Hey guys! It's been a while...I kept telling myself that I'd finish typing and upload but I never did get to...till now. So! Chapter 9 is now up. ENJOY! :D
Forgot to disclaim before...so here it is! TT_TT I DON'T OWN NIGHT WORLD. PROPS TO MIZ SMITH FOR THAT!
Mary-Lynnette bounded downstairs and into the kitchen to see none other than her beloved Ash cooking breakfast. That's right.
Cooking. Breakfast.
"Do my eyes deceive me?" Mary-Lynnette gasped. "Ash? Are you…cooking?"
Ash, holding a pan that was sizzling bacon, turned and smiled amiably at his soulmate's shocked expression. "Yeah. Though I should make myself useful if I'm gonna stay here."
All Mary-Lynnette heard was "stay here." Amidst all the chaos of finding him, she'd forgotten to wonder about where he was staying. She squeaked, "Stay here? As in, my house here, or just Briar Creek here?" She held her breath as she waited impatiently for his answer.
"Well…" Ash drawled carefully. "I'd prefer if I could stay here, as in your house, so I could keep an eye on you all the time, but –"
Ash stopped talking because Mary-Lynnette had launched herself at him. HE dropped the pan he was holding back onto the stove top as he staggered back a little from her unexpected weight, holding her just as tightly as she was squeezing him.
"I'd love it if you stayed here! No buts!" She untangled herself from him and stared into his eyes with a wounded look. "But you don't have to keep an eye on me. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."
Ash opened his mouth to protest but Mary-Lynnette beat him to it. She whirled out of his arms and announced, "In fact, today I'll go and look for a job! With Adam's help, if he's willing, "she added. "Since I'm new at this 'finding a job' stuff."
Ash growled, "What about me?"
Mary-Lynnette rolled her eyes at his playful menace. "Your scary face doesn't work on me, buddy. I know you'd never actually hurt me."
Ash stalked forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You didn't…answer…my question!"
Mary-Lynnette's brown eyes widened as Ash moved closer to her. "What…What are you doing? Eek!"
One second she was standing, staring at Ash. The next, she was flat on her back with Ash hovering over her. Her arms were pinned above her head and Ash had a knew on either side of her thighs, not that she would've kneed him if she could. However…
She was completely vulnerable.
And it was not a comfortable feeling.
"Ash…What are you doing?" She struggled to get up but his hands were an inescapable snare around her wrists.
"You're right, I wouldn't ever hurt you. But," he grinned as he lowered his head closer to her face, "that doesn't mean I won't tease you."
He leaned further down and brushed his lips lightly over hers, igniting sparks inside her. "You will let me go with to find a job, right?" He slid his lips down to her jaw.
"W-well…" Mary-Lynnette gulped.
"What? You want to be alone with Adam, huh?" Ash's lips were near her neck now.
"N-no, that's not it…" she sighed when Ash kissed her neck, then whimpered when he rose above here. "Didn't I already say you could go?"
He stared hard at her, his eyes like fire. "Well…I still might have to do something about him. Jealousy isn't pretty, you know…"
Mary-Lynnette smiled. "You're…jealous? Really? The great Ash Redfern, a player among players, is jealous?"
Scowling at the smug look on her face, he muttered, "I should punish you for making fun of me." Then he kissed her hard, with all the passion in his heart, allowing jealousy to fuel him.
Mary-Lynnette was caught by surprise, but when Ash pulled her up into a sitting position and settled her on his lap comfortably, she melted into him and kissed back with the same ferocity. Her hand slid around his neck and played with his soft fur-like hair as he held her neck to him and tangled his other hand in her hair.
AS they kissed, Ash moved his hand from her hair and slid it down the side of her body to rest at the edge of her shirt. She didn't notice until her hand slowly began to creep up her stomach, on her skin. Under her shirt.
Not that she minded. This was Ash; he wouldn't force her to do anything she didn't want to do.
It was then that Mary-Lynnette smelled something weird. She was surprised Ash hadn't smelled it first; but then again, they were both caught up in the kiss. She tried to pull back, but Ash just tightened his arms around her. "Wait, wait," she murmured. She shoved Ash firmly away, knowing it wouldn't really move him, but it would let him know that she had something to say.
"Oh…sorry." Ash quickly moved away from her. "I shouldn't push you." Mary-Lynnette was suddenly flooded by emotions that weren't hers. She realized that they were from the bond. Ash was feeling something like hurt, guilt, and something else…something that was so complex it was almost indecipherable amongst all his other emotions. This one was different, though. This one gave him pain, somehow.
"No, Ash! It's not that. Really. I liked it." Ash turned back to her, his eyes brightening a little as Mary-Lynnette blushed fiercely and wouldn't look at him. But thankfully, she felt the hurt and guilt trickle away, which were quickly replaced by the happiness of knowing that he could please her. But that pain-inducing emotion was still there. It seemed stronger than ever.
"Then, what is it?" Ash questioned uncertainly.
"I just…thought I smelled something burning…" Mary-Lynnette couldn't quite identify the source but the smoky smell was growing.
Ash's eyes widened in alarm. He swore loudly, but before she could chastise him, he said, "The bacon!"
"Crap!" Mary-Lynnette hurried over to the stove and turned off the fire. She hastily wrapped her hand around the handle, only to drop it again with a loud exclamation of surprise – and pain.
"Damn it!" She cradled her hand to her chest. Ash rushed over to her and gently took her hand, examining it. It didn't seem to be seriously burnt. She had good reflexes.
"Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Ash was afraid to touch it.
She gave him a withering look. "No it doesn't hurt," she said sarcastically. "It would be completely unnatural, of course, if you got burnt and it hurt. I mean, who ever got hurt from fire, right?"
Ash glared. "Hey. The sarcasm was uncalled for."
She sighed. "Well, this is all your fault. If you hadn't distracted me…"
"Me?" He laughed incredulously. "I seem to remember it differently. Wasn't it you who threw yourself at me first?"
She blushed but remained silent. He was technically right.
To break the awkward silence – gay baby, she thought distractedly – she apologized. "Sorry. I shouldn't have blamed you."
A sweet smile from him acknowledged and accepted her apology.
Suddenly, Ash lifted her hand to his lips. He kissed the reddening skin and she gasped. Immediately, he moved the hand away from him, concerned. "Sorry, did that hurt?"
"No!" she hastily assured him. "It felt…kind of nice. It doesn't hurt so much anymore. Or maybe I've just deluded myself into feeling that your touch is healing or something," she mused wryly. "Well, better go through out that wasted bacon. Be right back." She turned to go, but Ash gently pulled her back.
"Allow me." By now, the pan had cooled some more, so Ash quickly dumped the burnt meat into the trash and ran a lot of freezing cold water over the pan. "And…done! Now there are no more evil pans to hurt you," he teased.
Mary-Lynnette mock-scowled. Then she gave him a quick kiss and said, "I'm off to call Adam. We can get something to eat at a café or something, and Mark and Jade usually go over to your sisters' house to eat anyways. I'll be right back!"
Before Ash could say anything, she was gone, which left him standing there with his yearning arms outstretched.
. . .
Ash sighed. "Just pick one already. It's not that hard."
Mary-Lynnette glared at him. "Ash! I want to pick a job that I'll be most useful for. Not something you'd understand, I'm sure," she muttered. "I bet you'd pick a job that pays well but requires very little effort, mentally or physically."
"Hey!" Ash was offended. "I can do work. I just prefer not to. There's a difference."
"That's not what I said."
"Then what?"
"Forget it!" Mary-Lynnette hurried to catch up to Adam. Ignoring Ash who had leisurely strolled up beside her, she asked, "So, all these jobs are fairly high-paying?"
"Yeah." Adam nodded. "It all depends on what you want to do. For example, waitressing." He pointed to a cute little café. "Or working a cash register." He pointed at a supermarket-type store. "Or maybe you'd rather do desk work." He pointed to the large white building down the road. "You can work in the hospital for that. IT doesn't actually require medical knowledge. But I'm not sure they're hiring now."
Mary-Lynnette considered them all, before saying, "No…What I'd really like is to be able to work at night, and be able to be outside or at least have a good view of the night sky. The stars are so beautiful," she sighed dreamily.
Ash rolled his eyes, but was secretly smiling. This Mary-Lynnette, the one who fantasized about the bright stars in the night sky, without a care in the world, this was the one he loved most.
Though of course, he'd never ever say something so mushy out loud. Ever.
Well," Adam considered slowly, "you could always just ask for the night shift as a waitress or something. Waitressing is pretty easy."
"Really?" Mary-Lynnette brightened and smiled. "That's great! Um, which places are hiring?"
Ash spoke up. "While you were busy ignoring me, I looked around. I think there are three places that are hiring: the restaurant over there" – Ash pointed – "the little café there" – point – "and that little family-run place over there."
Mary-Lynnette looked at each of them, frowning. "No…they just don't feel right…" Suddenly she jumped up and down and pointed at a medium-sized building that was obscured by the shadow of the large neighboring building. "That one, right there! It's perfect!"
Adam was perplexed. "Uh, what's the difference?"
"I dunno!" she exclaimed. "But it feels right! And look! There's even a 'Now Hiring' sign! Let's go!"
Ash was silent. He'd noticed the building, yes, but he got this weird, ominous vibe from it. He really didn't want Mary-Lynnette to be working there. "I dunno…That place gives me the creeps. I don't like it. Can't you pick one of the places I mentioned? They all look happy and normal."
Mary-Lynnette rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Ash. I really want to work there, okay? Even if you don't want me to, I'll apply, but I'd feel much better if you were okay with it…" She looked at him with puppy-dog eyes. "Please? Pretty, pretty, pretty please? With whatever you like on top?"
Sighing, Ash gave in. "Fine." She was just too cute like that. "But once I feel like that place is bad, you're quitting."
She squealed and threw her arms around Ash's neck, kissing him soundly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you!"
Adam stared blankly away from them.
Ash smirked. "And you promise you'll quit if I start getting a really bad feeling?"
"Fine." Mary-Lynnette began eagerly walking in the direction of the restaurant. "Come on!"
Okay! So, again, slightly filler-ish, and probably very OOC, but I have serious writer's block (which I HATE; I mean, who doesn't?) but I promise to come up with something better soon. Promise! .
Alrighty! Off I go to cook up something good.
Write on. Read on. That's my motto.
(Oh, and "Tangled" is just TOO CUH-YUTE! :P)
© Copyright 2010 by The Siege :D