ASH & HARPER HARPER’S BIRTHDAY
ASH & HARPER: HARPER’S BIRTHDAY
ASH
Ash was in trouble. This didn’t look right.
“Fuck.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and checked the recipe. The mascarpone was definitely over-whipped.
Tiramisu hadn’t seemed difficult to make. Yeah, there were a lot of steps, but Ash had done so well with the egg and sugar mixture in the double boiler that whipping some mascarpone didn’t seem like an issue.
The recipe had said to be careful if using a stand mixer because they were powerful and over-whipping could happen easily, so Ash opted to hand-mix. The instructions clearly weren’t written with demon strength in mind.
Ash dumped the ruined mascarpone and started again. He had plenty of time and ingredients. Harper was at work, and Ash wasn’t picking him up until the evening.
It was his mate’s birthday tomorrow, and Ash wanted to have a special treat for him.
The second try with the mascarpone went better. Ash added the cream, then folded in the egg thing—or as the recipe called it, the zabaglione. The resulting mixture was slightly yellow, unlike any tiramisu Ash had seen in a restaurant, but it tased fine, which was most important.
Ash set the mixture aside and readied the dipping liquid for the lady fingers.
“Something smells good,” Dante called as he came in from the deck.
Ash shot him a flame-flecked glare. “Don’t touch a thing.”
Dante laughed. “I won’t. Not if it would risk ruining Harper’s surprise.”
“Good.” Ash planned to make Harper’s twenty-fifth birthday the best he’d ever had. Sadly, that wasn’t hard. The bar was appallingly low given this was Harper’s first birthday free of his coven. Despite this, Ash was going all in. He’d blow all previous birthdays out of the water.
They were having a party with everyone and their mates at Harper’s favorite restaurant tomorrow night. Before that, Ash planned to fly Harper to a small seaside town south of the city to go sightseeing. Harper was aware of those activities, but he didn’t know what Ash had planned for tonight.
Harper’s birthday started at midnight, after all.
“I’m surprised I never have to fight you for use of the kitchen,” Ash said, as Dante pulled a carton of chocolate milk out of the fridge.
“Enjoying baked goods doesn’t mean I want to create them.” Dante took a sip straight from the carton. “Things taste better when I don’t cook.”
Ash used to do a lot of cooking at his hunting lodge. More cooking than hunting, really. “Maybe I should give you lessons.”
Dante returned the milk to the fridge. “Aren’t you trying to force me to eat less sweets, not enable me?”
Ash snorted. “True. Help me dip these. Once they’re moistened, place them in that dish there.” He pointed to the lady fingers and baking dish.
“I can do that.” Dante maneuvered to the opposite side of the kitchen island so he could help without their wings bumping. He picked up a lady finger. “Do you need all of these?”
“Yes, but if there’s any filling left over when we’re done, you can lick the bowl clean.”
“I’m not going to lick the bowl,” Dante said as if he was offended.
Ash shrugged.
It didn’t take long to layer everything together and dust the top of the tiramisu with cocoa powder. Ash transferred the dish into the fridge and turned around to find Dante scraping a broken lady finger along the inside of the mixing bowl, collecting the creamy filling.
Dante ate it then licked his fingers. “It’d be better without the rum.”
“I think the rum adds a nice counter-flavor to all the sweetness.”
“If you say so. I just don’t think it needs it.”
“If I ever make one for you, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Dante grinned.
“Thank you for letting me have the house tonight,” Ash said as they cleaned up.
“No problem. I’d rather not overhear whatever you have planned.”
Ash hesitated. He didn’t want to impose. “You still don’t mind me living here?”
“No. I want you here, Ash. I’ve spent enough time by myself and would rather we all live together. Why do you think this place has so many bedrooms?”
“Eight rooms did seem a little excessive.” Ash’s chest warmed as he imagined all of them together.
Dante stared down the hall. “Harper might not want to move in. He’ll probably prefer a place for the two of you, but if he does want to move in, all he has to do is let me know.”
“Harper won’t want to move out of his apartment any time soon.” He loved living with Ollie and being within walking distance to work and all the restaurants in the Banks. “But when we take that step, I have a feeling he’ll love your offer.”
Harper wanted a family, and Ash could see him enjoying living with Dante, and even Onyx.
Ash and his brothers had lived together off and on over the centuries. Once everyone had a few years—or decades—of living alone with their mates, Ash was sure they’d come back together and enjoy a big family home.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to offer Onyx his room,” Dante admitted with a sheepish look.
Ash understood. “I wouldn’t worry about it. He and his mate will let us know when they want more time with us.”
“True. And who knows, Onyx could be easier to live with now that he’s mated.”
Ash and Dante had walked in on more than a few Onyx-related surprises over the centuries. Ash shook the memories off. “Either way, I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. I doubt anyone is moving anywhere in a hurry. As long as you aren’t kicking me out.”
Dante rolled his eyes. “I’d never.”
Ash clapped Dante on the shoulder. “Thanks, brother.”
“I’ll see you at the restaurant tomorrow night. Unless you needed anything before I go?”
“All good.” Ash wasn’t asking for help decorating the bedroom.
Dante left, and Ash killed time making sure everything was in order until Harper was due to finish work.
A thrill of excitement wound down the bond, telling Ash that Harper’s thoughts had probably shifted toward tonight.
Ash purred in satisfaction as he set off across the city. By the time he landed on the roof of Harper’s apartment building, Harper texted to say he’d arrived home. Ash headed down the stairs and knocked on the door.
Harper swung it open. “That was quick. I haven’t even changed yet.”
Ash swept him into a kiss. “I can wait.”
Harper melted against him. “You know I don’t need anything for my birthday tonight, right?”
“Who said anything about tonight? I want you to sleep over so I can wake you up with a birthday breakfast.”
Harper eyed him. “Okay. So, tonight is just a regular night?”
Ash hesitated. Was there a reason Harper didn’t want too much for his birthday? “I may have an early present for you,” he admitted.
Harper’s brows raised. “But you said we were doing presents at dinner tomorrow night. I don’t even need presents. I’m not a kid. All I need is my family.”
Ash kissed him. He couldn’t help it. Harper opened for him, and Ash worked him over, tongue invading his sweet mouth.
Eventually Ash pulled back. “You have your family. That’s never in question. Everyone is bringing their gifts to dinner, like we planned, but I have a little something extra for you. If that’s okay?”
Harper’s cheeks flushed. He could, no doubt, feel Ash’s anticipation and excitement through the bond, and might even be able to guess what direction this was heading, given Ash couldn’t keep his arousal completely contained.
Harper nodded, biting back a smile. “You’re going to spoil me, aren’t you?”
“Obviously.”
Harper released his lower lip and soft joy flooded the bond. “All right. I’ll allow it. Let me shower and change, then you can whisk me away.”
“Perfect.”
Harper rushed to the bathroom, and Ash made himself at home in the living room. Ollie seemed to be out, so Ash entertained himself with a new coffee table book he hadn’t noticed before. It showcased interior design from the eighties. Harper must have bought it. He loved vintage aesthetics.
At last, Ash’s mate appeared dressed and ready.
Ash set the book down and stood. “Come on, sweet. It’s time to have some fun.”
He flew them across the city, insides tingling. The tiramisu wasn’t the only thing he had waiting for Harper.
As they landed on the deck, Ash asked, “Would it be all right if I blindfolded you?”
Surprise jolted down the bond. “Like during sex?”
Ash grinned, letting his fangs drop. “Oh, I’d love to blindfold you while I play with you, sweet, but I meant now. I don’t want you seeing anything until it’s all ready.”
“That’s fine. We can come back to blindfolding me during sex. Maybe later tonight?” He sounded so hopeful.
Ash ran a hand through Harper’s wind-tousled hair. “You’re going to want to see what’s happening later, believe me.”
“Okay, but we’ll explore blindfolds soon. I can’t believe I missed them off my list.”
“Deal.” Ash pulled a silk blindfold from his pocket. “Put this on.”
Harper hurried to comply. Once the blindfold was secured, Harper grabbed Ash’s arm. “Wait. Are we going somewhere outside? I don’t want to trip.”
“No, not outside.” Ash lifted Harper into his arms and carried him through the house to his bedroom.
A chair that wasn’t normally in the room sat facing the large bed. Ash set Harper in the seat, and Harper ran his hands over the armrests, like he was trying to piece together his surroundings.
Ash tilted Harper’s chin. “Wait here while I get ready.”
“Get ready? For what?” Harper turned his head around even though he couldn’t see.
“That’s the surprise. Can I trust you not to peek?”
“Yes,” Harper grumbled.
Ash patted his head. “Good boy.”
Harper squirmed. He responded to praise so beautifully. That was something else they needed to explore further.
“Don’t take too long,” Harper pleaded.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Ash strode past the bed, which was covered in rose petals, and into the bathroom. He shut the door and stripped off his clothes. A box sat on the counter, and as Ash lifted the lid, unexpected butterflies churned inside him. He hadn’t done anything like this before.
Would he look silly?
Ash shook off the question. There was nothing to worry about. He was with his mate. He could try anything he pleased.