Page 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I t’s easy to crawl into Ash’s temporary bed, to curl up against his side and seek out his warmth. He feels good, and as desperate as I am for another meal, I’m also just eager to feel him again.

It feels right to be close to him. To accept what he so easily offers.

“Well hello, little witch.” Ash eagerly pulls me against his body. I soak up his heat as I rest my cheek against his chest, enjoying the scent of him as much as his warmth. “Do you need something from me?” His tone is playful, but he grips my ass in his hand, making it clear he knows exactly what I’m here for.

I shiver, wanting to feel all of him. Thankfully, I don’t have to ask him. Ash can read my body easily enough.

When he grabs my hips and moves me until I’m straddling him, I sigh with relief. It feels so damn good to have his hands on my body.

“I don’t understand why I feel so drawn to you,” I admit, looking up at him. There’s a sleepy smirk on his lips, and it takes all of my restraint not to press my own to them.

Ash nods, pressing a kiss to my forehead. He’s so gentle with me, so affectionate and comforting as he whispers into my hair, “Your instincts might be telling you I’m safe, that I can care for you. That I’m what you need.” One hand then slides into the back of my hair, and he slowly pulls me in to press a kiss to my lips this time, making me hum with contentment.

It’s easier to draw vitav from him now that I sort of know what I’m doing. Though it also helps that he can give it to me with an ease the others can’t replicate due to what he is. It feels different than it does with the other guys. No less satisfying on either of their parts, just easier, I suppose. I moan as I caress his skin, enjoying the feel of him beneath my fingertips. I break the kiss and look into his dazzling amber-gold eyes.

“You are so incredibly beautiful, Eden.”

“Stop,” I insist, shushing him as I blush furiously, having to look away from the intensity in his gaze.

“Absolutely never, little witch.” Ash pulls me back in for another kiss, and my need for him doubles.

Does it make me a bad person that I kind of wish Daion and Torrin were here too?

Thoughts of a third, scowling demon hunter standing over in the corner appear in my mind unbidden. He’s there watching me. Judging me, but turned on nonetheless. Until he can no longer—I shiver as I abruptly cut off the thought, hoping Ash has no clue what just went through my head. Fucking hell, my libido has clearly lost its damn mind, as I’m absolutely not going there. Never going to happen.

I have to focus in order to completely send the mental image away, putting all of my attention back on the beautiful man underneath me. I concentrate on how my body feels static with the energy passing between us as I trail kisses along his jaw and down to his neck.

“Take these off,” he murmurs, tugging at the waistband of my pyjama shorts. I move off from his lap so I can follow his instruction, also removing my sleep shirt and watching with interest as he slides his boxers off with a smirk. “Lay back, Eden.”

Once I’m resting on his pillow, he kneels between my spread thighs, resting his hands on either side of my head, smiling down at me.

“You’re stunning,” Ash compliments me again, despite my earlier protest. He brushes a strand of my hair away from my face and leans in to kiss me while I reach down between us, gripping his shaft firmly and stroking him.

“Fuck me,” I whisper the plea against his lips, moaning as he presses his tip to my centre. As he pushes inside me, I release his cock and wrap my arms around his back.

Does he feel better than I remember? Fuck…it’s so good.

“Harder,” I beg, and Ash leans back, gripping my legs in both hands so he can keep me in place as he complies.

Every thrust takes me closer to the edge. I arch my back, moaning for Ash. He releases one of my legs and presses his thumb to my clit, rubbing in precise movements. The added stimulation tips me over, and I come hard around his cock, my entire body trembling as Ash finishes inside me, filling me with vitav at the same time.

As he pulls out and lies beside me in the bed, I accept the comfort he offers, snuggling up against him again.

“Now that I’m here, you won’t need to have sex with the others just to survive anymore,” he murmurs after a few moments of basking in the feeling of each other, pressing another kiss to the top of my head.

I’m so caught off guard that I don’t respond. Did he just imply that I only had sex with Dai and Torrin to survive? Like there was no desire at all involved? No, it wasn’t implied; it’s exactly what he said. While it may have been the initial motivator behind the offer and choice, it’s not as if I didn’t want them or that I don’t still want them. They weren’t merely convenient tools for me, even if it was meant to be a mutually beneficial arrangement between people, between friends, who found each other attractive.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to give you what you need sooner, but I am here now, so there's no need to force yourself through that experience again,” he continues, unaware of the growing irritation his words are causing.

I sit up, propping myself on my elbow to look at the demon with narrowed eyes as I say, “Force myself?”

“Well, it’s obvious that you’re not with them…”

“So that means I forced myself to suffer through the sex? Is that what you think? You didn’t think it could possibly be because I’ve grown to care for them and genuinely like them?” I sit up further, taking the sheet with me so I can wrap it around my naked body. If there’s one thing men cannot do, it’s have a conversation while tits are visible. “Or that, at the very least, I was attracted to them and enjoyed the pleasure of fucking them?”

“Oh, I see.” Ash frowns, glancing away for a long moment before eventually turning back to meet my eyes again with a strange expression in them. “I’ve made a mistake. I won’t question your choices again, Eden. I apologise for assuming. Would you let me start over?” he asks, reaching over to take one of my hands in his while I continue to scowl at him. “If you need me, I will be here. For you, for when you need to refill your depleted vitav. Also for your protection and our child’s as well. However you’ll have me, I’m here.”

He looks slightly dejected, but he still manages to smile as he waits for my response.

“I accept your apology,” I say softly after a moment. My stomach suddenly growls then, and I wince. That's only mildly embarrassing, I suppose. “Maybe we should head down for breakfast now.”

“Good idea. I’ll meet you down there?”

Breakfast starts out very awkwardly.

Ash doesn’t seem terribly comfortable around the demon hunters, but once some of the tension lightens and the guys get into their usual banter, he seems to slowly relax. Rio is still as uptight as ever, though, keeping plenty of distance between himself and me. Or maybe it’s Ash he’s distancing himself from?

Ash still stays close to my side, and I’m not sure if it’s because he’s worried these men will suddenly turn against me or if he simply enjoys being close to me. It’s clear he’s still holding some hesitation about the trio, even if he did claim to not be worried about them the other day.

He places his hand on my stomach so often, I’ve stopped noticing it half the time until I move or shift, and his hand goes with me. I swear he touches my belly more than I ever have. It’s actually really sweet. Now that I’ve had a little time to process finally seeing him again, his enthusiasm about the pregnancy is less alarming. Especially as it’s stuck around, making it seem more genuine. I feel a lot better knowing he truly cares about the baby’s wellbeing and that I’m not the only person invested in keeping them alive and safe.

Once he’s done eating, Ash gets to his feet and presses a kiss to my cheek, making my cheeks burn bright red as all three hunters clock the action. I look away from them. It’s not my fault he gives his affection so easily.

“I have to meet a friend, but I’ll return later. Keep her safe while I’m gone,” Ash all but orders, placing his hand on my shoulder as he slowly looks between Torrin and Daion, before turning to nod at Rio and add, “Preferably you can watch her.”

I frown. Rio? Why would Ash prefer the most prickly bastard, the resident biggest demon hater, to look after me while he’s gone?

“Obviously,” Rio snarks back, and I very nearly raise my hand to gesture at him like, ‘See, this is what I’m talking about!’

“You want Rio to keep his eye on Eden?” Torrin asks with a smirk that suggests he knows exactly why. So what am I missing?

“It's because I haven’t fucked her,” Rio fills him in with a scoff and a shake of his head, as if the idea is completely absurd.

“Yes, precisely,” Ash agrees without any hesitation. No shame or denial at all. “This has made him my favourite despite his dislike of my kind.”

Ash then leaves, like he didn’t just say something utterly insane.

“He can’t be serious?” I ask after a moment, but Daion and Torrin both shrug their shoulders, and then help themselves to more food. I sigh, resting my head on my hands.

Men.