Page 142 of May: Bloom & Bane

I can handle it.

No, you can’t, he says flatly. And the longer you try to suppress it, the worse it’s going to be when she wakes up.

I close my eyes and press my forehead against the cool wall.

I’m not waking her, I say firmly. She’s exhausted, and she needs rest.

I’m not telling you to wake her, Ashán replies. I’m telling you to take care of this before you lose control.

I won’t lose control.

Sage. I can feel what you’re feeling. I know how close you are to snapping. So either you handle this now, or you’re going to end up rutting into her while she’s unconscious.

The image sends a bolt of shame and arousal through me.

I would never⁠—

Not on purpose, he agrees. But your nature doesn’t care about your morals right now. It only cares about one thing.

I ignore him. Minutes tick by, and I stay frozen against the wall, trying to will away the desperate throbbing between my legs.

It doesn’t work. If anything, it gets worse.

Sage, Ashán whispers. Let me help.

What? How are you going to help?

The familiar sensation of skin evaporating on my left side begins.

What are you doing?

What you’re too stubborn to do yourself, he answers.

His skeletal hand wraps around my shaft.

Ashán!

Shut up, he growls, stroking the length of me. You’re going to wake her up.

The sensation overwhelms me. I brace harder against the wall, trying to pull back control.

Stop fighting me, he snaps. You need this. WE need this. Or you’re going to lose your mind and hurt her.

I wouldn’t, I protest.

You would, he says coldly, stroking rougher this time. So let me handle this before you do something we’ll both regret.

Everything in my body is screaming this is wrong, but vresh it feels so good.

There, he purrs. Stop thinking and let me help you.

This is…

Necessary, he supplies, his fingers tightening. You’re already leaking on my hand, Sage.

I hate you, I grit out.

No, you don’t, he says, almost amused. You hate that I’m right, you hate that this feels good, but more than anything, you hate that you need this.