His Unexpected: A Demon Romance (COMPLETE)

Chapter Twelve - Learning Curve

Blaise

When I saw my first paycheck, I screamed. I'd never owned money before, and even though I signed off on the employment forms, seeing the amount in my new bank account still caught me off guard. I had my own money— not just cash I stole from my father to use for bribery around the mansion— for the first time in my life.

And I realized pretty immediately that I had no idea what to do with it.

"I just save it, right?" I asked Ash from across the dinner table as I stared wide-eyed at the numbers on my phone. "Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"

"It's the smartest thing to do," Ash said. "But you don't need to put all of it away. I'm not going to charge you rent, considering the circumstances, so what you save is for yourself. Same with what you spend."

"That's so daunting," I muttered, setting my phone to the side to resume eating dinner. "I don't even know what I'd spend it on."

"There's nothing you want?" he asked, green eyes fixated on me curiously, and I got the sudden feeling that it wasn't only human Ash asking.

"Hmm," I thought, resting my cheek in my hand to hide the redness creeping onto my face. Something about the way he was watching me felt intimate, like he was staring through my eyes and into my mind, and after our moment in my room, when he eased me out of my anxiety attack while lying in my bed, I was a touch self-conscious about what he might find.

"You know," I began once I managed to tear my gaze from Ash's, "I've always wanted a guitar."

"There you go," Ash grinned. "That would be a perfect first paycheck reward to yourself. Have you ever played?"

I shook my head and frowned at my plate.

"No. I was... punished the one time I played the grand piano. I haven't touched an instrument in years." I glanced up to see Ash frowning too, but I knew his displeasure wasn't with me. "It wouldn't bother you hearing me learn? I'll probably suck at first."

Ash's face softened and he shook his head.

"Not at all," he told me. "Besides, my room is very soundproof. Both ways."

"Oh," I said, my eyebrows shooting to the roof. "I don't really know how to interpret that."

Ash laughed and took a sip of wine, and my stomach did a little dip. What the hell had happened to me?

"However you like," he countered.

"And you're sure you're not going to change your mind about charging me rent?" I asked, switching subjects before I talked myself into a corner like I had on the ride back from the cocktail party.

"Of course," Ash said. "If you're worried about sharing responsibilities, just take me out to dinner next time neither of us want to cook."

"I only know one restaurant," I reminded him, but couldn't keep the goofy smile off my cheeks as I turned back to my food.

I still had moments where I couldn't believe life was working out after I was given to a literal demon in a mafia trade, and this was one of them. I was discussing my long-time wish to play guitar and joking about soundproof walls over dinner with a goddamn supermodel, and it felt natural. It felt right. And I felt almost— almost safe. Ash was still the acting head of an international crime syndicate, one my father was now a part of, and I wasn't sure I could ever outrun my upbringing, but even with half of Ash's fanbase stomping my self-esteem into the dirt, I still felt safer than I ever had before. Safe to live, but also safe to be myself. And maybe that's why I had let Ash get a little too close to my heart.