Page 29 of Falling for Ash
“Oh my, I have to go!”
“Alright, I will take you to the portal once I have fed you.”
“No, I’m not hungr?—”
Gabriella stopped, face flaming as her stomach rumbled. Yes, she was hungry. Yes, it was the typical chubby girl move. But oh well. She liked food. It was a fact she could hardly deny.
“Ernie would have prepared a feast for us by now,” he grinned, taking her hand, and stopping at the large bathroom.
He motioned for her to use the facilities first, and Gabby’s heart swelled at his thoughtfulness. No one had ever treated her with such respect and tenderness before. She could really get used to that.
“And you shall,” he whispered, kissing her hand and ushering her inside the bathroom. He closed the door reluctantly, and she leaned against it, expelling a sigh.
The bathroom was impressive in its size and tasteful extravagance. Black glass tiles and countertops with a glass door enclosed six-headed shower on one side, and a huge sunken tub on another. She really hoped she got the chance to use both.
With him.
Oh yes.
Her increasingly familiar inner voice whispered once more in her head, and she grinned. Gabriella was beginning to recognize it as part of her. Her Wolf perhaps. Anyway, she had a feeling that would come in handy.
She brushed her teeth with the spare toothbrush that appeared on the counter, used the toilet, washed her hands and face, and brushed her hair, braiding it into a neat bun at her nape. There was nothing to be done about the wrinkled state of her dress, but she felt presentable, at least. Her complexion was clear and her blue eyes bright, despite her overindulgence the night before.
“You look beautiful,” Ash said the moment she rejoined him.
“Don’t you have to use the bathroom?” she asked.
“I used the guest one while you were in there,” he said, and held out a chair for her in the dining room.
A number of dishes covered the table. Everything smelled wonderful. There was an entire glazed ham, small roasted potatoes, Danishes, bagels, croissants, fresh fruits and cheeses, smoked lox, poached eggs, and a mountain of waffles.
“How many people are you feeding?” She gasped, astounded at the sheer amount of food.
“How do you mean?”
“Never mind,” she said, turning when she heard the clicking of Ernie’s clawed legs on the marble floors.
“Good morning, Ernie. I’m Gabby.”
The Imp looked from Gabby to Ash, and back to Gabby once more. He swallowed nervously, ducking his head as if embarrassed. A day ago she would have been creeped out by this strange creature, but she felt her heart warming to him. Ernie was actually quite sweet.
“Morning, mistress.”
“This is Gabriella, Ernie. You may call her by her name,” Ash said kindly.
“Yes, Mast—, I mean, yes, Boss,” he corrected himself.
“You see, the entire Underworld has gone through a complete change at Lucifer’s whim. I have only just returned after being away for some time, but Ernie here has been in my employ for centuries. It will take time to adjust, but we will get through it. Won’t we, Ernie?”
“Yes, M—, I mean, Boss,” he replied, placing a fresh urn of coffee on the table.
“The coffee smells wonderful, Ernie, thank you,” Gabby said to Ernie.
“Oh, the missus is to take credit for that. She roasted the beans with magic and brewed them herself!” Ernie smiled, showing three short, sharp teeth in his mouth. His face was so full of joy at her praise!
Gabby grinned and asked him to thank his wife for her, and he promised he would. Fascinating, she thought.
Ernie left to finish other duties, and Gabby was surprisingly comfortable alone with Ash. They ate in companionable silence with the odd question here and there. She was uncertain what would happen next. Her time with him was ending, but he said he would help her through her Change. She wondered if he meant that.
