ASH & HARPER DATE NIGHT
HARPER
“What are you doing?” Ollie asked.
Harper whipped around. He hadn’t heard Ollie come in. “Cooking?”
“Are you sure?” Ollie bit back a smile unsuccessfully.
“I’m sure, but…” Harper surveyed the mess around him. “It started off fine. Now…”
There was 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. “Um…so what are you making?”
“A special meal for Ash.” That was the aim 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, and Ollie laughed.
“I’m sure it’s not that bad, whatever it is that 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 a cheese sauce is on the stove.”
“Wow. I’m impressed. It sounds 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 willing to bet it went better than you think. Here, I’ll help you clean up.”
“Thank you so much. I owe you. I still need to get ready.”
Harper quickly slid the salad ingredients into a miraculously clean bowl, and he and Ollie washed and dried dishes until the timer went off.
Harper checked the chicken. “It’s cooked.”
“Nice one! No food poisoning.”
Luckily, as an immortal, Ash couldn’t get food poisoning. Harper couldn’t either, come to think of it, but that was no reason to eat uncooked chicken.
“Do you want to join us?” Harper asked.
“On your date? 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. His clothes smelled like cooking and that wouldn’t do. Harper grabbed a special pair of underwear and pulled on a fitted shirt with puffy, feminine sleeves, then a fresh pair of jeans.
In front of his mirror, he added shimmer to his eyes and a dash of liner. Feeling cute and feminine made him all bubbly inside.
Harper had never spent much time admiring his reflection until recently.
Makeup and clothes let who he was come to the surface.
That was how he saw it anyway. He could be more masc when it suited him, 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 he had this life, and his old one was gone.
There was a knock at the front door, and he hurried to answer it.
“Welcome to date night.”
Ash wrapped Harper in his arms and hugged him as if they’d been apart for years. He always did that, and Harper loved it.
“I like this 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.”
“It suits you.” Ash traced the puffy sleeves.
Harper glowed, his insides churning with tingly knots. “Thank you. You happen to be wearing my favorite top of yours.”
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.
Ash captured them and kissed his knuckles. “What have you got in store for me 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. “Dinner is in the oven. Chicken with artichoke and orzo.”
“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’s 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 oven while dinner’s in there.” The toaster was no good either. He’d cut the pieces too small.
“I have an idea.” Ash’s eyes flashed. “Plate them up and I’ll toast them.”
Harper laughed. “Please don’t set the kitchen on fire.”
“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.”
Once the bread was on a plate, Harper stepped behind Ash’s right shoulder, out of the way.
A flame appeared in Ash’s palm and he turned his hand over so the fire danced between him and the bread.
Ash kept the fire from actually touching the bread, slowly passing his hand over each piece, leaving them golden brown in seconds.
“Amazing.”
The flame in Ash’s hand went out. “I love finding new ways to impress you.”
Harper kissed him. What started as a quick brush of lips turned into deep kisses, leaving Harper out of breath.
At last 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 any of his plans.
He poured the cheese sauce in a bowl and brought it to the coffee table. “What game would you like to play?”
Ash looked through the boxes beside them and selected one. “This looks fun.”
“Okay, but that’s going to take some explaining.”
Ash had chosen a game 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, reading the instructions when Harper couldn’t remember, and making some of it up as they went along.
“You’ve spiced this dip nicely.” Ash said as he dunked a piece of toast and popped it in his mouth.
“Thanks.” Harper’s face was hot again and his insides churned pleasurably.
Once they’d had a few practice rounds of the game, Harper served up the chicken, orzo, and salad.
Ash hummed with his first bite. “We have to make this again.”
“Really?” Harper tried some. It was tasty, and he was unashamed in his surprise. “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 you’re good at cooking.”
“But there’s no magic in cooking. None of my usual talents apply.”
“What about your attention to detail?”
“I forgot the toast…but I see your point.”
“I prefer immortal-fire-roasted bread anyway.” Ash smirked. “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. 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 three rounds left.”
He did win the game, damn him.
Ash let out a triumphant rumble when the points were tallied, and he scooped Harper into his arms, whisking him away to the bedroom. He tossed Harper on the bed, freeing his wings, and let them fill the room.
Harper’s heart pounded. “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 on 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 through the satin. It was so silky and perfect, each slide of Ash’s hand making Harper harder. He could easily come this way.
“You love the way pretty things feel, don’t you?” Ash cooed like he’d read Harper’s mind, or at least read him through their 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, 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 through the satin.
Harper arched off the bed. “I’m going to come.”
Ash slowed his strokes. “Damn, I can feel how close you are. 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 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. Ash purred loudly and took Harper to the back of his throat.
Harper didn’t want to come. He wanted this build of pleasure to go on and on. Ash must have wanted the same. He edged Harper, taking him close to the brink, but not letting him fall over. He sucked Harper until he couldn’t take it a second longer.
“Ash. I need you.” Harper 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 and the bond burning between them.
Ash’s lips twisted in an evil smirk. “How about from both ends?”
Harper’s brain ground to a halt. Fuck, that sounded criminally hot. “Yes.” He didn’t even know how Ash planned to accomplish it, but it didn’t matter.
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 trailed along Harper’s leg—“in your ass.” Ash brought his tail to his mouth and sucked the tip, wetting it for him.
Harper rubbed his erection against Ash’s ass. “Hell yes.”
Ash straddled Harper’s shoulders, cock right in front of Harper’s face, and pulled his panties back into place to cover his erection. Ash rubbed his cock 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 wiggling beneath his satin panties and behind his balls.
Ash 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 was 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, and Ash’s sang along with him. Harper reached for the base of Ash’s tail and stroked him in time with his 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 his cock, 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 sat bolt upright. “The mousse.”
Ash chuckled. “Let’s clean you up, get it out of the fridge, and bring it back here. I want to eat it off you.”
Harper shivered. “Best idea ever.”