Page 25 of Demon's Mate
Ash burned for Harper.
His demon form had never forced itself to the surface like it was something foreign taking him over. What was happening?
Ash’s mind filled with vivid images. He’d mount Harper from behind and fuck him until he was dripping with cum. Sinkhis teeth into Harper’s perfect, sweet neck and make Harper his.
He’d nearly done it just now, bitten him and tasted his blood. Harper had come, spilling his seed on Ash’s skin, and Ash had lost all reason. He’d almost done something he couldn’t take back.
Fuck, what was wrong with him? This wasn’t right.
A small voice inside insisted:It is right. Nothing is wrong. Ash had to claim Harper. Mate him. Not just taste his blood but give him his in return. Bind the two of them together and keep Harper. Forever.
Ash’s shuddering breaths choked out into nothing. He hadn’t thought about the act of mating—in detail—in over a thousand years.
Mating wasn’t the same as sex, though it did involve sex. Ash might have had the desire to fuck over the centuries, but mating hadn’t appealed at all. Until now. The need to perform the ritual—fuck, feed, claim—sent Ash to his knees. He gouged the roof tiles with his fingers, trying desperately to hold on to something. Anything.
Maybe he should lay Harper out on his back. Spread his legs and fill him while they kissed. That way, Ash could watch Harper writhe and lose himself in pleasure as Ash’s cock pumped into him. Yes, that’s what Ash wanted: Harper’s dark-brown eyes gazing up at him as pleasure flushed his face. Then Ash would bite, mate, and watch his cum drip from Harper’s hole.
Mine.
But Harper wasn’t his mate. Ash shook himself, withdrawing his fingers from the roof and forcing himself to stand.
It was impossible. None of the Fallen would ever find their mates. It was their punishment and the council wasn’t forgiving. Their mates would never be found in the Human Realm. Ashhad known that for well over a thousand years. There had never been solid proof that any Eternal could find their fated mate on Earth.
How could Ash forget the facts?
Was it a side effect of seeing Dante for the first time in too long, and confronting Dante’s unwavering conviction he’d find his mate? That, plus depriving himself of blood and being a little too horny for the gorgeous man he’d picked up?
Yes, that was all.
Harper’s unique scent must have unlocked something in Ash’s brain. No, within his baser demon sense. Along with everything else, it was too much. He’d cracked.
The urge to claim Harper faded. Ash’s blood cooled, and the night air finally felt refreshing.
Harper wasn’t his mate. Of course he wasn’t. Ash had never heard of anyone being overcome by the mate connection like this. Eternals didn’t go into a frenzy and claim them like crazed beasts the second they found their other half.
Ash needed to get out of here. Fly far away. He crouched, readying to launch off the roof, but he couldn’t get his body to cooperate. His wings remained folded against his back and his legs infuriatingly stiff.
He didn’t want to leave Harper. Which was stupid. Or maybe not. The way he’d run out had to have confused Harper. Ash’s chest tightened. Would Harper be hurt? Fuck. Ash had been worse than rude, but he couldn’t go back now, naked, clothes shredded, with his wings out, and apologize.
Ash tried to force his demon features away. They didn’t budge. What the Hell? They’d never disobeyed him. Putting his wings away was as easy as taking a step.
He tried again. And again.
It took longer than he’d like to admit. By the time he hadcommand over his wings, it had been far too long to seek Harper out.
Ash remained on the roof, guilt rooting him to the spot. Harper had been open and vulnerable with him, had trusted him, and in return, Ash had walked out on him in the most disrespectful way. For that alone, Ash didn’t deserve anything more from Harper.
It was a good thing Harper wasn’t his mate. He wouldn’t be pleased to see Ash if their paths ever crossed again. Not that they would. Once Ash managed to get off the roof, he’d never go near Harper again.
Ash landedon Dante’s deck overlooking the city. He managed to get inside and find some clothes before Dante or Onyx spotted him.
The sun rose as Ash moved through the house. He’d sat on Harper’s roof feeling like a foolish asshole all night.
Ash ignored the ache in his chest as he entered Dante's kitchen. It was just guilt. He’d fucked up, but there was nothing he could do about it. His feelings had nothing to do with wanting to fly back to the Banks.
Ash opened Dante’s fridge and pulled out a bag of blood. The whole feverish episode seemed ridiculous now. He couldn’t believe he’d been thinking about mates.
He heated up a mug of blood and downed it, then prepared another. He had to take better care of himself. Be more aware of his mental state and what his demon sense was telling him. If he had, perhaps he could have avoided the mess with Harper.
