A quiet noise in the back of his throat is fed into the kiss. His whole body still aches from Damian's attack, his shoulder a little stiff, but it doesn't matter. All that matters is reassuring Asher.

Reassuring himself.

"Anita wanted Jean-Claude to tell you when you woke up," he whispers. "I wouldn't let him. I had to tell you. It had to come from me. I needed to be here..."