Page 31 of His Arranged Plus-Size Mate

My eyes went down to his abs, memorizing just how perfectly he was made. Asher was every woman’s wet dream. I could imagine what was underneath.

I shook my head. “You’re punching stiff on that shoulder, which tells me you aren’t fine.”

I expected him to argue with me, but he didn’t. “Well, what do you think I should do?” he asked. “Because I don’t have time to rest.”

I sighed. “Massage it then,” I stated. “I can if you want.”

His eyebrows went up at the offer. “Really? You want to massage me?”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t say it like that. I’m offering to massage your shoulders and back because you’re stiff. It’s good to work the muscles, but not entirely the way you are. You don’t want to pull a muscle while you’re healing. But since you’re a crappy patient, a massage will help ease the pain.”

He pulled his gloves off. “Okay, then come massage me.” He said with such confidence that it made my stomach flip.

I moved over toward him, pointing toward the bench. He sat down and turned. I placed my hands on his back, feeling his muscles were stiff like a board. His shoulder was tight, and his muscles were rock hard.

“Wow.”

“What?” he turned his head, looking at me.

I shook my head. “I just… you’re very fit.”

He laughed, turning his head straight. “Thanks. Hours of practice.”

I moved my thumbs, rubbing them against his shoulder. I could feel a knot and tried to knead it out. I moved down his shoulder, moving his arm as I went. “Does this hurt at all? Do you have full rotation?”

“It hurts a little, but it’s not like I can’t handle it.”

I moved around him, moving toward the front. He stared at me, his eyes watching me like I was a show. I felt my body grow hot and swallowed. I needed a distraction from what I was doing. “So, why are you out here? I understand wanting to move your muscles, but with how you’re hitting that dummy, I would say there is more to it.”

He frowned. “Like what?”

“You’re angry.” I rubbed my fingers along his neck, feeling his tension. “So, why are you so angry?”

I watched his jaw clench together. “Because yesterday was a disaster, and things could have been a lot worse. If I had paid more attention, maybe we wouldn’t have been so surprised.”

I ran my thumb along his collarbone, looking at his stitches. Most of it had healed, but I could still see the lines from the gash. He hadn’t pulled a stitch, which was a blessing.

“I’m angry I didn’t see it coming. I should have.”

I looked into his eyes. “Mistakes happen.”

“Mistakes can’t happen out there. Someone could have died.”

My hands froze. “No one did, though, and that’s what’s important.” I offered him a smile. “You know for next time.”

He shook his head. “It was my area, Hazel, my responsibility to know what happens.”

“You said those tracks were fresh. So, that doesn’t mean you missed something, Asher. You guys are fighting against creatures that move fast. One moment they are east and suddenly the next, they are south.” I leaned back. “Don’t beat yourself up because you can’t read minds.”

He stared at me, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I quickly tried to shake the feeling off and looked back at his shoulder.

Chapter 11 - Asher

Her hands felt amazing as she massaged my muscles. She was applying the right amount of pressure where I was the most tight and being gentle around my injury. She started on my left side and worked her way to my right side.

“Does that feel better?” she asked, her voice soft in my ear. I nodded, feeling the way my shoulders were starting to relax. I hadn’t even realized I was moving stiffly until she mentioned it.

“Yes, thanks.”