Page 21 of Falling for Ash
This time, they both laughed. It felt so real, so right, to be able to simply sit and talk with her. It was strange for him. Demons did not usually get all touchy feely. When he was in pursuit of a female, he typically used all his powers of seduction to get what he wanted.
But what did he want?
What really?
The question startled him almost as much as the answer. His inner Demon seemed to know before he did.
Ash wanted her.
Wholly and completely.
Mate.
“Yeah,” she said, clearing her throat and recapturing his attention. “So, where are we?”
“My home,” he replied immediately, wanting more than ever to put her at ease.
He watched as she looked around and saw the rather plain interior. It wasn’t that it was bare or even cheap, on the contrary, but it was impersonal. Something that made him feel a little jittery.
“I know it is not much?—”
“Are you kidding? I was raised with Mim’s tastes. I know quality, and this place is that. The bones of this house are sublime, and the furniture is really nice, Ash.”
“Thank you,” he said automatically, but he knew it seemed sterile and empty.
“How long have you lived here?”
“It’s been mine a long time,” he explained. “Demons live a lot longer than most. But, um, I’ve been gone a while.”
“Oh,” she replied, squeezing his hand.
He hated to think what she thought of anyone living in such an impersonal space.
Did she find him shallow?
Or reticent?
He was neither, truly.
But how was he going to convey that and convince her how much she meant to him?
“What is it?” Ash asked when she started to bite her lower lip. He reached out and smoothed the abused flesh from her teeth, concern filling every inch of him.
“Oh, nothing.” Her face was flaming, and he knew she was embarrassed at being caught scrutinizing his home.
“You live here alone?”
“Yes. Well, except for Ernie and the other Imps in my employ. I have owned this place for centuries,” he murmured.
“You said you were gone a while. Gone where?”
“It’s not something I like to talk about,” he said.
“I’m so sorry to pry,” Gabby said, and he immediately regretted his hasty words.
“No! I mean, I should apologize. This is not easy to explain,” he said and exhaled, trying to steady his nerves. “I played a minor role in the recent Werewolf uprising, you see.”
“Werewolf uprising?”
