Page 8

8

HARPER

After a quick chat with Ollie, Harper left the dancefloor. His heart pounded. Fuck, his cock ached, frustratingly constrained by his tiny shorts.

He’d never felt anything like this.

Harper wasn’t totally inexperienced, but he’d had no idea attraction could feel like his world had been turned upside down, consumed by one hard, imposing man.

What a man.

How was it possible that such a hot guy had approached Harper, of all people, looking at him like he wanted to eat him.

Not literally. Ash wasn’t a vampire. Harper had checked for any signs of magic, and yes, he was masking himself, but magical beings rarely went to the lengths he did or had the ability to brew the suppression potion. He was confident Ash was human.

Harper pushed the club door open and stepped into the mild summer night. Ash stood a few feet away, occupied by his phone.

Harper approached. “Hey.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. When they’d been all over each other, it had felt natural. Talking was a lot harder .

“Harper.” Ash gave an almost predatory smile, but there was nothing menacing in his rich brown gaze. Yeah, he wanted to devour Harper. “I was just organizing a car. What’s your address?”

That was easy. Harper relayed it, shifting on his feet as Ash typed it into the phone.

Harper’s arousal calmed down, replaced by a strange, achy longing that tugged at the center of his chest. He didn’t want to fuck this up. He’d felt so good in Ash’s arms, almost calm, carefree, and like nothing could get to him. It didn’t make sense because they didn’t know each other, but Harper needed more of whatever that feeling was.

They waited for the car in silence. Harper wanted to wrap himself around the bigger man, but it’d be weird to do that out on the street, right?

The car arrived and they climbed in. Ash’s fingers tapped restlessly against his leg as they drove. Was he dying to get his hands back on Harper or getting bored? Should Harper have been doing something and not just sitting here? Was he not being sexy? How could you even be sexy sitting in a car? Fuck.

When they arrived, Harper jumped out and quickly led Ash into his building and up the many flights of stairs.

He pulled his key out of his pocket to unlock the door and Ash pressed against his back. Something inside Harper unwound. He leaned into Ash, warmth radiating from Ash deep into Harper’s soul.

“Get the door open, sweet. Then I’m going to ravage you,” Ash rumbled in his ear, sending chills up and down Harper’s spine.

Harper got the door open as fast as he could. Ash nudged him playfully inside. Harper’s world spun, and he found himself up against the wall.

Ash’s muscled body and hard cock pressed into him. Pleasurable chills gave way to goosebumps as Harper’s skin tingled. Fuck, it was like he’d been lit on fire or shocked by electricity or something.

He hadn’t fucked up after all.

Ash’s gaze seemed to smolder, the brown of his eyes almost golden orange as they locked on Harper’s lips. “Is kissing on the table?”

“Yeah.” Harper nodded frantically. He’d never been kissed. He’d given a few blowjobs, but he’d never had anyone’s lips on his, never had anyone reciprocate or touch him intimately. Being denied something as simple as a kiss—let alone anything more—had hurt, even if Harper pretended it hadn’t at the time. Now, a fire burned inside him. Please . He needed Ash to kiss him so badly it was embarrassing.

Ash captured Harper’s mouth with his, hot and wet, and Harper whimpered. Ash worked him open roughly, his lips commanding Harper’s, overpowering him. Harper gave in willingly. He sagged in Ash’s arms, letting Ash take him how he wanted.

A rich, smoky scent filled Harper’s nose. Ash must be wearing a cologne he hadn’t noticed in the club. It made Harper’s senses tingle and spark, and he wildly hoped the scent would rub off on him, mark him so he could keep a bit of Ash forever.

Ash pushed his tongue into Harper’s mouth and he swore he tasted spiced smoke, sweet like cinnamon. The kiss deepened, and Harper tangled his tongue with Ash’s, releasing a humiliating array of sounds. Ash swallowed them like he thrived off Harper’s moans, his strong hands coursing through Harper’s hair and running down his back.

Satan , he really was devouring Harper.

Ash’s hands found their way to Harper’s ass and squeezed, lifting him. Harper gasped and wrapped his legs around Ash. Fuck he was strong. Harper wasn’t exactly small at six feet tall, no matter how scrawny he was. Ash didn’t even seem to strain. He just gripped Harper’s ass and thrust against him, bringing their hard cocks together, frustratingly separated by their clothes.

Harper cried out, breaking the fiery kiss, and gasped for air. He was going to come if they kept doing this. He’d almost come in the club. His limited, one-sided experience hadn’t prepared him for what it was like to be touched this way. It was so much hotter than he’d imagined it would be.

“What me to fuck you against the wall?” Ash asked, his voice so deep and rumbly that it vibrated through Harper.

Harper whimpered, unable to speak.

Ash held him firm and waited, rubbing his nose over Harper’s cheek, not pushing for an answer or going ahead with anything.

He liked that Ash didn’t take silence for permission. It was a low bar, but it still warmed him, and in a much softer way than the heat of Ash’s lips had.

Harper’s mind cleared. He pushed away unwanted memories of the scraps of barely-there affection and lies given to him previously and focused on the strong arms around him. “Um. Maybe we could go into the living room?”

Ash hummed an agreeable sound and carried Harper down the hall. Harper clung to Ash’s broad shoulders, ducking under the doorway.

What did Harper want to happen next? He was intimidated by anal sex. Just the thought made him want to hide. Yes, he had fantasies about being fucked, but he wasn’t ready to go there tonight. He didn’t want to tell Ash, or any one-time hookup, that he’d never done it before. Having to talk about anything sounded terrible .

When they were lost in touching each other, everything was easy. It was so much better than having time to think.

In the living room, Harper assumed Ash would set him down on the couch, but instead, Ash sat, keeping Harper situated on his lap, his hands remaining on Harper’s ass, squeezing him.

Harper let out a small, breathy sound, rolling his hips, and let go of his uncertainty as he focused on how good everything felt.

Ash studied him, not saying anything or leaning in for another kiss. His mesmerizing dark eyes took Harper in, and Harper squirmed. How was it possible to be even more desperate now than before?

Ash’s full lips twitched.

Damnation, he was gorgeous, his build thick and defined. Harper’s hands itched to undo the buttons of his shirt and explore.

“What would you like tonight, sweet?” Ash asked.

Harper’s cheeks flamed at the endearment, his heart thudding like the pet name meant something more than Ash wanting to get into his pants. “Can I take this off?” Harper trailed a finger along Ash’s shirt buttons.

“Please. Can I take your shirt off too?”

Harper shivered. “Okay.”

Ash pulled Harper’s tank over his head and tossed it away. His large, callused hands spread over Harper’s stomach and worked their way up until his thumbs brushed Harper’s nipples.

Harper gasped, remembering he was supposed to be stripping Ash, and got to work exposing beautiful brown skin and dark curly chest hair.

Ash tweaked Harper’s nipples and Harper’s mind blanked. It was like the tender nubs were directly connected to his cock. He’d had no idea .

Ash rolled each nipple between a thumb and forefinger, watching Harper closely. Harper let out a strangled moan, unable to break Ash’s stare. Ash rumbled in approval and pinched.

Fuck. Harper was on the verge of coming again.

“What else do you want, hm?” Ash murmured, almost a purr, as he wound his hands around Harper’s body, planting them back on his ass like they belonged there.

Right. He had to answer, or it seemed Ash would keep asking.

He didn’t want Ash to fuck him, or he did—the idea made him want to sob with a mixture of arousal and longing—but not tonight. If this wasn’t a one-time thing, then maybe he’d feel comfortable enough going there for the first time.

Harper leaned in and whispered in Ash’s ear, “I want to suck your cock.”

Ash growled, like, full-on growled, sending a thrill through Harper. Who’d have thought he could make a man like Ash lose control?

“I’d love that,” Ash rumbled, releasing Harper’s ass from his possessive grip. “I’m negative, but I’ve got a condom if you’d prefer.”

Harper shifted in Ash’s lap. “I’m cool with no condom. I’m negative too.”

Witches were also less prone to human infections due to the magic in their blood. It wasn’t impossible for Harper to get an STI, but he had an advantage. Not that he could say any of that when Ash was human.

Ash brushed his thumb over Harper’s kiss-swollen bottom lip. “You want to taste me, flower?”

Harper’s breath caught. Flower? What the hell was that, and why did it make him melt? “Y-yeah, I want to taste you.”

Ash grinned wickedly. “Then I won’t make you wait. ”

No, there was no reason to wait.

Harper slid off Ash’s lap onto the floor. As he reached for Ash’s zipper, butterflies churned inside him. He pretended not to notice. There was no reason to be nervous. He knew what he was doing. Okay, maybe that was overselling it. At least giving blowjobs was the one thing he had experience with. It was why he’d wanted to suck Ash off in the first place.

Harper undid Ash’s jeans, and Ash pulled his cock free. Harper’s mouth watered. Ash’s dick was proportional to the rest of him. Fuck, Harper was going to choke on it. His stomach clenched in a whirlpool of feelings as the ache between his legs grew.

He wrapped his hand around Ash’s thick shaft and stroked him. Precum leaked from Ash’s slit, and Harper leaned forward, lapping it up. Was that too tentative? He hadn’t done this in a while and needed to work up to it.

He licked again. Ash was tangy and surprisingly sweet, his precum leaving a lingering hint of something smoky behind, almost like his cologne.

Harper’s eyes fluttered closed as he flattened his tongue over Ash’s cockhead. More. He needed more. Ash tasted so good.

Ash rumbled an approving sound, one of his hands resting in Harper’s hair, then stroking through it. Harper leaned into the light touch, cupping Ash’s heavy balls and wrapping his lips around his cock, groaning as Ash’s taste intensified. Harper sucked on Ash’s tip. Ash tightened his hand in Harper’s hair, his grip firm.

Harper tensed, every one of his muscles locking up.

What if Ash thrust forward, holding him in place so he couldn’t get away? No . Harper didn’t want that. His stomach clenched. Please, not again . He couldn’t. This was supposed to be something he chose, not… He had to get away .

“Sorry,” Ash murmured, quickly releasing his grip on Harper. “Do you not want me to touch you?”

Harper released Ash’s cock from his hand and mouth and glanced up. Shame flooded him from head to toe. His pulse raced. He blinked. Focused.

He wasn’t being assaulted. That was in his past. Nothing bad was happening. This was fine. Harper clung to the present. He was with Ash, the hot guy from the club, not the man he’d first fooled around with who’d refused to kiss him, not the other man who’d held him down against his will. This could still be something good and had nothing to do with what came before.

Ash patiently waited for Harper to answer his question.

“You can touch me,” Harper said, voice softer than he liked.

Fuck. He didn’t want to do this if Ash wouldn’t touch him. He liked Ash’s hands on him. He needed Ash’s touch. One sexual partner who had avoided touching him intimately was more than enough, especially now he knew what the other side felt like.

“I liked your hand running through my hair.”

Ash stroked Harper’s cheek. “I liked that too. Is there anything you don’t like?”

Harper leaned into the caress. “I don’t like being forced. I’d rather be in control.”

Something dark passed over Ash’s face. “Someone’s forced you?”

Harper’s mouth dropped open. What a fuck up. He hadn’t meant to reveal anything, but it was pretty obvious he was referring to an assault, wasn’t it?

“I’d never force you to do anything,” Ash continued, saving Harper from speaking. “I’ll ask you before doing anything. Okay, Harper?” He waited, gazing expectantly down at Harper, brow furrowed.

Harper nodded .

Ash smiled, this time much more sweetly, his lush lips quirking and eyes lightening, crinkling around the edges. “I like the idea of you being in control and doing what you want with me.”

Heat spread through Harper’s chest, and he was glad to move on. “Me too. I just want to make you feel good.”

Ash stroked his cheek again. “You will, sweet. You already have. But I want to make you feel good too.”

Harper’s heart burst, something weirdly tender passing between them, considering he was on his knees for a guy whose last name he didn’t even know.

He seized the good feeling and dove back in, wrapping his lips around Ash’s cock, taking more of him in this time, and coaxing him back to full hardness. Ash ran his hand through Harper’s hair, and Harper trusted him not to grab and hold him down. He believed Ash wouldn’t hurt him.

Harper worked his tongue, getting lost in the full feeling of taking Ash’s big cock. He touched and sucked and moaned, not caring what kind of slurping noises he made. He’d never enjoyed giving head like this. Ash’s taste, his rumbling satisfied noises, his gentle hand teasing Harper’s scalp.

Harper took Ash deeper, squeezing his aching erection through his shorts. Dammit, he was close to coming in his underwear.

“Fuck you feel good,” Ash groaned, the taste of precum flooding Harper’s mouth. “You’re so sexy between my legs, flower.”

Harper moaned, pleasure shooting through him, his orgasm threatening. He pushed forward, opening his throat the best he could and swallowing around Ash. His lips stretched obscenely, and he imagined he must look…sexy. Ash said he was sexy, and Harper believed it, even as he gagged and had to pull back, eyes watering and spit dripping from his lips .

He attempted to catch his breath, licking up and down Ash’s length.

“You’re spoiling me.” Ash gripped the base of his erection. “Do that one more time, and I’ll come down your pretty throat.”

Harper’s whole face heated. He looked up to find Ash staring at him as intensely as before. “You can come down my throat.”

Ash hummed. “I’d love to. Your mouth is perfect, but I’m dying to touch you. I miss having you in my lap.”

In his lap? Was Ash going to ask him to ride his cock? Harper was almost tempted until reality came crashing back into him.

“Will you let me play with you?” Ash brushed Harper’s spit-slick lips. “Or do you want to stay in control?”

The choice came as a relief. Harper didn’t have to call all the shots. He wanted to be touched rather than come in his shorts while giving a blowjob.

“You can play with me. Touch me.”

Ash pulled Harper up. His fingers slid up Harper’s thighs and under his shorts. “Let’s take these off, hm?”

“Please.” Harper undid the button and Ash tugged them down. They fell to his ankles.

Ash growled. “What’s this?”

Was he talking about the obvious wet spot of precum on Harper’s underwear? Harper stammered, “U-uh.”

Ash reached around and cupped Harper’s bare ass.

“Oh, you mean my thong?” The twist in Harper’s gut turned pleasurable. “I couldn’t exactly wear boxer briefs with those shorts.”

The black thong wasn’t anything fancy. Harper had splurged even without getting lace. It had been worth it, walking around wearing something he’d always wanted but hadn’t risked buying before his escape .

Ash let out a rumbling laugh. “No, you couldn’t wear briefs with those shorts.” He hauled Harper onto his lap, their cocks brushing with only the thin layer of fabric between them. “It’s hot. You’re so sexy, Harper. I want to make you come all over your pretty little underwear.”

“Okay,” Harper breathed, aching with arousal. He’d sell his soul if Ash asked right now. Being in his lap was that good.

Ash pulled Harper into a searing kiss. Their tongues tangled. Harper rubbed against Ash, shamelessly rolling his hips.

“Touch me,” Harper gasped. “I need you to touch me.”

Ash pushed the thong out of the way and grasped Harper’s dick, his palm rough against Harper’s smooth skin. Ash squeezed and stroked.

Harper cried out, leaking precum everywhere. “I need… I need your cock.”

“I’ve got you.” Ash pressed his cock against Harper’s and clasped them together. “Like this?”

“ Yes .” Harper thrust, their aligned cocks rubbing, slick with Harper’s spit and their combined precum.

He clutched Ash’s shoulders and rode him, fucking into Ash’s fist, letting out desperate little keening sounds. Ash growled and licked Harper’s exposed neck, cupping Harper’s ass like he owned it.

Licking turned to sucking as Ash’s lips moved up and down Harper’s neck. Teeth scraped Harper’s pulse point and his orgasm crashed through him. He shouted, digging his fingers into Ash’s shoulders, riding him through his pleasure.

Ash growled against Harper’s skin, grip tightening on their aligned cocks. “Fuck, Harper. Fuck.” Ash thrust and came, his release mixing with Harper’s all over Ash’s hand, their stomachs, and Harper’s underwear.

Fucking Hell, that was hot .

Ash panted, his breaths more ragged than before. He licked Harper’s neck, murmuring something under his breath.

Harper squirmed, his spent cock oversensitive. Ash released him, wrapping his hand solely around himself. Ash jerked his cock, giving himself a few brutal strokes before a second burst of cum erupted from him.

“Fuck,” Ash swore again, sounding even more wrecked.

“That was amazing,” Harper sighed, going boneless against him.

Ash buried his face in Harper’s neck and breathed in, still panting. Instead of being relaxed now that they’d both gotten off, Ash seemed even more keyed up.

“You good, Ash?”

“Yeah… Fuck.” Ash sounded strained. He shifted Harper off his lap and stood swiftly, only half turning back, his open shirt flapping. “Bathroom.” He readjusted his pants and walked down the hall.

Before Harper could tell him the bathroom was the other way, the front door opened and closed.

What the fuck?

Harper blinked at the empty room. He pushed his fake glasses up his nose. Had Ash seriously just left? Covered in cum and out of breath?

Harper’s overheated body cooled in a flash. He was a sticky mess, his underwear twisted around his balls and shorts hanging off one ankle. He still had his shoes and socks on.

He waited for Ash to come back, their combined cum drying slowly on his skin. Maybe Ash just needed a minute. Maybe he’d come back and explain.

Ash didn’t return.

Tears pricked the corners of Harper’s eyes, and he brushed them away roughly.

He shouldn’t care. This shouldn’t hurt. He’d had a hot hookup. It was what he’d wanted. So what if the guy had literally run away after. It didn’t matter that it had taken him years to get to a place where he was comfortable with this again, and this was how he was treated.

But it did matter, dammit. Who called a guy flower and didn’t even wait to clean up or fix his clothes before leaving?

Harper had been discarded, and it wasn’t the first time. It was fucking embarrassing. He got up, gathered his clothes, and went to shower.