Chapter 48

Ren sat there 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 that 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 that 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 how the air was being sucked in slowly and then being wheezed out.

He couldn't look Ashton in the eyes for this. It was bad enough that 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."

He didn't want to say the rest that was on his mind. It was too much. He couldn't let Ashton know that he could let Ashton die on is conscious. He couldn't deal with it. And though Ren would surely die soon after, he knew that those few moments before he finally went out would be the most agonizing.

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 though. 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 Ren, 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 to lean against the wall, he sat down on his heels. They were too close for Ren's comfort. He shouldn't have cared about that though. 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 that was making his head spiral.

"Then do something about it!" Ashton panted out as their eyes met.

Ashton's eyes were trying to burn bright red as they used to, but he was too weak. They were flickering, like siren lights in the distance. Ren was captured by the red and his heart sunk as he saw how the red was slowly burning out. It wasn't the bright brilliant red that 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 it that he felt all the misery Ashton was feeling. 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 were 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 that if he did, Ashton would be gone completely in the next second.

Ashton reached out 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 that his life wouldn't be the same again. His body sagged even more, almost falling completely onto Ashton. This was him giving in the monster that was inside of him. He just never realized this was the way it would happen.

Ashton's fangs pierced Ren's skin. They slipped deep within him. A sharp sting that brought fire and a chill over his body stabbed through him. His eyes flew open. His mouth dropped open 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 falling 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 on as Ashton drank from him. He didn't understand how something that had been heaven to him could be also the worst thing that could happen to him.

But soon those thoughts of pain disappeared to make way for pleasure.

He was floored by the rushing of heat that filled his veins. He was growing weaker, sluggish, and his hands loosened their grip on Ashton's shirt. The pounding of his pulse in his ears got louder, but he didn't care. A slow numbness was taking 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 the rushing of blood to his bottom half. His eyes widened with shock and horror. 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.

The breath was knocked out of him. And then, Ashton pulled back. He gasped as he drank 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 that he didn't notice Ren's embarrassing problem.

Ashton gripped harder onto Ren's hips, holding him still. Ren furrowed his brows. He looked Ashton over with a strange look.

"Where are you going?"

The look Ashton return 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 was giving Ren was that of a predator. But even though Ashton had been drinking Ren's blood, had his fangs inside his neck, Ren feared that there was something far worse that Ashton could do to him.

He licked his lips. His eyes fell down 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 was now flushing with color. He'd needed the blood so bad and it was the most 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 that he should get away. There was this feeling—a voice as well—that was telling him that he was going to make a mistake if he let Ashton continue. Yet, his body and mind was enthralled by how he was feeling. It was unlike anything he'd ever known before. His entire life had been a blur of hurt and worry that something was going to go wrong. This was the first time that he was faced with danger that wasn't 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 that he was becoming lost in something. Where he could truly escape the world.

His eyes closed. His hands smoothed 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 off Ren's skin. Ren jolted as Ashton nipped over the bite. He didn't break skin, but it was rough enough that there was a sting of pain. He smoothed it away with small licks that made the fire in Ren's gut burn even more.

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 that he wished he could do was forget that 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 was leaning back on the wall now, eyes drooping. He looked like a cat that had 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 thumb was rubbing 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 was still rubbing 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 that 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 the reality of it crashed down on him 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 was wearing 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 that 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 were narrowed, glaring at Ren like he'd been the one to imitate the kiss.

Ren's chest was heaving. His dick throbbed. He closed his eyes and cursed the damn thing.

Ashton was just staring at him now. He could feel those red eyes burning into him, inspecting every piece of him. He wiggled with discomfort. His stomach was fluttering from 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 some how they'd ended up just holding onto Ashton's back. He was sure that to anyone else it would look like they were merely embracing. They would probably think they were a couple enjoying each others company.

They wouldn't have 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 were becoming mush. He couldn't think straight, not when Ashton was touching him like this.

His lips were still burning. He was thankful he wasn't coherent enough to think about it too much. He was sure that if he was in his right mind he would be freaking 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 woosh of the 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 now that was taking over his thoughts. The way that their bodies were pressed together and the after affects of Ashton's feeding.

Ashen got up off of Ren. He was frozen where he lay unsure whether he should move or not. Ashton furiously wiped his mouth glancing over at Ren and sending him a murderous glare. Ren furrowed his brows.

"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 that 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 down 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 was still fluttering from the bite and the kiss. He wished he didn't have to think about it. He wished that 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 that he wasn't being possessed by the thing inside of him that wanted to hurt everyone. But he doubted the thing would have wanted to hurt Ashton anyway. The thing had a weird fascination with Ashton that Ren didn't like too much.

It's not like you don't have a weird fascination with him as well.

He ignored the invasive thought.

Ashton was pacing now, running 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 down 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 up 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. Ren flinched as Ashton grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him off of the round. He wrestled back, fighting the hands that were 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 the 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. The both of them flinched, but Ren held Ashton's gaze.

Again, Ren was assaulted by the thoughts of the kiss. His eyes flickered down 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 entirely different that didn't have a word.

And what were they going to do now? They'd promised each other that 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.

Ren didn't know how much longer he could handle it. His feelings were confusing him too much. Ashton was confusing him too much. It wasn't healthy for him to be going back and forth like this. One moment he hated Ashton's guts enough to kill him and the next he didn't think he could last a day without him.

When had that happened? What the hell was wrong with him?

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 at Ren. "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 at 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 still from the kiss and bite. His body was thrumming with energy. While his arousal had died, the ghosting of Ashton's lips couldn't be forgotten.