Page 114 of The Sidekick

Shade’s eyes slide to him as he waits for his next words, content to not answer anyone when they ask a question. It’s like I’m the only one who notices his frozen fear at Ira’s forbidding tone. The rest of them begin to look warily between the two and step back. I don’t like this.

“What’s the big deal?” I ask defensively. He’s taking our little versus game and making it sound like he handed me nuclear missile codes.

“You just decided to hand her something? Her? Why?” Ira sounds like he’s about to lose his temper over this. My mouth gapes open in surprise. I know they don’t like me, but I’m not that bad. Right? I’m not dumb like them, at least.

Everyone else backs farther away from them while Asher watches.

Shade straightens up as if he’s ready to get into a physical fight about this. Ira does the same with a grim look. I panic.

“It’s not really that bad, right?” I ask nervously, looking to Shade for reassurance as my hand creeps up to clutch my throat nervously. “Shade?”

“Glove up,” Asher snaps and tosses his cushion towards a basket full of them. Then he walks over to me, sliding in front so I can’t see. I automatically reach out and grab the back of his shirt to keep him in place, doing a mini hunch to make sure no one can see me.

I hear some shuffling of feet and the sound of tape ripping as Asher crosses his arms. The other bodyguards step off the mats to drink water off to the side, completely unconcerned with what’s about to happen.

“You ok?” Asher turns his head to look at me as he whispers.

“I’m getting ink all over your shirt. I’m really sorry, but I can’t make myself let go, and you said no more stuff on the mats, so I can’t drop it.”

His lips twitch in a smile, “No one’s going to touch you. You’re safe.”

I hiss back with wide eyes. “I don’t understand why he’s so mad. I don’t want him to hurt my dictator. And I don’t know how mad you’re going to be when you see your shirt.”

He shakes his head with a laugh and slides back until my arms are squeezed between our bodies, placing a hand on my outer thigh. My face ends up pressed into his shoulder blade, so I get a whole lung full of his scent. I thought he’d be sweaty gym socks gross, but of course not. He smells divine, and I’m glad my arms are between us because the combo of his smell and how he’s holding my leg is making my body perk up in interest. If I had known I would be seeing him, I would have worn a padded bra today.

When the first smack comes, I jump in place and press harder into Asher like I could crawl into his skin for protection. His hand tightens on my leg, and his fingers shift, rubbing gently. I want to ask him to stop because I can’t see it as a comforting gesture when my nipples are hard enough to cut through my flimsy bra.

The unseen battle continues as my muscles lock up, my focus more on my thigh and a few other places than where it should be. When his thumb slides across my inner thigh, the muscles there tremble. I feel like I’m about to slide down his back and land spread eagle.

“Hey!” Blaze snaps out, and it startles me into jumping again.

“Release at the tap, Shade,” Asher calls out. He sounds so calm about the whole thing while I’m turning into a puddle back here.

“Who’s winning?” I whisper to distract myself.

“It doesn’t matter,” he answers softly.

I pull my head away to look at his face in confusion. He doesn’t turn towards me, but his hand tightens to keep me in place. “They just need to work it out of their systems and shake on it after.”

“That’s it?” I ask in surprise. I mean, beating each other up is a little extreme. They could have just talked it out. “Does that mean I have to go next?”

The idea of having to face an angry Ira with gloves on makes me pull Asher closer by his shirt, not that we have any space between us anyway. I’m probably strangling him instead.

“No,” his voice isn’t as calm this time. “If they even mention trying any of this stuff on you, I want to know.”

“He could get the key to the apartment,” I squeak out in a panic of insight. Asher is sweet to offer me protection, but he can’t be with me everywhere. Unfortunately. What would it be like to feel safe all the time? Does he have a pocket version I can carry around?

“How?” His head turns sharply with the angry words, but he’s looking at the ground with a dark frown as he asks.

“Shade is dating the twins and they have a key. They never give me a heads-up when they come in. And the noise is nauseating. I drive around instead of listening.”

His eyebrow rises. I’m convinced he’s completely focused on me until he calls out, “Block with the leg, Shade.”

How can he talk to me, see the fight, and turn me into mush with his touch at the same time? His multitasking skills are amazing.

“Is Shade ok? Can I look?” I wince as a pained grunt reaches me.

“You’ll have to let go of the shirt,” Asher says with a smile.

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