She had rejected him.

He was mated to her but she was free to do as she pleased. Of course his mate would be a stubborn redhead and of course she’d reject him.

You took forever and a day to claim her. Serves you right, jackass, he thought as he licked the wound on her neck, healing it instantly.

He stared down at her, releasing his ironclad grip on her. “You said no?”

With her eyes narrowed, she nodded. “You’re damn right I said no. You do not get to waltz in here after all this time and lay claim to me out of the blue.”

Heat stained his cheeks and he could only guess at how red they were. “I’d hardly call it out of the blue. I’ve had a very long time to think about it.”

“I’ve had less than five minutes,” she spat, looking even more beautiful as her ire showed through. His woman was the sexiest woman ever. She was also pretty pissed at him and he couldn’t exactly blame her. If roles were reversed he’d feel betrayed as well, especially considering their history.

She moved away from him, her hand going to her chest as if her heart hurt. “Asher, you bought me and gave me to another man.”

Guilt swept over him. “Those were different times, Jinx. You know as well as I do that setting you free then wasn’t an option. It wasn’t done back then. You were an unmated supernatural female in a sea of males wanting a mate.”

She put her back to him. “So you gave me to a sick bastard for safe keeping.”

Had Asher known the truth and that Fabianus was a heartless bastard who wanted to collect pretty things only to abuse them, he’d have taken Jinx elsewhere. He’d have hidden her away.

You should have claimed her then.

He exhaled slowly. “I killed him.”

She faced him. “Who?”

“Fabianus.”

Her eyes widened. “That was you?”

He nodded.

Her bottom lip trembled. “They suspected me. Had I not been too beaten to move, they would have taken my head for his death.”

Asher moved to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I would never have allowed that.”

“If it wasn’t for that sweet elderly woman, I wouldn’t have been smuggled out of Rome. I’d probably have been handed a death sentence.”

He rubbed her arms. “That sweet, elderly woman was there to do my bidding, Jinx. She is extended family.”

She twisted in his arms. “She’s a demi-god?”

Asher closed his eyes for a split second. “The great-great-granddaughter of one, yes. So she aged, albeit slowly, but still aged.”

“Did she pass?” asked Jinx, concern in her voice.

“Yes. Long ago.”

“I would have liked to thank her,” she said, pressing against him. “Why didn’t you come for me yourself?”

“I couldn’t face you. I was ashamed of myself and my actions. Of giving you to Fabianus to start with. Of so much. But mostly I was afraid of turning into my father.”

People today still knew of his father’s wrath, though humans weren’t aware of the truth of it all. They thought it an act of nature. Supernaturals knew better. At least the ancient ones did. Modern supernaturals tended to believe much the same way humans did—that the gods were myths and their offspring nothing more than stories told to simple-minded people looking to explain away what they could not understand.

If only that were true.

Pompeii might have stood a chance then. Mount Vesuvius might not have erupted at all, or for many thousands of years. His father’s rage had led to its eruption and to the death of so many. His father, a demi-god himself, had great power over fire—hence Asher’s name.

A more fitting name had never been bestowed upon a son for Asher, son of the ash maker, had held that stigma for centuries. After time, the old ways began to die and fewer and fewer immortals from this time remained. Those that did had other concerns than a city covered in ash and pumice.

He had taken solace in the way he’d managed to separate himself from it all. He’d dedicated his life to making a difference. He’d been in too many wars to count and had been a soldier all of his life. That had not changed. Only the countries he served had.

He’d not wanted his men to know his ugly past. He’d hoped they’d never see him as others viewed his father—a monster.

Chapter Seven 

Jinx remained in place, held by Asher, knowing he was deep in thought. The man was probably trapped in the past again. It was what he did. He held the guilt and shame of actions that were not his. She touched his cheek, his dark and smoldering gaze sweeping to her. His look was able to excite her to the point that cream began to pool at the apex of her thighs.

“You claimed me,” she stated evenly.

“I did and you rejected me.” He grimaced. There was hurt in his deep voice.

“Can you really blame me?” she asked, giving him a visual once-over because no more words needed to be spoken on the matter. He knew what he’d done. He knew how long he’d kept her in the dark.

His face was drawn. “No.”

“Since you’re technically married to me but I’m pretty much free to do as I please, I wouldn’t be opposed if you asked again,” she said with a sultry smile, knowing he needed hope.

He tipped his head, bringing his lips closer to hers. “No?”

“You had centuries to think about this, Asher. I just needed a few more minutes than you gave me.” She kept her hand on his face. She already knew she could spend forever looking into his eyes. They were eyes she’d never tire of.

“I don’t deserve you,” he stated, his shoulders slumping.

She knew he believed what he was saying. He saw himself as a stain on humanity. Something that should have been erased long ago, in the ash that claimed so many—including his mother and younger sister. The man had suffered enough. He’d been paying a penance that wasn’t his to pay and it needed to end. She understood he might never be able to use his powers as others might think he should. There would always be a risk with them, but she’d be there by his side to help him along the way. And if he chose to continue to try to minimize the number of people who knew the truth of him, she’d help him.

“I was just thinking it was me who didn’t deserve you,” she replied as she went to her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. She wanted to be hurt that he’d bought her and given her away all those years ago, but had he not, who knows what would have happened? He hadn’t been secure enough in himself to claim her and she wouldn’t have had the control over her succubus side back then. Odds were, they would have ended tragically as his parents had.

As hurt as she was that he’d waited so long to tell her the truth, she had to admire him to a degree. As a shifter male, he couldn’t be with another woman after meeting his mate. She was keenly aware of this in her line of work. That meant, the man standing before her, holding her and looking at her with nothing short of love on his face, had not lain with a woman in over a thousand years.

That was dedication.

It was also completely unacceptable. The man needed sex and she was going to make good and sure he got it. She’d waited long enough for him. She’d be damned if she waited a second more. She seized hold of the back of his neck and forced him to kiss her more.

Asher put his arms out wide and Jinx laughed into his mouth. She allowed her succubus powers to ease up and over him. Growling, he yanked hard on her before lifting her off her feet.

Jinx wrapped her legs around him, thankful she was in a skirt as he carried her towards the back of the club, stepping over bodies as if they weren’t even there. She’d worry about the clean up later. At the moment her man needed her and she needed to be sure he knew he was loved.

He walked down the hall as if he knew every inch of the establishment. Knowing him, he probably did. He kicked open the door to one of her personal rooms and then turned, pushing it shut behind them. She’d not used the room for sex in decades. Mostly, she used it to get away from the hustle and bustle of running the club. If felt right having Asher there with her, as if she’d been waiting for him to be the man with her all along.