Monsters' Gift (Crude Hill High Book 2) by Sam Crescent (best classic novels .TXT) 📗

“It was. I think it may have been the first time I didn’t see him as a monster.” She shrugged. “My turn to question you.”

“Go on. I’m all ears.”

“Who is better in bed?”

“I cannot compare.”

Ashley gave me a look.

“Is that sending me a question with those eyes?”

“No, and I’ll give you that one for free. So, they’re all good in bed?”

“I’ve got no complaints. What is the sudden interest in my sex life?” I asked.

“Is that another question?”

Seeing as it was my turn, I nodded.

She stopped stirring, her teeth sinking into her lip. “It’s nothing.”

“Don’t lie. Something is going on. I can smell it.”

“That’s the food.”

“You’re avoiding the question, Ash. Don’t make me get that rule book you like to keep on you.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Come on, talk to me.” I wanted to know. We’d gone seven years with the sex talk kept to a minimum. She’d gone on some dates, but not enough to make her want to have sex.

“I guess I know Earl wants to have sex with me. He’s made it quite clear.”

“And you want to?”

“I’ve always wanted to have sex, Emily. I’m not some paragon of virtue. I do want to know what it’s like to be with a man. To see him completely drawn to me. No, not drawn, I want obsessed. You know, like they talk about in the books. The kind of men who only want one woman, and are desperate to be with her and would do anything to be with her.”

“Wow,” I said. “You’ve thought about it a lot.”

She nodded. “There are times I catch him looking at me. I wonder if he sees me, or if he just sees the trophy he’s got. I don’t know.” She rubbed at her temple. “My turn. Are you in love with them?”

“That is an easy one and the answer is yes. I love them. I love all four of them. Even when they drive me crazy, but I do.”

Ashley laughed. “You know, I haven’t seen you this happy. The danger aside, your men are so good for you.”

“It was never you, you know that, right?”

“Of course. You were heartbroken. Here try this.” She held the spoon out toward me and I took a sip.

I winced at the sudden hit of heat and spice that burned the back of my throat. She saw my reaction, took a quick taste, and had one of her own.

“Easily fixed. Way too much heat, I need to balance that out. Some lime, methinks.”

I drank some water in an attempt to rid my mouth of the taste. It wasn’t her best. I knew Ashley, she’d get it just right.

Watching her work had always been fun. Her hands cutting, squeezing, sprinkling, stirring, tasting. She always looked off to the right when she assessed the flavor. Her lips pouting as she thought about it.

“It needs a touch more sweetness, and let’s not forget the lime. Yum.” She did that, another stir, and a taste. “Yep, I got it.”

She offered me some and I hesitated. “Come on, Em, you know me.”

“Yeah, and you could be punishing me.”

“I’ve got nothing to punish you for. I’m happy. You’re happy. As far as I can tell, we’re all happy, and don’t have a single reason to hate each other.”

I took a sip and she was right, of course, she was.

“Are you cooking tonight?”

“Is that a question?” she asked, winking at me.

“I don’t know, but who is next?”

She shrugged. “Ask away.”

“Do you want Earl Valentine to be your first?”

She stopped and looked at me.

I didn’t know what it was about my question that had her in such deep thought.

“Yes, Em. I do. I probably should hate him. He kidnapped me. Wasn’t even polite about it. He’s always blunt and to the point. He doesn’t leave anything to chance and he’s been honest with me from the start. Not a lot of guys are like that.”

“True, but you can do better than him.”

“Better than who?” Drake asked, coming into the kitchen. He wore some gym gear, and he’d been working out, even though he should have been on guard duty. He’d left us alone with one of Earl’s men. I wasn’t a big fan of being left alone with an asshole’s minion, but at least I got to spend as much time with Ashley as I could.

“We’re just talking about Earl.”

“I can see that. It smells so damn good in here.” He nudged Ashley out of the way and took the spoon from her, helping himself. He groaned. “How about you marry me?”

“No can do,” she said. “I’m already taken.”

“I think we should steal her,” Drake said, looking toward me.

“I’m with you on that one.”

“What are you two ladies doing for the rest of the day?” Drake asked, already ladling some of the curry sauce into a bowl. I watched as he grabbed some bread and began to dip it into the sauce and eat.

“I’m cooking. This kitchen is the bomb. I’ve missed cooking. Earl doesn’t let me do this on the boat.”

“You call it a boat?” Drake asked.

“It’s what it is.”

“It’s a yacht, Ashley.”

“Don’t care. It is what it is. I don’t have to remember every single little detail, do I?”

Drake shrugged. “When Earl’s done with you, you can always come here and we’d put you up.”

I watched the sadness Ashley quickly tried to hide. Fuck! I had a horrible feeling she was already falling for Earl, and what was worse, he was only going to hurt her.

The bastard.

****

Vadik

I was tired, hungry, and wanted Emily.

She wasn’t in the kitchen. We’d missed dinner, and after Ashley had left with Earl once again, she’d disappeared.

I checked