Page 64 of Pretty Poison

Asher broke the kiss and stared into Rocky’s eyes. “Don’t overthink it.”

“Who, me?” Rocky teased, even though he knew Asher was right. Rocky had read about stress-induced erectile dysfunction enough to know that fretting about his performance would cancel any shuttle launch he’d hoped for. He took a deep breath and nodded.

Asher pressed his lips to Rocky’s neck. “Focus on sensations instead of function,” he whispered against his skin.

Asher sank his teeth into Rocky’s flesh and tugged, and Rocky felt a similar reaction in his core. His husband licked the spot he’d just marked before sucking it between his lips. Asher resumed kissing Rocky’s neck, working his way upward until he reached his jaw. Then he nibbled along the jawline to get to Rocky’s ear.

“How did that feel?” he asked.

Rocky let out a little moan and swayed on his feet.

Asher chuckled. “That good, huh? I have more tricks.”

That, Rocky knew well. He opened his eyes and fell into Asher’s bottomless gaze. Rocky didn’t fight the fall, or even fear it, because Asher would be there to catch him. He understood this now. Rocky’s only regret was that he’d lost a year with the man he loved while he figured it out.

“I want to touch you,” Rocky said. “I only explored a few key parts in the shower.”

Asher opened his arms in invitation, so Rocky slid his hands beneath them and caressed Asher’s broad back, loving the feel of his strong muscles. He felt Asher stiffen beneath his touch and didn’t understand why until Rocky’s fingers ghosted over a puckered scar on his husband’s lower back that hadn’t been there the last time he’d seen Asher naked.

He stepped out of Asher’s embrace and walked around him to get a better look. He could tell by the angry red color that it was pretty new. Rocky dropped to his knees behind his husband, then ran his fingertip over the blemished skin. He hadn’t seen it the other night in the kitchen because Asher’s shorts had covered it up. Rocky pressed his lips to the puckered flesh. The scar tissue twitched beneath his ministrations, so he shifted to kissing the skin around it instead.

“Is this a knife wound?” he asked hoarsely.

“Yes.”

A mixture of rage and shame washed over Rocky. He wasn’t a medical professional, but there was no doubt in his mind the knife had come close to hitting one of Asher’s vital organs. Fucking Duggins had promised Rocky he’d always have Asher’s back. Where the fuck had he been when some asshole was shoving a knife in it? And what about Rocky? He had been thousands of miles away while Asher recovered from nearly losing an organ, and no one had even thought to call him. Asher was his husband for fuck’s sake. He—

Fuck. Why would the marshals have called him? Rocky had left Asher, then filed for a divorce. Rocky must’ve made a sound of distress because Asher turned around and hoisted Rocky back to his feet.

“I’m fine,” Asher said softly. Maybe he was now, but he’d bet big money Asher hadn’t been fine immediately after taking a blade to his back.

“How bad was it?” Rocky asked.

“The knife missed my vital organs, but the blade was dirty. I developed a nasty bacterial infection that took longer to recover from than the knife wound itself.”

Rocky closed his eyes and tried to swallow back the tears, but they still slid down his face. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to take care of you.”

“Hey,” Asher said, brushing away his tears. “Look at me.” Rocky opened his eyes. “What I’m about to say is going to sound really bizarre, but I promise it makes sense.”

“If not, I could talk to Karen about giving us some kind of discount for therapy.”

Asher chuckled. “Buy one get one free?”

“At least half off,” Rocky countered, then gripped Asher’s strong shoulders. “Okay. I’ve braced myself. Let’s hear this bizarre but perfectly sensible thing.”

“You might want to sit down,” Asher said.

“And you might want to rethink your approach.” But just in case, Rocky stepped out of Asher’s embrace and led him over to the bed. They settled between the sheets, facing one another.

“I think getting stabbed might’ve been the second-best thing to ever happen to me.”

“What?” Rocky asked, rolling onto his back. “I am definitely calling my therapist first thing in the morning. I bet Karen will work you into her schedule.”

Asher laughed and scooted closer, throwing his big thigh over Rocky so he couldn’t escape. “Hear me out,” he said.

“Like I have a choice,” Rocky fired back. Asher started to lift his leg, but Rocky reached out to stop him. “You know damn well how much I love this. I’m ready for an explanation now. You were saying something about how getting stabbed and developing a nasty infection was the second-best thing that ever happened to you.” Rocky turned his head and looked at Asher. “I’m afraid to ask about the best thing.”

Asher pressed a kiss to his lips. “You know damn well that meeting you takes the top spot.”