Chapter 48

Soren

"I 'm coming," I called to the person impatiently knocking on my door. Checking my watch, I saw it was late at night. Whoever thought bothering me at this hour would be a legitimate thing to do was about to get a piece of my mind.

"Why on earth would you— Ashton ?" I gasped, my anger turning into a pleasant surprise at the sight of him.

"You weren't sleeping, were you?" he asked, allowing himself into the house and leaving me to close the door behind us. I quickly followed him in, checking myself in the mirror I had at the entrance before he turned to face me.

"No, I was working." I answered his question while moving a hand over my clothes. I was in cashmere pants and a simple shirt meant for sleeping. I'd have changed into something more proper if I'd known he was coming.

"Working? At this hour?" He frowned.

"Well…" Nudging my glasses back into place, I smiled at him. "Someone said they'd never forgive me if I lost this case." He kept a straight face, so I went on to ask the question standing on the tip of my tongue. "What are you doing here?"

With his bottom lip tucked underneath his teeth, Ashton looked around the house that was once his as well. I'd never bothered selling this place after moving to NYC, secretly hoping to return here one day.

"Isn't this house too big for one person? Don't you get lonely?"

"I often do."

His eyes met mine in a heartbeat, and although his beauty took my breath away, right then, I focused on the redness in his eyes and the tiredness in them. Something was clearly wrong, or he wouldn't have shown up here this late.

"Is everything alright—"

My words were cut off as he tossed himself at me. With no warning, Ashton closed the distance between us, his hands cupping my face as he smashed our mouths together in a kiss. It took me a moment to realize what was happening before sending my arms around his body and wrapping them tight. I pulled him with me, almost like I was trying to breathe him in.

My damn glasses got in the way, and I wanted to take them off, only for him to snatch them off my face for me. His eagerness left me shocked, yet before I could react to his surprising aggression, he kissed me again. Licking into my mouth, his tongue clashed with mine and fought for control before he removed his lips and began kissing me everywhere. My chin, jaw, and neck, he placed his lips wherever he could reach until I had to stop him.

It wasn't that I wanted to stop—after all, my cock was already swelling in my slacks—but I had to pause and check on him.

"Hold on," I whispered, trying to put some distance between our heaving bodies.

A deep frown escorted his pout once I parted my mouth from his.

"As much as I'm thrilled by this surprise, something is obviously wrong with you," I said, my fingers stroking his short hair.

Leaning into me, he closed his eyes, lashes brushing his cheeks, and shook his head. "Please, I don't want to talk." His words sounded like a prayer, and forever his loyal servant, I complied.

"Okay." Slipping my glasses from between his fingers, I placed them on the counter before I grabbed his hips and lifted him at once. With his arms already on my shoulders, he crossed his legs around my waist, allowing me to carry him in. His lips were back on mine, fingers in my hair. He kissed me nonstop, only taking small breaks to get some air until we reached the main bedroom.

"Have you showered?" I asked.

"No. I'm dirty. Wash me."

His words sent bolts of arousal to my already hard cock, making me weak in the knees. Like a monster just awoken from its slumber, my hunger for him burned in my stomach, and I cupped his face, devouring his mouth on our way to the bathroom.

He stripped off his clothes immediately, not waiting for my orders before he stepped into the shower. His naked skin was a work of art. One that was engraved into my memory, although he'd changed, and now, the changes were more visible than ever. He was stronger, bigger, and not at all fragile. His muscles took the shape of adulthood, his waist thicker, abs more toned, and his chest covered with a dusting of light hair. He was built like a Greek god, and my mouth watered just from looking at him. But my eyes then darted to the pile of his clothes on the floor, and my skin itched.

"Take off your clothes, too," he said, or should I say, ordered, successfully getting my attention back.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

With a smirk, I stripped naked, my eyes locked with his the entire time. He licked his lips, the little tease , and I knew it was time to set the record straight over who was in charge here.

"Turn around. Hands on the wall," I said while slowly moving my fist along my length.

Ashton proved to be as obedient as always and did what he was told without saying a word.

"Spread those legs for me, little Sparrow."

A shuddered breath escaped him at the sound of his old nickname, and he glanced at me over his shoulder. His brilliant lips were slightly parted, waiting to be sucked again, while his eyes searched mine for approval. That was what he came here for, after all, to get the confirmation he so desperately sought.

"Good boy," I praised him once he widened his stance and arched his back, giving me a full view of his glorious ass. My dick was already dripping with the need to be buried inside his pink hole, but I restrained myself. Removing my hand from my cock, I strode into the shower and joined him under the hot stream.

Not wasting time, I moved my hands to his firm chest, squeezing his juicy pecs until he groaned with pleasure. Once satisfied with his reaction, I brushed my thumbs over his perked nipples while pressing myself into his behind, my cock settling in between his thick thighs. Ashton pushed his ass back against me while I continued to play with his nipples, squeezing sweet moans from him until he turned frantic.

"T-Touch me," he panted.

"Ask again. Properly, this time." I leaned my cheek against the side of his head, enjoying the sound of his heavy breaths.

"Touch me, Soren. Please."

I moved my mouth to the shell of his ear, planting a small kiss before tugging on it. "You mean here?" I pinched his nipple, and he squirmed.

"My cock. Please, Soren. I feel like I'll burst."

"When you're saying such cute things, who am I to refuse?" In a sharp move, I turned him to face me and then dropped to my knees before him.

He gasped, placing a hand on my shoulder while using the other one to cover his cock.

"W-Wait." His cheeks turned red. "I'm not shaved…" he muttered, not meeting my eyes. "I know it repulses you."

My brows pulled into a deep frown, and for a second, I felt horrified. Did I actually make him think he could repulse me? Yes, I loved his smooth body, but only for the control it gave me over him. A sort of ownership. Back then, I was a foolish kid who couldn't control the crap he spat out. Now, I knew better and had no intention of letting Ashton fear he could ever disgust me. Seeing how deep the scars I'd left on him were made me determined to do better and become the man he once saw me as.

Pushing his hand out of the way, I leaned in until my nose was buried in his pubes and took a deep inhale. He smelled good and clean, and I savored his masculine musk before moving my lips to kiss along his girth, slowly going up until reaching the crown of his cock. Water from the shower got in my face, but that didn't stop me from parting my lips and swallowing him whole.

Dear Lord . I'd missed the taste of him. I missed the weight of him on my tongue and the feeling of having my mouth filled with his heavy cock.

"O-Oh, God," he moaned, his voice soaked with pleasure.

I began moving my head, sucking his dick in slow, long movements until his body trembled.

"Y-Yes, it feels so good," he cried, his hands finding their way to my hair.

Pleased, I slid my fingers to his ass and spread his cheeks, my mouth still around him as I circled his entrance. His rim was already soft, and knowing a thing or two about anal, I realized he'd been with another man before coming here. Possessiveness took over me, and I let go of his cock.

"Why did you stop?" he asked, brows curved.

Not bothering to answer, I spun him around and pushed him against the wall.

Spitting into my hand, I brought it to his ass, then shoved two fingers in. He gasped, all the air leaving his lungs as I added another.

"I understand now why you wanted me to wash you," I whispered in his ear. "It's because you've been a naughty boy. Haven't you?"

Glancing at me over his shoulder, he nodded, then closed his eyes. "O-Oh, fuck."

"Answer me."

"Y-Yes."

"Yes. what?"

He opened his eyes, tears welling in the corners. "I've been a bad boy."

My lips pulled into a wicked grin. "But you've come home," I said, voice promising, even though I knew tonight was only temporary. It didn't matter because, for that moment, my little Sparrow was back at my mercy. It had taken me years to learn that unless its wings were cut, a sparrow could never be tamed; therefore, if I wanted to be with Ashton, I had no choice but to let go and hope that he'd return.

Fucking him now with four fingers, I cupped the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss. I pushed my tongue between his parted lips, tasting everything he had to offer while moving my fingers inside him, reaching the spot that I knew made him see stars. The whole time my dick was throbbing, asking for me to give it a bit of attention. Knowing I was losing my patience and seeing how Ashton was all but a quivering mess, I pulled my fingers out and turned off the water.

I took his hand in mine and guided him out of the shower. My precious boy allowed me to dry him up before I led him to our bed. Yes, even though he was no longer living here, it was still his bed. His home. His space. The same rule also applied to my heart, which, whether it liked it or not, still belonged to him and him alone.

All these thoughts were irrelevant, though, as Ashton hadn't come here for that. He came to get fucked. And that was exactly what he was about to get.

Tossing him on his back, I reached for the nightstand to pull out some lube and a box of condoms I kept there but had never used before. Whenever I hooked up with someone, not that it happened frequently, it was in a hotel, and I used condoms from my wallet. I never brought my hookups home; that also included Eiv. No one was worthy of that privilege. No one but the man lying beneath me.

"H-Hurry up," Ashton cried, his eyes following me as I rolled down the condom over my aching length. "I need you inside me." And if he wasn't erotic enough thus far, the brat spread his legs wider and moved his hand over his hole, pushing his fingers inside. My body shuddered with my arousal, and I quickly moved above him.

"You keep teasing me like this and I might never let you leave this bed."

Once he took his fingers out, I squeezed a decent amount of lube from the bottle and spread it over his ass and my dick.

He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled himself up until his mouth met mine. "Fine with me," he rasped over my lips before darting his tongue out to lick along my jaw until it reached my ear. "Now, fuck me like only you know how."

I had no idea when he'd become this bold, but I was obsessed with this new side of him. He was absolutely mind-blowing.

Grabbing his hands, I moved them over his head before aligning my dick with his entrance. With his wrists in my fist, I shoved inside of him until I was settled all the way in, letting out a long breath as all the tension left my body, only to return twice as hard when he pushed back against my cock, nearly making me come on the spot.

Grinding my jaw and biting my lip, I held still.

"W-Why aren't you moving?" he whined, his face an inch away from mine.

I leaned in to cover his lips with mine, our tongues swirling around each other as I finally began moving. Rolling my hips, I pushed in and out of him, savoring each thrust as if it would be the last. Ashton's body quivered beneath me, his skin hot and covered with sweat, his moans deep and on the verge of crying. I needed more of him, so much more that I decided to lose control.

I dropped my hold from around his wrists, straightened up, and grabbed his waist.

"W-Wait," he tried to stop me, but I didn't listen before I thrust forward with pure force, bottoming out inside him. Ashton's lips parted as he gasped for air, but that didn't stop him from crying for more.

So I gave him more.

Fucking into him like a man on a mission, I dug my fingers into his hips, probably leaving a mark. Good . I wanted him to carry my touch long after I'd removed my hands from his skin.

"You feel so good," I panted. His ass was so tight, making it hard not to burst at any given moment, but I wouldn't come until he did. And simply because he always came first, literally and figuratively. He was the only one that mattered, in and out of bed.

"R-Right there," he cried, back arching off the bed while his hands clenched the sheets. "Right there." He turned his face to the side until it was half shoved into the mattress.

"Come here." I grabbed his body and lifted it with me, changing position so now he sat on my lap, facing me, while I leaned back on one hand. "You're so beautiful," I whispered, my fingers tracing along his jaw.

Ashton's eyes were unfocused, his cheeks flushed red, and his hair damp with sweat. I doubted he heard my words, but even if not, that was okay.

I bucked my hips up at the same time he plunged down on my cock before he started rocking on top of me. With my dick still inside his tight ass, he leaned back and placed his hands on my legs for balance, so his entire weight was helping each of my thrusts to hit him harder. His cock throbbed and bobbed up and down with his moves while precum decorated his flushed tip. It made my mouth water, and finally, I took his dick in my hand and started stroking him while he rolled his hips on top of me. Our pace matched perfectly, and it didn't take long before his lips parted in a voiceless cry, and he shot his load between us. The hot liquid spilled into my fist and dripped between my fingers just as I felt my balls tightening and my muscles tensing. My heart raced at an erratic pace, and I bucked into his body one last time before I came, hard, deep, and recklessly, until I had not a single drop left in me to give. Still inside his warm walls, I felt like I had finally returned home. Pressing my head to his chest, I closed my eyes and allowed the sound of his heartbeat to surround me. It was a bittersweet moment that I knew would be gone soon.

Yet, before I could dive deeper into the storm of emotions swirling inside me, Ashton dropped his body on me, his breaths shallow. He was exhausted in more ways than one, and I could understand why. I bet it had taken a lot out of him to come here tonight, to open a grave and pull out the skeletons he hoped never to see again.

His body turned limp in my arms, but I didn't bother to move him. Instead, I hugged him closer, my fingers pushing his hair away from his precious face.

"Please come back to me, little Sparrow," I whispered in his ear, doubting he was still awake to hear me. "I miss you so much."

Ash

I opened my eyes to a dark room, confused about where I was, until I noticed the arm tossed over my waist. Turning my head, I saw Soren was right beside me, eyes closed, lips slightly parted. His sleeping face made him look much younger—no creases or frowns, just calmness. He only ever looked this peaceful when he slept or when we were far away on the other side of the world, just the two of us.

Warmth filled my chest, bringing an easy smile to my lips just from remembering those trips we took together. How young and carefree I was, not a single worry on my mind. If only it were still the same and my problems could be cured with a trip to Italy.

Knowing better than to fall down that rabbit hole, I forced myself to remember why I was in Soren's bed to begin with. It wasn't to reunite with him. No . I was still mad at how he'd left me alone and broken years ago, and a one-night stand, as amazing as it was, wouldn't suddenly change that. I was here because of Kai, because of our fight yesterday, and because of how angry I was left by his betrayal. And yet, until right that second, Kai's name hadn't crossed my mind even once. The moment my lips touched Soren's, it felt like everything around me ceased to exist and that he was the sole thing in the world that made my heart go on. The passion of his kiss, the touch of his hands, and the weight of his body on top of mine—all brought me back to the past. To what we used to be. To what I used to be with him.

But what scared me the most was that having sex with Soren didn't only remind me of the past. It forced me to acknowledge the changes in him I'd already seen and chose to ignore. Like when he dropped to his knees and buried his face in my pubes or when he constantly brushed his fingers over my chest hair. Those were small things for most people, but not to him. Everything mattered to Soren, from the color of my shirt to the aftershave brand I used. Yet, last night, he put it all aside. But why? What happened in the years we were apart?

I cut that line of dangerous thinking right away. This was just sex, and even though it was fantastic, it changed nothing. I still had no interest in knowing what had made him leave.

Keep lying to yourself, Ash.

And while my logic made perfect sense, when it was time to sneak out of his warm bed, every bit of my body urged me not to do so. I still did it, and naked, I walked back to the bathroom, where I found my clothes tossed on the floor— another change because in the past, he'd fold them immediately —and quickly picked them up. While getting dressed, I noticed he'd cleaned my body. He was always so attentive, and I almost forgot how nice it was to be taken care of.

My phone was in my sweats pocket, so I pulled it out and checked the time. It was almost 4:00 a.m., and because sleeping would probably not happen tonight, I decided to go surfing. It would clear my head and, hopefully, help me forget the mistake I'd made tonight. And so I did. Only throughout the whole time I surfed, one thought kept my mind busy: How could something that feels so right be a mistake?