Page 7

7

ASH

Ash scowled down at the club. Of course this was what Onyx wanted in exchange for cooperating.

Dante elbowed him. “It’s not so bad.”

“It’s a waste of time.” Ash turned his back on the room below and scanned the VIP area. Onyx sat between two bulky, bare-chested humans who had their hands all over him. “He doesn’t even care that we’re here.”

“So what? Tomorrow, we’ll sit down and figure out what our next move is.” Dante passed Ash a small vial Onyx had given him. “You could use some fun. When was the last time you left your cabin?”

“Hunting lodge,” Ash corrected, passing the vial back.

Demons couldn’t get intoxicated the way humans could. The vial held a strong potion that would do the trick, but Ash wasn’t interested. They might have decided to wait until tomorrow to make their plan, but they were still being hunted. Lucifer wasn’t going to wait for them to have a night out if he happened to find them at the club.

Dante unstopped the vial and took a sip. “So, when was the last time you left your hunting lodge and found someone to keep you company?”

Too long to admit. Not as long as Dante, who’d decided to wait for his mate a century ago. But the last thing Ash wanted to talk about was mates. He grunted.

Dante stared, expression flat. “Not even a single word in response? Wow. Sounds like some stress relief would do you good.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“Maybe,” Ash admitted, turning back toward the club. There was no denying the tension he’d been carrying around.

A whiff of floral mountain air caught his attention. How odd. It was exactly the same as the scent from the plaza and so subtle he shouldn’t have noticed it in a club, even with his demon sense. There was no mistaking it for a nearby florist this time. Did the scent belong to a person?

Now, that was intriguing. “You know what? You’re right, Dante. I’m going to go dance.”

Dante’s eyes widened, obviously having expected Ash to stick to brooding. “Great. I’ll keep an eye on Onyx.”

Ash huffed. “Good luck with that.”

He descended the stairs and circled the club, catching a whiff of the floral scent here and there. Damn, what direction was it coming from?

Ash brought his baser instincts forward. When he caught the scent again, he let his body take the lead, his brain in the back seat. His spine tingled. Fuck, he wanted a taste. The scent wasn’t enough.

He prowled the club, scanning the men around him. Who the hell smelled like flowers and home?

“Hey, Daddy,” a slim brunet called.

Ash gave him an up-nod. He wasn’t the source of the smell.

“You looking for someone?” the man asked, lashes fluttering.

“Yes, sorry. Have a good night.” Ash moved on.

He’d gotten rid of his shearwater shirt, but the button-down he’d borrowed from Dante was too tight, making it seem like he was about to burst from the fabric. Clearly, men found his look appealing.

A mix of cologne and body odor overwhelmed his senses, completely obscuring the subtle scent he craved. Damn. Would he find it again? Ash stood still, demon sense tingling, searching.

Nothing. What if the scent—the man—left? His pulse thudded. Ash needed release. He was too worked up to ignore his desire. He circled the club again but couldn’t catch any hint of flowers. Maybe he should forget about it and return to the man who’d approached him.

A laugh rang out over a brief lull in the music, calling to him like a siren song. Ash pushed toward the main bar in time to see a tall, slim man and his two shorter friends slip into the crowd on the opposite side of the room.

He followed on instinct, easily keeping track of the taller man’s dark hair as it bobbed above the people around him.

Ash liked a tall lover, someone who wasn’t completely dwarfed by his own excessive height.

He caught a whiff of mountain air. Could it be the man’s scent?

The tall man and his friends stopped once they reached the dancefloor. Another waft of flowers and fresh air hit Ash. He knew in his gut it came from the man. His demon sense practically screamed it at him.

He’d found him.

Ash hadn’t ever met someone with such strong pheromones, let alone a human, and a brief inspection revealed the man had no magic. Fascinating. Ash held back and took in his quarry, humming appreciatively at all the pale skin on display. If the man’s shorts were any shorter, his round ass cheeks would be showing .

Ash’s gaze roved lazily up the man’s body, something catching in his chest as he got a better look at his face, with high cheekbones and a soft pink smile. That grin couldn’t have been prompted by anything short of genuine happiness. Ash’s whole body warmed. He liked the look of joy more than he should have.

The man adjusted his glasses and began dancing stiffly. He seemed to be enjoying himself if his unwavering smile was any indication. As Ash watched, the man relaxed, flowing more easily with the music.

He was lovely. The urge to get closer tugged at Ash’s chest.

One of the man’s friends—the blond—pulled him close, and they danced together.

A growl rumbled in the back of Ash’s throat. He wanted his hands on those narrow hips, those long legs wrapped around him as he licked the arch of that sweet neck and plundered those pretty lips.

He moved closer. Would the young man’s skin taste like fresh mountain air? Ash bet his cum was sweeter than any other. His mouth watered, spine and hidden tail tingling. Damn, when was the last time he’d been this lost to his instincts?

Visions flickered across his mind. Hands on soft skin, their mouths tangled together, his wings beating, tail thrashing, as Ash thrust into tight heat, that round ass bouncing. He’d claim this man. Satisfy him until he couldn’t think, fill him and make him his.

Yes. Mine .

Ash stopped, taking a ragged breath.

Where had that come from? Claim him? What in damnation was wrong with him? He wasn’t sentimental about fucking. Ash wanted to have sex, to get off with this gorgeous man, not keep him.

It had been too long since he’d gotten laid. Fuck, he was going soft. Like Dante.

Someone pushed past Ash. Bodies pressed around him, but he hadn’t noticed until now. He watched the three men dance, the crowd pulsing around them. Should he approach the man with the floral scent? His gut said yes, demon sense purring with need, but he needed to engage his brain.

There didn’t seem to be much sexual chemistry between the man and his blond friend. Hopefully, he’d be looking for someone to go home with, and that someone would be Ash. If he was rejected, Ash might never leave his hunting lodge again.

The brown-haired friend turned away from the other two to dance with someone else, and as if on cue, two more men approached, separating Ash’s man from the blond.

Time to make his move.

Ash pushed closer. His tall, beautiful man danced less enthusiastically with his new partner as if he was unsure of the change or uninterested. Ash frowned at his discomfort. His blond friend must have noticed too because he broke away from his dance partner to check on him before pulling him away. The two joined the guy the blond had started dancing with, and the abandoned man turned away, seemingly unbothered.

Ash let them settle into the new configuration. The blond was sandwiched between the new man and Ash’s breath of fresh mountain air, who seemed to relax again, cradling his friend’s hips as they all writhed with the music.

Would he welcome Ash’s advance? Maybe this man wasn’t interested in dancing with people he didn’t know.

Disappointment mixed with something like sadness in Ash’s chest. Why did he care? The club was full of attractive men.

He should walk away. He’d let his instincts rule him too much. They were affecting his reactions and emotions .

Ash didn’t need emotions coming into play when he had sex.

But he didn’t leave. After a few minutes, Ash moved closer, letting the beat flow through his body as he danced beside the trio, and fuck, it felt right. He had to be here. Everywhere else, with anyone else, was wrong.

The man’s scent enveloped him. Fresh florals and crisp, cold air.

He turned and caught Ash’s eye. His stare lingered, trailing over Ash, and his cheeks darkened.

Ash’s chest swelled and he shifted closer. “May I join you?”

The man’s lashes fluttered, his glasses slipping. He barely had to look up to meet Ash’s gaze, and fuck, if that wasn’t hot. He nodded. “Sure.” His voice rang out softly, inaudible over the music if not for Ash’s enhanced hearing.

Ash stepped closer, positioning himself behind the man. He leaned in to speak in his ear. “How’s this?”

In answer, the man pressed back, his round ass so perfectly cupped by his short-shorts pressing against Ash’s groin. Ash rumbled a low, satisfied sound and placed his hands on the man’s hips, moving with him as he danced with his friend.

Ash’s nose lingered behind the man’s ear, the fresh scent of bluebells washing over him. So that was the flower he couldn’t quite pick out before. The rich scent went straight to his head. He gripped the man’s waist tighter as arousal tingled within him.

My flower .

With a jolt, Ash pulled his face from the man’s hair. It was a good thing he hadn’t had that potion. He was acting drunk enough as it was. Dante was right. It had been too long. That was the only explanation for his strange sentimental mood and giving pet names to strangers.

He pushed visions of fucking his flower in a sunlit field aside and concentrated on the noise of the club and the press of the ass rubbing against his dick. Fuck, Ash could do this all night. He loved the teasing feeling, slowly coaxing him to hardness.

The man in Ash’s arms faltered in his rhythmic writhing and spun around away from his friend. He pressed his hands against Ash’s chest, gripping Ash’s shirt, his wide eyes framed by long dark lashes. His glasses slipped down his nose, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Was this in response to feeling Ash’s hardening cock? Ash hauled him closer, positioning his dance partner’s legs on either side of his thick thighs. The man’s erection pressed into Ash’s hip.

Ash smiled, and for a second, he had the urge to let his fangs drop.

No. Seriously, what the fuck? Even if the man had been a fellow magical being, Ash wouldn’t reveal himself. Not in a club and not in private. What was he thinking? Just enjoy the night. Enjoy him and move on. Then, tomorrow, you’ll have a nice memory to get you through dealing with Luc.

Ash cupped his partner’s ass with one large hand and moved to the music.

The man gasped and shimmied against Ash, his dark eyes locked on Ash’s face as he wound slender fingers around the back of Ash’s neck.

The scent of bluebells swirled around Ash, strangling his senses.

His partner’s cheeks flamed and his mouth parted as he moved, pressing closer to Ash. Ash brought his other hand to that perfect ass and squeezed. His partner moaned, fingers flexing on the back of Ash’s neck.

“What’s your name?” Ash purred in his ear.

He shivered. “Harper. ”

The name fit, sweet like his scent but with a sharpness to match his gorgeous face. Perfect. Lovely.

“I’m Ash,” he said, pulling back and locking eyes with Harper.

He didn’t seem to know what to say to that. In fact, Harper looked dazed.

Ash’s cock hardened further, straining against his jeans. Harper pressed impossibly closer and Ash guided him, rolling his hips to the beat.

Harper’s eyes fluttered closed and his head tilted back, exposing his neck. Mm. What if Ash sunk his fangs into that sweet flesh? Just a taste. Harper’s fresh scent intensified, and Ash’s mouth watered. Shit. Maybe he should have fed when Onyx offered yesterday.

Harper stiffened in Ash’s arms and pushed back, putting space between them. Ash let him go, his chest tightening at the loss. Had he made Harper uncomfortable, given away his beastly thoughts in his expression?

Harper averted his eyes. “Maybe we should go somewhere…?” He blinked, gaze darting around.

So he wasn’t uncomfortable. Ash grinned.

Getting out of here was a great idea. But why had Harper moved away so suddenly if nothing was wrong? His scent faded, which was interesting. It was almost like his arousal had peaked. Like Harper had been close to coming before he’d pulled back, just rubbing against Ash fully clothed.

Ash swallowed a growl before it could pass his lips. “Where would you like to go?”

Harper bit his lip. “My place?”

“Perfect.” Ash pulled him close again, burying his nose behind Harper’s ear. He couldn’t help it. “Tell your friends where you’re going, and I’ll meet you outside.” He released Harper and walked away .

Look at him, practicing restraint.

He itched to throw Harper over his shoulder and carry him out of the club, but that wasn’t appropriate. Harper needed space and the opportunity to change his mind. Ash never wanted to pressure anyone, but sometimes, his intimidating stature did, regardless of his intent.

So he left, hoping Harper would follow.