Page 16 of Habibi: Always and Forever

DATE NIGHT

HARPER

“W hat are you doing?” Ollie asked.

Harper whipped around. He hadn’t heard Ollie come in. “Cooking?”

“Are you sure?” Ollie unsuccessfully bit back a smile.

“Yeah, but…” Harper surveyed the mess around him, his doubt growing. “I swear it started off fine.”

There as mess everywhere. Bowls half full of things. Dirty measuring cups scattered around. A pan on every burner of the stove.

Shit! One was still on. Harper quickly switched it off.

Ollie leaned up against the doorway. “So what are you making?”

“A special meal for Ash.” That was the goal anyway. Ash was coming over in an hour for a night in of food and boardgames. “He always cooks for me and it’s so sweet. I wanted to do it for him.”

Ollie’s gaze lingered on the pile of dishes in the sink. “You should have made pasta.”

“But I always make pasta.”

“I know. You’re good at it.”

Harper glared.

Ollie laughed. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. Whatever you made, since you still haven’t told me.”

Harper ran a hand through his hair. “There’s chocolate mousse in the fridge. White wine brazed chicken, artichoke, and orzo in the oven. This is a salad.” He pointed to the veggies covering two cutting boards. “And there’s a cheese sauce on the stove.”

“Wow. That’s impressive. It sound like you nailed it.”

“I hope so. It’s too bad we don’t have a dishwasher. I thought I’d have more time, but the mousse didn’t go so well.” It had taken twice as long as he’d thought it would after he’d ruined the first batch of chocolate.

Ollie patted his shoulder. “I’m sure the mousse is great. Here, I’ll help you clean up.”

Harper sagged in relief. “Thank you so much. I owe you. I still need to get ready.”

He quickly scooped the salad ingredients into the last remaining clean bowl, and washed dishes while Ollie dried. Half-way through, a timer went off.

Harper checked the chicken. “It’s cooked.”

“Nice one! You won’t poison your date.”

Luckily, as an immortal, Ash couldn’t get food poisoning. Harper couldn’t either come to think of it—since they were bonded—but that was no reason to eat uncooked chicken.

Harper closed the oven. “Do you want to join us? There’s plenty of food.”

“On your date?” Ollie shook his head. “No, I’m going out with Dex. If you’re good here, I’ll head out.”

Harper said goodbye and double checked that the oven was on low to keep the meal warm, then tossed the salad with dressing. That seemed like everything. Yay .

He hurried to his room and stripped. All his clothes smelled like cooking and that wouldn’t do. He grabbed a special pair of underwear and pulled on a fitted shirt with puffy, feminine sleeves. Damnation, that felt better. He slid into a fresh pair of jeans and ran his fingers through his hair.

In front of the mirror, Harper added shimmer to his eyes and a dash of liner. Gute. His makeup game was definitely improving.

A bubble of happiness warmed his chest.

Until recently, Harper had never spent much time admiring his reflection.

Why would he when he hadn’t felt like himself?

Being able to match his outfit to his mood was everything.

Makeup and the right clothes brought who he was to the surface.

He could be more masc when it suited, and more feminine when that felt better.

It could be as simple as one little accessory, but that didn’t make it insignificant.

Harper was grateful his old one was firmly in the past.

A knock at the front door brought him back to the present, and he hurried down the hall.

Harper swung the door open. “Welcome to date night.”

Ash wrapped his arms around Harper and hugged him as if they’d been parted for years. He always did that, and Harper loved it.

“Cute outfit.” Ash spun Harper around. “Is this a new top?”

“It is.” Harper smoothed the fabric. “I found it on the way home from work yesterday at that shop by the river.”

Ash traced the puffy sleeves. “It suits you.”

Harper glowed, his insides churning with tingly knots. “Thanks. You happen to be wearing my favorite outfit of yours. Love the shirt in particular.”

Ash snorted. He was shirtless, his horns and tail out, and wings away due to the tight space. “I’m lucky you like my style.”

“So lucky.” Harper ran his hands over Ash’s chest.

He captured them and kissed Harper’s knuckles. “What have you got in store for us tonight, flower?”

Harper’s face heated. Damn, it was like they’d only just met rather than been together for months. “I made dinner and snacks.”

Ash’s eyes glowed orange. “What are we having?”

Harper led him down the hall and into the kitchen. “Chicken with artichoke and orzo for dinner. It’s in the oven.”

Ash rumbled in appreciation. “Wow. Smells great. I love artichoke.”

“I know.”

Ash peered into the pot on the stove. “What’s the cheese sauce for?”

“Oh, damn!” Harper had forgotten something after all. “I need to make little toasts. There are carrots for dipping, too, but I haven’t chopped them.”

Ash grabbed a knife from the block. “I’ll help.”

He took the carrots while Harper sliced a baguette. “Shit, I can’t toast these in the over with the food already in there.” The toaster was no good either. He’d cut the pieces too small.

“I have an idea.” Ash’s eyes flashed again. “Plate them up and I’ll toast them.”

Harper laughed. Toasting with demon fire? “Please don’t set the kitchen ablaze.”

“I won’t.” Ash puffed out his chest. “I have excellent control of my fire, thank you very much.”

Harper laughed harder and Ash cracked a smile. “I know you do, babe. You’re also a great cook.”

Once the bread was plated, Harper stepped behind Ash’s right shoulder, out of the way. A flame appeared in Ash’s palm and he turned his hand over, allowing the fire to dance above the bread. Ash kept the flame low, slowing passing his hand over each piece and leaving them golden-brown in seconds.

Harper squeezed Ash’s shoulders. “Perfect.”

The flame snuffed out and Ash slung his arm around Harper. “I love finding new ways to impress you.”

Harper kissed him, and what started as a quick brush of lips turned deeper, stealing Harper’s breath.

Eventually they pulled apart.

“Let’s take the snacks to the living room.” Ash gathered the toast and carrots and headed toward the couch without waiting.

Harper wanted to pout. They could eat later. But this was a date night, not a booty call, and he didn’t want to skip what he had planned. He poured the cheese sauce into a bowl and brought it to the coffee table. “What game would you like to play?”

Ash looked though the boxes arranged on the table and selected one. “This looks fun.”

“Okay, but that’s going to take some explaining.”

Ash had chosen a game that Harper had only learned recently.

There was a deck of hundreds of different cards, each with a bird that had its own powers.

There were eggs and food. It was a whole ordeal, but they had fun figuring it out and reading the instructions when Harper couldn’t remember what to do.

Somethings things they up as they went along.

“You’ve spiced this dip nicely.” Ash said as he dunked a piece of toast in the cheese and popped it in his mouth.

“Thanks” Harper’s face was hot again and his insides churned in pleasure. No wonder Ash liked cooking for him all the time.

Once they’d had a few practice rounds of the game, Harper served up the chicken orzo and salad and brought it to the living room.

Ash hummed with his first bite. “We have to make this again.”

“Really?” Harper tried some. It was tasty. Wow. “The recipe was more involved than my usual fair. I can’t believe it turned out so well.”

Ash poked him in the side. “You brew complex potions all day, sweet. Of course your good at cooking.”

“But there’s no magic in cooking. None of my usual talents apply.”

Ash pointed at Harper with his fork. “What about your attention to detail?”

“I forgot the toast…but I see your point.”

Ash smirked. “I prefer immortal-fire-roasted toast anyway. There’s no going back now.”

Harper tossed an olive at him and he caught it in his mouth. “Love you, mate. Don’t forget to save room for dessert.”

Heat and the scent of cinnamon spiced smoke filled the air as Ash shifted closer. “Are you my dessert?”

Harper bit his lip. “There’s a chocolate mousse, but you can have me first.”

“Good.” Ash picked up his cards. “Right after I win this game. There’s only three rounds left.”

“I can’t believe you think you’re going to win. Do you see these nine-pointers?”

Harper tired his best, but it seemed his luck with the cards had run out.

Ash let out a triumphant rumble when the points were tallied. He’d won, damn him. Harper nearly wanted to recount, but Ash scooped him into his arms and whisked him away to the bedroom where he tossed Harper onto the bed.

Ash freed his wings, letting them fill the room. “What’s my prize?”

Harper’s heart pounded. Okay, loosing wasn’t so bad. “I’m wearing something special for you. Under my clothes.”

“Oh?” Ash cocked a brow. “You kept that quiet.”

“I couldn’t let us get distracted and miss dinner.”

Ash climbed on the bed, stalking forward on all fours. “Good thinking. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss your cooking. In fact, let me show you how much I loved it.”

Harper spread his legs and Ash took the invitation, caressing his thighs and groin.

“Let’s see what you’ve got, hmm?” Ash popped the button of Harper’s jeans and worked the zipper down. “Oh, pretty.”

Bright pink peeked out from Harper’s open fly. Ash pulled Harper’s jeans off, revealing his satin panties. There was a tiny bow at the front and lace frills around the edge of the bikini cut.

Ash rumbled and worked Harper’s cock though the satin. It was so silky and perfect, each slide of Ash’s hand making Harper harder. He could easily come this way if they kept it up.

“You love how pretty things feel, don’t you?” Ash cooed as if he’d read Harper’s mind, or at least read him though their mating bond. Harper nodded enthusiastically, and Ash bared his fangs. “You even matched your eyeshadow to your underwear. What a naughty little mate.”

Harper gasped, running his hands over Ash’s shoulders and through his feathers. “I love the color.”

“It suits you. You look so sweet in pink with your delicate little top. A perfect outfit without the jeans.”

Harper laughed, his breath hitching on a moan.

Ash’s arousal built alongside Harper’s, echoing along their bond. He paused to discard his pants and got right back to working Harper though the satin.

Harper arched off the bed. “I’m going to come.”

Ash paused his slow, sensual strokes. “Damn, I can feel how close you are, but not yet, sweet. You can hold out for me, I know it.”

Harper bit his lip, trying his best, but it was so hard when he could feel all of Ash’s affection, all his desire. He felt Ash’s pride as he tried not to come, and that made it even more difficult.

“Ash,” he whined.

Ash stopped in time, peeling the panties down just enough to free Harper’s cock. “Do you want my mouth, sweet?”

“Yes, Ash.” He loved Ash’s mouth anywhere on his body.

“Good because I want this cock in me.” Ash retracted his fangs and lowered his head, taking hold of Harper and licking around his cockhead.

Ash made a show of it, his flaming eyes fixed on Harper’s face as he teased him, rubbing the satin over his balls. Harper made noises that should have been mortifying, but weren’t. Not with Ash.

At last, Ash took Harper to the back of his throat with a deep purr.

Harper didn’t want to come. He wanted this build of pleasure to go on and on. Ash must have wanted the same because he edged Harper, taking him close to the brink but not letting him fall over. He until Harper couldn’t take it a second longer.

“ Ash . I need you.” Damnation , how many times had Harper to said that to his mate. He could never seem to keep the desperate plea to himself.

Ash pulled off his cock. “You’ve got me. All of me. Any way you want.”

“Fill me?” Harper’s body flamed, and Ash’s demon fire seemed to flare in response, his eyes growing brighter as the bond burned between them.

Ash’s lips twisted in a devilish smirk. “How about from both ends?”

Harper’s brain ground to a halt. Fuck, that sounded criminally hot. “Yes.”

Ash straddled Harper’s waist and stroked his big cock, showing it off for Harper’s approval. “Take this in your mouth. And this”—his tail teased along Harper’s leg—“in your ass.” Ash brought his tail to his mouth and sucked the tip, wetting it for him.

Harper squirmed beneath Ash. “Hell yeah.”

Ash pulled Harper’s panties back into place, covering his erection, and moved up to Harper’s chest. He positioned his cock in front of Harper’s face and rubbed it along Harper’s lips. “Tap my leg if you need me to ease off, okay sweet?”

“ Mmhmm .” Harper mouthed Ash’s tip like he was starved and spread his legs.

Ash’s tail wiggled beneath the satin and behind his balls. He pushed his cock into Harper’s mouth, a hand caressing his cheek. “You’re so lovely under me. Fuck, I love your mouth.”

Harper moaned. Ash thrust steadily, grunting and groaning, but not choking Harper. His tail found Harper’s hole and pushed in, the gentle stretch of the tip easy to take without lube. He found Harper’s prostate and teased it with tiny, unfaltering strokes.

The satin rubbed Harper’s cock like sweet torture. It was all so good. His body sang, Ash’s humming along with him. Harper reached for the base of Ash’s tail and stroked him in time with Ash’s thrusts.

They groaned as one.

“That’s it, Harper, sweet mate. Take my cock, my tail, and come in those pretty pink panties for me.”

Pleasure raced down Harper’s spine and exploded, setting the bond on fire. Ash came in Harper’s mouth, smokey cinnamon overwhelming his senses.

Ash withdrew, and wiped the spit and cum from Harper’s chin. His tail disappeared, and he scooped Harper into his arms, cuddling him close.

Harper was nearly asleep when he remembered. “Oh!” He said bolt upright. “The mousse.”

Ash chuckled. “Let’s clean you up, and get it out of the fridge. We ca bring it back here. Then I can eat it off you.”

Harper shivered. “Best idea ever.”

* * *

Thank you for reading!

A sh and Harper full story can be found in Demon’s Mate: Lovers of the Damned book one.