When Asher retracts his arm Olivia’s own stretches to brush the curls to their original place on Asher’s forehead, enjoying the feeling of the silky locks flowing between her fingers. Olivia’s pace is measured, appreciating the closeness the boss allows, the span in which he lets it happen without any contest, and, more importantly, without the guilt that had marred Asher’s face at the sleepover.Olivia becomes a little selfish and pushy, perhaps, but Asher says naught, and so she carries on, cupping Asher’s cheek with her hand. What takes her breath away then is how the boss, hand trembling the slightest tremors, loosely holds onto Olivia’s wrist before he nuzzles the core of the palm, closing his eyes as he respires.His lips brush on the lines here, and Olivia wonders if Asher can sense the faint aroma of the hand cream she used if the boss likes it, if this is why he presses his nose further against the skin as though trying to burrow his face there.“Good?” Asher asks after a w
“You better eat what I get you,” Olivia warns and peers at Asher above the menu.Olivia has held on well so far.She kept her gushing over Asher’s gushing over the pups to a bare, internal minimum. However, the mob boss’ eyes aimed low at where the puppy is tousling the fur in his hood; Asher’s fond smile not even breaking when he blows at his hoods fur, the pup trying to catch the strands; Asher’s laugh, quiet and only for Olivia’s ears to catch; is what sunders her resolve.Olivia discreetly fumbles in her jeans’ pockets, plucks out her phone that she unlocks to access the camera, and, after leaning backward to have a broader view, she snaps photo after photo after video after more photos of the mob boss playing with the pups while talking with Teacup and petting the other pups, Asher’s hands flying up and left and right, unable to settle on a single Canine.Olivia’s camera roll quickly fills with pictures, some rivaling in quality and composition with a professional photographer,
“Okay. First question,” Olivia says, eager to dive straight into the subject she has been especially curious about lately. “Something is tickling my mind.”“You don’t say.” Asher lifts an eyebrow.“How many lovers did you really have? You weren’t very specific last time I asked.”“Damn, not even easing myself into it. You’re ruthless,” Asher teases once more like he has been since he arrived at the apartment, and Olivia feels stupid at her inability to repress her grin, the giddiness spreading within her, untamed and carefree.“I am. Now answer me.”“If we get into technical details,” Asher begins and raises a hand on his head to secure the wild bangs up there as he reclines against the seat, “I never really had a lover per se. Just flings. I went out with three in total.”“For how long?” Olivia probes, but her interest is denied by the mob boss.“My turn,” Asher says, and Olivia is the one rolling her eyes. “You told me you only had one boyfriend. How did he become your ex?”Olivia c
Oly 2.0: Mia?Oly 2.0: BestieOly 2.0: I need to talk to youMia 2.0: What's wrong?Mia 2.0: Aren't you with Ash?Oly 2.0: I amOly 2.0: Mia, it's weirdMia 2.0: What?Oly 2.0: I've been with him and talking to himMia 2.0: Don't you spend most of your free time with him though -.-Oly 2.0: It's weird right nowMia 2.0: How so?Oly 2.0: I don't know. I'm justOly 2.0: It was good at first, but then we talked, and now I'm scared about something, but I don't know whatOly 2.0: What ifMia 2.0: What if what?Mia 2.0: Oly?Mia 2.0: Olivia?Oly 2.0: What if he decides he's done with me after that dateMia 2.0: Olivia ...Mia 2.0: He won'tOly 2.0: What if he doesOly 2.0: I can live without him, but I don't want toOly 2.0: I'm happy with him, MiaOly 2.0: And It'sOly 2.0: I'm so confusedOly 2.0: I don't understand why I'm feeling like that with him or what I'm feelingMia 2.0: Ask himOly 2.0: What do I even ask?Mia 2.0: If he'll leave after this dateMia 2.0: Be upfrontOly 2.0: That
Olivia heaves a deep, frustrated sigh, and she pins her gaze on Asher’s searching one. “I told you before,” she says, and perhaps she does have a tone, but Olivia can’t hold back the bite in it because why is Asher so adamant in metaphorically throwing Olivia in someone else’s arms when today is supposed to be about them and just them?“Let’s say I have a boyfriend, yeah? I have a boyfriend, and he asks me out on a date. If that same day you do the same or are available, I’d instantly refuse my boyfriend’s offer because I’d rather be with you. I want a boyfriend, but I also don’t care enough about actually having one, and right now, I’m content with being single and my situation and y— And yeah.”Olivia wonders if she ruined everything again when Asher never replies, and she cups her cheek, shifting not to have the boss in her peripheral vision as she shields herself from the pair of eyes she can feel on her.Asher’s right arm comes into view on the table as he curves toward Olivia, t
“Your loss. I’d make a great husband. More or less,” Asher says as he squints at the wall, and Olivia chuckles at the addition. “Satisfied?” He inquires with a glance at the table where Olivia sprawls her now accessorized hand.“I am, thanks.” Olivia peers at the white gold band, as she learned earlier, a certain bliss seeping within her at the pride of wearing something belonging to Asher.A hand rests next to her own, the fingers climbing on top of it to let the thumb and index brush against the ring. When Olivia peers at Asher, the latter is attentively watching their hands, his lips faintly curved. “What?”Asher glances up. “I like it on you.”“Can I keep it then?” Olivia shoots back, hooking her thumb around Asher’s when the boss makes a move to retract his hand.“You can. I gave it to you.”“I think I’ll wear it as a necklace so that I don’t break it if I ever need to urgently shift,” Olivia ponders, wondering why she so stubbornly wants to keep the ring close to her.“If you br
Asher unfolds the blanket and grabs the edge of it to wrap it around Olivia. “Can you shift? Please?”Olivia does and reverts back to her human form, and her first words are harsh, coated with ire. “F*ck you. F*ck you. I thought we— F*ck you.”“I’m sorry,” Asher almost murmurs, his voice hushed as he tugs the blanket higher on Olivia’s shoulders, closing it at the front to fully cover her. “It was the last test you had to pass. Mia did the same on her side.”“This was supposed to be our date, not an excuse for a stupid test.”“Is this why you’re mad?” Asher asks with a raised brow.“Partially…” Olivia mumbles as she tucks herself further under the blanket, the ambient coldness still seeping through the fabric on her bare feet and legs as kneels on the ground.“I wanted to have a proper date with you that isn’t interrupted by your mortal enemies or a hybrid fight,” Olivia confesses.“I really want that too and, You know….” Asher lifts his arm to Olivia’s face, and with his sleeve, he w
Asher is silent, and Olivia, with the hand not holding the blanket up, cradles Asher’s cheek, bringing his face closer.Asher has never been kissed before, whether it be romantically by one of the people he dated, amicably by a friend, or brotherly by his family. He has never allowed any touches of that sort.He would refuse to peck his flings, deny Paul when the latter would ask for a hug, and he’d always keep his distance, making sure this or that person isn’t too close to him.Asher was destitute of gentle physical contacts for most of his life, provided instead with vicious blows, callous taunts, and harsh yanks on his neck, manhandling him this and that way.He was — is — starved for an affection that he never realized wanted.Needed.However, with Olivia, the parched creature inside Asher huddled in a corner preens under the lips pressing on his forehead now, or his cheeks earlier. It basks in the care and warmth Olivia openly and kindly grants him, every so often shyly, other t
Group chatAsh: Is everyone here?Ash: We need to talk about the tournament nowAsh: Olivia received the invitationAJ: What?PS: You received yours as well Asher?Ash: I didn'tSL: You're not even her adopter yetAJ: That's weirdAsh: It may be because of NicolasAsh: Either way it happened and Olivia is participating in the tournamentAsh: I need everyone to be here so we can talk about itAsh: Olivia got the letter along with her keycard and a phoneWG: What did the letter say?OF: A summary of what TSM is and the rules about itOF: The fact that they kept using 'it' while talking about the hybrids pissed me offOF: F*cking a*sholesAsh: Hybrids are nothing to them aside from a source of money and entertainmentWG: What's TSM?Ash: The name of the tournament aka The Scarlet Masquerade, TSM for shortAsh: As I said previously TSM is a match to death with, more often than not, only one survivorAsh: It's brutal and unforgiving and no one ever comes out unscathed from itMC: Are you s
Ash: Olivia??Ash: What's happening?Ash: OliviaAsh: Members of the clan are on the wayAsh: They'll be there in less than thirty minutesOlivia: No Don'tOlivia: Call them backOlivia: I'm fineAsh: What the fuck do you mean you're fineOlivia: I made it sound worse than what it actually was and then I lost track of time dancingAsh: You'reOlivia: Don't be mean worried AsherAsh: I need a minuteOlivia: SorryOlivia: I should have sent another text to say I'm fine but it slipped my mindAsh: I thought something bad happened to you OliviaAsh: You can't do shit like thatAsh: Fucking hellAsh: I was a moment away from upturning the cityOlivia: I'm sorry...Olivia: I just wanted to distract myself from the creepy letter I gotAsh: A letter?Ash: This is what it's about?Olivia: YeahOlivia: There was a letter in my mailbox but the very creepy kindOlivia: There isn't even a returning or my own address on itAsh: Does it have a logo on it?Olivia: YesAsh: Red?Olivia: YesOlivia: Ho
Both stare at each other silently. Asher’s words ring in the silent room. His face is filled with uncertainty and hesitation but also assurance. He is willing to do that only if Olivia will accompany him during those nights.Olivia without even hearing his words understands the turmoil in Asher’s heart. “Of course, Asher. we can call, facetime, or text whenever there's one. I’ll always be there with you”“Thank you.” Asher’s face breaks into a smile.The genuine smile makes Olivia’s heart tingle “We'll make a bunch of good memories about storms so that the bad ones are gone.” She says with a smile.Asher looks surprised and delighted with the suggestion “I'd love that.”“Me too.”Olivia looks at Asher and suddenly she remembers something “Also, I'm learning how to bake.”“What? Why?” Asher looks confused and surprised.“I was supposed to give you a gift some time ago but it slipped my mind with all the mess that had been happening. And now I changed the present I want to give you.” Ol
They both go silent after that, looking at each other's faces not knowing what to say."What?” Olivia starts, she was offended by the silence from Asher “Did I say something wrong?" she asks Asher with a smile.Asher’s face lit up and he shook his head "No, not at all."His answer made Olivia satisfied, she nodded her head with a happy smile on her face. "Was there a thunder on your side?""Yeah, something like that." Asher’s face dims remembering the situation he was trying to ignore.Olivia notices and asks with a soft voice "Do you want to talk about it?"Asher looks startled "About what?" he asks with confusion."Why you're scared of storms."Asher peruses his lips and goes silent. His tongue comes out to lick his dry lips. He shifts on his bed curling on to himself "There's nothing much to say.""I'm still listening if you want to share." Olivia doesn’t prob, but still tries to talk to him.Asher is not someone who opens up to someone about his shortcomings. He has been trained t
Oly: What bad blood?Mia: I don’t know and Walter doesn’t know eitherOly: That’s weirdMia: A little yesMia: Plus he seems to really antagonize me for some reasonsOly: I seeMia: You’re starting to speak like himOly: Who?Mia: Ash -.-Oly: That’s because we’re rubbing off on each other :(Oly: I like him so much Mia he’s amazingOly: He has trouble understanding feelings and emotions and human relationships but he tries to despite everything he went throughOly: He could have given up, you know?Oly: If I were in his place I would have and I wouldn’t care about understandingMia: He’s an intelligent manOly: He isOly: I really like him a lotMia: Have you been testing the waters?Oly: A little? I don’t know how to do thatOly: I don’t flirt MiaOly: But maybeMia: Maybe?Oly: Maybe he likes me tooOly: MaybeOly: We’ll seeMia: That’s progress it’s okayMia: Anyway, I have to studyOly: Yes, yes, good luck and/or have funMia: Bye, will talk to you later* * * * * * * * * * * *A
Mia: He is a human Olivia, he's not a hybridMia was so confused about how did Olivia even got that thought in her pea-sized brain. She was still contemplating when Olivia replied to her message.Oly: What if he's just hiding it?Mia: He can adopt a hybridMia: Hybrids can't adopt another hybridMia tries to talk sense into Olivia who is very stubborn to listen to any of her explanations.Oly: Unless they falsified their documents and make themselves pass as a humanOly: Steve could have done thatMia: This is insaneOly: You didn't see him the way I didMia: Is it bothering you?Mia: Is this what it's about?Olivia is quick to rejectOly: NoOly: It's about how he behaved and the fact that I know he's hiding a secret from meOly: Which is fineOly: But I can't stop myself from wondering, my mind keeps circling back to thisMia: Olivia that'sMia: OkayMia: Let's say that hypothetically Ash is a hybrid, what would he be?Oly: I'm not sureOly: A predator one I guess?Mia: Hypothetical
Olivia: Are you being an a*shole or genuinely asking?Ash: The latterOlivia: Because I like the idea of us having matching pics and contact nameAsh: Why is that?Olivia: Because It's hmmOlivia: It's comforting?Olivia: And it's a little intimate and just usOlivia: Which I like a lotAsh: [Picture attached]Ash: Like that?Olivia: ...Olivia: I'm okay it's making me feel weird to actually see itAsh: Do you like it?Olivia: I doAsh: How do you feel seeing it?Olivia: HappyOlivia: Very happyOlivia: And then it is ticking inside my chestOlivia: [Picture attached]Olivia: How do you feel?Ash: The same as you, I like it a lotOlivia: Me too but we can barely see the heart because of the dark mode :(Olivia: AnywayOlivia: I suppose you have work to doAsh: I'll be busy until later tonightAsh: You've nothing planned today?Olivia: Nothing at allAsh: MC will also be freeOlivia: What about her?Ash: It's time to talk about the tournament and it'll happen tonightAsh: Everyone wil
“I could live in this car.” Olivia sighs into the leather seat.“I don’t think Mini would appreciate that,” Asher says from where he’s bent over, his arms propped on the edge of the rolled-down window.“Good point. She’s tiny but needs a lot of space, a bit like Steve.” Olivia snickers at her own joke, two duffle bags brimming with Asher’s clothes thrown over the seat next to where she’s installed at the back of the car.“I’ll tell him you say that.”“Go ahead, I’ve been meaning to fight him after Airhead.”“Brat.”Olivia peers up at Asher, catching the fond smile on the boss’ lips. “Thank you for the date.”“You’re welcome, and thank you too,” Asher says, his face close to Olivia. “You enjoyed yourself?”“Mhm, the most,” Olivia grins as she fastens her belt when the driver enters the vehicle“Me too,” Asher whispers, and with his index, he brushes a strand of hair away from Olivia’s forehead. “I won’t be able to text you much today, but I’ll do what I can to try.”“It’s fine, don’t w
When Olivia wakes up a few hours later, it’s to an empty bed, Asher’s side on the mattress tidied up, the phone and iPad on the nightstand gone.It doesn’t take long for Olivia to figure out where the mob boss went when, and after relieving herself in the restroom, she climbs down the stairs to make her way to the dining room.Asher is seated at the end of the table installed in the corner of the bay windows and Olivia trudges up to the mob boss.Hands shoved in her pants pockets, Olivia knocks her foot on the leg of the chair Adam is occupying, the one directly on Asher’s left.“Move,” Olivia orders when Adam does not budge.Adam swivels around. “Say that again, GaintDog?”“That’s my seat. Move.”“How about you f*ck off before I shoot you in the knee?” Adam snaps when Olivia kicks the chair again. “It’s no one’s seat, however right now it’s mine because my a*s is on it.”“Adam, come on,” Walter intervenes from where he’s lounged further down the table, Mia by his sides. “They’re in t