Page 9 of Pretty Poison

Rocky’s words died when Asher grabbed his wrists and placed Rocky’s hands on the SUV’s hood. The warmth of the engine seeped into his palms, but it couldn’t compete with the heat rolling off the man behind him. Christ. Did Asher always stand so close when he arrested people? Rocky wisely kept his mouth shut this time and kept his eyes trained on the ground. Asher’s black combat boot came into view when he slipped it between Rocky’s feet. He tapped his boot against Rocky’s right instep, encouraging him to move it. Rocky inched it over a bit, and Asher tapped him again. They repeated this until Asher was satisfied with the width of his spread.

Asher hummed his approval. “Yeah, that looks good.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re not talking about the space between my feet?”

Asher chuckled, then leaned in so close that his lips nearly touched Rocky’s ear. “Stop talking.”

Longing tightened the vise on his nuts a little more. But before he could acknowledge Asher’s demands, his husband stepped back. Rocky’s relief was short-lived because Asher squatted down behind him and started feeling around his ankles.

“W-what are you d-doing?” he stammered.

“Checking you for weapons.”

Rocky sighed and shook his head. “I asked you topretendto arrest me.”

“You did, and I am. Everyone knows a suspect gets patted down before they get placed in the vehicle.” Asher slid both hands up the inside of Rocky’s legs. He had to tense his body to keep from reacting when Asher’s fingers brushed over his bare flesh. God, how he’d missed those incredible hands. Rocky fought the urge to spread his legs wider or to push his ass out. “New undies?”

Rocky racked his brain to remember the pair he’d chosen that morning. All he could think about was how close the tips of Asher’s fingers were to his balls.

“I’ve never seen this shade of orange before,” Asher said when he dropped his hands and stood up.

Rocky breathed a sigh of relief, but it got caught in his throat when Asher began patting down his chest.

“What would you call it? Burnt orange?” Asher asked, coasting his hands over Rocky’s pecs and abs. His nipples hardened, and he bit his bottom lip to hold back the moan until the urge passed.

“Sienna sunrise,” he rasped. Why did his voice sound like he’d been smoking three packs a day since birth?

Asher checked Rocky’s waistband for hidden weapons before examining his front pockets. His fingertips nearly grazed the head of Rocky’s dick before he pulled his hands free. “Well, they look surprisingly good with your complexion.”

“Are you a federal marshal or the fashion police?” he asked.

Asher chuckled as he dropped his arms and stepped back. “I was just making conversation. I didn’t realize it was such a sensitive topic.”

“You’re just being an ass.”

“Is that how you treat everyone you ask for a favor?” Though Asher had put some space between them, it wasn’t enough. Rocky could still feel the heat rolling off his much bigger body. “Turn around,” Asher instructed before Rocky could respond.

Rocky pivoted around but didn’t lift his head to meet his husband’s gaze.

“Look at me,” Asher said firmly.

Rocky took a deep breath and raised his head on the exhale. Asher’s dark brown eyes glittered with conflicting emotions.

“It’s good to see you, Ford.”

Rocky could only manage a nod before Asher slapped a handcuff on his right wrist, then the left. The metal clicks felt ominous, but he didn’t have time to dissect it because Asher led him around to the rear passenger door behind the driver’s seat. He risked a glance toward Gingersnap and nearly laughed when he saw the man squatting down next to Snickerdoodle, giving the dog belly rubs.

Asher got in the front passenger seat and turned so he could make eye contact with Rocky. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Why are you here?” Rocky asked.

“Dandridge and I were assisting SPD with an outstanding warrant.”

Rocky shook his head. “I wasn’t asking what you were doing on this street. I want to know why you’re in Savannah.”

“I think we already talked about this on the dock behind the Spencers’ house.”

“We did no such thing,” Rocky replied. “You insulted my friends and me, then avoided answering my questions. So, I will ask you thrice. What are you doing here?”