Page 259 of Born of Blood and Ash

Because he understood. I trusted him, and I knew I wasalways safe with him.

“Just do me a favor next time and take the dagger with you,”he said, working his forearm between the table and my cheek.

“I…I can do that.”

“Good.” Ash leaned into me. His lips were cool against myjaw. “Liessa?”

“Yes?” I breathed, staring at the open doors of the balconybeyond the pitcher and empty glasses on the table.

He lifted my gown, running his rough, calloused palm up mythigh as he used his knee to spread my legs. “I’m going to fuck my Queen.”

Oh, gods.

His hand delved between my thighs, and I bit my lip hardenough to draw blood at the contrast of his cool fingers and my damp heat. Atthe rumble of approval that radiated from him and vibrated against my back. Ishivered as his fingers brushed the taut bundle of nerves. My hips jerked, andI felt the thick head of his cock against me.

“And I’m going to do it”—his voice was a silky whisper in myear—“just as you like it.”

And he did.

I cried out as he began thrusting into me. Every inch of himsent a wave of pleasure so powerful through me that it bordered on pain. Mybreath quickened as he continued to fill me until not an inch of space remainedbetween us. Gods, he…he felt bigger. I looked down at the arm beneath me, theone protecting my cheek, and saw that his shadows had nearly solidified. Icould feel myself tightening all around him, and then he began to move, and theglasses started to clink softly against one another.

There was nothing slow or tentative about the way Ash tookme. Each plunge of his hips was indescribable—each pull and push stimulatingevery nerve ending I had. I wanted to meet his thrusts, but his weight held mein place as his lips brushed across my cheek and jawline.

“I can taste your desire.” His lips neared the shell of myear as his strong body caged me in. “I’m drowning in its sweetness.”

Fingers curling against the wood, I moaned as ribbons ofshadows swirled along the surface of the table and around my hands. My eyesclosed as I whispered, “Harder.”

“Fuck,” he grunted, picking up his pace and going deeper, harder.“Like this?”

“Yes,” I panted, pinned firmly between him and the table,completely at his mercy. “Yes.”

He drove into me with such intensity it was both apunishment and a reward. And, gods, I loved it.

Muscles tightened low in my stomach, and I felt myselfrushing toward release when Ash suddenly shifted behind me.

He straightened, folding one arm between my breasts and theother across my waist, sealing me to his chest. My feet no longer touched thefloor as Ash drove into me, seamlessly stopping and thrusting, grinding againstme between pushes. His fingers curled around my chin, and I clasped his arms.

The rising friction created an incredible wave of pleasurethat quickly swelled. Able to move my hips just a bit, I rocked against him. Itwas a raw need, caressing me like soft flames, arousing a blazing fire asintense as any before it.

A tight knot of tension formed, curling and unfurling. Ashdrew me down on his length, hard, holding me tightly against him.

“Liessa,” he raspedagainst the flesh beneath my jaw.

His head dipped, and I felt the sharp graze of his fangs atthe space between my shoulder and neck as he started to shudder. It was all toomuch. Ash’s release sent me over the edge, and I fell with a throaty shout. Icame apart, fragmenting into ecstasy-soaked waves that rose and crested forwhat felt like a small eternity. Ash held me the entire time. He didn’t let gountil his breathing slowed, and he then kissed my shoulder.

“Sera,” he murmured, his lips coasting up my throat and overmy still wildly beating pulse.

A dual burst of lust and anxiety sliced through me. My eyesflew open as pressure clamped down on my chest, punching the air out of mylungs.

I saw gold.

Gold bars.

And I felt heat against my back. Oppressive heat instead ofthe comforting chill of Ash’s flesh. Just for a second—no more than aheartbeat—my breath lodged in my throat—

Stop this.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Stop this now. I’m not there.I held my breath for five seconds. I am here. I exhaled slowly. I’mwith Ash. I inhaled. I’m not there. As the panic loosened itsgrip, I slowly became aware of Ash’s hand rubbing the center of my back throughmy nightgown. That didn’t make sense. I hadn’t pulled it up. Had he?

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