Chapter 27
27
Ashley
“ I t’s cozy.” Ashley rested a pensive fist under her chin.
“And conveniently close to groceries.” August joined with additional praise. Ashley gave him a look of thanks.
“Are we seriously staying here for a week?” Uther received an elbow in the side from August and a glare from Ashley. “What? Esther, I love you, but this place is a dump.”
Uther wasn’t wrong, but Ashley was so proud of Esther for speaking up and suggesting a place for their spring break trip. She didn’t want to ruin it by pointing out that to get to the beach they had to cross two highways, a mall, and a parking lot that was strictly mall parking only. Not to mention that the proximity of said highway meant that they had the unique challenge of yelling to be heard over semi-engines and the wailing of horns while pretending they weren’t yelling. Maybe it was just the evening rush hour, at eight pm in a beach town.
The house itself was on a sandy, grass-speckled lot—the entire yard flooded by the white LED light of a neighboring streetlight—with a chipped, cement path leading to a gray-paneled box of a structure that looked as though a swift breeze would end it.
“We haven’t even seen inside yet,” said Ashley in a voice she hoped was both audible and passed as a casual register. “I’m sure it’s nice inside.”
“Did you say there are lice inside?” yelled Uther.
“Nice,” repeated Ashley.
“Rice?”
August pushed past both of them and walked up the path to the door. He jiggled the knob, and the door opened.
“Was it not locked?” asked Esther. “I have the key here.”
“I guess not—” August froze in the doorway, and Ashley put herself between the door and Esther.
“Wait there,” August yelled back at them. “Let me get a light first.”
He disappeared through the doorway, and Ashley waited, acting as a human—vampire—barrier between Esther and the door. A yellow light streaked through the yard from the open doorway, then several loud thuds interspersed with a string of curses.
Uther pulled out his phone. “There has to be a hotel open in the area.”
A few minutes later, August appeared in the doorway, a metal dustpan dangling from his hand. “All right, I think I got them all.”
Uther scrolled more furiously. “Shit. Does anyone have a charger I can borrow?”
“We’re here for a week,” said Esther. “You didn’t pack one?”
“Mine broke like a week ago.”
“How is your phone not dead?”
He held up his phone. “It is dead.”
“And how have you not bought a new charger in a week?”
Ashley walked past their bickering to the doorway. August had left the door open and she peered cautiously through. She wasn’t as squeamish as Uther, but?—
“Ouch!” Her head bumped something in the doorway.
But there wasn’t anything there. She held her hand up. An all-too-familiar wall blocked her entrance. Esther and Uther were back at the car digging through Esther’s bag.
“Damn it,” Ashley said. “Hey, witch! Let me in.”
August strolled down the hallway with a smirk as he leaned just inside the doorjamb and out of her reach. “Well, well, well. What have we here?”
“Don’t be an ass. I’m getting in there one way or another, and the longer it takes, the more you’re going to regret sleeping in the same house as me.”
He pressed a hand to his chest. “I would never.” He kicked the door open the rest of the way. “Come on in.”
“Thank yo—” Her face slammed into a still present invisible wall.
August bent over cackling.
“Damn it, witch!” She slammed her fist against the empty doorway, which made no sound and only made her look like an angry mime. “What did you do?”
Between gasps, he answered her. “You have to get Esther. She’s responsible for the house.”
“Freaking hell, August.” She kicked the doorway. “You knew that this whole damn time.”
“What’s going on?” Esther called from the car as she pulled an endless string of charging cords from her bag.
“I’m going to beat up Uther’s boyfriend,” Ashley said. “That’s what’s up.”
“Have I graduated from drowning?” August had finally recovered himself.
“The night is young.”
Ashley helped with the bags, and this time, Esther’s permission did the trick. They all piled into the living room.
It could have used a thorough dusting and run-through with a vacuum, but the space didn’t seem so bad. Or perhaps her bar had lowered so far that, as long as it wasn’t a literal pit or home to a hungry tiger, it was exceeding expectations. To the left was a simple open kitchen including a yellowing fridge, a worrisome-looking gas stove, and overhead cabinets with most of their doors intact. To the right was a sitting area, complete with a lumpy and mildly stained futon and a TV stand with no TV. Straight on from the front door was a hallway that she assumed led to the two promised bedrooms and shared bathroom.
“This isn’t so bad.” Ashley was feeling better and better about their situation. “Give me a night with some cleaning supplies, and I can shine this place up to homey levels.”
“What do you mean by homie?” asked Uther.
“You know, comfy, hygge.”
“Are you speaking Dutch?”
“I think it’s Danish.” August took Uther’s bag for him. “Come on, Uther. I’ve called dibs on our room. Just think of it as our own personal hobbit hole.”
“Hobbit holes are known for their cleanliness , August.” He reluctantly followed him down the hallway.
Ashley took Esther’s hand and led her to the other unoccupied room. Praise Jesus, she’d thought to pack a sleeping bag because they were not sleeping on those sheets. She was making a mental list of supplies for Esther to get from the mall during daylight hours.
“Ashley, I’m so sorry.” Esther plopped onto the bed then winced, rubbing the spot where she landed. That wasn’t a good sign. A silver chain escaped her top with the motion, catching in the overhead light. “I’ve never actually been here before, but the way my aunt talked about this place, it sounded amazing. I just wanted us to have a relaxing week away.”
“And we will, sweetheart. Don’t you worry. I’ll have this place fixed up in no time.” She was excited about the challenge, but her attention had snagged on the vial around Esther’s neck. “But in the meantime, let’s go check out the beach.”
“Did you want to unpack first? Maybe give the guys some time to unpack as well.”
“I thought we could go, just the two of us.”
Esther squinted at her as though assessing Ashley’s true motive but agreed, and they headed out. Esther locked the door behind them when they heard a thunk. They opened the door to find the inner handle rolling across the short beige carpet.
“I’ll fix that too.” Ashley fit her hand into Esther’s. “Don’t worry.”
Getting to the beach was as much of a headache as Ashley had suspected. The highway between the mall and the beach had a pedestrian overpass, but the first highway between their house and the mall required walking three blocks out of the way to a convoluted five-way intersection. Despite being less than half a mile from the beach, the walk took them a half-hour. The moon was full and bright by the time they were taking off their shoes and sinking into the sand, but the beach was blessedly empty.
Ashley led them down to the water until it licked at their toes. Her fingers laced with Esther’s. The water lapping at the sand provided the soundtrack to their night as they walked along the shore.
The wind whipped across the waters, and Esther’s hand trembled slightly. It wasn’t near as cold as New York, but it was still chilly. Ashley hardly noticed the cold anymore. When she first changed, the feeling of constantly being cold frightened her. She remembered living in Konstantine’s heated blanket that first week, shivering under a UV-free mood light.
“So.” Ashley wasn’t sure how to start this conversation. She decided to go with her usual technique of diving right in. “Are you still considering my offer?”
Esther didn’t respond but touched the vial hanging around her neck. They hadn’t spoken of her becoming a vampire since Valentine’s Day. The only indication that Esther was still considering Ashley’s offer was that Esther continued to wear the necklace.
“I am,” Esther said after a moment.
The words drifted out with the tide, a hopeful message in a bottle. At least it sounded hopeful.
“In that case, you should keep regular human hours this week,” Ashley said.
“Wait, what?” Esther’s hand clamped tighter around Ashley’s. “I thought we were spending time together this week. This was supposed to be a relaxing getaway together.”
“I know, but if you’re seriously considering changing, I want you to know what you’re giving up. I want you to be human while you still can. Don’t just jump into it like I did.”
“Ashley.” Esther moved in front of her, blocking the path. “What are you going to do all week? I don’t want to be out having fun while you’re at home by yourself.”
“I’ll be fine.” She took Esther’s hands and raised each to her lips, kissing her knuckles. “I’ll have plenty to do in the house. It’s a blessing it’s such a mess. I’ve started a list of things to do, starting with our room.”
The corner of Esther’s mouth wavered.
Ashley had hoped to coax a smile out of her with the list comment. On to her next plan to lighten the mood. “Plus, we’ll still see each other in the mornings and evenings. I might have brought some toys for us to try out.”
“The boys are in the house!” Esther scanned the empty beach, confirming they were still alone. But the blush on her cheeks told Ashley she wasn’t immune to the suggestion.
Ashley wanted Esther to take this week seriously. To really consider her decision. Because if she was serious about being a vampire, she was serious about Ashley. The two went hand in hand.
“I guess we’ll have to be quiet, won’t we,” Ashley said.
“You’re terrible.” Esther wrapped her arms around Ashley’s neck, standing on tiptoe to reach her.
Ashley bent, catching Esther’s lips with her own. “You like it when I’m terrible.”
Ashley
The next day, Ashley was awakened to the pleasant caress of warm hands pressing circles into her back. “Mmm, that feels so good. Please, tell me this is Esther. Actually, it’s too good. I don’t even care who this is. Just don’t stop.”
“Hey!” Esther laughed. The mattress sank as she mounted Ashley’s back, her thighs warm against Ashley’s sides.
Now Ashley was feeling more than just relaxed. “What time is it?”
“Okay, so it’s noon. But I cleaned our sheets this morning, and the boys decided to eat out for lunch.” She nipped Ashley’s ear.
With that, Ashley was wide awake as all the information sank in. She leaped from the bed, racing for her bag.
“Oof.”
Ashley glanced over her shoulder to see Esther tumbled on the floor. “Crap, are you all right, sweetheart?”
Esther rubbed her shoulder, which had taken the brunt of the impact. “I wasn’t expecting your reaction to be to toss me from the bed.”
Ashley held up the pink vibrator she’d retrieved from her bag. “I was actually planning on making you come until you begged me to stop.” She turned on the vibrator for dramatic effect and watched Esther’s eyes go wide. “Get back up there and lay down for me.”
Esther scrambled to comply, and the power rush of that kind of obedience was Ashley’s own kind of foreplay.
“You like doing what you’re told?” Ashley asked.
Esther sat at the head of the bed, one knee up and her gaze flitting between Ashley and the thing in Ashley’s hand. She blushed but nodded like a bobblehead.
Perfect. “Then undress for me.” An idea was forming, but she needed Esther fully on board. “How would you feel about some light bondage?”
Esther paused with her underwear halfway down her knees. A pink blush worked its way from her chest up to her cheeks. “Fuck.”
“We don’t have to.” Ashley hastened to amend. She didn’t want to overstep. But a part of her craved to know how far Esther would let her go. “It was just an idea. No worries.”
“That is—” Esther pinched her eyes shut. “Ashley, you’re too sexy. I would love that, but I should warn you, I might finish fast.”
“Are you sure? That is definitely not a problem.” Ashley rushed to her bag, digging for her satin sashes. “I was planning on getting you off more than once anyway. I would love the confidence boost of a fast one.” She pulled the sashes out and ran back to the bed. “Not that you need to hurry.”
“Now what do I do?”
Esther sat against the headboard, fully naked. Her lanky limbs curled around her, and her dark hair fell loose over her shoulders. A shudder trickled down Ashley’s spine.
Ashley took a moment to savor this image. She pushed Esther’s hair to the side, running her lips down Esther’s pale neck. Esther’s breaths grew shallow. She tilted her chin as Ashley licked and sucked down her throat. She smelled so good. Ashley wanted all of her, just as she was, for as long as she had her.
“Lay down for me and grab the headboard. Yeah, just like that. Good girl.” She fastened Esther’s wrists to the wooden rails, checking to be sure they were tight enough to hold her without being uncomfortable. “Now, you’re in charge of this, but don’t worry. I’ll tell you when to start.” She pushed the remote into Esther’s hand, resting her thumb against the control panel. “Up and down control speed. Left and right will switch up the pattern. Got it?”
Esther nodded again.
“Good. Did you want to give yourself a little speed?” She placed the vibrator on Esther’s sternum, waiting until it started before working it over to circle one nipple and then the other. Esther took a stuttering gasp and her chest rose from the bed. Ashley worked the wand lower, circling Esther’s navel then her inner thighs.
When Esther pulled at her binds, Ashley put a hand on her chest, gently pressing Esther to the bed.
“Shh, just relax.” Ashley repositioned herself lower on the bed so her arm with the vibrator rested across Esther’s stomach, restricting Esther’s movement and giving Ashley a prime view of what she was working with. Her free hand snaked under Esther’s thigh and up to slide through her luxurious wetness. Esther was squirming and pinching her mouth shut, holding back the full sound that Ashley was determined to draw from her. When Ashley’s fingers were good and wet, she trailed one down the valley of Esther’s ass, circling in time with the vibrator around her clit.
“Ashley, I-I’m so close.”
“That’s right, sweetheart. Let go.” She kissed the dip at Esther’s hip as Esther’s moaning grew and her hips bucked and Ashley continued circling, drawing out Esther’s climax.
“Ashley.” Esther’s voice was so soft and sweet, Ashley’s heart melted just hearing her name.
“I’m right here, sweetheart.” She shifted up the bed alongside Esther, her hand caressing Esther’s cheek and petting down her side. Ashley was still in her pajamas, making Esther’s nakedness an extra treat. “That was beautiful.”
But Esther continued to fidget in the binds. Her eyes trailed down Ashley’s body. “I want to taste you.”
“Is that right?” She stood from the bed and pulled down her pajama shorts and underwear in one tug. Her long T-shirt fell to the top of her thighs. She crawled onto the bed and threw a leg over Esther’s waist, making small circles with her hip and enjoying the heat of Esther’s body against her most sensitive skin. God, she missed this warmth. “You’re going to have to ask nicely to get this pussy.”
“Please.” Esther’s words came out in a desperate whisper. “I want to taste you. I want you to come on my face.”
Ashley didn’t need any more persuading. She crawled up Esther’s body until her knees were notched under Esther’s arms. Before Ashley sat up into place, Esther opened her mouth, her tongue resting eagerly on her lower lip.
“Jesus, Esther.” Ashley pulled off her T-shirt, flinging it across the room, and lowered her hips.
Esther lapped energetically at Ashley, who tilted her hips to give Esther just the right angle. Esther was licking and whimpering, and Ashley rode her face, and even though Esther was the one tied up, Ashley was the one losing control.
Ashley braced a hand against the wall as she pinched a nipple with her other, pulling and teasing herself. And the whole time, words spewed from her. “Yes, right there. You like how that tastes? Look at you begging me to ride my cunt on your face.”
She rode her hips back and forth until her toes were curling. There was nothing in the world more important than Esther’s warm tongue against her. Esther caught Ashley’s clit between her lips and sucked, and that was it.
Ashley cried out as she came, her forehead pressed to the wall to hold herself up as she chanted “Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop.” She collapsed at Esther’s side, panting as she regained herself. “That was amazing.”
Ashley found Esther’s lips, kissing and demanding.
To kiss her deeply and taste herself on Esther’s lips, on her tongue, and know that she was there. That she had marked Esther in this intimate way.
“Ashley, I—” She paused and blinked as though confused by what she was about to say. “Could you untie me? My arms are starting to tingle.”
“Sure, of course.” Ashley hurried to loosen her bindings and turned Esther on her side, lining herself up against Esther’s back and slotting one arm under Esther’s neck and the other over Esther’s waist so they lay skin to skin. “This was the perfect wake-up call, sweetheart. Thank you.”
“’S no problem.” Esther yawned and hugged Ashley’s arm closer, but her breathing was deep and slow.
Esther’s skin was so smooth and warm. Ashley couldn’t get enough of the contact. One hand cupped Esther’s breast while her other trailed down Esther’s stomach. It felt so good to be warm again. To savor in Esther’s body. Ashley wasn’t quite done. Her middle finger slipped between Esther’s thighs, moving easily through the slickness. Esther gave a small sigh and turned, leg opening for Ashley’s hand. Ashley gave Esther’s nipple an appreciative pinch, and Esther groaned, her eyes still closed as she neared sleep.
“That’s right,” whispered Ashley. Her finger dipped between Esther’s folds, spreading her and moving around the wetness. “Relax. Let me take care of you.”
With one hand, she pinched and circled Esther’s nipple, holding her firmly to Ashley’s chest. With the other, she sank one and then two fingers deep inside her, slowly pumping in and out, matching Esther’s rhythm as she ground her ass into Ashley’s crotch. Ashley waited, keeping up her small slow movements until Esther’s mouth parted and her breath hitched. Ashley captured her whimpers with a kiss and pressed down with her thumb against Esther’s clit, riding her through another orgasm, until her body finally relaxed boneless into the bed.
“Ashley, I…”
Ashley waited for Esther to finish. But her breath had slowed again, and nothing more came. She pulled the blankets over them and held Esther close, feeling alive for the first time in forever.