There was a polite knock on the door at that point, sunlight streaming in.
Caspian was fast asleep and Asher didn’t want to rouse but he wished he could make him more comfortable.
"What?" He bit out, wishing his hands were free to cover Caspian up.
Their bodies were still warm from lovemaking but he would eventually get very uncomfortable.
The prickly heat that came with his rut was gone as well, and he wondered if it was over so soon because he’d had a flare-up a short while ago.
"Is Caspian okay?" Jael’s muffled voice came through.
"Come in with a blanket and your eyes closed," Asher ordered reluctantly.
He didn’t have a lot of options in his current position that didn’t involve waking Caspian up.
Jael went quiet and he expected his second-in-command to retaliate or at the very least, come in guns blazing.
But he instead went quiet for a few minutes and then knocked politely again, "I’m coming in."
The Beta’s steps were slow and cautious but he had a general idea of where the bed was, so he splayed the thick blanket out.
"You covered my face," Asher’s muffled complaint came.
Jael slowly opened his eyes, sighing silently in relief when he managed to cover most of them completely.
He walked closer to tug the blanket down, revealing Caspian’s peacefully sleeping face as well.
"Thanks," Asher mumbled when he could see again.
Jael just crossed his arms, his relief clear to see. "I’m doubling my salary."
"Do that after you take off my cuffs," Asher countered.
They both spoke in tempered tones so as not to bother a sleeping Caspian.
Jael had been onboard to do whatever Asher asked of him but he hesitated at this point. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I’m fine... mostly," He tagged on under his breath.
Jael’s expression turned into one of suspicion. "Yeah, I’m not doing that."
"But my rut is over," Asher tried to convince him.
Jael’s dark eyes narrowed, "Is Caspian fine under that blanket?"
Asher’s poker face at that question didn’t help his credibility so he tried another tactic. "I’m not locking him up again."
Jael snorted at that, "Like he was locked up before. If he wanted to leave, I’d have gotten him out."
Asher looked plaintive at that, "Can we not have this conversation while Caspian is sleeping."
Jael paused at that, "Fine. I’ll be back in half an hour." He gave an ultimatum as he stepped forward to take off Asher’s locks.
"Stay out," Asher ordered him, his freed hand immediately reaching for Caspian who was lying on him. "I’ll come find you instead."
Jael looked like he would like to protest but Asher was saying all the right things, and the thick cloud of pheromones that hovered around him had broken.
"Fine." He gritted out, undoing the second cuff and flipping Asher off as he walked out.
Asher was pleased he had only gotten off with that, with how much trouble he caused for Jael, he should be getting the butt of his gun to his skull.
Although he was free now, for several minutes after Jael left, Asher didn’t move a muscle.
He just held Caspian tenderly and listened to his breathing, his thoughts rampant.
He was still painfully aware that Caspian should still be recovering from his own inadequacies.
What was so startling was how much clarity he had, he wasn’t sure what exactly brought about it.
If getting his rut out of the way was what made him think logically again, or if it was staring right at Caspian’s pain that shook him out of whatever he had been on.
Asher didn’t trust Jael not to come storming back when half an hour was up so he got out of his comfortable position of being Caspian’s bed.
He cleaned him up and wore him one of the bathrobes, intending to take him back to their bedroom where he could get some proper sleep.
He opened the door to find Jael standing right outside, he just walked past the Beta with Caspian cradled in his arms.
"I told you I’d come find you," He shook his head in mock disappointment. "I’m hurt."
Jael didn’t entertain him, walking off to wait for him like he had initially been told to.
Asher placed Caspian on the neatly arranged bed, placing a kiss on his hair out of habit, he didn’t at all expect it to wake the other.
Asher felt like he had chewed on limes at the sound of Caspian’s drowsy voice calling for him.
"I’ll be right back. I just need to talk to Jael." He said honestly.
Caspian was already drifting back to sleep, but there was no missing the telltale smile on his face.
Asher doubted the Omega had even heard him, he didn’t want to leave him but he doubted that Jael would be happy about that.
He needed to prove himself to his second-in-command or he risked him barging right in to cuff him up again.
Asher couldn’t be happier that Jael cared about Caspian’s well-being, and if he could, he would promote the Beta.
He needed to take a shower, it was long overdue so he took a quick one in the ensuite bathroom.
It had been a couple of days since he had been in here, after he stopped sleeping in here, he barely came by.
Asher was out in record time, getting dressed in his night robes because he very much planned to return to bed like he said.
Jael was seated in the living room when he showed up, and by seated, he meant that the Beta was at the edge of the couch, looking like he would shoot to his feet at any time.
He only relaxed when Asher showed up, straightened up to appraise the Alpha.
"That was quick," Jael spoke up.
"Me cleaning up or..." Asher clarified, not sure if the Beta was being sarcastic.
"No, your rut." Jael deadpanned.
Asher pushed his hair back, "Ah right."