When Love Turns to Ash

at the hospita

in a heavy cast, a throbbing a

lingering awkwar

ed, a little

eutral. "What do

ned. That you were hurt

. Of

voice flat. I didn't wa

orence travel brochures I'd been

movement. His

sked, a hint of suspicion i

l that obsessed kid.

othing,

explained his presence. "She's worried about, you kn

about me. It was

bruised, felt an

to worry. I'm no

cold, distant. I

tably. "Look, Savvy

otten," I

urprised by

else. "You need anything? Wat

ctant offer,

ne," I

a fresh wave of pain t

forward. "H

eed your h

the pillows behind my head.

imes, a phantom echo of the boy

loe wal

? Oh, Savvy,

e, possessively tucki

ned up, moving away from

he said, his voice instant

ete abandonment of me mid-gesture, made me l

red leg

y lips. Pain, white-h

Clumsy. Jax, maybe you

rn was pa

lit second, his eyes dar

now, engaged. Wouldn't look right, me fussing over

y said tha

The humiliation

ie. Old-fashioned. He wouldn't want to give anyone the wro

with a triumph

aight at her

I'm perfectly aware of your... relation

h, maybe to deliver another patronizing line

er heel caught on the uneven edge of a floor tile

flailing, and the

al lobby, which we' d just passed as they wheele

la

ed around

out, dripping

on me, his face

do?" he snar

dn't do a

r! You're jealo

accusing me. A

ught Jax, my Jax, the boy who saved me

ved me

eady, my broken le

slipping on the wet tiles near t

oo, into the cold, shall

. My casted leg hit the b

ain. Ove

eaving. Chloe was clinging to him, look

Jax growled, his voice dangerously low, "and I'll make you r

wim with the

ing my mouth, my wound near m

in the water aro

blo

ing to le