Page 51 of Stealing Embers

“No, don’t look,” Ash drolls flatly. “Emberly and I are mud wrestling and need some privacy.”

“What?” Sterling wrenches his hand away from his eyes and scans the room. “Hey, you aren’t mud wrestling. You’re not even in bikinis. That’s false advertising.” There’s a definite pout in his voice.

I laugh so hard I have to put a hand down on the bed to keep myself from tipping over.

Ash shakes her head. “In what world would we be doing that in our room? In what world would we ever do that at all?”

“In my world obviously,” Sterling grumps.

“Out of my way, you gorilla.” Greyson shoves Sterling forward and pushes past him.

“Not too bright, but still pretty to look at.” Ash tilts her head like she’s considering Sterling.

“You’re not wrong,” I agree. Sterling plops on the bed beside me and throws an arm over my shoulder.

“What are you doing?” I try shrugging off his arm, but he adjusts it to stay put.

“You said you thought I was hot. I’m simply making your unspoken dream come true.” He bounces his brow up and down.

I blink at him and cock my head, not even sure how to address that. He’s a real piece of work.

“I see I’ve left you speechless.” Sterling snuggles closer.

Pulling his arm off my shoulders, I return it to his lap and give it a pat. “You keep telling yourself that.”

“Oh, I will.”

I’m not used to this level of harmless flirting, but there is something decidedly humorous about it.

“Okay, time to leave the pretty girl alone, Sterling.”

Sterling frowns at his brother’s chastisement, but rolls off the bed and onto his feet.

“You’re right.” At least he rebounds quickly. “Too much attention will go to her head.”

“All right, enough of that. You’re going to make me sick,” Ash says.

“Am I not lavishing you with enough attention, babe?” Sterling sidles up to Ash, who just shoves him away with a snort.

“Moving on, I need your help. Emberly is refusing to come to dinner because of what happened during training today. She’s embarrassed.”

“Ash! Seriously?” These halflings need to learn how to filter themselves. It’s like an epidemic. She lifts her hands, palms up, as if to say,What? It’s true.

I glance over at the guys. They have their hands cupped in front of themselves. “Are you kidding me right now? See,” I point at them, “that’s exactly why I’m not going.”

Greyson recovers first. “Actually, it was rather epic. I think you may end up earning legendary status around here. You should enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame. Not very many people can get the best of our brother.”

I shake my head.

No way, no how am I facing the general angel-born populace.

“Emberly, I have a very serious question for you,” Sterling starts.

“Somehow I doubt that.”

He goes on as if I haven’t spoken. “Are you ever planning to, or will you ever, knee me in the junk?”

“No, of course not!”

---