Page 198 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

He huffed a humorless laugh. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Itold you two to waitfor me,” Reuben said as he set his things down after he got home. Lindsay was still crashing in the living room. Michael stood by the window, talking quietly on a cell phone.

Lindsay grinned and put her arm over my shoulder, and I froze, not sure about the unexpected touch. “Yeah but you should have seen the look on her face.” Lindsay grinned. “She thought we were here to kill her!”

Reuben pointed at the two of us. “Uh-uh. No. You two are not allowed to be friends. One brat is enough for me to deal with.”

Lindsay and I looked at each other and grinned. I hadn’t particularly liked her before, but Reuben’s insistence that we weren’t allowed to be friends was basically an invitation to the exact opposite, and the subtle frustration and dislike I’d had for her evaporated. A fellow brat right around the corner who wasn’t afraid to fuck with my Dom?

Party time.

Reuben dropped his stuff on the chair and kicked off his shoes. He was normally meticulous about putting things away, but tonight he had afuck it, I’ll do it laterkind of look on his face. And he looked worn out. “Now, what is it you two wanted to talk to me about that you couldn’t wait twenty-four fucking hours?” He didn’t sound thrilled.

Lindsay rose, shoved the last mozzarella stick in her mouth, and mumbled, “I ain’t got shit to say to you, it’s all him.” She pulled her on her leather motorcycle jacket and zipped it closed. “Hurry up, Michael, I’ll be outside.” To Reuben she whispered, “Don’t kill him. He’s an idiot.” She waved to us both, leaving the door cracked open as she left.

I finally got a good look at his face. Reuben looked exhausted. His face was weathered and paler than normal, his forehead drawn, and his eyes bleary like he needed a nap. He glared at the mess on the coffee table, and I awkwardly started tidying it up.

“Did she drink that entire bottle of whiskey?” he asked, nodding to the empty bottle of Bulleit.

I nodded, not sure what else to say. Reuben closed his eyes in astonishment, and then yawned.

Michael finished his phone call and came up beside him, his thumbs in his pockets. “Weston.”

Reuben’s voice was clipped as he spoke. “Lewis. What is it?”

Michael spoke softly, stepping closer to Reuben so as not to let me hear their conversation. At his words, Reuben’s eyes darkened. He drew back and glared at him. “Absolutely not. Get out and don’t ask again.”

Michael opened his mouth, shut it, and pursed his lips. “Reuben, I don’t think we’ve–”

“No.” Reuben pointed to the door. “And stop breaking into my house.”

He sighed, nodding once, and left, hesitating at the door to look back over his shoulder at me. I looked away, gathering up the French fries that had fallen on the floor.

I could barely hear Michael, but I heard him well enough to know what he asked. “About her... Would you consider... sharing?” He asked quietly.

I froze, waiting to hear Reuben’s answer. Reuben’s cold, harsh growl cut through the silence in the house. “If you ever touch her, I’ll shoot you in the head.” He slammed the door shut on the two spies.

With my new sort-of friends gone and the door locked, Reuben trudged to the couch and settled down beside me, stealing the last few cold wings from the plastic container. He looked down at me, staring for a few moments before speaking.

“You’re a hell of a sight for sore eyes, little goblin.”

“I brought the stuff you asked for,” I said, shifting slightly at the knowledge of how many fun things we had to play with later.

“I can see that.” He reached out and brushed a finger across the leather harness I wore. “I’m sorry, I’m exhausted and won’t be much fun tonight.”

“It’s okay, I’ve had enough excitement for the day. Are you hungry? Want me to order something else? I can make you a sandwich or something. Or microwave some leftovers.”

“No,” he sighed. “That’s very sweet of you, but I ate at the house. I just...” He reached out and pulled me closer to him, burying his face in my hair and letting out a deep, satisfied growl at the scent. He stroked my hair and my back softly for a few moments, and I kept waiting for him to pull away, but he didn’t. A few minutes later, I realized he was breathing slow and steady.

I turned my head up to look at him. His eyes were closed, and his face was relaxed. He’d fallen asleep.

I smiled and tried to relax in the awkward position, happy to have his arms around me again.Oh man, he really does like me!But after a while I got a cramp in my side, and I felt him starting to lean too heavily to one side.

I had to shake him awake. “Reuben, you’re falling off the couch!” He jerked and forced himself to stand.

“I’m going to go to bed,” he whispered.

“Yeah, good plan,” I laughed. “I’m right behind you.”

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