Monsters' Gift (Crude Hill High 2)

Ashley laughed. “Is that what bothers you? The fact I don’t want to run off and he’s a much older guy?”

Before Ashley had taken over the kitchen, I’d given her the chance to run away. Drake would have helped, at least I think he would have. I wasn’t sure. I still wasn’t entirely sure if he was as loyal as he claimed. I just wasn’t very good at believing people, and well, I guessed I needed to learn to have a little faith.

Ashley came over and instantly picked out a jar, holding it up for me to see. “Cumin.”

“Wow, you’re like a kitchen warrior or something.”

“I like to think of myself as more of a goddess.” She offered me a smile, taking her teaspoon to measure out.

“What are you cooking, anyway?”

“Not a clue. Earl offered to buy me whatever I wanted and seeing as money isn’t a question right now, I figure to have some fun and to just cook.”

“It looks like a curry.”

“It may be one.”

I loved Ashley’s curries, especially the coconut ones she did. Not too hot, but so much flavor. Just thinking about them back at her apartment made my mouth salivate.

“So, are you going to tell me all about Earl and your time with him?”

Ashley sighed. “So long as you tell me about you and your boys.”

This made me pause. “What exactly would you like to know?”

She winked at me. “How about this, you ask a question, I ask a question. Deal? We’ve got to be open and honest with each other.”

I wasn’t so sure about this, but I agreed.

“You can go first,” she said.

“What’s Earl like?” I asked.

“He’s … I don’t know. There’s nothing I can’t have. Even when I suggest it, or make you know, wishes, he always finds a way of making it happen.”

“How do you mean?”

“Nope. You don’t get to ask that. One question at a time.”

I groaned to which she giggled. “Are you sleeping with all four men?”

I stared at her. “That makes me sound like a slut.”

“Is that a yes or no?”

“Does that class as two questions?”

“You didn’t answer the first one. Come on, no avoiding. That’s cheating.”

Running fingers through my hair, I nodded. “Yes, I’m sleeping with four men.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.” I honestly couldn’t believe I was either. It sounded exhausting and yet here I was, more than capable of keeping up. “My turn.”

“You already asked your next question.”

“Right, but you didn’t answer.”

“Easy, I told Earl that I wanted to eat dinner while the sun set. To be out on the main boat thing. What’s that called?” she asked. “You know where you can sit on the dock? Is it a dock?”

I shrugged. I didn’t have any idea.

“Well, one night after I suggested that, I hadn’t been allowed outside, but as the sun was setting, he brought me out, and as you can imagine, it was beautiful. We had some of the nicest food, and it felt like a real date.”

“It sounds wonderful,” I said, meaning every single word.

“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.”