Page 170 of Born of Blood and Ash

A muscle flexed in his jaw—the only sign that he hadn’tmissed a word I’d said. “What was that?”

“Kolis said her vision wasn’t complete. That there wasanother part, which he believed was the end of it, but—what are you doing?” Iasked as he unhooked one of the clasps.

“Nothing.” Another clasp came undone. Then another. “Please,continue.”

It didn’t seem like he was doing nothing, but Icontinued. This playfulness was still so rare, and the ease with which he nowinteracted with me, without any reservations or stiffness, showed howcomfortable he was. He trusted me. And that made me feel…well, it made me feellike I was seen. Accepted. And about a hundred other things. So, Itold him what I could remember of that part of the prophecy and how Penellaphe believed Kolis wasn’t correct. By the time Ifinished, he had the top six clasps undone, and the vest had slipped a halfinch or so. “There is a chance Keella knows about theprophecy.”

“She’s old enough to have knowledge of it.” He moved on tothe string at the collar of my blouse, loosening it. “And based on what sheasked at the coronation,” he added, following the same line of thought I hadtaken when I spoke about her earlier, “it seems like she’s heard that phrasingbefore.”

“That’s what I…I was thinking.” I gripped the edge of thedesk as he drew the sleeves of my blouse down, inch by inch. “You aredefinitely up to something.”

“I have no idea what you’re speaking of.” The sleevesgathered at my elbows as the blouse slipped. Cool air followed, teasing myskin. A husky sound rumbled from his chest. “Beautiful.”

I looked down, my breath catching. Ash had bared my breasts,and with the vest positioned just below them, they were shoved up, boldlyoffering the beaded nipples to his perusal.

“My beautiful wife.” One cool finger swept over a rosy peak.“My beautiful Queen.” His lips parted, revealing a hint of fang. “We will needto speak to Keella about this.”

Brows knitting, I lifted my gaze to Ash’s. “What?”

“You’re not paying attention.”

“Yes, I am.”

A brief smile appeared. “I said we will need to speak to Keella about the vision and her knowledge of it.”

“Oh. Yes.” My skin tingled. “That’s not the only thing wediscussed.”

“Tell me.” His hands returned to my hips.

I jumped as his fingers slid beneath the waistband. Thesound he made told me he enjoyed how the movement caused my breasts to jiggle.“I’m trying to, but you’re being very distracting.”

Thick lashes lifted, and eather-streakedeyes met mine. “Your failure to maintain focus is not a reflection upon myactions.”

I sucked in a short laugh at the obvious callback to whenwe’d been in this very office, and I’d been doing my level best—andsucceeding—to distract him. “I see what sort of poor comparison you’reattempting to make, but when you couldn’t concentrate, I wasn’t in the processof undressing you.”

“This time you speak of…you had your lovely breasts shovedin my face,” he countered. “How is that any different than now?”

My lips pursed.

“I’ve gotten better at multitasking since then.” He kissedme. “I do love you in these pants.” His lips brushed the curve of my cheek ashe tilted his head, his mouth lining up with my ear. His voice was asilk-draped whisper as he said, “But do you know what I love more?”

Muscles coiled tight and low in my stomach. “No.”

“You out of them.”

A laugh burst from me. “I can’t believe you said that.”

“Believe it.” Without warning, he whipped the leggings downto where they snagged on my boots, right below my knees. “Now, please continuewith what else you discussed.”

I gaped at him.

“Please.” His fingers skated up my now-bare thighs.“Continue.”

“It was about your father,” I said, gasping as a cool fingerslipped over my thin undergarment. “And what he planned for the embers and Sotoria’s soul.”

“What about it?” His fingers danced over the lace.

“Just that it was too risky and…” A taut, hot shiver curleddeep inside me.

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