Page 47 of Ashes to Ashes

Leviathan finally stopped at the edge of the world where darkness swallowed everything, dropping down to stand upon a cliff overlooking oblivion. Here he could see forever—or at least until it vanished into nothingness.

His heart thundered in his chest like a war drum, echoing in his ears along with the rush of air rushing by. Here, he could see her, could peek beyond the veil of worlds with a single thought of her.

Her image swirled into existence, not a memory but a true image of precisely where she was at this moment. Her beauty smacked into him as it had the moment he first laid eyes on her, and he suspected it always would.

Ashe sat cross-legged on the floor in a chamber lit by only a single, flickering candle and carefully unwound her long red hair, braiding it into tight, intricate plaits. The room was small and cozy, adorned with beautiful tapestries depicting scenes from earth that made her heart ache for freedom. She stopped to catch her breath every few moments as she worked on the tangles, reveling in the quiet solitude.

His heart seemed to beat faster as he watched her. He wanted to be between her fingers, being touched with so much thought and attention.

Something is not right with you. You crave this human.

Levi watched intently from his perch between the worlds, taking in every detail - the shine of her hair under the soft light, the gentle rhythm of her movements as she worked.

Her skin radiated warmth even from this distance, a stark contrast to his frozen perch on the edge of oblivion. He could almost feel the silkiness of her hair between his fingers and smell the faint scent of lavender she used to clean herself. He could hear her soft breaths and almost taste the sweetness on them from where he stood.

Finally finished with her hair, Ashe rose to her feet and stretched languidly before climbing under the heavy velvet canopy of her bed. The mattress barely dipped with her slight weight as she laid down on top of it, staring up at the ceiling dotted with tiny stars that matched those in Levi’s realm. Her eyes drifted shut as if lulled by a demon of sleep.

Inhaling deeply, Ashe let out a contented sigh and nestled deeper into soft linens that shifted around her body like living things caressing their mistress.

Only when her breathing grew slow did he give into the consuming need to see her. To touch her one last time before he could acknowledge she’d chosen to be elsewhere.

Leviathan leaned against the crumbling edge of the cliff, his eyes scanning the darkness of her room.

He closed his eyes, trying to center himself and focus on Ashe’s energy. He reached out with his senses, letting them extend beyond the limitations of his physical form. And there it was - a faint flicker of life force, barely perceptible but enough to fuel his determination.

With a deep breath, Leviathan spread his wings and leapt off the edge of the cliff. He fell through the void, feeling like he was being pulled towards her by an invisible thread.

Ashe’s life force grew stronger and stronger as he neared the other world, guiding him towards her location. He could feel her presence now, like a beacon in the darkness.

Suddenly, he burst through into her realm—a realm that was filled with light and color compared to the darkness he had just left behind. He landed gracefully on solid ground and took a moment to adjust to his surroundings.

The air here was different, cleaner than the realm filled with decay and blood. And there was a fragrance in the air, something sweet and floral that he couldn’t place that he’d smelled the first time as well.

But all thoughts were pushed aside as Ashe came into view. Her long hair cascaded over the pillow in waves, catching the light from above and making it shimmer like gold.

Leviathan couldn’t take his eyes off her. she was a prize to be envied.

His heart thudded in his chest. With a sudden and rough movement crashing his thigh into her bed, Leviathan woke Ashe up with a soft groan. She blinked her eyes open slowly, focusing on the ceiling as her eyelids fluttered.

“Leviathan,” she breathed out his name on a hushed whisper while looking up at him from under her lashes.

His lips met hers without a second thought, and for a moment, the world around them melted away. It was just the two of them, in a bubble of passion and desire. She tasted sweet, like strawberries and champagne, her tongue dancing with his as he held her close. Her body was warm and soft against his, her breasts pressing against his chest. His hands roamed over her body possessively, tracing patterns on her skin that made her shiver in pleasure. The sound of their breathing grew more ragged as they lost themselves in the kiss.

The bed creaked under their weight as they moved together, their bodies entwined. Her heart raced against his chest—a wild thing beating in time with his own.

When he pulled back for air, he gazed down at her flushed cheeks and smirked devilishly before diving back in once more. His hunger for her knew no bounds.

Their tongues tangled together while his hands explored every inch of her body she had to offer —her slender neck, round hips, and firm ass cheeks. He couldn’t get enough of her taste,or touch, or smell.

Ashe moaned into the kiss, arching into him even more as he ran his hands through her hair and down her back. Everywhere he touched ignited sparks of fireworks inside of her - a sensation unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was raw and primal, yet somehow tender all at once. She clutched at his shoulders as if trying to hold on to him.

To keep him close forever.

He gazed upon her with desire and adoration, taking in the pink flush staining her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. Her lips, swollen from their passionate kiss, were still moist and inviting. He could see the rise and fall of her chest as she caught her breath, her skin glowing with a rosy hue. Every inch of her form, from head to toe, was a vision of beauty to him.

She may have chosen the human realm, but she was as affected by him as he was by her.

Leviathan couldn’t help but chuckle. She was his now, truly, and he was going to savor every moment of it. His hands slid down her back, tracing the delicate line of her spine until they reached her perfect round ass, which he squeezed gently before letting one hand drift lower still, teasing at the wetness between her legs. He growled low in his throat as she gasped and arched into him even more, her body begging for release. He kissed her deeply once more, his tongue dancing with hers in an erotic tango that left them both breathless.

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