Page 103 of A Kingdom of Monsters

Iawoke wrapped in warmth and confusion.

My awareness returned before I opened my eyes, and for a long minute I lay there marveling at the feel of my own body. I could feel my heart steadily beating. Feel my arms and legs, my fingers and toes. I could feel the slight burn of thirst in my throat, and hear the rushing of wind in my ears.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever been grateful for those things before, but suddenly they seemed marvelous.

I squirmed slightly, and realized I could feel other things, too.So many other things.

My eyes popped open, and several realizations hit me all at once.

Firstly, I had no memory of how or why, but I was lying on top of Ambrose. The warmth of his skin seeped into mine, as his bare chest rose and fell with each steady, sleeping breath. I was draped completely over him, my bare breasts pressed against his sculpted chest, my legs tangled with his, and…other areas…fit together entirely too well not to notice.

Secondly, and to that point: we were completely nude.

I was distantly aware that I should have been bothered by this, but instead I could only fixate on where we were and how exactly we’d gotten there.

I raised my head slightly, and it all came flooding back to me in a rush.

We were still in the snow cave.

That explained the position I’d woken up in. It seemed as if Ambrose had removed his cloak and laid it out on the floor, separating us from the icy ground below. Then, he shed his clothes, and mine, and used every scrap of fabric to cover us. I couldn’t complain. Without his burning skin, several degrees warmer than mine on average, I would have surely succumbed to the cold.

I glanced behind me, more memories coming back in a steady stream.

Outside the door, I could see that the sky was still dark, and to our left… I turned to look, already knowing and fearing what I would find. Cassinda’s dead body, reverted to her human shape, lay on the snow in a puddle of frozen blood. Her head was lying several feet from her body and staring up at me with wide eyes, already turning the milky-white of death.

I recoiled.By the Source…

Instinctively, I flexed my stomach muscles. I was half expecting to find my insides shredded, but the pain was gone.

What had happened here?

My movement roused Ambrose and he murmured in his sleep, shifting.

Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking several times. He looked up at me, and his eyes shot open fully. “You’re alive!”

I frowned at him. Was it that bad? Why couldn’t I recall all the details of what had happened?

Ambrose didn’t seem to notice or care that I hadn’t responded. His eyes, often distant, were suddenly blazing fire.

He sat up, inadvertently taking me with him as I tumbled sideways into his lap. Without preamble, he gripped my face tightly in both hands, and slammed his lips down on mine.

I gasped in shock and his tongue thrust between my parted lips. I moaned into his mouth, angling my head so he could kiss me deeper, more completely. His hand found my hair, while the other tugged me closer, holding me trapped against his chest.

Every press of his mouth and swipe of his tongue sent liquid heat racing through me, igniting every nerve in my body and leaving me breathless and wanting more.

My mind finally catching up with me, I crawled into his lap, letting all the clothing that had been piled on top of us fall away.

Abruptly, he pulled back, gasping. “I’m sorry.”

My brow furrowed in confusion, my breath still coming out ragged. “Why?”

“I didn’t mean to do it like that. Like this…” he looked down at all the clothing falling uselessly on the ground all around us. “You were far too cold.”

“I know,” I whispered, chasing his mouth. “I’m fine.”

I want this. I want you. You’re mine.

He shook his head again, seeming determined to act as if I hadn’t been lying on top of him. As if he hadn’t just kissed me like the world was about to end.

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