Fated

Chapter 24

W e had spent so long away from the sun that I had to strain my eyes against the blinding brightness as we surfaced. Slowly, as my vision adjusted, I squinted and took in our surroundings. Unlike the small lake in Astern, we were now in a vast, seemingly endless river.

Turning to look behind us, rows of docks came into view, each one lined with boats of various sizes, bobbing in the water.

Ash held my hand firmly as we swam toward the end of the last dock, where an enormous boat—or more accurately, a yacht—loomed before us.

He grabbed the handle of a hidden ladder and lowered it into the water.

Helping me climb up first, his hands steadied me as I stepped onto the large open deck. The yacht was massive, at least four decks high, towering over the docks below.

I gazed up in awe, unable to grasp the full scope of the vessel.

“Are we even allowed to be on this ship?” I asked.

Ash flashed me a cocky grin. “I sure hope so. It’s mine.”

Of course, it was.

He helped me out of the scuba gear, which we were instructed to pack into the plastic bags and toss into the river. He handed me a towel, and I wrapped it around myself, securing it before shimmying out of my wetsuit. Ash did the same before pulling our personal bags out of the large waterproof bags, placing all the gear inside. Then he took both tanks and plastic bags and gave them a good toss into the water where they quickly disappeared.

With a towel wrapped around his waist, Ash carried our bags as we made our way up the first set of stairs. We had walked only a few steps before I spotted a set of sliding glass doors ahead.

As I neared the doors and caught a glimpse inside, my jaw nearly hit the floor.

“Oh, my God!” I rushed toward the glass, pressing my face against it. “Oh—my—God,” I repeated, grinning like a kid on Christmas. “That’s a pool!” I shouted at him, nearly bouncing with excitement.

Ash laughed, clearly amused. “That’s one of the pools.”

My eyes widened even more, and I turned to him in shock.“There are more ?”

“There are three,” he said, his amusement growing as he watched my reaction. “Come on, I’ll take you to a room where you can shower and change.”

Oh, thank God. I’d been hoping to have a chance to clean up before meeting his family.

We ascended another set of stairs, and I couldn’t help but crane my neck for one last look at the pool room before we moved on. When we reached the next set of doors, Ash waved a hand over them, and they slid open to reveal a stunning cabin.

The cool white marble floors gleamed underfoot, and large glass windows lined the walls, offering breathtaking views of the river below.

Attached to the space was a gorgeous full-sized kitchen with polished countertops and stainless-steel appliances, and just beyond that, a winding staircase led up to yet another deck.

As we passed the stairs, Ash led me through a door into a bedroom which was large and airy, and connected was a bathroom bigger than any I’d ever seen.

Ash set my bag down on the bed in the center of the room. “You can get ready in here. I’ll be in the room above, just come out when you’re ready.”

I nodded, suddenly aware my mouth was hanging open in awe.

Ash chuckled as he left, closing the door behind him.

Once he was gone, I grabbed my bag, making my way to the bathroom. After shutting that door, I set my bag down in front of the vanity and took in the space around me. The opulent bathroom was as extravagant as the rest of the yacht.

Beyond the vanity stretched a shower large enough to comfortably fit at least eight people, and to the right, a sprawling bathtub took up an entire wall, equally oversized. Above the tub, wide windows framed serene river views. I noticed one of the windows was cracked open, so I crawled over the tub and shut it before returning my attention to the shower.

After fumbling with the myriads of buttons and knobs—controlling everything from the temperature of the water to the water pressure, and to where the water would spray from, I finally managed to take a quick shower and wash my hair.

Stepping out, I reached for one of the oversized, plush white towels on the counter. It was so large that it almost wrapped around me twice. I bent down, unzipping my bag to pull out things I needed to get ready. As my fingers brushed the handle of my hairbrush, a flicker of movement caught my eye. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze in place.

Please, let it just be my mind playing tricks on me.

Slowly, I turned my head toward the bathroom door, dread creeping up my spine.

What I saw ripped the very breath from my lungs.

It wasn’t just a spider. No, this creature, this horror, was a nightmare come to life. Its bloated, shiny black body was the size of a large rat, covered in bristling, wiry hairs that made my skin crawl. Eight thick, segmented legs jutted out from its grotesque body, but its head was the worst part. Eight beady eyes, round and gleaming like tiny, dark marbles, stared unblinking, fixed on me as though eyeing me as its next meal.

For a moment, I was paralyzed, unsure if I was hallucinating.

And then, it moved.

With terrifying speed, it shot across the floor, a black blur disappearing beneath the vanity in the blink of an eye. My entire body erupted in goosebumps, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. Terror gripped me like an icy hand, and my heart plummeted into my stomach as a scream tore from my throat. It was loud, raw, and filled with pure fear.

Oh, my God! Holy shit . Another terrifying blur of motion, and the spider darted toward me.

Panic surged through me, and without thinking, I screamed again, hurling my towel at the creature as I leapt onto the toilet, trembling.

Before I could catch my breath, a deafening explosion occurred somewhere beyond the bathroom. A split second later, the room’s door blasted inward, splintering into a million pieces as if it had been blown apart. Standing in the doorway, shirtless and ready for battle, was Ash.

His expression was fierce and alert. He scanned the room quickly, his eyes searching for the threat. But when no immediate danger presented itself, his gaze finally landed on me standing on top of the toilet, completely naked.

His expression shifted from intense focus to utter confusion as his eyes swept over my body.

Finally processing what was happening, I threw my arms around myself in a futile attempt to cover myself. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” I yelled, awkwardly taking in the destruction around us, pieces of the shattered door scattered everywhere.

Ash, still looking utterly bewildered, blinked at me. “What the fuck are you doing?”

Before I could respond, another black flash caught my eye as the spider moved toward Ash. I jumped nearly sky high, letting out another deadly scream, my finger trembling as I pointed at the hideous thing. I was trying to cover myself and warn him of the nightmare crawling across the floor. Ash’s head snapped in the direction in which I was pointing, his muscles tensing as the spider skittered across the tiles, now positioning its horrible self in front of the bathtub.

Ash didn’t make a sound as he stood there staring at the enormous, awful creature. A few moments passed in silence, his expression unreadable. Then, as if finally processing the situation, he clutched his stomach and doubled over, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face. He couldn’t stop, each bout of laughter so much louder than the one before it.

“It’s not funny,” I shrieked, my voice high with panic and frustration.

As if mocking me, the spider scuttled a few feet closer, sending another wave of terror through me. “Kill it! Kill it—kill it!” I cried, practically doubling over the toilet, my shrieks echoing in the bathroom.

Still laughing as though this was in fact the funniest thing he had ever witnessed, Ash bent down and picked up the towel I had thrown.

He tossed it back at me, the movement startling me so much that I screamed again. When I realized it was just my towel, I quickly wrapped it around my body.

“Please, Ash,” I begged.

He wiped away his tears of laughter, grinning wider than I had ever seen him.

“Was there a window open?”

I nodded, still shivering with fear.

“It’s a lumber-leg spider, completely harmless,” he explained through stifled laughter, before reaching for a window and sliding it open. “But they hate the rain. The poor guy’s terrified.”

Staring at him, my gaze was incredulous. “ It’s terrified?”

I nearly screamed, my nerves fraying even more.

Ash bit down on his grin. “Just give it a second …” He gestured toward the spider, now standing still. Sure enough, a moment later, as if sensing the newly opened escape route, the creature darted up the wall and scurried out the window.

Ash casually slid the window shut behind it.

A violent shiver ran down my spine, and I squeezed my arms tightly around myself.

“I don’t like spiders.”

“No shit,” he snorted.

I glanced around at the splintered wood on the bathroom floor, my face heating up as I realized just how much chaos I had caused.

“I’m so sorry!” I squeaked, my throat sore from screaming.

Ash finally stopped laughing, though his eyes still sparkled with amusement.

“Why are you sorry? That was the most entertainment I’ve had in sixteen years.” He chuckled again, earning an unamused glare from me.

Without warning, he stepped toward me, still perched on top of the toilet. I let out a startled yelp as he effortlessly scooped me up and slung me over his shoulder.

He carried me through the scattered remains of the door with its broken hinges and screws flung everywhere, and we headed out of the room.

“The doors …” I muttered.

“I’ll have them replaced,” he said nonchalantly, his tone dismissive as though it was nothing more than a trivial matter.

Ash carried me up the staircase to another bedroom on the floor above, where I noticed his bag and neatly laid-out shirt on the bed. He tossed me onto the bed with a playful grin, eliciting another small yelp from my sore throat, and he disappeared briefly before returning with my bag.

He set it on the bed beside me, then pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a cocky grin as he looked at me sitting there wrapped in a towel.

“You can use that bathroom,” he said, motioning to the open door behind him.

“Were those windows shut?” I mumbled warily, glancing toward the bathroom.

Ash chuckled. “Don’t worry, Areya, you’ve already scared everything living off this boat.”

I grabbed a pillow from behind me and launched it at his face.

He ducked out of the way just in time. I threw another one, and this time, he caught it with ease, still grinning. I crossed my arms, glaring at him.

With a mischievous grin, he tossed the pillow back at me. “Watch out—spider!” he teased.

I shrieked, instinctively scurrying backward into the bed.

He was laughing again.

“I’m sorry, Areya, I shouldn’t have,” he said, crawling onto the bed toward me, looking at me under those dark lashes in a way that made my heart race despite myself.

I turned my face away, stubbornly crossing my arms, refusing to meet his gaze.

“I was mean,” he admitted, his tone softer now, almost hesitant.

Still, I didn’t flinch, then his finger trailed lightly down my arm, sending a shiver through me.

“I was getting dressed up here and I heard you screaming. I thought you were being attacked,” he said, his tone a bit more serious.

I glanced at him, struggling to maintain my angry facade.

“You were just so adorable standing on top of that toilet,” he continued as he leaned in and kissed my arm. “Forgive me for laughing at you.”

He was making a ridiculous pouty face.

I could feel my resolve cracking, and despite my best efforts, a smile broke through.

“How can I make it up to you?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I pretended to consider his question, letting my gaze drop to his lips before meeting his eyes again, giving him a clear answer without a single word.

His smile grew as he leaned in, brushing his lips against mine.

When he started to pull away, I grabbed his shirt, pulling him back to me.

He froze, his lips an inch from mine, as if he were wrestling with some internal conflict.

I wasn’t waiting any longer. I closed the gap, tracing the curve of his lips with my tongue, my patience gone.

“Areya …” He whispered my name, his voice pleading.

“Please, Ash.” The words barely left my lips before the dam inside him broke. His lips crashed into mine, his tongue pushing its way into my mouth, tangling with mine in a kiss that was deep and desperate—so unlike the soft, restrained kisses I had gotten from him before.

My body trembled under his intensity as his mouth explored mine with a hunger matching my own. I didn’t know why he had been holding back before, but I wanted more—I needed more.

Surprise flashed in his eyes as my body twisted over his. I pushed him into the bed, straddling him as my towel began to loosen around me.

His hands found my waist, steadying me as I brought my lips back to his, parting them to invite his tongue in once more. One of his hands slid to my hair, gripping it gently but firmly, pulling me closer as if he were drowning in the moment, just as I was.

A gasp escaped my lips, feeling the hardness between my legs pressing against me, separated only by his pants. His other hand guided my waist, rocking my hips in slow, agonizing movements against him. A fire ignited low in my abdomen, the friction sending sparks of heat through my body.

A soft moan slipped from me as my name fell from his lips like a prayer. “Areya.”

The way he said it sent a rush of butterflies swirling through my chest.

But just as I lost myself in the sensation, Ash’s hands gripped my waist tightly, holding me in place and stopping the movement of my body against his.

“Fuck, Areya,” he groaned, his voice heavy with frustration and need. Yet he held me motionless, and my heart stilled with him.

“Why?” I whispered, desperation lacing the word, cutting through the haze of desire clouding my mind.

“We can’t …” His voice was strained, desperate.

“Why don’t you want me?” My voice trembled, betraying the hurt tightening around my heart. I fought back the tears threatening to spill, determined not to let him see me cry over this.

“Shit, Areya, of course, I want you,” he groaned, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Fuck.”

I didn’t understand. The tears pressed harder behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

“Just not yet,” he said, his hand finding my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin. “Not like this. I need you to trust me.”

I nodded numbly, a hollow ache settling deep inside me as I lifted myself off him.

The loss of contact was like a physical blow and his pained expression told me it hurt him just as much. Desperation flickered in his eyes, mirroring the turmoil in me.

Pulling my knees to my chest, I wrapped my arms around them as a crushing sense of self-consciousness washed over me. The intrusive thoughts circled relentlessly. How many beautiful women had Ash been with over the years? They must have been stunning, flawless. How effortless it must have been for them. How could I ever have thought, even for one minute, that someone like Ash would truly want me? The doubt gripped me tightly, suffocating my thoughts, making me question everything. Every look, every touch—it all felt uncertain now.

“Please don’t look like that, beautiful,” he said softly, his voice subdued. Sitting up, he pulled me into his arms, and I couldn’t stop myself from burying my face into his chest, breathing him in, seeking comfort in him. He cupped my chin, lifting it until I met his gaze.

“Areya, you are the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. You consume my every thought. From the moment I met you, my entire world shifted—it shifted completely around you.” His hand brushed against my cheek, his touch impossibly tender, as if I were something precious that he could never let go. I leaned into it.

“You have no idea the dark, sinful thoughts I have about you,” he murmured, his voice like a slow, smoldering fire. “The sounds I picture leaking from your lips as I do unspeakable things to your body. How your bare skin will respond to my fingers, every inch of you quaking as I trace your every curve. And how I know you will taste—so utterly intoxicating.”

His voice dropped lower, a silken whisper sending a shudder rippling through me.

“I’ve been with other women, but it never meant anything—none of it ever mattered. But with you, it’s different. It’s everything. I don’t just want you. I need you. Not just your body, but your soul, your mind—everything. My soul craves yours as if it’s starving, desperate to consume every piece of you. I want to give you everything I am and take everything you are, until there’s nothing left between us but us.”

His words crashed over me, stealing my breath and leaving me faint.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, spreading like wildfire as his gaze locked onto mine, so intense it made me feel exposed, vulnerable, and completely overwhelmed.

I wanted to say something—anything—but my throat tightened, the words dissolving before they could even form. All I could do was stare at him, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of his affection, the raw sincerity in his voice, and the way his presence took up all the space around me.

How do you respond when someone bares their soul to you like that?

He paused, his expression shifting. “But there is something I need to tell you, something you need to know before …” He trailed off and a knot formed in my stomach.

“I’ve taken so much from you already—I just want you to be sure.”

I began to speak, but he pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me.

“Let me take you to my home and show you what your life would look like with me. After you know exactly what you’re getting into, once you know everything , then if you still want me, if you say yes, then nothing in this universe—no force—will be strong enough to keep me from you.”

I swallowed hard, my heart still racing. “Ok.”

“Ok?” He seemed surprised, his brow furrowing slightly.

“I know what I want, Ash,” I said, my voice steady. “But I’ll humor you. Take me to your kingdom, show me who the King of Ambrosia is, then I’ll give you my answer—tonight.”

Quickly, I’d slipped in the last word.

“Areya,” he began, but this time, my finger moved to pause his lips.

“What is it that you said I need to know?”

“I’ll tell you tonight,” he promised, his eyes soft but serious. “After you’ve made your decision.”

“Fine,” I murmured, barely louder than a whisper as I stood.

My legs felt unsteady beneath me, but I forced myself to move, holding my composure.

Without another word, I turned and walked toward the bathroom to get dressed, my mind a storm of swirling uncertainty.

What would tonight bring?