Page 168 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Can you?” A wolfish grin appeared. A wicked gleam in hisstare joined the devilish expression. “How about…?” His questing fingers dippedlower, dragging a ragged gasp from me. “Now?”

Raw, sharp sensation curled tightly in my core as my fingerssplayed across the soft linen of his shirt.

His chuckle was like silk against my skin, and his kiss wasmore languid and intoxicating this time. I started to lean into him, wanting togive in to the captivating pulse of pleasure his kiss and touch elicited.

But we did need to talk.

Mustering up what little self-restraint I had, I lightlypushed against his chest. “Yes, I can definitely tell you’re fond of thesepants, but we need to behave responsibly at the moment. So you need to forgetabout them,” I said, ignoring the breathy note in my voice. “What did Attes think about us wanting to meet with the Primals?”

“He thought it was a good idea.” The grip on my asstightened as he dropped a quick kiss to the corner of my mouth and then mycheek. “If he heads out to the other Courts when he said he would, we’ll hearfrom him within a day.”

My stomach dipped once more. “That’s quick.”

“It is.” He slid the hand from my cheek and down the side ofmy throat. His palm glided over the thick braid of hair, and his fingersskimmed the curve of my breast where it was lifted from the tight vest. Iinhaled sharply. “I’m betting Lailah will go with him.”

“Re—” I gasped as his thumb drifted over the tip of mybreast. The layers of clothing provided little barrier to the coolness of histouch. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm,” he murmured, bringing both hands to my hips.“Before you arrived, she offered to back him up in case of any problems.” Hislips found the hollow beneath my jaw, sending a tight—almost too tight—shiverdown my spine. “Which he eagerly accepted.”

“Oh, no.” I drew my lip between my teeth as I stared at theceiling. My heart felt like it was a trapped hummingbird. “Theon won’t bepleased to hear that.”

“I wasn’t exactly pleased myself.” Ash nipped at my chin.“But my Queen informed me that I was only to ensure that Attesbehaved if Lailah wanted that, and it seemed to me that she had no interest inmy intervention.”

“I have so many questions about those two.”

“They had a thing some time ago,” he said. I’d alreadyfigured that much out myself. “It did not end well.”

Concern took root. I grasped his cheek and guided his gazeto mine. “Is she safe with him?”

“A part of me wants to say no, just to see what you would doto Attes. I’m sure it would be bloody and violent.” Aquick, savage grin appeared as his fingers dipped under the band of myleggings. “But you said we needed to be responsible. Lailah is safer with himthan she is with anyone else.”

I was relieved to hear that. “You don’t seem to be behavingall that responsibly right now.”

“I’m being completely responsible.” He nipped at my lowerlip. “I was gone longer than I wanted to be. I missed you, liessa.”

A swelling motion filled my chest as I admitted, “I missedyou, too.”

His nose brushed mine. “Of course, you did.”

My eyes narrowed as I stepped an inch or two away from thedesk. “Let’s back up a second—or five. You really shouldn’t have hit Attes three times.”

“It was four.”

“You probably shouldn’t have corrected that statement.”

One side of his lips curved up as he drew my right hand fromhis chest. Kissing the center of my palm, he turned his head. His gaze slid tomine as his tongue flicked over the golden imprint. “It wasn’t entirelyintentional. My arm may have moved on its own at some point.” He caught the tipof my finger with his teeth. The sharp prick and tight draw of his mouthconjured a heady mix of reactions that had my heart pounding in anticipationand—

Letting go of my finger, he lifted his head. “Attes deserved it.” The essence stilled in his eyes as theymet mine. “He knows that.”

What Lailah had said about Atteschoosing not to heal himself filled my mind. “But he can’t keep deserving itevery time you see him.”

“Debatable.”

“Ash.” I sighed.

“The way your voice lowers when you’re annoyed makes my dickhard,” he countered. “I’m not sure that’s the desired effect.”

“It’s not.”

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