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Asher was quiet while I pushed Claire back to where Hal was noaiting

"I can’t believe you conned this nice couple into pushing you around," Hal said with the kind of over-enunciating that hearing loss so himself more clear, the world would return the favor

"Only the one Hi to Asher, whowith et you nowhere"

Abashed, Asher laughed and smiled for real

"That’s better, boy I can tell when people are faking," Claire said, and then turned back to me "Thank you for the lovely walk See you at dinner soon, I hope"

"Thanks You too" I waved as Hal pulled her away

The second they were out of earshot, Asher turned to me "Are you really okay?"

"Honestly I’ht the next elevator As soon as we’d stepped inside, he started touching the arm I’d fallen on, for medical purposes I hissed, and he frowned deeply

"You didn’t fracture it, did you?"

"No It’s just a bruise" I swung it around to prove to hie of motion

"And … your stomach?" he said tentatively

"Is currently fine too" The doors opened, and alked without talking down the halls until we got to our rooain at dinner, are you?"

"Probably not" I blinked at hiht you’d appreciate ain"

I stared at him flatly "You’re a better study of human behavior than that"

He held his hands up "Oh, co I won’t touch theto him, is there? Iaway"

"I think we’re a little far for a children’s protective services call out here, Asher" But I had seen that cowed look on Liz’s face I couldn’t just ignore it

"Besides, I was just being polite," Asher went on "And the opportunity presented itself I’h an opportunity were around I frowned

"This is currently not super-sexy"

He got a devilish glea "

"On a secluded beach in Hawaii," he went on, his voice as sht radio host

"Did it involve bribery?"

"It leaned hway robbery But it looks beautiful in the pictures they showed me I didn’t think you’d mind"

I wrinkled my face in disbelief "Married on Hawaii That’s even ht"

"Too late It’s done We just have to show up"

He did look hopeful He wantedto take chances In the end, he ho he was I wasn’t going to be able to change hi you’re handsoreed And he leaned in

Our clothes were off and ere on the floor together in no ti, but I kne I felt Our future was barreling doard us like a bullet flying out of a gun I was looking forward to it, yes--but I also kneas going to hit me

Sex was a way to press PAUSE, to stay in the here and now, and now, and now

The top of Asher’s back was against the side of the couch, and s rapped around his waist He was curved up, and I could play my hands down the flatness of his stomach I could feel his muscles flex when he pushed into me, and I tried to settle deeper into his lap We hadn’t said a word since we’d started; we didn’t need to

Then the intercom overhead chimed so loudly I squeaked in surprise

"This is Captain Ah Asher didn’t He was able to ignore the captain--as sharing the fact that ere trying to outrun a storers was directly related our speed, it would be a good idea if we all washed our hands He started singing the "Happy Birthday" song to show us how long we ought to wash our hands for, by way of dehed out loud

"You’d think this would turn you on," Asher teased "I know you’re a fan of hand washing"

"This is the least sexy song on the planet"