Page 46 of Whiskey Shivers

“Okay,” he said, getting up, and I missed his warmth as soon as he’d stood.

“Stay there, Fable. I’ll get the shower going.”

I watched him go into the bathroom and his ass was just as perfect as the rest of him. God, I loved to watch him either coming or going…

* * *

“Haveyou thought about what comes next?” he asked me gently.

“Hmm?” I mean, I’d heard him, it just took a second for it to process. I was drowsing against his chest, his one hand on my arm that lay carefully over him and the other buried in my hair at the back of my neck. He’d been massaging the base of my skull through my hair and the repetitive soothing rasping sound it made combined with his warmth and the feel of the tension bleeding away; well, I was almost in a state of hypnosis.

“You mean with us?” I asked.

“Not just us,” he said. “I mean, with everything. You got a lot of doctors and physical therapy visits coming up. Then there are the lawyers and all the court shit.”

I admit, I sort of froze.

“I… I hadn’t thought about the trial and all the legal stuff, actually.” I sighed and it was a heavy thing, laden with dread. “I mean, I’ve been trying very hardnotto think about it if you know what I mean.”

“I do,” he said.

I swallowed hard.

“I was sort of hoping that because I don’t remember anything that I wouldn’t have to testify or whatever. I… I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to face the reporters or, or people saying stuff about me.”

“Stuff about you?” he asked.

I licked my lips that felt suddenly dry. “You know, people have all kinds of shitty hot takes when it comes to things like this.”

“Things like…?” he prompted gently.

“Things like… like what Mark said.”

“Fuck him,” he said vehemently.

“No thanks,” I said, pushing up from beneath us carefully so I could look at him. “He wasn’t that great, and I’d rather not repeat the experience.”

Hex started to laugh but then stopped.

“You’re serious,” he said, cupping my shoulder gently.

“As a heart attack,” I said. “Lately, if we got it on at all, the foreplay was non-existent. I’m not exactly sure when he started to treat sex with me like it was a chore or a challenge to overcome but yeah… that’s sort of how it was.”

“Shit,” Hex said softly, and he caressed my face gently.

“Yeah,” I said, and it was sad. I mean, it’dhurt; in more ways than one. Oftentimes, Mark hadn’t even tried to make me ready. He’d just go for it and would make some comment about how it felt good because I was so tight, when on my end, it felt like he was trying to force his way in, and my body was justI don’t like this!But I’d just grit and bear it because I already felt like he was unhappy with me, and I just wanted him to love me again.

The confession was out of my mouth before I even knew it and Hex sighed, stroking a hand over my hair. He said, “I promise you, here and now, I willalwaysfuckin’ communicate with you. I willneverdo that to you. Shit, Fable, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said, sitting up. “I think I need to go back into my sling, now.”

“Yeah, you mind if I just put your sling on and nothing else for now. I like the feel of your skin against mine.”

I smiled and said, “I’d like that.”

“Okay.” He chuckled and helped me back into the bracing contraption of straps and buckles. He kneeled behind me on the bed, adjusting straps, and I tried not to shiver when his fingers grazed my skin. I loved the sensation but it also half tickled.

“Let me ask you something,” he said quietly.

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