Oh my God, how could I have gone years without being touched? It’s insane how depraved my mind and body are.

He pulls back and looks me in the eyes. “I want you to tell me what happened, but first …” He sets me down, steps back, and then he pulls me forward but moves out of the way.

I’m confused until I see Jax, right there in front of me. He instantly opens his arms and hugs me so tightly I swear he’s trying to pull me into him.

I hug him back, telling him, “I’m fine. I promise. Nothing bad happened to me.”

He continues to hold me, his hands trembling. “When I couldn’t see you, I thought …” A faltering breath flees from his lips.

“I’m fine,” I promise, skimming my finger down the back of his neck. “But I do have some stuff to tell you guys … when we’re in the car.”

“Okay.” He releases a shaky breath, and I move to step away, but then he tightens his grip on me. “I don’t want to let you go yet.”

“I’ll totally be fine,” I try to reassure him. “We’re just walking, like, the two feet to the car.”

He pulls back to look me in the eye. “I literally was holding your hand when I lost you in the bar.”

He has a point.

“Well, unless you plan on carrying me, I have to walk in order for us to get to the car,” I say in a joking tone, trying to lighten the mood.

He sinks his teeth into his bottom lip. Those pretty lips that have touched mine. “Can I carry you?”

I arch a brow. “You want to carry me?”

He nods, wisps of his hair falling into his eyes. “Yes.”

I glance at Hunter, wondering what he thinks about this.

He mouths, “Just let him.”

I really don’t mind. Though, I do think Jax will have to deal with this issue one day. I won’t force him to do that tonight, though.

I shrug. “You can carry me, if you want.”

A drop of tension evaporates from his body. Then he slides his hands to the backs of my thighs and lifts me up. I latch my legs around his waist and loop my arms around the back of his neck as he then proceeds to carry me to the car. He holds my gaze most of the time, only occasionally glancing around to see where he’s going. And, when we reach the car, he doesn’t immediately put me down until …

“It sure looks like you’re dating,” Benton remarks, and that’s when Jax finally sets me down. “Honestly, if I didn’t know any better, I’d guess the three of you were,” he adds as Hunter steps up beside me and places a hand on the small of my back.

Benton grins, and Hunter grins right back at him.

“So what if we are?” Hunter says with a roll of his eyes.