Ren couldn't breathe. He sucked in air over and over, but it disappeared before it made it to his lungs. He gasped as he gripped Ashton tightly to his side. The arm Ashton had slung over Ren's neck was weak, barely holding onto Ren as Ren dragged Ashton across the ground. Ren's feet weren't doing much better. They were sore as if he'd been walking for hours and his ankles gave away under the pressure every other step.
But they were getting away. They weren't at the mercy of the Hunters. At least, not right then. He knew this wasn't going to be the last time they saw each other. When they stopped hiding in the forest, the world they once knew wasn't going to be the same.
Ren wasn't prepared for it.
The crying of the siren had lessened. The deafening sound wailed in the background. His feet dragged over wet soil and it was hard to pick them up so he didn't fall face first into the dirt. The ringing in his ears was a combination of the siren and his own fear he'd dug them further into a hole. But he pushed all those thoughts away. He couldn't think about them right then.
He looked down at Ashton. Ashton's face was whiter than usual. It was stark white, sickly white, and it made Ren's stomach turn with how bad it looked. His chest felt heavy as he noticed the beads of sweat dripping down Ashton's face. His lips were parted as he panted. His eyes were squeezed shut as if that would stop the pain.
"Hang on, okay? I'm not going to leave you." It was difficult to get the words out. He didn't want to lie.
Ashton's weak hands grabbed tightly to Ren. Ren jolted as one hand clasped his neck. It didn't hurt, but it was a pressure to his neck he wasn't comfortable with. He grabbed the offending hand, holding onto the wrist so Ashton couldn't move it any further.
Still, with Ashton's eyes closed, he kept his hand there.
"Let go, Ashton," Ren whispered.
He hadn't stopped walking. He couldn't. The Hunters could still be coming after them. It would take under a fraction of a second for them to get ahead and to find them. He needed to keep moving no matter what happened.
Ashton did drop his hand. It slid down Ren's neck, down his chest, and fell away to Ashton's side. Ren didn't know what had happened. He wasn't going to push it further though. He merely held Ashton as hard as he could and walked faster. There was a burst in his step. He couldn't feel the thing, but he was sure it had something to do with the burst of energy he had.
What he did back there couldn't have been possibly all him. The thing had driven him to do something so reckless it could have gotten both of them killed. He hadn't been thinking and that was the problem with him. He didn't think anything fucking through and it always lead to him getting into messes like this.
Time was sluggish. He felt sluggish. His arms went numb from pulling Ashton's weight. He gritted his teeth as the pain in his back got to be too much. But he pushed through it. He bit his tongue as his thighs ached and his feet screamed to be given a break. The sirens were almost dead, but he knew it wasn't enough for Ashton. He was still weak and the sirens had to be completely gone for him to recover.
If the sirens had hurt Ren that much, it had to be thousands of times worse for Ashton.
Then, Ren saw a combed out cave made of dirt.
"Fuck. Yes."
He was jolted with another burst of energy. He didn't care where it came from. He just took off with it, pulling Ashton toward the opening, not caring if there was something lurking inside. It couldn't be as bad as the Hunters following them. He didn't even care if it was a Hell Hound. They couldn't do what that freak Cipher could do to them.
Ren's stomach twisted as the images of the killed vampires flashed once more in his head. He closed his eyes to fight them off and immediately tripped over a bundle of brush.
"Shit."
Ashton stirred, opening his eyes.
"No, no. Close your eyes. Go back to sleep." Ren didn't think as he put his hand over Ashton's eyes. He was frantic to get to the place that looked like it could be safe.
As he put his hand on Ashton's face, he felt how clammy it was. It was cold to the touch. Not quite to the point where it was like touching an ice cube, but it was bad enough. He knew it shouldn't be like that.
Ren shoved his way through the thick brush hiding almost half of the structure. Once he got Ashton and himself past that point, he could fully see what this mud cave looked like. It was good enough. It had to be enough because he couldn't keep going on like this.
"Thirsty…"
Ashton's raspy voice startled Ren. He clutched Ashton tighter to his side. He glanced down at him, his hand still pressed over Ashton's eyes, and then back at the place they needed to get to. Another push of strength shot into his legs. He didn't question it as he pushed himself to get to the opening.
The smell of the mud rose heavy in the air as he got nearer. It was fresh from the earlier rain, becoming slimy as far as he could see. The ground got softer until taking a step was made much harder as the mud clung to the bottom of his shoes.
They made it though.
Ren turned his back to the cave as he put his full strength into dragging Ashton inside. His eyes darted around the empty surrounding forest.
He turned again, this time his back to the opening of the cave or whatever this mud thing was called. He wasn't too worried about it as Ashton was still mumbling to himself. At least he was talking. That had to be a good sign, right?
He wasn't too sure as he layed Ashton on the damp ground. He crouched near Ashton's head. His hand hovered over the vampire, unsure if he should touch him or not. It was kind of ridiculous when he just had his hands all over Ashton just a second ago. The poorly phrased thought turned the lobes of his ears hot. He cleared his throat.
He carefully watched as Ashton's chest rose and fell. It didn't look like he was have trouble breathing. The pattern looked normal though it was a tad faster maybe, but that would be understandable after what they'd gone through.
"Thirsty…" Ashton whispered again.
His chapped lips parted and he tried to open his eyes again. They fluttered open, falling over and over even as he tried to keep them open.
"Sh. Keep your eyes closed. Just rest." This time, Ren wasn't afraid to touch him. His fingertips brushed lightly over Ashton's eyelids. The lids closed softly without resistance.
Ashton's soft voice echoed in Ren's head. It sounded nothing like the Ashton he knew. He didn't like it. At all.
He gave Ashton's shoulder a soft pat. He turned on his heels and looked around the cave.
He wasn't expecting much. He could see the structure went on a little further but not by much.
A hand grabbed him.
"Shit!" Ren jumped. It was just Ashton grabbing his thigh, but it still sent him almost flying.
Ren grabbed his hand. He didn't mean to clutch Ashton's hand as tightly as he did, but he'd been so surprised he couldn't help it when he held Ashton's hand in firm grip.
"Sorry," he said, dropping the offending hand. Ashton didn't react. His eyes were still closed and he was mumbling under his breath.
Ren couldn't make out what he was saying, but he assumed he was still going on about being thirsty. As he looked once more around the small den, he knew he wasn't going to find anything to sate Ashton's thirst. Muddy water was all he was going to find and he couldn't chance searching for a clean brook.
So, he did all he could do in that moment. He crawled around Ashton's resting form. He moved Ashton's head and upper body so he leaned against Ren's chest. That's where he stayed. Ren leaned back on the damp mud walls holding Ashton close to him. He feared that in this position he wouldn't be fast enough to fight the Hunters if they found them, but he knew it couldn't be that comfortable to be laying on the ground.
Soon, he didn't have to guess how uncomfortable the circumstances was. His butt went numb from how hard the ground was. He would have thought the mud would be softer from how palpable it was, but instead, there were bunches of tiny rocks mixed in making it not so soft as it had once looked before. It also didn't help that the cave was mostly held up by roots and long dry pieces of what looked like grass. The walls weren't any better than the ground.
But he settled in. They were going to be here for a while. Whether that was a couple of hours or the entire night. He would figure out what they had to do later. For now, he would make sure Ashton was comfortable enough to fall asleep.
Rest was all Ren could give him. Hopefully, it would be enough.
***
Ren stared at the same spot on the wall for the last two hours. He almost dozed off a dozen times, though, each time, he'd pinched himself. He'd only been partially successful at keeping himself awake. He was daydreaming every other minute and it was driving him crazy with all the random thoughts he was having.
He blinked a couple times. A dry patch had formed in the corner of his right eye. He rubbed his eye a couple of times, trying to get the dry patch to go away but messing with it only made it worse.
"Fucking hell." He shuffled, wincing as he moved Ashton's head to the other side of his chest.
He finally gave in and let the dry patch be. He closed his eyes, listening more intently than before.
His anxiety had peeked long before, but the rattling inside of him hadn't fully gone away. The fear they were going to be discovered wasn't going to go away anytime soon so he just had to deal with it.
There was something nice though about being with someone who understood what he was going through. Ashton was in the same position as Ren was. They were both tied together and if one got killed the other one would die as well. They had the same stakes hanging over their heads. And though that still sounded terrifying. Ren had never felt like this.
He had someone he could talk to if he wanted. Ashton probably wouldn't and he doubted Ashton would listen anyway. But it was nice to have the choice. He wasn't boxed in like he was when it was him and his mom. As much as he loved her, there were just some things you couldn't talk to a parent about.
Ren gave a soft snort.
A friend was the word he was looking for. He needed and wanted a friend. Ashton wasn't that person. He was never going to be that person.
But enemies were the next best thing, right?
He laughed.
Ashton turned on his side. Ren's eyes flew open.
"Everything's fine. Stay down." He rubbed his hands over Ashton's shoulders.
Ashton looked around the cave, brows furrowed. He blinked a couple of times before he rubbed his eyes.
"Where are we?"
Ren supposed it was a reasonable question to ask when waking up to an unknown cave. However, Ren was going through quite a bit of a situation and he couldn't quite find the right words to explain where exactly they were.
"In a cave," he ended up saying. He regretted the words, wishing he could think up something a little more descriptive. But surely it didn't fucking matter.
Ashton didn't seem to think too deeply of it anyway. He merely tried to get up though Ren was trying to push him back down.
They fought for a moment until Ashton finally shoved Ren's hand away.
"What are you doing? Let me up for fucks sake."
"You need to rest. You were fucking bleeding out of your ears."
He wasn't joking. He'd seen the damage the siren had done to Ashton. He himself had only experienced just a tad of the pain Ashton had gone through and he didn't want to imagine how fucked he must feel right then.
Ashton shoved Ren's hand again when Ren tried to get him to stay down.
"I'm fine."
Ren looked at him doubtfully.
Ashton twisted until he was leaning over Ren's body. His hips were angle so he was resting of Ren's left leg. His arms bracketed Ren's waist.
Ren wasn't intimidated though. He thought it was kind of funny actually that Ashton was still trying to put on the tough act when he could barely stand.
"Are you?"
He could just tell by the blurry look on Ashton's face that he was in fact not fine. There was a light pink blush over the bridge of his nose and over his cheeks. His ivory skin was covered in a sheen of sweat, making his clear complexion shiny. All that combined and paired with dilated pupils and his heaving chest made it very obvious that Ashton needed to chill the fuck out.
Ashton turned the opposite way, avoiding Ren's eyes. He still looked at the empty cave like he couldn't quite comprehend what was going on. Ren couldn't help but feel a little worried about him. He couldn't do anything. He didn't know what to do in this instance.
He made sure he didn't feel out for Ashton's emotions. He didn't want to feel how confused and scared Ashton looked. Seeing it was enough to make the pit in his stomach feel like a boulder.
Ashton let out a whine, falling onto his back between Ren's legs. He was panting as he lifted up his shirt.
"What are you—" Ren was just about to make Ashton cover himself back up when he saw it.
Ashton was hurt. And it wasn't a little scratch or anything. It was bad.
Ashton pulled his shirt up higher, hissing as the wound was finally open to the air. The wound was like nothing Ren had ever seen before. A nasty red rash about the size of a softball had spread above Ashton's hip. At the center of the rash was a quarter size puncture wound that was covered in green puss.
Ren winced.
"It burns," Ashton gasped.
He lowered his head to Ren's thigh, turning his face away from the wound.
"Well, now you see you're not fine."
"Shut up."
Ren moved out from under Ashton. "How the hell did this happen?"
As soon as he asked it, he remembered how the Hunter Kenny had been shooting blindly. That's how it must have happened.
"They fucking shot me you idiot. How else?"
He guessed he kind of deserved the smart ass remark.
He ignored it and the glare Ashton gave him. Though, he could tell Ashton wasn't that peeved. When Ashton glanced up, he saw how much in pain he was in and the slight fear.
Ren didn't good either. Not because he could feel Ashton's pain, but because he didn't know what the fuck he could do to help. He looked down at the wound. The puss was an obvious sign of infection. It was bad enough Ashton was wounded, but for it to be infected and for a rash to be growing around it—it seemed like the worst possible situation.
Ren took a deep breath. "Okay. Let me—"
He touched the unblemished skin surrounding the rash, pulling the skin just a tiny bit so he could get a clearer look.
Ashton let out a loud growl. He hit Ren's hand away.
"Ow," was all Ashton said.
"It's going to hurt a lot more if we don't do something about it."
"I don't like the idea of you poking around inside me."
"Then what's your idea? Huh?"
Ren looked at the wound once more. The skin puckered around the puncture wound. The skin was trying to heal, but there was something stopping it.
"You're healing. That's good." But it wasn't working.
Ren put his hand back on the unaffected skin and pushed.
Ashton gasped.
"Tell me what it feels like."
Ashton clenched his jaw and threw his head back. He let out another groan. Sweat dripped faster down his face.
"I-I don't know. It burns. It's like there's a flame pressed to my skin." He twisted his head. "Fuck. I think there's something in there."
That might be why it wasn't healing. If the Hunters did something to their bullets…
Ren was still looking at it when Ashton shuffled once more. Ren's hand slipped and he almost stabbed his finger right into the center of the wound.
"Watch what you're fucking doing!" Ashton kicked his legs out.
Ren dodged the kick, smacking the legs and almost shoving Ashton over.
"I'm trying to help you. Do you want me to leave you to rot here? Because I will!"
"Then do it!" Ashton yelled. It wasn't loud enough Ren worried it would alert the Hunters, but it was loud enough to bring a dark mood over them.
Their eyes met and neither of them looked away for a long time. Ashton's chest heaved. His naked chest quaked and Ren averted his eyes.
He turned away, waving his hand. "I'm not going to do that."
He got up and walked around the small space. The soil was still wet beneath his feet.
"Why not?"
He went to the opening of the cave and looked out. The sky had darkened some. The sun was still high in the sky, but it was later in the day. A mist had settled over the path leading back to the Hunter Society building. Dark clouds hovered above them. He could feel the beginning of rain in the air.
An idea sparked. Maybe he wouldn't have to travel far to get them suitable water.
"Answer me."
Ren shook his head. "Still demanding even when you're on the verge of death."
Ren crouched near Ashton again and rustled through Ashton's pockets.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Ashton tried to grab Ren's hands, but he was still weak.
Ren hated he was using it to his advantage, but he was working on a time crunch.
"Do you have anything plastic? Anything waterproof?"
"Why the hell would I?"
Ren groaned. "I know you're in a lot of pain, but could you not take it out on me right now."
Ashton gave him a dark look.
Ren returned the look and searched once more for something that would work for the purpose he was thinking of. But he couldn't find anything. Ashton had nothing that could be useful.
He went back to the opening of the cave, looking out at the plants surrounding him. Suddenly, his great idea didn't seem so good after all.
He crouched there and folded his arms over his knees.
Things just couldn't go his way.
Raindrops fell. The rain went from soft to heavy in a millisecond and all Ren could do was stare. He stared blankly wondering if it could get any worse than this.
He rubbed his face.
He could hear Ashton groaning in the background. The rain fell harder.
"Ren…Ren…"
He tried to ignore the pleas. He tried to pretend he didn't care and that he could let Ashton die.
He couldn't. He couldn't be that heartless if he tried.
"I'm here. I'm sorry." He crawled back to Ashton's side.
"Don't apologize. I'm the one being an asshole."
Ren cracked a smile. "That's the first time you've ever come close to saying you're sorry."
"Don't get used to it," Ashton mumbled.
The smile on Ren's face got a little bigger. He hid it, knowing Ashton wouldn't like it.
Ashton shivered and Ren's smiled dropped.
It was getting worse.
And as the rain poured down harder, Ren realized there was only one choice he could make to save Ashton.
Let Ashton drink from him.
Ren sat for only a few seconds. That was all the time he could afford to himself. Ashton's ragged breathing kept interrupting his thoughts and he couldn't help it when he gazed at Ashton's face. This would be so much better if he didn't care about anything. It would be so much better if he was a heartless bastard could see someone die right in front of him.
But maybe even if he didn't care, he would do the same as he was going to do. Surely, even if he was heartless, he would still care about his own life.
In those few seconds, Ren made himself more confused.
Just do it. Don't think about it.
It was the small push he needed.
He leaned over Ashton. He avoided his eyes, staring at the lobe of Ashton's ear.
"What…" Ashton's breath had gotten even more ragged. Ren could hear soft wheezing.
He couldn't look Ashton in the eyes for this. It was bad enough he had to do it, to offer himself up like this.
"Bite me."
He couldn't believe he said it.
Ashton was dumbfounded. "I—"
"I can't help you. I don't know what to do. Just…please."
Ashton touched Ren's neck with the tips of his fingers. It was a faint ghosting that sent shivers down Ren's spine. He kept his eyes closed, trying to think of others things to get rid of the rising butterflies in his stomach. It wasn't working. He thought of death, the Hunters, and how his life was never going to be the same. The feeling in his body was too strong. It didn't matter what he thought about. The way Ashton made him feel drowned out everything else.
Ashton placed his whole hand on the base of Ren's neck. It grounded him, pulling him away from his frantic thoughts.
"You're shaking," Ashton whispered.
Ren opened his eyes. He was shaking. He hadn't noticed.
"It's okay."
Ren relaxed. "Just do it."
There was a pause. He felt Ashton's breath on his neck.
"Help me sit up."
Ren backed away.
He carefully helped Ashton sit up. He tried to avoid touching him as much as possible, but it was impossible not to. Once he got Ashton to sit up and lean against the wall, he sat on his heels. They were too close for Ren's comfort. He shouldn't have cared. Ashton was dying right in front of him. That was far worse than how uncomfortable Ren felt.
Ashton clenched his teeth. He was about to put his hand on his wound, but Ren stopped him just in time.
"Don't touch it," Ren hissed. He didn't mean to sound so angry, but he blamed it on his anxiety. It was the pressure making his head spiral.
"Then do something about it!" Ashton panted as their eyes met.
Ashton's eyes were trying to burn bright red as they used to, but he was too weak. They flickered, like siren lights in the distance. Ren was captured by the red and his heart sunk as he saw how the red was slowly. It wasn't the bright brilliant red he'd seen the day they met. The color was fading to a light pink.
Ren had been able to resist Ashton's power longer before Ashton was this weak. Even still, he'd been at least to feel the power trying to grab onto him. This time, he felt nothing. It was as if it didn't exist at all.
It shouldn't have made Ren feel like shit. However, he felt nothing but anguish. He couldn't help that he felt all the misery Ashton it. As much as he'd been trying to avoid them, to push them away so he didn't have to deal with the harsh facts, Ren's power was too strong for its own good.
Ashton's eyes drifted close. "I'm sorry. I can't think…"
His words slurred.
Silent tears fell from Ren's eyes. He wiped them away.
"Can you—" His throat was dry and tight. "Can you bite me?"
Ashton's eyes flashed open again. Ren was caught in them. He didn't want to look away. He was afraid if he did, Ashton would be gone in the next second.
Ashton reached with his hand. Ren's breath hitched as Ashton placed his hand on the base of Ren's throat. Slowly, he pulled Ren closer, slipping into the crook of Ren's neck. His lips brushed over Ren's pulse. His skin ghosted over Ren's, sending shocks down Ren's spine.
The roles were reversed. Ren was at the mercy of Ashton's fangs. Yet, it wasn't all too different. On this side, Ren felt like he didn't have to be in control. He was relaxed, his pulse spiking only as he felt Ashton's fangs ghost over his sensitive skin.
The second right before the bite was the moment Ren realized his life wouldn't be the same again. His body sagged even more, almost falling completely onto Ashton. This was him giving into the monster inside of him. He never thought it would be this way.
Ashton's fangs pierced Ren's skin. They slipped deep within him. A sharp sting brought fire and then a chill like a million needles. His eyes flew open. His mouth gaped as a silent scream became lost in his throat. He jerked, trying to get away from the pain, but Ashton's arms wrapped around his waist, keeping him hostage on his lap.
Ren struggled, his knees fell into the dirt on either side of Ashton's waist. Wherever he went, Ashton followed him, clutching him tight as if trying to make them into one being. He could feel his blood pumping out of him, being sucked and drained. He clawed at Ashton's back. He stared at the wall. The sunset glowed inside the cave, painting everything in a golden red hue.
Time dragged as Ashton drank from him. He didn't understand how something heavenly on one side could be so horrible in the reverse.
But soon pleasure outweighed the discomfort.
He was floored by the rush of heat filling his veins. He grew, sluggish, and his grip on Ashton's shirt loosened. A slow numbness took over his body. Ashton's touch fueled the flames in his body. He felt it deep within his gut, as if he'd drank molten lava.
And then he felt blood rush to his bottom half. Horror struck him. He scratched more frantically at Ashton's back, trying more desperately to get him off. His face flushed as Ashton's hips pressed against his own.
Ashton pulled back. He gasped as he swallowed the last of Ren's blood in his mouth.
"Okay…" Ren slowly shook his head. The cave was a blur around him. He felt like he was getting off a roller coaster.
He moved to get off Ashton's lap. He prayed Ashton was too focused on blood to notice Ren's embarrassing problem.
Ashton gripped harder onto Ren's hips.
"Where are you going?"
The expression Ashton had was unlike anything Ren had seen on him before. The red was back in his eyes. It was glowing brighter than ever before and while Ren had been able to resist Ashton's power before, he felt himself slipping under a weird trance. He couldn't tell if it was because Ren's blood had worked and had given Ashton his strength back or if it had something to do with the lust taking a hold of him.
Ashton slid his hands upward. His fingers slipped under Ren's shirt.
Ren was stricken by the evil glint in Ashton's eyes. The look he gave Ren was that of a predator. But even though Ashton had been drinking Ren's blood, had his fangs inside his neck, Ren feared there was something far worse Ashton could do to him.
He licked his lips. His eyes fell to Ashton's. They were covered in his own blood. As if to tease him, Ashton licked the blood away. His lips were left parted. His light skin flushed with color. He'd needed the blood so bad and it was obvious in his complexion. Before, he'd been as white as a sheet. Now, there was a rosy color to his cheeks. Ren looked away, trying once more to get out of Ashton's grip, but now after he'd gotten his belly full, it seemed like he was stronger than ever.
Ren was at odds with himself. He knew he should get away. There was this feeling—a voice as well—telling him he was making a mistake if he let Ashton continue. Yet, his body and mind were enthralled by this feeling. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt. His entire life had been a blur of hurt and worry. This was the first time he was faced with danger not ultimately ruled by pain.
He wasn't hurt. All he could feel was the pleasure of Ashton's hands, the stinging of his throat, and the rush of blood to his head. He didn't want to think about anything anymore. This was the first time he was becoming lost in something. Where he could truly escape the world.
His eyes closed. His hands moved down Ashton's back, feeling the plains of his muscles, imagining what they looked like as they rippled beneath his palms.
He shivered as Ashton licked up the side of his neck. Ashton's lips pressed over the bite, sucking and licking the rest of the blood. Ren jolted as Ashton nipped over the bite. He didn't break skin, but it stung. He coaxed it with kitten licks.
Ashton hummed.
For a long while, they stayed like that, Ren in Ashton's lap while Ashton licked over the bite. Ren didn't move. He was content to sit there and let Ashton do what he wanted. His hands were frozen on Ashton's back. The only thing he wished he could do was forget he was hard. He couldn't do much in his position. If Ashton noticed it, he didn't say anything.
When what felt like an hour had passed, Ashton leaned back. The air hit Ren's neck. It was wet from Ashton's saliva. He shivered for a different reason now. He opened his eyes. Ashton leaned against the wall now, eyes drooping. He looked like a cat who'd eaten its feel. Ren contested to that. He felt like an empty carton sucked dry.
Though, at the same time, he felt replenished.
Ashton's hands were still on Ren's hips. His thumbs rubbed slow circles into his hip bones. He didn't even attempt to stop. Instead, he kept staring up at Ren, feeling him up and staring into his eyes.
Ren didn't know if he should attempt to move again. It was hard to read Ashton, to even contemplate what he was thinking. He looked lost, still mesmerized by Ren which felt weird to even think. Ren didn't think there was any part of him that could tempt someone like this.
It was his blood. Ashton had been starved for it. There wasn't really anything else to it.
"Are you—" His mouth was too dry. He cleared his throat. "Are you done?"
Ashton didn't answer. A long silent pause fell between them. He still rubbed circles into Ren's hips, looking at his face like there was nothing else going on in the world. Ren flushed under the heated gaze. He knew then that Ashton was feeling the same way he was. But he couldn't tell if Ashton would be the one to cross that line. Ren wasn't going to. He couldn't. He couldn't even be sure Ashton was in the right mind never mind this not being the right place to be doing such a thing.
That didn't stop his dick from getting excited again. Well, it hadn't not been excited during the whole thing. Even when he'd been embarrassed by his body's reaction and he had to face Ashton's red eyes again.
Ashton looked Ren over again. Ren's heart dropped as Ashton looked a little too long at his crotch to not notice the bulge. He wore jeans which made it less obvious, but it was still there. Not even the darkness flooding the cave could hide it.
"I want more."
Ashton grabbed firmly to Ren's hips. Ren gave him a bewildered look just before Ashton flipped them over. Ren's back hit the ground. The air whooshed out of him and his breath hitched as Ashton stared down at him from above. His legs spread loosely on either side of Ashton's hips. He couldn't get any words out. He was dumbfounded by what had happened. He was a deer caught in headlights. The look in Ashton's eyes surely meant he was going to become the meal again, but he really couldn't think of a reason why that would be a problem.
Ashton's mouth was on his in the next second.
Ren stilled.
He was shocked by the kiss. Ashton's lips were rough, demanding, kissing him like his life depended on it. Ren grabbed Ashton's hands, but he didn't remove them. He didn't try to fight the kiss.
It was just the press of their lips and nothing more. Ashton pulled back, his eyes narrowed, glaring at Ren like he'd been the one to initiate the kiss.
Ren's chest heaved. His dick throbbed. He closed his eyes and cursed the damn thing.
Ashton stared. He could feel those red eyes burning into him, inspecting every piece of him. He wiggled with discomfort. His stomach fluttered with nervousness.
Ashton leaned down. His lips burned a trail from Ren's cheek and down his neck. His fangs glided over the bite once more.
"It hasn't healed," Ashton whispered. Ren jolted as the warm air fanned over him.
He turned his head slightly. Ashton's nose rubbed over the bottom of his chin. His hands slid upward to circle around Ren's torso. They fit under his back, cradling him. Ren's hands fell away from Ashton's wrists. He wasn't sure what to do with them, but somehow they ended up holding onto Ashton's back. He was sure to anyone else it would look like they were embracing.
They wouldn't noticed how hard Ren was shaking or how Ashton was a second away from drinking Ren's blood once more.
Ren let out a small snort. "I don't have super healing like you."
His thoughts became mush. He couldn't think straight, not when Ashton touched him like this.
His lips burned. He was thankful he wasn't coherent enough to freak out.
Ashton hummed.
Ren thought he was going to bite him again. But instead of doing so Ashton hesitated. Ren held still. He held his breath. All that could be heard was the soft howling wind outside the cave. There was just a split second where he thought about the Hunters, his mom, and the world outside the dark place. However, he soon forgot it all.
It was Ashton who took over his thoughts. The way their bodies pressed together and the after effects of Ashton's feeding.
Ashen got off of Ren. Ren was frozen where he lay unsure whether he should move or not. Ashton furiously wiped his mouth glancing and sent Ren a murderous glare.
"Why did you let me do that?"
Slowly, the glaze over Ren's eyes and the fogginess in his mind cleared. He was hit with what felt like a ton of bricks. Though it was just Ashton, he should have known it would come back to this. He was no longer floating up in the clouds, lost in the lust as Ashton drank his blood. He was back in reality where Ashton hated him just as much as he hated the Hunters.
He pushed himself up on his palms. He gazed downward at Ashton's feet, peering up at him out of the corner of his eyes. He wasn't directly looking at him. He didn't think he would be able to.
His stomach still fluttered from the bite and the kiss. He wished he didn't have to think about it. He wished it had never happened.
"You were dying."
Ashton rubbed his hands over his face. He groaned. "I wasn't—"
"You weren't healing. What else was I supposed to do?"
Ashton removed his hands. "Maybe you should have let me die!"
Ren felt a burst of heat through him. "Well, it's too late for that!"
If he had anything to throw at the dickhead he would have. Ashton was lucky he wasn't being possessed by the thing inside of him that listened. But he doubted the thing would have wanted to hurt Ashton anyway. It had a weird fascination with Ashton. One that Ren didn't like.
It's not like you don't have a weird fascination with him as well.
He ignored the invasive thought.
Ashton paced. He ran his hands through his hair.
"At least you're better," Ren muttered.
He turned away.
The kiss kept coming back. The thoughts and memories of Ashton's mouth on his own wouldn't leave him alone. He wanted to do it again even though it disgusted him thinking about it. The lust within him hadn't died enough to get rid of his erection. Thankfully, Ashton was too busy having his own crisis to notice.
Ashton turned on his heels. He pointed a finger at Ren.
"This is all your fault!"
Ren glared at him.
"Which part? Us getting involved with the Hunter Society? Us being bonded? Or me saving your life? Because all of those are your fault."
Ashton stomped toward him. He flinched as Ashton grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him off the ground. He wrestled back, fighting the hands trying to put him into submission. Ashton shoved him up against the wall.
Ren wrinkled his nose as jagged pieces of the wall dug into his back. He shoved Ashton hard in the chest, but Ashton didn't seem to care.
He shouldn't have fucking saved him. He should have let him die in this stupid cave alone. His blood was wasted on this Mantel.
Ashton shoved him again. His head hit the back of the wall. He gritted his teeth as pain bloomed at the back of his head. He grabbed onto the front of Ashton's shirt. He jerked him forward. Their heads knocked together. Both flinched, but Ren held Ashton's gaze.
Again, Ren was assaulted by the thoughts of the kiss. His eyes flickered to Ashton's lips. When he looked back up to Ashton's eyes, there was no mistaking what he'd been doing. Ashton knew it. His red eyes flashed brighter for a second. Ren thought Ashton was thinking about the same thing too.
It was funny that after everything they'd been through together they'd ended up like this. They were no longer just enemies. They were something that didn't have a word.
And what were they going to do now? They'd promised each other they would stay in this until the very end, but it was looking like they weren't going to last. They were at each others throats—literally.
Ashton pressed his lips firmly together. Holding Ren almost by the neck, he looked up at the ceiling. Or, well, the dome of the cave.
"This needs to stop," he said.
For a moment, Ren thought he was talking to him. He wasn't.
Ashton let out a sigh. He looked back down. "Next time, I'd rather die."
He shoved Ren back.
As Ashton walked away, Ren wondered if it had all been a fever dream.
Ashton sat on the opposite side of the cave.
Ren scoffed. "I'll save you if I want."
The ground had grown colder. But Ren was burning on the inside from the kiss and bite. His body thrummed with energy. While his arousal died, the ghosting of Ashton's lips couldn't be forgotten.