Lies and desire

As the morning sunlight slowly pierced through the curtains, Ash stirred, blinking tiredly. The events of the previous night crashed into his already aching head, and he became painfully aware of the difficulty he had moving. That was because Lucian was sprawled half on top of him, holding him tightly in his sleep. One of Ash's arms was trapped under the man's weight, gradually growing more numb by the second. 

" Shit". He muttered internally, shifting slightly - only for Lucian to instinctively pull him closer. 

- Morning. - he murmured, a lazy smile playing on his lips as he buried his face against Ash's neck, pressing a slow kiss there while inhaling his scent deeply

- Morning. - Ash chuckled, though his amusement was short - lived as he made a futile attempt to escape from the other man's strong grip. 

Lucian stretched, his muscles flexing beneath the sheets, before he shifted and finally met Ash's gaze. 

- So, should i ask now? Any regrets? 

Ash let the question lingering in the air, rolling it around in his mind for a moment before shaking his head. 

- None. - he admitted quietly, though he wasn't really sure about that. - You? 

Lucian grinned, pulling Ash in for a slow, lazy kiss. 

- Not even close. 

 Ash with a chuckle, let himself sink back into the man's warmth. 

He felt the warmth creep up his face at the sound of Lucian's voice. " Damn". He thought. " He's too sexy for his own good". 

But the peace didn't last long. 

A loud, annoying buzzing from the coffee table jolted them both out of their sleepy haze. Ash groaned, relucant to move, but Lucian reached out blindly, snatching Ash's phone and squinting at the screen. 

- Looks like someone really wants your attention. - Lucian mused, tilting the phone so Ash could see the name flashing on the screen. 

- Shit. - Ash cursed under his breath. 

- That bad? - Lucian arched a brow. 

Ash sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. 

- It's my boss. If i don't answear It means I'll be scolded. 

Lucian went still. For just a second, his expression flickered. But then he schooled it away, flashing Ash a smirk. 

- Scolded, huh? And here I thought last night was fun. 

Ash forced a chuckle, taking the phone from Lucian's hands, but his pulse was suddenly racing for an entirely different reason. He knew Lucian wasn't stupid. If he wasn't careful, everything could unravel right here. 

Lucian leaned in, pressing a lazy kiss to Ash's jaw before whispering. 

- Better answear, sweetheart. Wouldn't want you to get caught. 

Ash stiffened. The words were teasing - casual, almost. But there was something else underneath. Something that sent a chill down his spine. He swallowed hard and answeared the call, Lucian watching him with steady eyes, his fingers tracing slow, deliberate patterns along Ash's arm.  This morning was going to be a chaos, Ash thought as he turned slightly away, loweing his voice. 

- Yeah? 

The voice on the other end was sharp, businesslike. 

- You're late. 

- I know. - Ash muttered, rubing his temple. - Had a long night. What's up? 

A pause. Then the words that made his stomac drop. 

-  Maybe you heard about that investigator in the city. Lucian Rive. He's a tough one. And he is after you.

Ash's heart pounded. He forced himself to stay still, to keep his expression neutral even as Lucian shifted beside him, completly unaware of the storm that had just erupted.

- That so? - Ash asked, his voice was steady despite the tightness in his chest. 

- Yeah. And if he get's you. It's over for you Ash. So i need you to keep an eye on him. Okay? Find out what he knows. And Ash. Don't mess this up. - his Boss words made ash dizzy for a second, he wasn't sure he can do it well this time. 

Ash exhaled slowly, casting a glance at Lucian, who was watching him curiously. 

- Understood. - he said, his grip tightenned around the phone. - I'll take care of it. 

Lucian looked worried as Ash hung up, his fingers never stopped their slow tracing along Ash's arm. 

- Something wrong? - he asked, with a smooth voice. 

Ash fored a smirk, shifting slightly away as if the touch was felt uncomfortable for him now. 

- Nothing i can't handle. - he said. 

Lucian hummed. He stretched lazily, leaning back against the pillows, watching Ash with that same quiet intensity.

- How about staying with me today? Forget about work just for once. - Lucian mused. 

Ash runned his hand trough his messy hair as he reached for his shirt. Slowly nodding, signaling that this is not an option. 

- Really tempting but i can't. 

He needed to get out of there. Fast. Every second he was in the same room with Lucian felt like standing on the edge. And now? He had to dig into the man lying beside him, to find out what he new - without giving himself away. 

And worse? He wasn't sure he could. 

Lucian wasn't stupid after all. He was an investigator for a reason.  He watched him dress, rolled onto his side, propping his head up on one hand. 

- You sure you're not keeping anything from me, sweetheart? 

Ash finished dressing up finally. It looked like he was way too slow even though he wanted to get out here as fast as he can. But he had to mask his hesitation before Lucian could sense anything suspicious. When he looked back at him, the detective was still watched him - calm, patient. Like he had all the time in the world. 

- You tell me. Do I look like I would? - Ash asked, slipping into his usual smirk, the one that had gotten him out of worse situtations than this. 

Lucian didn't answear right away. Instead, he pushed himself up, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied Ash like he was piecing together a puzzle. 

- I don't know. Let me have a closer look. - he laughed while he got up and stepped closer to look directly into Ash's eyes. - Maybe I should watch over you a little more, don't you think? - he tilted his head. 

Ash forced himself to move, to grab his watch from the table like he wasn't weighing every possible escape route. 

- That so? -he said, quickening his moves. - Sound like someone's got obsessed.

Lucian huffed a quiet laugh then he grabbed Ash's arm forcing him to stop. 

- You tell me. - he murmured, his hand brushed along Ash's waist before settling there. - Do I have a reason to be? 

The man's pulse kicked up. He could feel the warmth of Lucian's palm through his shirt. Ash met his gaze, searching for cracks, for signs of wether this was suspicion or just another one of their playing. But he couldn't tell. He was too good.  He was watching carefully waiting. Testing. 

- I'll think about it. - said Ash after broke the eyecontact as letting his fingers trail over Lucian's wrist before stepping away. 

He could feel the man's eyes on him the entire way out the door. 

" Fuck, Fuck, Fuck" Ash thought as he sped up his steps down the stairs.