Page 39 of All Right No

She tipped her head to one side, so that her dark hair framed her face. “No, I think I’ll keep you naked for the rest of the day. That way I can be sure you won’t go running off and creating trouble.”

He frowned.

Ginny kissed the wrinkles that formed in his brow, until they smoothed out again. “Honestly Ash, I can’t believe you ever thought for a second I’d been getting up to stuff with Spook. What sort of crazy pills have you been taking?”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Hm.” She briefly inclined her head, before rising from him. “Go clean yourself up.”

Ash got to his feet.

“For the record, Spook’s cute, but he’s a control freak. I don’t do anyone whose desire is to manipulate me, or bend me to their will.”

“’kay, so no asking you to submit to me and become my lovehoney. Got it.”

He glanced down at the mess upon his stomach. “Urgh.”

Once inside the bathroom, Ash stood in the dark for several moments sucking down juddery breaths, before he tugged the light cord, and set the extractor fan into motion. He’d promised her, so he’d have to pick up the guitar, but he didn’t know how he’d convince himself to play. His fingers wouldn’t obey, he knew that. He’d established that fact back in July when he’d attempted to jam with the guys. Things hadn’t changed since then. The same fires still flowed down his arm if he twisted his wrist a certain way, and his fingers were forever stiffening up.

He washed himself down and used the loo. When he came out of the bathroom, Ginny was gone. He caught sight of her out of the window darting off toward the woods. He guessed she’d decided to give him some space in order to do that practicing, while she spent more time on the phone to that friend who was always calling. The note she’d left him on the bed said exactly that.

I have faith in you. You can do it.

Too bad he had virtually none in himself.