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HARPER
Ash froze. “What?”
“You had fangs.” Harper pointed at Ash, his hand shaking. He’d seen it. He was sure. A brief flash, looking up at Ash with long, sharp canines.
Harper latched on to the absurd memory even though Ash couldn’t be a vampire. Harper had never sensed any magic in him. But it was better than thinking about what happened before Ash turned up out of nowhere.
Where did Finch and the other man go?
“Are you working with them?” Harper’s voice shook, his head throbbed, and nausea clawed at his insides.
What happened? Where had Ash come from?
“No, Harper. I’m not working with them.” Ash stepped closer to the bed, reaching out a hand. “You’re okay.”
A sob tore from Harper’s throat. He wasn’t okay. Was Finch coming back? What was he planning to do?
“Harper,” Ash said, softer this time. He sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on Harper’s back.
Harper stiffened at the touch, and Ash immediately withdrew. Tears slid down Harper’s cheeks. He wasn’t safe anymore and didn’t know what to do.
“Do you remember what happened?” Ash asked.
Harper tried to focus on Ash through his tears. Could he trust him?
“You were attacked,” Ash went on when Harper didn’t speak. “I was nearby and saw someone grab you.”
“You were nearby?” Harper choked back his sobs in order to get the words out. “I—I didn’t see you.”
“No, but I was there. Right place at the right time. I’m not working with them.”
“I don’t believe you,” Harper whispered. It was all too convenient.
Ash looked pained by Harper’s distrust. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Let me explain. First, you’re right, Harper, you saw my fangs. I’m not human.” Ash bared his teeth and let his fangs descend before retracting them. “I saw what happened, stopped those witches from attacking you, and brought you home. That’s all there is to it.”
Was that really how it had gone? Harper almost asked why he couldn’t sense Ash’s magic but stopped himself just in time. He didn’t want to give away that he was a witch. His disguise should still be intact. A vampire wouldn’t be able to see past the suppressing potion, so Ash would only know Harper was a witch if he was working with his coven.
“The witches attacking me just let you take me away?” Harper doubted it was that simple. Finch could have easily taken on a vampire with backup. Ash was huge and no doubt inhumanly strong, but witches had a wider range of magical abilities than vampires, and his father’s advisers were formidable.
“No, they didn’t let me take you away.” Ash grimaced. “I killed them. ”
Harper’s shaking hands stilled and all the air whooshed out of his lungs. It was the last thing he’d expected Ash to say. “R-really?”
“Yes.” Ash held Harper’s gaze, not faltering or sounding sorry about his actions. “They hurt you,” he growled as if that were explanation enough for taking a life or two.
Harper’s mouth fell open, but he shut it quickly.
Ash didn’t break eye contact. There was something comforting in his hard stare that Harper didn’t understand.
Satandamn him, Ash had killed two men, and Harper felt nothing but relief.
Harper had been so certain that the worst thing in his horrible life was about to happen, and Ash had come in out of nowhere and saved him. That sort of thing didn’t happen in real life, but Harper believed Ash was telling the truth. He’d always felt safe with Ash. Inexplicably, sure, but now Ash had killed to protect him, and the feeling didn’t seem so misplaced.
“You’re safe, Harper. They aren’t coming after you again,” Ash said, tone firm but gentle. It was exactly what Harper wanted to hear.
Tears flooded Harper’s eyes and he buried his head in his hands. It was too much. Someone’s death shouldn’t make him feel better. He shouldn’t trust Ash or believe him, but he did.
“I’m sorry, Harper. Are you…? Did I do the wrong thing?”
Harper couldn’t look at Ash, no matter how concerned he sounded. He shook his head. “No. They were bad people. They hurt…” He shook his head again. He wasn’t getting into that now. “It’s good they’re gone. I can’t believe you’re a vampire and you killed them. Why would you do something like that when you don’t even care about me?”
Maybe he should feel bad about his lack of remorse, but the world was better off, and Harper was glad he’d never have to be afraid of Finch again.
“I do care about you, Harper,” Ash said so delicately that Harper looked up.
He frowned. “No, you don’t. You literally ran away from me. You left me humiliated.”
Ash’s brow furrowed and his mouth pinched. It looked almost painful, like he was vastly more regretful for upsetting Harper than killing his attackers. “I can explain.”
“Can you?” Harper sat up straighter, pushing the last of his tears away. “Then why didn’t you explain in the coffee shop when I asked you to?”
“I wasn’t…” Ash faltered, then pushed on. “I wasn’t ready to reveal myself. I, um, didn’t realize you know about magic. But you obviously do since witches attacked you…”
“What does magic have to do with it?”
Ash looked down at his hands, then like he’d decided something, he fixed his full attention on Harper. “That night after the club, I was overcome with the urge to bite you. Sharing orgasms with you in my arms overwhelmed me, and I almost… I couldn’t control it. I ran before you saw what I was.”
Harper opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
That actually made a lot of sense.
Now that Harper reconsidered, Ash had been fixated on his neck as they’d come, and he’d noticed Ash getting more and more keyed up. Ash must be a relatively new vampire if he didn’t have control over his urges.
“So you didn’t want to leave?” Harper was unable to quell the hopeful note in his voice.
“No.” Ash reached for Harper’s hand, and he let Ash take it. “I regret running away like that, but I had to make sure I didn’t bite you, and by the time I calmed down, there was no way to explain without revealing myself… You’re human, but you saw my fangs, so there’s no reason to pretend anymore. I don’t want to pretend anymore. ”
He didn’t want to pretend anymore? What did he want?
Harper understood why a vampire wouldn’t reveal himself just to clear up a one-night stand. Had something changed since then or was it really just that Harper had seen Ash’s fangs?
Harper’s gaze fell to their joined hands. “You wanted my blood that night.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. “Was that the only reason you ran? It wasn’t because you were done with me and didn’t care?”
“No.” Ash squeezed Harper’s hand. “I care, and I’m so sorry I hurt you. I hate that I hurt you. I couldn’t risk giving myself away, but now I wish I had.”
Ash cared.
Harper’s heart rate picked up. “Do you want to bite me now?” He ached to lean closer and feel Ash against him, but the idea of anyone coveting his blood made him sick. He’d been tortured for his blood all his life. He couldn’t stand it if that was all Ash wanted from him.
“I don’t want to bite you, Harper,” Ash assured him. “I was so attracted to you that I lost control that night, but it won’t happen again. I’m under control. Your blood isn’t why I’m here.”
“Okay.” Harper gave in and leaned against Ash, satisfied he wasn’t in danger of being bitten. Ash draped an arm around Harper, giving him the secure feeling his touch always seemed to bring. “Thank you,” Harper whispered. “For explaining and for helping me today.”
Ash hauled him closer, nuzzling the top of Harper’s head. “I only wish I’d explained myself sooner.”
Harper did too, but he understood why Ash hadn’t.
He snuggled into Ash’s warm body, inhaling his spiced cologne. It shouldn’t feel this good to be in his arms, but knowing what actually happened between them gave Harper hope .
Their hookup wasn’t just another bad memory, tainted and confusing. Ash hadn’t discarded him, and he wanted to bask in that and feel good, especially when he’d been doomed such a short time ago.
Ash wasn’t working with his coven. Ash had saved him and couldn’t have an ulterior motive if he was ignorant of Harper’s connection to the magic world.
Maybe it was na?ve to take Ash at his word, but Harper wasn’t trusting Ash with everything. He wasn’t admitting he had power in his blood, which might be what Ash craved. Ash thought he was human and that made Harper feel safer than anything.
Though Ash’s touch helped too.
Harper slipped an arm around Ash, the scent of spiced smoke filling his nostrils. It was as if Harper had been aching for this hug his whole life. Ash was solid against him, and Harper didn’t want to let go.
Ash laid them on the bed, keeping Harper tucked into his side. “You should rest. They drugged you with a sedative potion. It might not be completely out of your system.”
Harper remembered being smothered by a chemical smell. The toxin was likely out of his system since he was a witch and the magic in his blood healed him faster than a human. Not as fast as a vampire, who wouldn’t have been knocked out by a potion-soaked rag, but even Harper’s headache was fading.
He settled into Ash anyway, soaking up his warmth. Harper could almost believe there was nothing complicated about the two of them together. He wanted this, at least for a little while.
Harper gasped and choked. A horrible chemical smell surrounded him as Finch’s face loomed over him. He thrashed as his world closed in.
Strong arms wrapped around him. “Harper, you’re okay.”
He yelped and opened his eyes. Hadn’t they been open before? They mustn’t have been. He was in bed. In his room. Ash was holding him.
It was just a dream.
Harper was sticky with sweat. He forced his tense muscles to relax, but the chest-tightening fear from his dream wouldn’t go away. He hadn’t felt like this in so long. He’d moved past what had happened with Finch. He didn’t want it to fuck him up all over again. It wasn’t fair.
Ash loosened his hold on Harper. “Can I get you anything?” His words came in warm puffs, hitting Harper’s ear.
“Water,” Harper croaked, throat scratchy. As comforting as Ash was, Harper was relieved when he got up and left the room.
How had he fallen asleep? Was he really that relaxed with Ash, or was he emotionally exhausted? He couldn’t have been out long, but he needed to get Ash out before Ollie came home.
Ash reappeared with a glass of water and handed it to Harper. He leaned against the wall rather than returning to the bed. At least Harper didn’t have to spell out his need for space.
“Why were those witches after you?” Ash asked.
Harper took a sip of water. What kind of lie would work here? He wasn’t telling Ash the truth.
Ash’s brow furrowed. “I don’t mean to pry. I’m only trying to help you, Harper. If you’re in trouble, I can protect you.”
Damn, the offer was tempting. Harper wished he could turn to Ash, but that would be beyond reckless.
“I don’t really know you,” Harper reminded him.
Ash frowned like he’d forgotten that mattered. “You can get to know me. I’d like to get to know you.” He flashed a small way-too- handsome smile.
Yes. Harper wanted to say yes. He could hook up with Ash again, date him, and see where they went. But Ash wasn’t human, and that made everything so complicated.
No one in the magic community could know who Harper really was. Ash saving him didn’t make him an exception to that rule, and Harper still couldn’t detect any magic in Ash, which was suspicious. He had to be wary of his feelings and not get caught up in attraction.
He had to be careful.
Ash must be suppressing his magic like Harper, but why? There was no way to ask without giving himself away.
Harper set his empty glass aside. He couldn’t trust Ash, but that didn’t mean he had to push him away completely. The safe feeling Ash gave him had to mean something, and Harper didn’t want to ignore it. He just had to be smart and not let it override his better judgment.
He fiddled with the bedspread. “We can get to know each other.”
Maybe Ash would explain what was happening with his magic without Harper needing to ask. Maybe Harper was being paranoid and Ash wasn’t hiding anything big.
“Perfect, I’m glad you agree.” That handsome smile was back, melting Harper’s heart.
Damnation. Why couldn’t he throw caution to the wind, tell Ash all his secrets, and let Ash take some of the weight off his shoulders? The thought of Ash caring for him, protecting him, created a hollowness in his chest. He ached for it.
But longing for a man he didn’t know was silly. None of these feelings should be this strong. Maybe he was just tired of facing everything alone.
Ash’s smile disappeared into a serious line. “Even if you don’t want to explain what happened with the witches today, will you tell me if you’re safe now that they’re gone?”
Harper chewed his lip. How much could he say without putting himself at risk?