Page 32 of Ash
ChapterTwenty-Four
Ash
Two months.
Two months, 6 days and 14 hours since I'd last spoken to Lainey. I could count the seconds as well but that seemed a little too extreme even for me.
Two months of my heart breaking, of moping about to the extent that the others couldn’t bear to be around me for more than a few minutes. And I tried to snap out of it. To put it to the back of my mind. But I couldn't.
So I had taken every mission given to me.
And it still didn't help. Lainey was always foremost in my mind. My first thought and my last.
I doubted it would ever be any different. My mate wanted nothing to do with me.
“Hey.” King looked up from his place lifting weights in the corner of the common room. He eyed me slowly. From the tips of my muddy boots to the dirt smeared across my face. “You look like hell, you just got back?”
I shrugged, dumping my pack by the door. “Yeah for now? Where is everyone?” I expected the place to be full. No one from our team was out on missions as far as I knew. They were too busy trying to make the dires civilised members of society. I wasn't down for that. I hadn't killed them all but that didn't mean I hadn't wanted to, The others might be ok with sharing the same air as them but I wasn't. Not after what they had cost me.
“Around.” King settled the giant weight to his feet. “Are you staying for a while?”
I shrugged. Being here was just too painful. It held too many memories. Every time I looked up at the tree-lined mountain I couldn't help but think about her. “For a few days but I'll be back for Leo's big day don't worry.”
King lapsed into silence. Chewing on his lip. When he raised his head to me there was a mischievous look in his eyes. “Shame. I'm not sure a few days is long enough.” He mulled.
I stared at him blankly, not comprehending his words until he grinned at me. “You-” I couldn't even finish the words. “You mean?” Nervously I tugged at my hair.
“Upstairs brother. Your room.”
My eyes darted to the door that led to the stairs and then I was running. Bounding up the two at a time with his laughter following after me I barreled into the room and skidded to a stop. Breathing heavily.
Lainey turned in shock. Her eyes were wide as she took in my panting form. “Ash.” She finally said my name.
“Lainey,” I said her name like a prayer. “God, it's good to see you.” I took a stumbling step into the room before I could stop myself. “I've missed you so damn much.”
Her eyes widened even more. And for a second I could see doubt and fear flick into her eyes. I dropped the hand I'd been reaching for her back to my side.
“Sorry, I-”
“I've missed you too.”
Her words hit me like a sledgehammer, all the oxygen in my lungs left me in a rush. “You mean that?” I had to make sure she meant the words because if she didn't then i was going to go through all the pain all over again.
“Yes.”She stared down at her feet. Scuffing her toe on the rug. “Yes, I mean it. I just needed to think and talk things through with Laura. She explained some things to me.”
“What did she explain, Lainey?”
“That you love me.” Lainey lifted her eyes to meet mine finally. And her smile was shy. “The kind of love that I can't imagine. And I- well I think I understand better now.”
Taking a step towards her, I caught her hand up in mine. Linking our fingers together “What do you understand, Lainey?” Holding my breath I waited for her to answer me. The hope in my chest was making it impossible to breathe.
“That we are meant to be together.”
Her words brought me back to life. Pulling her into my arms, I delved my nose into her sweet smelling hair. No kisses, no panting, needy touches. I just wanted to hold her and breathe in the scent of her. “You mean that?”
“Yes, Ash I mean that.”
“I thought you were going to reject me?” Tilting her face up I smiled down at her. “You aren't going to do that Lainey, are you?”
She smiled and it brought my heart back to life. Shaking her head, she reached up on tiptoes and pressed her lips to mine. “No Ash, I'm not going to,” a blush crept up her cheeks. “In fact, I was going to ask you to- I can't remember what Laura called it.” She trailed off self-consciously.
“You want me to claim you?” I couldn't believe my ears. It was like all my birthdays and Christmas had come at once. Running my hand down her slender throat, my fingers pressed down on the place where her neck met her shoulder. “You want me to mark you here and make you mine?”
“Yes, will it hurt?”
I pressed my lips where my fingers had just been. “No sweet girl. The pleasure I'm about to give you will take away all the pain. I promise.”
