But Ash needed more than sex to win Harper over. Harper was comfortable sharing his body with Ash, and Ash loved that,but it wasn’t all Ash wanted. Harper still hadn’t opened up in any other way.
 
 Ash glanced around the bare room. Harper was hiding from his coven and had said he’d only recently moved in with Ollie. He must have taken almost nothing with him when he’d run and not had time to settle in permanently. But that was all Ash knew about the situation.
 
 Which coven was he running from? Why would a coven turn against one of their own? A coven’s group loyalty was supposed to come above all else. Families of witches were usually tight-knit and ruthless toward outsiders who tried to harm them.
 
 Harper stirred on Ash’s chest and Ash’s hand went automatically to his hair.
 
 “What time is it?” Harper murmured.
 
 “Not sure, sweet.” Ash glanced out the window. “Looks like early evening. Are you hungry?” They must have slept a while. Ash should have set an alarm. He didn’t like his mate missing meals.
 
 A door closed somewhere else in the apartment.
 
 Harper sat bold upright. “Oh no, that’s Ollie.”
 
 Ash rubbed Harper’s back, smiling at the slight squeak in Harper’s voice. “Why is that anoh no?”
 
 Harper twisted to meet Ash’s gaze. His cheeks bloomed with color, and he seemed to lose his train of thought.
 
 Ash brushed Harper’s red cheeks with the back of his hand. “What are you thinking, sweet?”
 
 The flush spread down Harper’s neck. “Just thinking about what we did earlier…” He bit his lip. “With your tail.” The tips of his ears turned red and his fresh floral scent rolled off him in waves.
 
 Ash purred, his cock thickening. “I’d love to do it again, but not if your human roommate is here. Next time, we can go to myplace. That way, I can show you my demon form without restrictions.”
 
 Harper let out a soft, panting breath. “Yeah. I’d like that.” Another noise from the apartment caught his attention, and he glanced at the bedroom door. “But you’re right. Let’s not, you know, while Ollie is here.”
 
 Ash poked Harper in the side, and he squirmed. “I’m not sure I do know. What are you saying?” He furrowed his brow in feigned confusion.
 
 “Ugh.” Harper rolled his eyes. “I mean…have sex.” The last word came out in an adorable whisper.
 
 Ash sat up and pulled Harper into a kiss. “I like hearing you say what you mean. There’s no need to be embarrassed.”
 
 A shudder rolled through Harper’s body. “So if I ask you to…to fuck me with your tail again, you won’t think that’s weird?”
 
 “No.” Ash brushed his nose against Harper’s. “Your desires could never be weird.”
 
 Harper grinned. “Good to know.”
 
 They got up and dressed, Harper glancing at the door so often you’d think it was about to burst open. Was he hesitant to have Ash around Ollie because he was human and unaware of magic, or was it something more?
 
 He followed Harper into the living room. Ollie was on the couch, legs folded beneath him as he scrolled on his phone.
 
 “Hey.” Ollie shot a glance Harper’s way, then did a double take, staring at Ash. He sat up straighter. “Who’s this?”
 
 “Ollie, meet Ash.” Harper shifted restlessly. “From the club, remember? I had his number, and, um, we got coffee.”
 
 Ollie smiled. “Coffee. Nice. Good to see you again, Ash.”
 
 “Likewise.” Ash slid an arm around Harper. “I’ll leave you be, sweet. Have a good evening.”
 
 Harper’s cheeksflamed. “You too.”
 
 “Text you later.” Ash kissed him on the cheek and released him. With a nod to Ollie, who watched them gleefully, phone forgotten, Ash exited the living room and walked down the hall, slipping out the front door.
 
 He went to the roof. Even though he wanted to stay and watch over his mate, Ash flew home.
 
 His talk with Dante and Onyx was overdue.