Chapter 35

35

LINCOLN

W e stay locked in Ash's penthouse for the next two days, avoiding everyone, but when we wake up on Christmas Eve, we know we've run out of time. I'm still in a world of pain, but there is no way I'd let Asher miss a holiday with his daughter, so we have no choice but to go home. Especially when the queen herself calls each of us and threatens our lives if we miss Christmas with everyone. So the guys help me shower and get dressed, before Logan heads off to pick up Lily, and Ash and I are heading back to the mansion.

"Superman, where the hell have you been?" Elle scolds, as I walk into the dining room later that day, jumping up to pull me in for a hug, and I grit my teeth to bite back my grunt of pain.

I feel shitty for lying to her, but I know if she knew the truth, then she would just try and get involved. She and Marcus only just got married, and we spent last Christmas on lockdown with everyone, so I'm not about to ruin another one for her. She deserves to be at home with her family making memories, and for her, I can grit my way through the agony I am feeling.

"Sorry I've been MIA," I start, and just as she opens her mouth to question me, I feel Asher's presence behind me.

"Ash," Elle exclaims, looking betwee n the two of us in surprise. "Sorry, I didn't know you were together," she adds with assessing eyes, no doubt seeing the shift between us, especially given Ash's proximity to me. "Cassie is upstairs getting into her Christmas pjs."

Asher smiles softly, accepting a hug from her and nodding to Marcus, Jace, and Riley, where they sit around the table. "I mean, you did threaten to kill us if we didn't come home," he laughs easily, no doubt surprising everyone, before pulling back from her. "Ready for another year of spoiling our girl?" He asks, his smile infectious.

The two of them might have been through the worst this world has to offer, and I guess in a way we all have, but watching them raise that little girl and giving her the world is truly heartwarming.

Elle nods with a smile, moving back to her seat, but still watching us closely as she asks, "No Logan?"

Asher and I share a look as we move toward the table, and he is quick to pull out one of the free chairs for me, and without thinking I take it slowly, as I reply, "Lily didn't want to wait for a car service, so he went to pick her up, they should be here in a couple of hours if the traffic isn't too bad."

All of them are staring at us now, and when I don't offer up any further information, Elle cuts into the awkwardness and serves us some of the lunch they were previously in the middle of. I grin in thanks to her, as Asher pours me a drink, before adding some black pepper to his meal and handing it off to me to do the same.

"You two totally fucked," Jace yells across the table like a Eureka moment, knocking over his own drink as he points at us.

"Jace!" Riley scolds, jumping back in her chair so the water doesn't spill on her. "You can't say that to people," she adds, grabbing a towel and passing it to him to wipe up the liquid.

"Why not, it's obvious, look at them ," he exclaims, patting the table, and forcing everyone to focus on us. "They have secrets written all over their face, if they didn't fuck, they definitely played throat hockey with each other's baguettes."

I look at Asher who is now blushing furiously, and I smirk as he mouths the words, "Throat hockey," to me in question, and I shrug, more than used to my brother's way with words, and just happy that Jace isn't scowling at him for once.

"How about we mind our manners, and our business, at the dinner table?" Elle cuts in, but I don't miss the smile pulling at the corner of her mouth as she adds, "No matter how overdue certain things are."

Not wanting all the attention focused on us, I quickly change the subject. "So what's the plan for the rest of the day?" I ask, silently praying I'll be able to make it through it without them noticing my injury or pain, and Elle beams brightly.

"Well I'm glad you asked, Superman," she smiles, pulling out her phone and no doubt checking a list. If there's one thing she loves, it's Christmas. "Everyone will be arriving in the next two hours, then we have dinner at 4pm, followed by gingerbread house building at 5, and then we will create all the Santa magic," she gushes, probably not even realizing how great of a mom she is, and how lucky Cassie is to have her. "Oh, and I got us all matching pjs this year, and not just for the girls," she adds, making Marcus groan.

Yet before he can say anything in complaint, Cassie comes dashing back into the kitchen already wearing hers. "Daddy! Superman!" she screams, rushing towards us, and Asher grabs her before she can accidentally bump into me. "I'm so glad you're home, did Mommy tell you we're all going to be matching?" She asks brightly, and I see Marcus deflate in my peripheral, girl has him wrapped around his finger just as tight as the rest of us.

"Yeah, Angel, she did, I can't wait. " He replies easily, and the thought of Asher Donovan in Christmas pajamas has me smirking into my cup, but of course he notices. "But, Lincoln is even more excited, aren't you Linc?" He tosses out, making Cassie's eyes brighten.

"Oh yeah, I can't wait to match you and your dad," I reply, and her innocent excitement reminds me that even in pain, every single one of those fuckers I took out deserved it, because it's one less piece of scum in the world who can hurt girls like her.

We finish up lunch, then I excuse myself under the pretense of getting changed, but really just needing to take some painkillers, and Elle passes me three sets of pjs with a smirk. I shake my head a little, accepting them gratefully, before slowly making my way upstairs. Once there I take off my shirt, and then try and fail to get my pants off, just as my door opens.

"Looks like you need a hand," Asher drags out, leaning on my door frame and watching me closely, in a way he has done multiple times before but always tried to hide.

"From you, Dark Prince, always," I smirk, attempting to lighten the lingering tension between us, but all he does is smile softly, making his way toward me.

"Stop flirting with me, Blackwell," he muses, dropping down and helping me out of my jeans.

"When you're on your knees for me again? Never," I purr back, watching him closely, which means I don't miss the lightness that flashes across his eyes. It's a rare sight, but it's there.

"How are you feeling?" He asks, changing the subject, as I try to move away, but he holds me in place, grabbing a pair of the pajama bottoms, and then motioning for me to sit down.

"I'm okay," I lie, doing as he suggests, gritting my teeth in the process, trying to hide my pain the way I did downstairs, and he just glares at me, eyes dropping down to the bandages on my side .

"You never lie to me, Lincoln, so don't start now," he warns, reaching for the pajama shirt and helping me into that too.

"Okay, my side is burning like fuck and I'm exhausted, are you happy now?" I ask with a pointed brow, and he glares even harder.

"Nothing about you being injured makes me happy," he admits quietly, his voice taking on a dark edge, as he reaches for his own pajamas, but I grab his hand in mine and squeeze it lightly.

"Always knew you liked me, Dark Prince."

I let him help me back to my feet, and then I reach for his shirt and unbutton it slowly, my fingers just barely dragging along his skin, yet still I feel him stiffen. My eyes can't help but snag on the scar on his upper chest, the one that almost cost me him, and I know he senses where my thoughts have gone, but he stays silent, letting my eyes explore the expanse of his chest. The dark angel sitting in the center with its spread wings just adds to his appeal, and I find myself smiling and shaking my head.

"Something funny, Blackwell?" He asks, gasping a little on my name as I slide the shirt off his shoulders.

"Just thinking about how hard it is to kill you," I muse, tugging at his belt, and he smirks.

"Should I be worried?" He asks, a trace of humor in his tone, as he shoves down his pants until he is only in his boxers.

"No, because everyone who tries ends up dead, and now you've taken to cutting out hearts, I think it's them who should be worried," I grunt, dropping myself slowly back onto my bed and enjoying the view of an almost naked Asher Donovan.

"I've not taken to cutting out hearts," he scoffs, reaching for his pajama bottoms and sliding them up his legs. "Billy was an exception, for touching what's mine," he adds mindlessly, reaching f or the top, but I reach out and stop him in his tracks.

"What's yours, eh? Is that how you see it, that I belong to you?" I ask, pulling him toward me so much that he has no choice but to kneel on the bed and lean down on his free hand.

"Don't you?" He tosses back in question, his mouth ghosting over mine with a devil of a smirk. "Because I don't get on my knees for just anyone, Blackwell, in fact, you're the first," he grits out, as my hand dances along the muscles of his stomach, ghosting up towards his neck, knowing the privilege I have at being able to touch him like this.

"Yes, I belong to you, I have for two fucking years," I grunt, stealing a kiss from his waiting mouth. "But you belong to me too, don't you, Dark Prince?" I don't know why I am pushing him, goading him even. I know he probably isn't ready for the admission I am searching for, yet he grants it anyway.

"Was the heart and candy not enough? I hear that's what it takes to woo someone," he purrs, nipping at my jaw, yet I can't help but smile at the thought of Asher Donovan trying to woo me.

"I mean, I think you mixed up the kind of hearts they meant, but I think the blow job that came after really sealed the deal for me," I muse, enjoying the feeling of his smirk against my jaw. "Although maybe we should try another, just to be sure?" I add, trying to convince him to go for round two and stop treating me like I am made of glass.

He laughs, positioning himself so he can lay down beside me, before he sighs, "As tempting as that sounds, how about I get you some painkillers so you can rest for an hour before everyone starts arriving?" He asks, and I roll my eyes.

"I think you're forgetting, I've been here before," I grit, rolling onto my uninjured side and pushing him onto his back. "Me and pain are old, fickle friends, always finding a way back to each other," I draw out, dragging my mouth along his jaw until I reach his ear. "Do you think I'm too fragile and broken to bring you pleasure, baby?" I ask, palming his cock through his pants, and rejoicing in his sharp intake of breath. "That I can't make you lose your goddamn mind with just my hand?" My fingers dance along the edge of his pants, before slowly slipping inside and grazing the head of his cock. "I fucking own you, Asher, your pleasure is mine," I whisper, gripping him firmly and giving him one smooth stroke.

"Lincoln," he warns, in a raspy tone that makes me almost lose my mind, like it has done for the last two fucking years.

"That's it, baby, say my name, remind yourself who you belong to," I purr, slowly jacking his cock, noting every hitch of his breath. "I've kissed your blood-stained lips, you've choked on my fucking cock," I curse into his ear, moving my fist faster and faster and stroking him in circular motions. "And one day soon, you're going to let me fuck that tight ass of yours until it's overflowing with my cum," I add, making him groan long and loud, his breaths now nothing but short pants.

"Fuck me," he curses, tipping his head down, and reaching to lift his shirt up his stomach, so he can watch me stroke his cock and get him off.

"Oh I will, Dark Prince, I'll fuck you so good and hard, that you will never fucking forget that you're mine again," I promise, addicted to how he is captivated by the way I am working his cock. "You're such a good boy for me, your cock so fucking perfect, but I need to see it dripping in your cum for me," I demand, jacking him even faster and ignoring the hot, searing pain in my side at my actions. "Can you do that for me, baby? Can you cover my fist in your cum?"

Hot, needy groans drip from his lips with an endless spiral of responses. "Yes, fuck, yes, don't stop, please."

God he begs so sweet. And stop? Is he fucking insane? I've waited two years to feel the weight of him in my hands, to hear his desp erate moans, I couldn't stop even if I wanted to. I might have told him I own him, but he owns me right back, more than he even realizes.

"Lincoln," he chokes out, the sound of my name undoing me, but it's the beautiful, white ropes of cum that shoot out of his cock that have my mouth watering. It covers my fist and his stomach in the most delicious display, all the while my hand still works him, until every last drop of cum is a sticky mess between us.

His eyes flash to mine, and then to my lips, as if he wants to kiss me, but I am already leaning up and over, lapping my tongue against his six pack and cleaning every ridge of his abs with it. I take my time, worshiping his body and cleaning him at the same time, switching between his stomach and cock, before focusing on my fist. Only then do I lean back down and kiss him, sharing his salty release across our tongues.

When I drop back down, it's with a groan, filled with both pleasure and pain, as the taste of him settles something deep inside of me. He reaches for me, opening his mouth to say something, when there is a gentle knock on the door.

"Superman, have you seen my daddy?" A muffled voice calls, and Asher quickly tucks himself away, straightening his shirt and jumping to his feet.

"I guess I will take those painkillers now," I mutter, knowing our little slither of privacy is over, and he shakes his head as he stalks over to the door and pulls it open.

"Hey, Angel, everything okay?" He asks, shifting nervously as his eyes dance back towards me, yet Cassie doesn't seem to notice.

"Yes, Mommy just said to come and find you and make sure you weren't being naughty," she replies simply, and I have to swallow my smirk, but I can tell Ash is still feeling on edge with her finding him here, we haven't exactly told anyone about the progres sion of our relationship, least of all her. "Are you being naughty with Lincoln?" She asks innocently.

Asher's gaze finds mine and I raise my eyebrows, leaving him to answer. "No, of course I'm not, I was just making sure he's okay, he's been feeling a little poorly the last couple of days, and we want him better before Santa comes, don't we?" He replies smoothly, and my heart warms at how easily he protects her from the harsh truths of the world.

"Is that why you've not been here, were you looking after him?" She asks, a hint of worry in her voice that seeps its way into my cold, black heart.

"Yes, sorry, Angel, I had to make sure he was okay," he replies softly, and she smiles.

"You should have called Uncle Lo to give him cuddles, they make everything better," she tells him simply, and now I can't hide my smirk.

"Oh I got the best cuddles, Princess, don't worry," I beam back, and she nods happily, while Ash glares at me.

"Come on, let's go find mommy and see if she needs any help," he cuts in, taking her hand, and she smiles, happily leading him out of the room, but he pauses on the threshold and glares at me. "Painkillers and rest," he demands. "I'll come get you when everyone arrives," he adds, before slipping out of sight with his daughter.

And for someone who was bleeding out two days ago, I can't help but feel on top of the world for once. Maybe monsters can feel love after all?