Sassy Ever After: Kiss My Sass (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Serena Pettus Page A

Luke’s arms. “Lilly?”
    “Shhh,” Luke whispered by her ear. “We’re here. The two of you are safe. I won’t let anything happen to either of you.” He felt her relax against him and relished the feeling. True, she was likely still reeling from everything, but having her so close calmed him in a way he’d never felt before. “Ashe, we’ve go to clean your leg up some before we drive back to the clinic in town. This is going to hurt, so be ready, okay?”
    At her nod, Benson added, “I’m going to take your shoe off.”
    Luke knew his friend was being as gentle as possible, but when he felt her tense in his lap his wolf managed to sneak a growl past his control.
    Ashe’s eyes flew open at the sound. “Wh-what was that?” she gasped.
    Benson’s big hand settled on her thigh, and Luke struggled not to snarl.
    “Calm down, we don’t want to upset Lilly. She’s in her swing in the doorway, and watching us. Nothing is going to hurt you,” Benson soothed.
    “But I heard a growl,” Ashe explained with a hitch in her voice. “There was an animal in the house. Some kind of gigantic badger I think. It-it scratched me after I pepper sprayed it.”
    Luke took her hand. “He got you good too, so we need to get it cleaned up some and then we’ll take you to the doctor in town. You may need stitches.”
    Even with her expression pinched from pain, she was still beautiful. Her long chestnut hair was in wild disarray, almost like she’d just rolled out of bed. Eyes the color of fine whiskey peered up at him and he smiled.
    “I might scream,” she whispered.
    “Um, okay. Not what I was expecting,” Luke admitted.
    Benson chuckled. “I won’t lie, this will probably burn like hell.”
    “It already feels like my leg is on fire.”
    “These scratches look pretty nasty, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, this has to be done, but we’ll use cool water to rinse it off first,” Benson told her. “I’m going to lift your leg over the tub and take your sock and shoe off first. We’ll get it rinsed, then pour some hydrogen peroxide over it, and wrap a towel around your leg for the ride to the clinic. Sound like a plan?”
    “Actually, it sounds like torture, but let’s get it over with,” she grumbled.
    Luke watched as Benson carefully placed her lower leg into the tub before slipping her shoe and sock off. Sure enough, Ashe tensed, her body shuddering in his arms. He had to admit, he was impressed. His mate clenched her teeth and breathed through the pain, and he had no doubt she did so to avoid stressing her child.
    When Benson was done, he wrapped a towel around her leg, and Ashe slumped back against Luke’s chest. “Thank God that’s over,” she sighed.
    “I’ll go grab the things from the car, and set the baby swing in the living room,” Benson offered, stepping out of the bathroom. “The scratches are deep, but I don’t think they’ll need stitches. I’ve got some bandage strips at home that are used to hold cuts together, I’ll go grab them and we’ll close them up better so you won’t have a bad scar. How does that sound?”
    “Perfect. Thank you so much. You guys have gone above and beyond for me, and I don’t know how to repay you.”
    “Well,” Luke cut in, “I have a confession to make.” When she cast a suspicious glance up at him, he quickly explained. “I was needing to talk to you anyway. The thing is, I’m a friend of Matt’s. I was in town trying to locate you, but then I just kind of ran into you at the store.”
    “Wait. You know Matt? Is he in town?”
    “Luke, perhaps this conversation should take place sitting on a sofa verses a toilet.” Benson raised his hands. “Just a suggestion.”
    As much as he hated to admit it, Benson was right. Again , damn it! He lifted a sputtering Ashe and carried her out.
    “Put me down! I’m too heavy to be toting around. I can walk,” Ashe insisted.
    “Your leg is hurt, you would limp, not walk, and how do you think you got