “I love that boy, with my soul,” he tells me. “And I have been in love with you, Sierra. You two are my family now.”
I hiccup as heat radiates in my eyes, slowly blurring my vision of Asher’s handsome face.
“If it were up to me, I’d move you both in immediately.” My heart races. “But, I don’t want you to feel like you don’t have your own space or independence. We can finish renovating the cabin in your name. You are just down the hill. I can sleepover there and sometimes, you two can?—,”
I place my fingertips over his mouth.
“I love you for giving me a choice,” I say quietly. “I love you for so many reasons. And the last thing I want is to be apart from you.”
His nose flares, holding back, letting me finish.
“That place isn’t home. It was Oscar’s half-assed attempt at doing right by me and Ryder. If your offer is genuine?”
“It is,” he rushes to say.
I catch myself lowering my laugh so Ryder doesn’t wake up.
I lay my hand on his cheek. “You’re home, Asher. Wherever you are, that’s Ryder and my home.”
“You’ll stay?” he asks, hopeful.
I look around the room. “This is like a dream home. I’ll take it. But where will you live?” I try to keep a straight face.
“Oh, you think you’re cute, huh?” Asher growls, grabbing the back of my head and pulling me forward, kissing all over my face as I giggle too loud but can’t hold back.
“Daddy, Mama, shhh,” Ryder mumbles. “I sleeping.”
We both grow still, looking down at Ryder, who effortlessly goes back to sleep.
“Is that okay?” Asher asks. “Can I be his Dad?”
