Read Online The Gravedigger's Brawl by Abigail Roux - Free Book Online

for seconds,” Ash said.
    â€œWhat? No! I—”
    â€œYou’re not here because you feel guilty, you’re here because you liked it.”
    â€œThat’s not true. I mean, it is, I did, but . . . that’s not why I’m here. I shouldn’t have walked out. I panicked and . . . I just needed you to know I’m sorry.”
    â€œI know you are.”
    Wyatt sighed in exasperation and knelt down to meet Ash’s eyes. “Look, I came here to make it up to you.”
    Ash glanced up at him and then away. “I didn’t tell Noah you skipped out on me, if that’s what you’re here to find out.”
    â€œThat’s not why I’m here.”
    â€œSure it is. If you’re not here for seconds, then it’s guilt. You were probably talking to Noah right before you came here and you were wondering if he knew and what he thought of you. Am I right?”
    Wyatt blinked and nodded as his mouth went dry. How did he know that?
    Ash shrugged and held out a hand as if to say, See?
    â€œI was also thinking about you,” Wyatt said, voice hoarse.
    That gave Ash a moment’s pause. He stared at Wyatt for a long time and then shook his head and looked away.
    â€œAsh—”
    Ash glanced back at him and raised an eyebrow. The look in his eyes cut Wyatt off. “You’re not the first one-nighter I’ve had bail on me, okay?” Ash sighed as he rested his hands on the unit. “You’re the first to try and carpet bomb my plumbing, but whatever. It stings for a day or two, I get over it, I move on. Let’s just call it a great screw and leave it at that, okay? Not ruin it with all this.” He waved the screwdriver between them.
    â€œBut . . .” Wyatt sighed and looked the man over. Here in the light of day, Ash was almost better looking than Wyatt remembered, if that was possible. The sleeveless undershirt suited his lithe frame, showing off the definition of his wiry muscles, and for some reason the suspenders were growing on Wyatt. The only thing that marred the picture was a bruise on Ash’s shoulder, just at his collarbone and neck.
    â€œWhat happened?” Wyatt asked as he reached out and brushed Ash’s shoulder.
    Ash swatted his hand away and scowled at him. He turned his head and peered down at his shoulder with difficulty, pushing aside his shirt and suspenders to see. When the material moved, Wyatt could plainly see four thin marks on the front of Ash’s shoulder.
    â€œLooks like a hand print,” Ash answered grudgingly.
    Wyatt’s stomach gave an unsettling twist. “I did that.” He remembered grabbing Ash’s shoulder just there and holding him in place from behind. “Did I hurt you?” he asked with a wince. “I mean, are there more bruises or . . .”
    â€œI didn’t even know about that one. Don’t worry about it.” Ash gave a lopsided shrug as he readjusted his shirt. “That’s not a first either. Lets you know you had fun when you can’t remember what happened.”
    Wyatt frowned, wondering how often that particular scenario happened.
    Ash went back to dismantling the A/C unit. When he concentrated hard on something, his tongue seemed to find its way out and curl around the corner of his mouth. It was endearing. Even with the tongue ring sticking through it.
    Wyatt noticed with a slight stirring in his gut that it was a different stud than the one Ash had been wearing before. He’d been intimately acquainted with the previous one.
    â€œDifferent tongue ring, huh?” he asked before thinking better of it.
    â€œIt’s left over from Saturday.”
    â€œLeft over?”
    Ash huffed at Wyatt’s look of consternation, then cupped his hands around his mouth and nose, opening his mouth so Wyatt could see the stud in shadow. It glowed a very faint purple. “I change them out. We entertain as we mix. People get a kick out of