6. Lochlan
Lochlan
Iwoke up the next morning with Ash’s face snuggled against my neck, his adorable little snores filling the room.
The next morning, I woke up the same way.
And the next.
And many more after that.
A human wouldn’t understand the speed at which we were moving, but both Ash and I had lived long enough to know what we wanted.
Right now, that thing was spending as much time together as possible.
It was hard enough having to part for our day jobs.
Like a lot of supes, neither of us really needed to work.
Money was something that simply accumulated when you lived endless lifetimes.
I had enough in my bank to cover all my expenses for the next few decades.
If I didn’t work though, boredom would set in rapidly. Hence my position at the University. I lectured in Modern History. Students signed up for my classes in droves, citing my ‘fresh perspective’ as the reason.
Easy to have a fresh perspective when you’ve been alive for the events in question.
Meanwhile, Ash had a job as a nurse at the blood donation centre. Yes. He, a vampire, drew blood for a living.
“If you’re gonna have someone taking your blood, wouldn’t you rather it be someone who can precisely locate your veins on the first attempt? Someone who can compel you if you’re anxious or in pain so you don’t feel it?”
Honestly, his logic was flawless. Plus, he had a ready supply of blood on hand when he needed to feed.
Not that he needed that at the moment…not with how many times I asked him to bite me.
Begged, if I’m being honest. I couldn’t help it.
Everything about my feelings towards Ash were extreme. He was quickly becoming an addiction I didn’t think I’d ever want to break.
Well, that’s what I thought until this morning. We’d been seeing each other for almost a month now, and Ash made a decision that threatened all of that.
Instead of having toast, he opted for cereal.
It wasn’t the change that bothered me. Nor was it the choice of cereal. Cornflakes were a British breakfast staple.
No, it was the fact he poured the milk into the bowl first.
My jaw was agape as I watched Ash in horror. He hadn’t stopped talking, rattling off about his co-worker and utterly unaware that he was shattering my image of him, he continued filling his bowl.
“She wouldn’t stop crying. I told her Julie, it’s just a job. You can’t be a bitch just because you feel threatened. I mean, I get it. She’s twenty years younger than you and far more competent but -”
“What are you doing?”
Ash looked up in surprise. I hadn’t meant to interrupt it, but I couldn’t take it any longer. “What?”
I pointed at the milk that he’d just stopped pouring. “There. That.”
“Umm…making cereal?”
“By putting the milk in first?”
Ash’s smirk spread slowly across his lips. “It’s actually very logical if you think about it. If I did the cereal first, I might add too much milk. It’s much easier to control the pour of the cornflakes than it is of the milk.”
I clapped my hands to my face in mock horror. “Just when I thought you were perfect! So sad that I have to end it now.”
Ash clutched at his chest dramatically. “Who knew cereal would be this divisive?”
“Wait,” I exclaimed, fighting to contain my laughter. “Maybe we can save this. What about tea? Do you add the milk first?”
“Are you mad?” Ash brandished his spoon at me. “I have standards, Sir!”
The sight of him in his tattered green dressing gown, waving his cutlery like a sword, had me breaking.
Laughter bubbled out of me as I tugged Ash in for a hug. Tears streamed down my face as I roared with mirth, Ash giggling against my chest.
That was the thing I was learning about being around Ash. He was fun. And even better?
He made me fun.
He was bringing out a side of me I hadn’t even realised existed before. I liked it.
I liked the person I was around Ash.
Ash’s phone buzzed on the table, I gave him a peck before releasing him to get my own breakfast. I headed for the fruit bowl. Definitely safer there.
Grabbing an orange, I turned to find Ash staring down at his phone.
His smile was gone, his face more ashen than usual. He was frowning down at his phone, his muscles tense like he was about to strike.
Or flee.
“Ash?” I squeezed his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
He flinched away from my touch, putting his phone screen to sleep. His lips were thin, his face harder than I’d ever seen it. “Nothing. I’m going to get dressed.”
My stomach twisted as I watched Ash stalk away from me. What the fuck had just happened?
Clearly, Ash had seen something on his phone that’d upset him. The question was, what?
And, more importantly, why was he hiding it from me?
I didn’t push Ash on what was on his phone, and he didn’t volunteer any information.
When he’d returned downstairs, he’d been his usual chipper self, carrying on the conversation about his co-worker like nothing had happened.
I couldn’t get rid of the knotting sensation in my stomach.
Over the next couple of weeks, the same thing happened three more times. We’d be having fun, and spending time together.
Then Ash’s phone would vibrate and everything about his demeanour would change. Sure, he’d try and hide it from me. But whatever was in those messages would cause him to withdraw into himself. His smile was tighter. His voice quieter.
Whatever it was, it was making him dim his light.
I fucking hated it.
I was trying to wait until the right moment to bring it up. The problem was that he was so cagey over it, he obviously didn’t want me to know about it.
That…that hurt. I wanted to be a safe space for him.
Tonight, my worries had been replaced by a different type of stress – meeting Ash’s best friend.
To say I’d been nervous about meeting her would be an understatement. Cassie was Ash’s person. The one he chatted to every day without fail—the one who’d persuaded him to sign up for this whole matchmaking scheme in the first place.
I wanted her to like me. No, I needed her to.
The longer I spent with Ash, the more certain I was that I wanted a more permanent role in his life. If his best friend didn’t like me, it’d make things…difficult.
Fortunately, I’d had nothing to worry about. She joined us in the restaurant in a swarth of perfume and floaty scarves.
Cassie was basically the female version of Ash, with oodles more sarcasm.
I liked her immediately.
I mean, yes, when Ash popped to the bathroom, she did threaten to curse my manhood if I ever upset him.
But that was par for the course when dealing with supes.
Threats given on behalf of those we cared for were practically our love language.
Plus, it was just the one threat, so I was counting it as a win.
The evening was a complete success. I was riding the high as we walked back to Ash’s place when his phone vibrated.
My good mood evaporated almost immediately as I watched Ash read the text with a small frown.
To my surprise, he chuckled and handed his phone to me.
Several texts from Cassie filled the screen, praising everything from my politeness to my panty-melting burr.
“Think it’s safe to say she approves,” Ash said, peering over my shoulder and smirking as message after message from her continued coming through. “Although I’d say your arse is more peach-shaped than apple.”
Christ. I could feel the tips of my ears burning. “I hadn’t really thought about my arse too much, if I’m being honest.”
Ash palmed it and hummed. “You should. It’s a damned fine example.”
He continued feeling me up as I chuckled. “She’s still messaging. Damn, she’s got a filthy mind. I can’t decide if I’m impressed or…”
My voice trailed away as a new notification filled the screen. I didn’t need to click on it. The preview told me enough.
“Or what?” Ash asked, nuzzling my neck, oblivious to the fact I was frozen in place. “Lochlan?”
Tiny puzzle pieces were clicking into place, painting a picture that had my temper rising.
Turning slowly, I cupped Ash’s chin in my hand and lifted his head. His eyes widened as he took in the fury I wasn’t even trying to hide. “What’s wrong?”
“Ash, I think you need to tell me about Gareth.”