Page 36 of Ash and Feather

Unmistakable hunger flashed in his eyes, and a shiver curled my toes as I silently finished his sentence for him.

Or in this case…desire.

I was elated at my newfound ability. Drunk with accomplishment. And the way he was looking at me, the way all the fiery parts of him twisted and tumbled with mine…it was intoxicating me to the point of foolishness.

Without much thought beyond that happy, drunken foolishness, I threw my arms around his neck and pulled his mouth down to mine.

As our lips met in a crash of heat and need, I understood—in a single, electrifying instant—what ittrulymeant to have the same power flowing through our veins.

To be connected in such a way was nearly overwhelming.

My heart ballooned to the point of bursting. My arms trembled against his neck. My knees buckled.

His hands were on my sides again just as quickly, steadying me once more, his touch drawing even more heat between us as his fingers dug in—not my heat, nor his.

Ours.

He backed me toward the wall, pressing me into cold stone that proved an arousing contrast against the fire engulfing us. His hold fell to my hips, taking a more commanding grip and hoisting me up, pulling my lips more fully into his.

I lifted one leg and wrapped it around his waist, then the other.

His hands slid to my thighs to better balance me between him and the wall.

Maybe it was the heat searing all reason from my mind, but I don’t think he’d ever kissed me quite like this. It was wild and feverish, terrifying yet exhilarating. I wanted more of it. I didn’t care if the fire building between us burned us and everything else to ashes. I didn’t care about the hard stone digging into my backside.

My fingers curled like claws around his shoulders. I remembered at the last instant that Ididhave retractable claws—a feature I’d had as a mortal and retained through ascension—and I caught myself just as they started to unleash and draw blood.

He only laughed at the sharpness that had briefly pricked his skin, a deep, rich sound that vibrated through me and made me want to dig even more deeply into him, so deep that there would be no telling where I ended and he began.

“Easy,” he whispered, nipping at my earlobe as he spoke. “I can’t tell if you want to maim me or make love to me.”

“I’m not sure I know, either. The heat of this new magic isintensifyingthings, as you said.”

Another gruff laugh. Another vibration that sent shivers racing through me, shaking off more of what little restraint I had left.

“Should I be afraid?” he asked, lips dropping to the hollow of my throat, warm breath spilling along that sensitive spot and somehow making me burn even hotter.

I pretended to consider the question for a moment. “I think the pain will be worth it.”

“I’ve no doubt.” His fingers pushed through my hair and gripped my skull, gently angling my face upward so he could more easily press his lips to the most sensitive parts of my neck.

My fingers moved in turn, trailing along the strong curve of his jaw before sliding along one of his broad shoulders, slipping beneath the rumpled collar of his shirt and finding searing hot skin.

Despite our teasing words, we slowed for a moment, savoring the feel and taste of one another.

He readjusted his grip on my thighs, dropping me lower, pinning me against the wall with his body more than the strength of his arms.

With no space between us, I could feel the hardened length of him pressing into me, each throb of desire making the fires around us flare a little more brightly.

“Next time I need to find my way back to you,” I said, in between catches of breath, “maybe I’ll just picture you and me like this. That should create a strong enough pull.”

He chuckled against my throat before lifting his gaze to mine. The grey in his eyes seemed darker than usual, heavy with both magic and desire. “I’m glad to be of use to you.”

“And you can picture the same thing, and whatever connection we have will surely help draw me in.”

“That could be dangerous,” he said, planting kisses along my shoulder and up the side of my neck, “considering how often I find myself imagining you like this.”

“I’m sure we’ll manage, as needed.”

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