Scott Tulle’s eyes opened slowly, his lids still heavy, his mind still pulling itself from the dream the angel had awoken from. The room was dark, lit only by the moonlight that streamed through the bedroom window nearby, casting an almost eerie blue glow that barely illuminated the space. A breeze lifted the thin curtain, the fabric sheer and ethereal as it fluttered lazily away from the window.
Scott inhaled deeply, rolling onto his back, the smooth sheets shifting over his naked body, caressing him gently, inviting him to stay in bed just a little longer. He would, if not for that damn window being open and allowing the cold to seep into the otherwise warm apartment. He sat up with a quiet groan, his lower back complaining for only an instant. He rubbed at it, glancing at the still sleeping form of the man next to him, his back to Scott.
He must have turned some time in the night, Scott thought with a soft smile. At least he enjoys cuddling.
A muscle in Scott’s cheek twitched and his smile disappeared. He swung his legs off the side of the large king-sized bed and reached for the sheer robe that lay in a puddle at his feet. He threw it over his shoulders, his arms sliding through the silky material, and stood, tying the sash loosely around his waist. The robe only fell to his thighs, something he liked. It was why he had persuaded Ash to buy it for him in the first place.
“Comfort isn’t the point of this,” he chuckled, running his fingers over the material. He gave Ash a coy grin. “It’s seduction.”
Ash rolled his eyes. “If you say so,” he said. He fingered the robe, letting the sash run through his hand. “It does feel nice,” he admitted in a low voice.
“And it would look better on the floor,” Scott said, leaning in to whisper in his ear. Ash’s skin shivered, his grip tightening briefly on the robe. “Besides, our anniversary is coming up. Maybe I want to do something special for you.”
Ash’s shoulders tensed and he released the garment, letting it swing on its hanger. “You don’t have to do anything for me,” he said. “I told you…”
“It’s a big deal to me, love,” Scott said, wrapping his arms around Ash’s. “Please, let me spoil you for a day. I want to. You’ve been so busy with school and everything, you deserve it, don’t you think?”
Ash’s lips turned down slightly, his jade green eyes darkening a shade. Scott rested his chin on Ash’s bicep, taking in his boyfriend’s dark circles and two day growth. His almost jet-black hair was mussed, hanging in a curtain over his eyes. He’d been pulling a lot of all-nighter’s lately preparing for their upcoming finals, and Scott could see the stress was getting to him. A night of romance was just what he needed, even if the human wasn’t a romantic person, himself.
Ash sighed softly. “I still have another final to study for, Scott.”
“It’s just one night,” Scott said, pulling the robe off the rack. “And besides, it looks good on me, doesn’t it?” He held it up to himself, smoothing the end over his thighs.
Ash gave him an appraising look, his features softening slightly. “You really think you can seduce me in that thing?”
Scott’s eyebrow cocked. “I do.”
Ash stared at him for another long moment, his expression unreadable. Scott held his breath, wondering if the memory of what Ash had seen last week had somehow resurfaced. He doubted it, assured of his abilities, but the anxiety still gripped at his stomach.
Ash looked away, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Fine, you win.”
Scott had to hold himself back from squealing with delight. He hugged the robe to himself, excited at the prospect of a long night of hot sex and sweet romance.
He didn’t get it.
Ash spent the night at the study hall instead, cramming for his calculus final.
Scott used the robe on another man instead, with much more satisfying results.
Scott padded over to the window, pushing it closed. He stared up at the bright, crescent-shaped moon, watching as clouds drifted lazily over the otherwise clear night sky, the stars like brilliant jewels on a velvet blanket. He perched himself on the window sill, one leg folded under, his fingers laced between his thighs, the robe slipping off one pale shoulder.
He rested his head against the cold pane of glass, his thoughts drifting across the city to where he knew Ash was, wishing the boy would just come to his senses and return to him. He would have already if that little merman hadn’t shown up when he did. Scott knew Ash would come home, he always did. Of course, this time away was longer, about a month before Scott spotted him and that little blue-haired brat at Rhett’s, but that didn’t mean anything. He’d convinced Ash to return to him many times before, and this would be no different.
Except he somehow got it into his head that he really was done with Scott, that he loved the mythic and not him, something the angel knew wasn’t possible. Ash loved him, had always loved him. How many times had he told Scott that no one could compare to him? That Scott was the best thing that had ever happened to him? It didn’t matter to Ash that he wasn’t Scott’s soulmate, that sort of thing didn’t mean anything to him. It meant even less to Scott.
He loved Ash, was insane for him, had been since the night they’d met at that club downtown. Those dark green eyes, wild dark hair, sexy lips, five foot ten, and a body that just didn’t quit…Ashley Turner was every gay boy’s wet dream. Scott knew the human could turn the heads of women as well, he’d seen it happen many times, but Ash didn’t give them the time of day. He also knew not to encourage the other men in the area, either. He belonged to Scott and only Scott. Other men knew to keep their distance, and Ash knew not to speak to them, period.
Ash had been good at keeping within the boundaries Scott had set for him, never questioning them or arguing too much whenever Scott had an issue. He’d been the perfect boyfriend, the perfect human to keep.
Scott had never had any issues seducing men before, it was why he preferred humans to any other race. They were easy to manipulate, easy to control. Ash had been different. After that first night together, Scott couldn’t get enough. He wanted Ash around more, wanted to be near him, to own him. He was more than just another attractive man to pull into his bed, he was also easy to talk to and get along with. Ash listened and cared about what he had to say. For a while, it hadn’t been hard to keep Ash’s attention solely on him.
Maybe it was the string of failed relationships and hookups the boy’d had before meeting Scott that night that made it so easy to keep Ash around. Or maybe it was because the angel really was growing attached to him. After almost a century, he’d finally found a man he didn’t want to dispose of. It hadn’t taken Ash long to fall for him, and Scott hadn’t had to do too much to encourage it. When Ash had first told Scott he loved him, the angel was floored. No one had ever told him that before. But then, none of them stuck around long enough to develop such feelings.
Scott became borderline obsessed at that point, wanting to keep that connection, wanting to keep Ash at his side. Yes, there were times he got bored, and Ash wasn’t giving him the attention Scott knew he deserved, but that didn’t mean Scott didn’t still want him. That he didn’t still love him. The other men he slept with had meant literally nothing to him. Meaningless sex to fill the space Ash was creating between them.
Only three times had he needed to wipe Ash’s memories, and that was only because Scott had been careless, misjudging Ash’s school schedule, or him coming home early for one reason or another. The last time was a complete error on Scott’s part. Ash was supposed to be working for Rhett that day but the bar had been slow and he wasn’t needed. Scott thought he had time. In retrospect, he should have just gone to the other boy’s house instead of bringing him home.
He clenched his fist, still angry at himself for not moving quick enough to wipe Ash’s memory again. He wouldn’t stay still, he wouldn’t let Scott touch him at all. All he’d needed was a few seconds, and everything would have been fine. Ash would still be here where he belonged, secure in Scott’s possession as he was meant to be.
But that boy…that merman. He had to show up at the absolute worst time and ruin everything. Spotting them on the way to Rhett’s had been a stroke of luck, an opportunity the angel couldn’t pass up. Ash was being ridiculous, fawning over that creature, smiling and gazing at him like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.
He’d never once looked at Scott like that. If nothing else, that was what infuriated him the most. He’d worked hard to keep Ash’s affections and trust, and while it was true he’d abused that trust many times through his cheating and lies, he’d refused to let it slip away. Ash was still his, still belonged to him. Soulmates be damned, the merman had no right to what Scott had already claimed for himself. He’d tried to prove that when he grabbed the child’s arm, and was beyond livid when it backfired.
Ash had touched him in that alley, had established the link he wasn’t supposed to have, and Scott had lost.
Scott Tulle did not lose. If he wanted something, or someone, he took it. He glanced over at the man still sleeping soundly in his bed, his breathing soft and even, whereas just a few hours before it was deep and ragged, his entire being lost in Scott. It had been easy to claim him, easier than he’d expected, honestly. Scott knew he was beautiful, knew his looks and charms were beyond compare. Reeling in straight men wasn’t difficult, and this one had been no different.
Of all the men Scott had at his beck and call, this one was useful, a tool for Scott to use in his efforts to get to Ash, to find a way to hurt him for breaking the rules, for leaving him. The only difference between him and the others was, outside of Ash, Scott preferred him. Of course, Scott knew he was playing a long game with him, knew that his revenge couldn’t be taken quickly. If anything, the end result would be sweeter because of the build up, because of how intense that punishment would ultimately be for Ash. It would also teach the human a lesson he should remember never to forget in the future:
He belonged to Scott.
When all was said and done, Ash Turner would be his again. He would see the error of his ways, swear to behave, to atone, and return to Scott’s side where he belonged.
There was only one obstacle in his way, one that needed to be removed. That foul little fish. Co-Bieasah Turner.
Scott froze, his head coming off the window.
Wait…Turner? How did he know Coby’s name was now Turner? He was aware of the soul connection, he’d seen it happen with his own eyes. But had the two actually entered into a soul union? Even then, how was that knowledge he could have? Coby was a mythic, a pathetic creature who didn’t matter in the grand scheme of the Universal Core. The only way Scott, or really any Divine or Child would know about the union would be if…
His lips parted, his eyes going wide as the realization hit him like a bolt of lightning sent from Zeus himself.
That is not possible…there is absolutely no way that boy has any connection to the Veil.
But that energy…that strange energy he’d felt when he’d grabbed him. Red and roiling beneath the surface of the pitiful amount of natural energy he contained. It was different, unusual…almost as though…
He shook his head…no…it couldn’t be. Something like that only happened in stories, a fairy tale to entertain children and teach them some sort of underlying moral. To see one in real life…it just didn’t happen. Yet, the idea that a merman held any level of Divine influence made him far more uncomfortable than he was willing to admit. If that was the case, getting Ash away from him was going to be a lot harder than he originally thought.
This long game was going to need more pieces involved if he expected to win.
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