6. Asher

CHAPTER 6

ASHER

T he first thing I'm aware of is the smell. That sharp, antiseptic tang that can only mean one thing - hospital. It fills my nose, my lungs, cloying and inescapable, and I fight the urge to gag.

The second thing is the pain. A dull, throbbing ache that seems to radiate from every inch of my body, pulsing in time with the beep of the heart monitor beside my bed. I try to shift, to ease the pressure on my battered muscles, but the slightest movement sends a lightning bolt of agony racing up my spine.

I must make some kind of sound, a whimper or a groan, because suddenly there's a warm, calloused hand wrapped around mine, the touch achingly familiar.

"Asher?" Liam's voice is a hoarse rasp, thick with some unnameable emotion. "Sunshine, can you hear me?"

I force my eyes open, blinking against the harsh fluorescent glare. Liam's face swims into view above me, his features drawn and haggard, his green eyes bloodshot and glassy. He looks like he's aged ten years since I saw him last, grief and guilt etched into every line of his beautiful face.

"Liam," I croak, my throat dry and aching. "What... what happened? Where am I?"

His hand tightens around mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a feather-light caress. "You're in the hospital, sunshine. You were attacked, beaten up pretty bad. But you're going to be okay. I promise, I won't let anything else happen to you."

Memories come flooding back in a sickening rush - the shattering of glass, the cruel laughter of my attackers, the meaty thud of fists and boots against my flesh. I squeeze my eyes shut, bile rising hot and sharp in my throat.

"They knew my name," I whisper, my voice shaking. "Kept saying I needed to learn my place, that I never should have gotten involved with you. That I was... I was just Liam O'Connor's whore."

Liam makes a sound like I've gut-punched him, his face twisting with anguish. "Asher, fuck. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I thought I was protecting you by pushing you away, but I was just leaving you vulnerable. I'm a fucking idiot and a coward."

Tears sting my eyes, hot and prickling. "Why did you do it, Liam?" I ask, my voice small and lost. "Why did you say those awful things, make me think I meant nothing to you?"

He bows his head, a shudder rippling through his powerful frame. "Because I was scared," he rasps. "Scared of how much you mean to me, of how deep I've let you get under my skin. Declan, he... he threatened you. Said if I didn't end things, he'd put you in the ground himself."

My heart clenches, fury and fear a dizzying tangle in my chest. "So you thought breaking my heart was the answer? God, Liam, how could you let him manipulate you like that?"

Liam's eyes snap to mine, blazing with a desperate, feverish intensity. "Because I love you," he says, the words raw and scorching. "I fucking love you, Asher, and the thought of losing you, of you getting hurt because of me... it makes me want to tear the world apart with my bare hands."

The breath leaves my lungs in a rush, my eyes widening. "You... you love me?"

He nods, a single tear slipping down his cheek. "I love you so goddamn much it terrifies me. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, sunshine. The only light in my dark, fucked-up life. And I'll be damned if I let my psychotic brother or anyone else take you away from me."

Warmth blooms in my chest, so fierce and sweet it steals my breath. I reach up with my free hand, cupping Liam's jaw, my thumb brushing away the wetness on his skin.

"I love you too," I whisper, the words like a prayer, a promise. "I've loved you from the moment you first walked into my diner, all scowls and swagger. And I'm not going to let you push me away again, Liam. Not for Declan, not for anything."

He makes a choked sound, somewhere between a laugh and a sob. Then he's leaning down, his lips finding mine in a kiss that starts achingly tender but quickly turns fierce and desperate. I sink into it, into him, letting his strength and his love wash over me like a balm.

Liam kisses me like a man starving, like I'm the air he needs to breathe. His tongue delves deep, claiming every inch of my mouth, stroking along my own until I'm dizzy with the taste of him. I clutch at his shoulders, my nails digging into the solid muscle, needing him closer, always closer.

He gentles the kiss gradually, easing back to nip playfully at my bottom lip before soothing the sting with a soft brush of his tongue. I whimper, heat curling slow and syrupy in my veins, my body responding to him even battered and bruised as I am.

Liam feels it too, if the low groan he breathes into my mouth is any indication. His hand slides up my arm, over my shoulder, cupping the nape of my neck in a possessive grip that sends shivers racing down my spine.

"Careful, sunshine," he murmurs, his lips quirking in a wicked grin. "Don't start something you can't finish. Not until you're healed up and I can take my sweet time with you."

I huff out a breathless laugh, even as my cock twitches eagerly in my hospital gown. "Tease," I accuse, swatting at his chest. "You can't say things like that and expect me not to react."

His grin widens, his eyes glinting with mischief and smoldering promise. "Oh, I'm counting on you reacting, baby. Gonna make it my mission to drive you wild, every single day. With my words, my hands, my mouth..." He punctuates each word with a soft, sucking kiss to my jaw, my throat, the sensitive skin behind my ear.

I moan, my head falling back against the pillow, my blood singing with want. "Liam..."

"Shh." He gentles me with a tender brush of lips over my brow, his thumb stroking the thrum of my pulse in my neck. "I've got you, sunshine. I'm gonna take such good care of you, I swear it."

Tears prick my eyes again, but this time they're born of joy, of overwhelming gratitude and love. "I know you will," I whisper, leaning into his touch like a flower to the sun. "I trust you, Liam. With my heart, my body, my everything."

He makes a rough sound, his forehead dropping to rest against mine. "I don't deserve you," he rasps, his voice choked and raw. "I don't deserve your trust, your faith. Not after all the ways I've fucked up, all the hurt I've caused you."

I shake my head fiercely, my fingers curling into the soft hair at his nape. "You do," I insist, holding his gaze with all the conviction in my soul. "You deserve love, Liam. You deserve happiness and peace and everything good in this world. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life showing you that, even if I have to fight your demons myself to do it."

Something fierce and bright blazes to life in Liam's eyes, a fire that sends heat licking through my veins like wildfire. "I love you," he says again, his voice ringing with truth, with unshakeable devotion. "I love you, Asher Davis, and I will burn the fucking world down to keep you safe. To keep you mine ."

He seals the vow with a kiss that steals the breath from my lungs, the thoughts from my head. I cling to him, pouring every ounce of love and faith and desperate desire into the press of my lips, the slide of my tongue. In this moment, nothing else matters - not the pain of my injuries, not the looming specter of Declan's wrath.

Only Liam, his heart beating in time with my own, our bodies and souls twined so tight I can't tell where he ends and I begin.

The days that follow are a haze of healing and togetherness, stolen moments of bliss amidst the sterile bustle of the hospital. Liam is my constant companion, leaving my side only when absolutely necessary. He holds my hand through physical therapy sessions, murmuring encouragement and praise as I grit my teeth against the burn of abused muscles. He sneaks me contraband snacks from the cafeteria, grinning like a schoolboy when I moan in delight over a perfectly gooey chocolate chip cookie.

And in the quiet depths of night, when the world narrows down to the cocoon of my hospital bed, he worships me with hands and lips and whispered endearments. He maps my skin like uncharted territory, his fingertips skating over every bruise and scrape with exquisite gentleness. His mouth follows the same path, pressing butterfly kisses to each hurt, as if he can erase the damage through sheer force of love.

I come apart under his reverent ministrations, my nerve endings sparking and sizzling, pleasure unfurling deep in my core. Liam coaxes me to heights I've never known, playing my body like a finely tuned instrument until I'm writhing and gasping his name, my release shattering through me like stained glass.

He holds me after, cradling me against the solid warmth of his chest as the aftershocks shiver through me. I burrow into him, breathing in the intoxicating scent of sweat and sex and something uniquely Liam , a spicy, masculine musk that I know I'll crave until my dying day.

"I can't wait until I can properly fuck you," he murmurs into my hair, his voice a low, satisfied rumble. "Gonna lay you out and take my time, work you open so slow and sweet you'll be begging for it. Begging for my cock, my come, everything I can give you."

"Jesus." I shudder, my spent cock valiantly trying to stir at the filthy promise in his words. "Keep talking like that and they'll have to hook me up to a whole new set of machines."

Liam chuckles, the sound rich and warm as aged whiskey. "Sorry, sunshine. You just bring it out in me. The way you respond, the sounds you make... fuck, I could spend hours taking you apart, putting you back together. Making you feel so good you forget your own name."

I tilt my head up, catching his mouth in a messy, off-center kiss. "Anytime," I breathe against his lips. "Anywhere. I'm yours, Liam. Utterly and completely."

He groans, his hands flexing on my hips, his kiss turning deep and hungry. We make out like horny teenagers, all roaming hands and desperate, biting kisses, until a discreet cough from the doorway has us springing guiltily apart.

Mia stands there, her arms crossed, her expression caught between amusement and exasperation. "Y'all are lucky it's just me and not one of the nurses," she drawls. "Pretty sure getting freaky in a hospital bed is against some kind of code."

I blush hotly, tugging my flimsy gown more securely over my lap. Liam just flashes her a shameless grin, his hand resting possessively on my thigh.

"Can you blame me?" he asks, adoration and mischief warring in his eyes as they meet mine. "Look at him. He's fucking irresistible."

Mia rolls her eyes, but I can see the fondness, the approval, softening her stern face. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You're stupid in love and horny as hell. Just try to keep it in your pants until you're discharged, yeah? I don't want to have to bail you out for public indecency."

"No promises," Liam quips, and I swat at him even as a giddy bubble of laughter rises in my throat.

Mia shakes her head, fighting a smile as she comes to perch on the edge of my bed. "I'm happy for you," she says softly, her eyes warm and serious as they find mine. "Both of you. What you have... it's rare. Special."

Her expression sobers, a flicker of worry darkening her gaze. "But Ash... you need to be careful, okay? I know Liam would do anything to protect you, but Declan... he's not just going to let this go. Let Liam go."

A chill walks down my spine, the giddy warmth in my chest congealing into lead. I glance at Liam, seeing the way his jaw clenches, his eyes hardening at the mention of his brother.

"I know," I say quietly, reaching for his hand and lacing our fingers together. "Believe me, Mia, I know the risks. But I'm not giving Liam up. Not for Declan, not for anyone."

Liam's hand tightens around mine, his gaze fierce and hot as it meets my own. "We're in this together," he says, his voice ringing with conviction. "No matter what happens, no matter what Declan tries... I'm not letting him win. Not this time."

Mia nods slowly, her eyes searching Liam's face, searching for any hint of doubt or hesitation. She must find none, because she relaxes minutely, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Okay then," she says, reaching out to pat my leg through the blanket. "You know I've got your back, Ash. Both of you. Whatever you need, I'm here."

Gratitude wells in my throat, thick and sweet. "Thank you," I murmur, blinking back the sudden sting of tears. "For everything, Mia. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She grins, the expression bright and fierce. "Crash and burn, probably," she teases. "But that's what best friends are for - keeping your disaster gay ass in line."

Liam snorts, his eyes dancing with reluctant amusement. "Disaster gay, huh? I like that. Has a nice ring to it."

I elbow him in the ribs, my cheeks flaming. "Shut up. Like you're any better, Mr. Ride-or-Die."

He smirks, unrepentant. "Never claimed to be, sunshine. In case you haven't noticed, I'm kind of a hot mess."

"Yeah, but you're my hot mess," I counter, my heart swelling with so much love it feels like it might burst. "And I wouldn't have you any other way."

Something soft and wondering steals over Liam's face, his eyes going liquid and warm. He leans in, brushing a kiss over my brow, my cheekbone, the corner of my smiling mouth.

"Ride or die, huh?" he murmurs, his lips quirking. "I like the sound of that too. 'Cause that's what this is, Asher. You and me, against the fucking world. No matter what."

"No matter what," I echo, the words a vow, a promise. A pledge of forever, come hell or high water.

And I mean them, with every fiber of my battered, hopeful being. Liam is my heart, my home, the very blood in my veins. And I will fight for him, for us, until my dying breath.

Even if it means taking on the devil himself.

We spend the rest of the day in a bubble of laughter and stolen kisses, the warmth of our little family - because that's what Mia is, what she's always been - a balm to my weary soul. But as night falls and the hospital settles into quiet, I can't shake the sense of unease prickling under my skin.

The threat of Declan looms like a specter at the edge of our happiness, a malevolent shadow waiting to eclipse the light. I know Liam feels it too - I can see it in the tight clench of his jaw, the faraway look that steals into his eyes when he thinks I'm not watching.

He's planning something, my brave, beautiful warrior. Plotting and strategizing, his brilliant mind whirring behind that cool, impassive mask. I don't know the details, and part of me is afraid to ask, to delve too deep into the darkness he's trying so hard to leave behind.

But I trust him. I trust in his strength, his cunning, his unwavering devotion to keeping me - keeping us - safe. And whatever he has in store for Declan, whatever reckoning he's bringing to bear...

I know it will be terrible. And swift. And absolutely fucking necessary.

Because in this story, in our story... there can be no happy ending with a monster like Declan O'Connor waiting in the wings.