Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
you’re like a knight in shining single-breasted wool
Brand chuckled to himself, pocketed his phone, and quickened his stride.
ASH WISHED ANDREW WOULD LEAVE him alone.
He was hovering, refusing to go back inside, even when Ash left his front doorstep and went to wait outside the gate. He fluttered around Ash like he’d suddenly decided now was a good time to finally be responsible, when all Ash wanted was to be left miserably alone until he could get out of here and leave this mistake behind him.
And in the morning, start over again.
Start trying to be the man he was supposed to be, and no more drunken mistakes.
Drinking and fucking around was just running. Before he’d been running with no indefinable goal in mind; maybe just running from growing up. Now, though, he was running from…running from watching his father die, and leaving the world crumbling around him.
He couldn’t.
He couldn’t run from that.
Not if he wanted to have any chance to know his father at all.
Tomorrow, he’d do better.
Tonight, he’d just sleep it off and try not to hate himself too much in the morning.
“Come on,” Andrew said. “I don’t like you hanging out here alone. At least come in and sleep it off on the couch.”
“I’m fine,” Ash said. He didn’t even feel all that drunk anymore; just tired and a bit blurry and wanting to be home. And cold; even in his full suit it was still chilly out, and he didn’t think it would be long before the first snow flurries started. “My ride’s going to be here any minute.”
“You sure? You’ve been waiting a long time. I mean if the guy’s gonna ditch you you can at least—”
Ash whirled on him with a grit-toothed smile. “You’re sweet, Andrew,” he bit off. “Really. I get that you’re worried. I’m sorry I bothered you. But I’d really like it if you left me al—”
“If you will excuse me,” Brand Forsythe said at his back, “I will take it from here.”
The nearly embarrassing rush of relief that went through Ash was second only to the frozen look of wide-eyed terror on Andrew’s face. Brand towered over them both, his face set in that cold mask of forbidding disdain that just didn’t seem so cruel to Ash anymore—but to Andrew he probably looked like some nightmare apparition, an avenging devil in sharp-edged black. Brand’s eyes were slits of pure ice behind his glasses.
And locked straight on Andrew, as if he would flay him to pieces with a single look.
It took everything in Ash not to fling himself against Brand. Andrew gulped, backing away. “Um. Sorry, man, sorry, I just wanted to be sure he was okay.”
“Your concern is appreciated,” Brand said flatly, then pressed one long, broad hand to the small of Ash’s back, a star of heat burning through his clothing. “If you will come with me, young Master. Your car awaits.”
Ash let himself be shepherded away with one last glance for Andrew, who stood petrified, a frozen look on his face. Ash bit back a laugh. “…he was just trying to look out for me.”
“And he did, but there is no longer any need.” Brand frowned. “You are shivering.”
Before Ash could say anything, Brand slid out of his suit coat, revealing a sleek black waistcoat and crisp white shirt that turned his powerful body into elegant angles. He swirled the coat around Ash’s shoulders, wrapping him in a layer of absorbed body heat and that earthy scent. Biting his lip, Ash clutched at the coat, making himself small inside the comforting, heavy layer of its warmth.
Suddenly, somehow…
The world felt right.
He let Brand shepherd him into the back of the Mercedes; the man’s hands never quite left him, guiding him with gentle touches that seemed to hold him together and tucking him securely into the backseat. Yet Brand said nothing, as he rounded to the driver’s side and settled behind the wheel. His jaw was tight, and he fixed Ash with a simmering look in the rear view mirror before shifting the car into Drive and pulling out onto the street.
Ash bit his lip, pulling Brand’s coat closer around him. What…what was that look for? Brand looked almost angry, and Ash guessed he should be when Ash had ducked out on his responsibilities again, but this was almost—
Oh.
Oh.
He flushed, shrinking down in the seat. “…Brand?”
“Yes, young Master?” Brand replied, deceptively mild.
“I…I hope I didn’t give you the wrong impression.” He darted his tongue nervously over his lips. “If that was why you were angry with Andrew. He…didn’t do anything. Or hurt me. I just…” Ash struggled for words. “I said yes, then I said no…and then I wanted to leave.”
Brand remained silent for so long Ash thought he wouldn’t respond. Then, tight, clipped, “He didn’t force himself on you?”
“No!” Ash shook his head quickly. “No. He stopped as I said no. I just…” He tore his gaze from those flinty green eyes in the rear view mirror, looking down, fingering the fine wool of the lapel of Brand’s coat. “…realized I didn’t want him. And it didn’t feel good.”