Page 73 of Rescued
“You should have woken me up. I want to be there for you. I want to support you.” A burn starts at the back of my nose. “I love you.”
“Fuck,” Jasper breathes. “I love you too. So much.”
I nod. “Can we go back to bed?”
Without a word, Jasper slides his hands under my ass and pushes to his feet, cradling me against his body as he carries me out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom.
Sighing, I slump into him. “It’s so hot how you can carry me around.”
“First my outlet checker and now this?” Jasper teases, his voice lighter than it’s been all night.
“I’m a simple man,” I tease back.
Jasper snorts. “You might be the most complicated man I’ve ever met.”
“Fair enough,” I say, laughing a bit.
“How’s your pain, baby boy? Do you need more medicine?”
I shake my head. I’m a little sore, but it’s nothing I can’t handle, and I don’t want to take any more medicine right now. I don’t like the way it makes me feel, and I want to be alert.
In case Jasper needs me again.
“Will you wake me up if you have another bad dream?” I ask when we’re back in bed and curled up with each other.
“Yes,” Jasper answers after a few seconds of silence.
“You’ve gotta promise,” I say softly.
“I promise.”
I snuggle deeper into his hold, pressing my forehead to his chest. “Thank you.”
His hand lands on my back, and he keeps it there as my body goes slack.
When I wake to the sounds of birds chirping and the sun streaming through the windows, Jasper is still asleep, and his hand is still pressed to my back.
Chapter 19
Arlo
JasperandIhavejust eaten breakfast—eggs on toast, my favorite—when Austin and Luca walk in the front door.
Nerves shoot through me. I’m not sure why. Well, okay, I’m a little sure why, and it doesn’t help anything that Luca is glaring at me from the doorway. It only lasts for a second before his features soften, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.
“Are you okay?” he asks, eyes searching my face.
I nod, all my words stuck in my throat.
He glances between Austin and Jasper. “I’m sure the two of you can find something to do. Something that isn’t being here, so I can talk to my best friend. Alone.”
Jasper frowns. “But I—”
“It’s okay,” I say. “I’m alright.”
Nodding, Jasper sighs. “Okay. I can… Oh. I can go get you some clothes.”
I smile. “Sounds good. I wear—”
