Page 257 of Born of Blood and Ash

I looked up at him and remembered the anger I’d seen in hisfeatures in the courtyard. I didn’t think all of it was directed at Kolis. Agood ten percent was likely due to me getting involved in the sekya attack while relatively weaponless.

And, honestly, I deserved to be taken to task for that. Ithad been foolish of me to rush out without a weapon.

“I know what you’re about to say,” I began.

“I doubt you do,” he said, his voice rumbling as tendrils ofnight coiled around his legs.

My spine stiffened. “I’m pretty sure I—” I squeaked.

Ash moved faster than I could track. His cool hand claspedmy cheek, and he tilted my head back. The scent of leather mingled with citrusand iron.

Within a heartbeat, his mouth was on mine, our lips melding.

The kiss was so untamed and relentless in its passion itleft my senses spinning. It wasn’t just hungry. It was starved. Andevery part of my being immediately responded. The realm around us and all itsproblems vanished in an instant. His kiss had that kind of power.

Our teeth gnashed. His fangs grazed my lip, drawing anillicit shiver from somewhere deep inside me. Lifting me onto the tips of mytoes and pulling me against his chest, his lips parted mine. I grasped the napeof his neck, kissing him back just as fiercely.

Ash’s palm slid down, trailing over the side of my throatand then my shoulder. He backed me up and drew my tongue into his mouth,sending waves of pleasure cascading through me.

Surprise rippled as my lower back abruptly came into contactwith the hard edge of a table. Ash’s chest left mine, and I felt his fingersthere, quickly undoing the robe’s buttons. A heartbeat later, the sides gapped,and he grabbed hold of my hands, lowering them.

“Ash,” I gasped.

He shoved the sleeves of the robe down, letting the garmentfall to the floor. “Hmm?”

Cool air danced over the bare skin of my arms. “What are youdoing?”

His mouth moved over mine once more as his hands went to mywaist and then my hips. “What does it look like?”

“It looks like you’re undressing me.” I tipped my head back.The sight of him sent my already racing heart to fluttering.

Ash appeared mortal, but he also didn’t.

Shadows churned under his skin like storm clouds. Tendrilsof eather still seeped from his body. His irises werenow visible, but streaks of eather pierced thesilver.

He looked stunningly otherworldly as he stared at me.“That’s exactly what I’m doing.” Thick lashes swept down. “Unless you’d preferI not.” His head cocked as he inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring. The tips ofhis fangs became visible, causing muscles low in my stomach to curl. “Though Isense you have absolutely no issue with me doing so.”

The deep rumble coming from his chest heated my blood. “Idon’t.”

“I know.” His hand coasted up my side.

“I’m just surprised,” I said, sucking in a shallow breath ashis hand drifted higher. The thin, silk nightgown was no barrier against thecoolness of his touch. A wave of shivers followed in the wake of his movements.“I didn’t think undressing was what you had in mind.”

“Undressing you is always what I have in mind.” Cupping mybreast, he grinned, and my breath caught.

My lips felt swollen as they parted. “I figured you weregoing to lecture me about being outside.”

He drew his thumb over the peak of my breast, the hollows ofhis cheeks becoming sharper as my nipple beaded. “I told you that you had noidea what I was going to say.”

“I sensed—” I gave a little jerk as his other hand foldedaround my right breast. “You were angry when you first returned.”

“Was I?” he asked, watching himself draw the same responseas he had seconds earlier.

A heaviness settled in my chest. It wasn’t theall-too-familiar warning of anxiety but a thick, languid sensation that alsobloomed between my thighs. “Yes.”

“Perhaps…” he murmured, lowering himself to his knees.

My heart thudded as my hands fell to the table on eitherside of my hips. The sight of Ash on his knees before me never failed to stunme into silence.

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