Ashia

by Taige Crenshaw

  It was a missed call from Ashia. But no message. He quickly dialled her number and waited for her to answer.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey,” he said, a smile lifting his lips. “I missed you this morning. Where’d you go? And how are you?”

  A short moment’s pause filled with tension hung between them and he lost his smile. What was going on between them?

  “I tried calling you earlier.”

  He glanced around the room but it didn’t seem anyone was paying him any attention. “I know. I’m sorry I missed it, I was in the middle of work.”

  “Is that what you’re calling it?”

  He frowned. “Excuse me?”

  She sighed and said, “Never mind. I just wanted to tell you I have a late night so if you were back for dinner I won’t be. I should be home about nine. I’ll swing by in the afternoon and check on the dogs. Have to go.”

  Reid stared at his cell. She’d hung up on him. This was getting really weird. What the hell was going on? She was pissed about something, but he wasn’t sure he understood what about. It couldn’t be the fact he’d missed her call, she had a business and knew sometimes you just couldn’t take the call. Sally stopped before him and he sighed in mounting frustration. She looked at him askance, he shook his head and led the way. Something to take care of when he got home.

  He thought about that as he walked with Sally. He’d come to think of Ashia’s house as his home. Liv loved it there and to be honest so did he.

  “Everything okay?” Sally paused in the elevator and glanced at him as he entered behind her.

  He pursed his lips. “I’m really not sure. Nothing I can deal with right now though.”

  She gave him a sympathetic smile and thankfully didn’t pry further. While he finished up for the day, he ran things around in his mind trying to figure out what had happened to make Ashia upset.

  At the end of the day, Sally escorted him down to the first floor. At the door leading to the parking lot, she stopped him with a hand on his arm. He looked into her light blue eyes.

  “My boss wanted to give you this as well for getting the work done so well and ahead of schedule.” She handed him an envelope.

  He took it and put in the pocket of his messenger bag.

  “Thank you, Reid Jacobs. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you these past few days.”

  “Likewise, Sally Mason.”

  They shook hands and she gave him a sparkling smile before she walked away. An odd feeling came over him and he swore he felt like he was being watched. Not by the multiple cameras this business had in it but by someone else. Shaking off the feeling, he took a deep breath and froze when the evocative scent he equated to Ashia tantalised his senses.

  “Ashia?” he whispered, casting his gaze around. It wasn’t surprising that he didn’t see her. Get a grip, Reid. Why would she be here? She’s at work. Blowing out his breath, he hastened down to his vehicle.

  He headed to the vet clinic. After parking next to Ashia’s Avalanche, he got out and went up to the door. Locked. He knocked, calling her name. Nothing.

  Damn. He checked his watch. She wouldn’t be done for about another hour. But what was she doing in there alone? No other staff cars were in the lot. Hand up to the glass, he peered in then withdrew his cell and called her.

  No answer but he did hear a click. With a frown, he tried the door again. This time it opened so he pushed his way inside. Stopping in the lobby, he searched for signs of where she might be.

  From the back of the clinic he noticed a soft golden glow. He made his way down there. A few of the overnight residents were barking and it covered his movement. The staff break room door sat open allowing him to stare into the room as he neared.

  He stumbled to a stop like he’d run into a brick wall. Blinking a few times to ensure he wasn’t imagining things, he paused then blinked again. The vision of Ashia standing in her dress hadn’t changed. The form-fitting dress, which barely covered what the good Lord had given her, teased him with its golden shimmer. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The dress was giving off the light he’d seen.

  The rich darkness of her skin was split by an armband of gold that wrapped around three times, depicting a snake. Her hair piled high then cascaded freely down her back. The entire ensemble made her appear elegant and haughty.

  “I do not care, Set. I never want to see you here again.”

  Set?

  “I was just looking around. It’s not like you own this mortal realm.” A tall powerful man stepped into Reid’s view.

  She shook her head. “Begone.”

  “You are just no fun.” A flash of light and the other man disappeared.

  Reid swallowed and tried to figure out what he’d just seen. There had to be a logical explanation.

  Ashia turned and stared at him, her eyes and face portraying shock.

  “Who are you?” he squeaked out. “Or should I say what are you?”

  She moved towards him. Regal and cold. Walking around him, she sniffed and glared at him.

  “You reek of another’s perfume. Why are you standing before me smelling like another woman?”

  His mind tried to keep up but he just couldn’t quite get the entire disappearing act of the other man from his thoughts. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who was that and where did he go?”

  She waved a hand as if his question were inconsequential. “He is of no concern. Answer me.”

  There was movement on her arm and his gaze snapped to the armband. His legs wobbled. Holy shit! The snake was moving, its golden scales gripping and pulling itself in an elegant slide up her skin.

  “Who the hell are you?”

  Chapter Seven

  “A goddess,” she stated in a cool tone. “That is of little importance. You come to me smelling of that thin, petite woman,” she accused. “She was fawning all over you. That dark-haired woman with her exotic looks who dares think she could covet what is mine.”

  Reid didn’t know who she was referring to.

  Ashia must have seen it on his face. She walked towards him, her dress moving with her like a living thing—the snake moving along her arm in an agitated manner as if channelling what she was feeling.

  Reid gulped, looking at her beautiful face, turned on even with her anger. He tried to focus on what she had said then it dawned on him who she was referring to.

  Sally. But how does she know about Sally?

  “Sally what a sweet name.” Ashia stopped her advance.

  Reid blinked, sure he hadn’t spoken aloud. “You read my mind. But how?”

  “I am the goddess known as Amaunet, the Egyptian mother goddess, and I belong to the Ogdoad of Hermopolis.” Ashia lifted her head, shaking it haughtily. “And I do not share with anyone.”

  Reid’s mind raced then he grinned. “You’re jealous.”

  She barely blinked as she stared.

  Reid remembered all the moments she had said something about ‘human’. “You’ve said human before. But aren’t you human?”

  “I am immortal and can do more than you ever imagine.” Ashia moved closer to him. “What do you feel for this…Sally woman?”

  Reid frowned then blurted out, “Nothing.”

  Ashia still glared at him.

  Reid glanced at the golden reptile still moving along her arm. He returned his attention to her then back at it before taking in her attire and bearing. Looking at her now, he could see she indeed looked like a goddess. His thoughts were jumbled on how he felt about her being not the woman he thought he had come to know. Reid turned away, needing space to think of what this could possibly mean for them. It was a lot to swallow, but Ashia was all he could ever want. Would he be able to keep her in his life?

  “Reid.”

  “You’re a goddess and I’m just Reid. There is nothing else to say. Goodbye, Ashia.” He strode away, needing to think before he said anything else.

  “You dare walk away from me,” she roared.

&
nbsp; Reid didn’t stop or reply. He didn’t dare look at her knowing if he did he would never be able to leave. Reid went to his vehicle and drove to her house, retrieving his dog and a few things. On autopilot, he drove to his house. Inside he barely remembered the place, it looked so foreign to him.

  Reid went to his office, hardly registering that Liv was following him. He sat, booted up his computer then searched for the name she called herself confident there had to be more somewhere than what he found the first time. It seemed weird she was a goddess but for some reason he believed her without anything but her word. He finally found more articles and read up on her. The more he uncovered, the more he realised she was all he had seen before he even talked to her. Ashia was a regal woman who could control many. Hell, she had him wrapped in her hand and he would do anything for her.

  Reid sat back in his chair. “But can I let her go?”

  * * * *

  Ashia had stared in disbelief as Reid had walked away. She could have incinerated him where he stood or stopped him from ever leaving, yet she—a goddess—had been powerless against the pain roaring through her. She placed her hand over her chest to see if it was laying open, bare and bloody. Surprisingly it was not and she shook. Ashia thought of Devi and how she had held her as she had wept over Rhodes, all the while wondering what the big fuss was about. That the human man would be foolish to let her go. All Devi had needed to do was go to him and make him see the error of his ways. Yet here she was experiencing the same thing. Watching him walk away and doing nothing.

  Pride. The word resonated in her mind. Her pride would not let her chase after anyone. Not even a man who made her body sing, her emotions go crazy. And with his leaving, he had her soul. She’d never be the same and she feared what this could do to her. She hadn’t heard or felt him come in and she should have. Ashia shuddered, fury roaring through her, knowing who was to blame for this. She flashed out then reappeared yelling.

  “Set, you interfering bastard.”

  “You were foolish to be with someone so weak, Amaunet.” Set’s voice came from behind her.

  Amaunet turned, raising her hand to bring up a fire bolt.

  Set caught her and jerked her against his tall body.

  Every molecule of her body screamed at her to kill him and put him out of his sorry misery. She stiffened, jerking away and pulling out of his arms. Ashia sent the bolt away then stared at him.

  “Your life isn’t mine to take, but one day, Set, you will reap what havoc you cause.” She shimmered out and re-materialised in her Colorado home.

  Her dogs came running and Ashia felt the pain anew as she realised Liv wasn’t with them. She walked down the hall to the room Reid used and noted he had taken his laptop and some other things. She continued to her office and opened her laptop and typed in the word he had called her. When she saw the various meanings and images she frowned.

  I didn’t become a green-eyed monster. She closed the laptop. Perhaps I didn’t know the word as well as I believed I did.

  “You don’t actually go green. You just get irrational as you are being, Ashia.”

  She turned at the familiar voice. “Devi.” Then it registered what she’d said. “I’m not being irrational. He left after I told him what I was.” Ashia crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t appreciate you spying on me.”

  She had to be really off to not have sensed Devi and for her to read her thoughts. Which now she was aware Devi had done.

  “I felt your pain, my friend.” Devi approached her. “Don’t be stubborn as I was with Rhodes. Go to him.”

  “He doesn’t want me. He made that clear when he left.” Ashia lifted her head and set her face in the haughty lines she was known for. “I’m a goddess and I will grovel before no man.”

  “If you love him it’s not grovelling. It’s letting him know how you feel,” Devi countered, reaching for her. “It’s okay to cry.”

  “Cry. I will not shed any tears over that human. It was but a dalliance. Go back to your man, Devi, and leave me to myself.”

  Devi scowled. “Don’t be a bitch, Amaunet.”

  Ashia scowled. Before they had become friends Devi wouldn’t have dared to say such a thing to her. Hell, no one would have. Being in this human realm made what should be upside down. She should have stayed in the other realm then she would not be in this predicament.

  You would not have met Reid. She was furious thinking that even meeting him had been a good thing. The man had hurt her. A physical pain she could have handled but this ache deep inside wasn’t something she could fix. She wasn’t even sure if she could overcome it.

  You are a goddess, act like one. Ashia stiffened, rising to her full height, embracing who she was. This was but a blip in an immortal life and she would not wallow and be sorry.

  “I am Amaunet and I will be fine. I always am. Now be gone from me.” She waved her hand and sent Devi away.

  “I’m going to let you get away with that without kicking your ass because I know you are hurting. But you better get your shit straight before I get back and be the Ashia I have come to know.” Devi cut off communication.

  Ashia turned before striding outside to her gardens. Usually they were an oasis, but today as she prowled them they didn’t offer much comfort but it was better than inside where his scent lingered. When Devi returned Ashia would apologise and be Ashia before she met Reid. She was foolish to have her head turned by a man. She would not make that mistake again.

  Ashia returned to the house to search online for what was the appropriate protocol when one severed ties with a man. In her home office she sat before the computer Reid had made for her but could not reach out to turn it on. Ashia blinked and her throat became clogged.

  “I am Amaunet and I will not cry.” Her voice quivered in the silence.

  Ashia ran her hands over her face firmly. Furry bodies pressed against her and Ashia looked at her pets around her chair. Moving it back, she slid down to the ground on her knees and lay between them. They pressed against her, whining, and Ashia curled up under her desk and did the one thing she had promised not to do. She wept harshly, rocking and wailing over a man who had changed her, making her feel things she never thought she could.

  * * * *

  Ashia rolled her shoulders, tiredness weighing on her. She entered her office at the clinic and sat behind her desk. The new system Reid had installed sat there ready to do whatever she needed. Ashia turned away from her computer, looking out of the window. It seemed as if everywhere she went her thoughts always turned to the man she hadn’t seen in over a month.

  She’d found things he’d left behind in each room. After that one bout of crying she had not done so again. Shame at even giving in once had made her so angry that in a fit of pique she had packed his things. The next day she’d unpacked them all, putting them back where she had found them. The room he had for his work was still filled with all those pieces he had tried more than once to explain to her. She hadn’t cared what they were for, she’d just enjoyed hearing his enthusiasm when he had spoken of his work. Had enjoyed him driving her crazy with the intense way he touched her and made her come.

  Remembering his touch, the feel of him inside her, made Ashia’s pussy clench with need. The phantom memory of his touches woke her at nights longing for him. At random times she would think of sexual things they had done and have to stop what she was doing because she was flushed with need. Her employees smiled indulgently and she could tell they thought she was scatter-minded because she was still with Reid. When anyone asked about him, she changed the subject or found something else to do. Although she had read she was supposed to return Reid’s things since they’d severed ties she couldn’t do it. It would take nothing to de-materialise them from her place to his, but each time she tried she stopped. She lived with his things around her.

  “Damn him.” Ashia rose, shrugged out of her lab coat and headed out of the clinic to home.

  When she got home she went around the house dir
ectly to her gardens. With a thought as she rounded the corner she changed her clothing to something more comfortable.

  “That must be handy. Being able to change like that,” a familiar voice said.

  Ashia stopped and stared at Reid. His gangly six-foot frame, curly red hair and blue eyes were the same as she remembered. Reid smiled that shy yet sexy grin that always made her wet. Ashia remembered her vow not to let him get to her again.

  “Reid, as severing mating dictates I assume you’re here for your things.” Ashia turned. “Let’s get you pa—”

  “What? Ashia, stop.” He grabbed her hand.

  Ashia closed her eyes at his touch, repeating in her mind, Be strong. Don’t let him in.

  “What is this severing thing and mating dictates?” Reid sounded confused.

  Ashia composed herself and gently disentangled her hand from his before facing him and putting her hands in her pocket. “It’s what you do when you are no longer a couple.”

  Reid’s expression hardened then he stepped close to her. Ashia unconsciously did as she always did, inhaling his clean masculine scent.

  “Have you given up so easily?” he demanded.

  “You’re the one who left. It clearly states on Google that makes you the dumper and I the dumpee.” Ashia scowled. “I’m the one who should be upset.”

  Reid stared then laughed. “You Googled about breaking up. Ashia, what am I going to do with you?”

  “Nothing, we’re done.” Ashia couldn’t understand why he was laughing. She shook her head. “Dating is confusing.”

  “Now that’s the truth. But Ashia.” Reid stepped closer, reaching to touch the side of her face. “We’re in a relationship, not dating.”

  She turned her face into his hand, drawing in the scent of him before she caught herself and jerked back.

  “I know what a relationship is and we have not—”

  “Were we sleeping together? Was I living with you and spending all my time with you?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “You accepted me into your body and your home, Ashia. In my book we are in a relationship.”