Page 31 of Embers in the Wind

One of his kitchen staff with a big white hat on bustles past Romano and takes the crackers from my hand. “It’s bad enough to have Master Romano underfoot in my kitchen, now you too?” she says with a smile and a wink at me. “Raven told me you would be returning soon, Lord Corvinus.”

“Just Corvinus, please.”

She maneuvers her way in front of the platter and tsk-tsks, rearranging this and that and adding some dill sprigs and fruit to the arrangement. “The guest rooms are all set. Raven went to show Embry around upstairs.”

Romano grins from behind her. “That’s her way of letting us know to get out. I guess we’ll go make ourselves useful somewhere else.”

Her eyebrows raise. “Sure, go find some of that Descallia Red. I replenished the blood and filled the decanter and put out some extra glassware.”

“Thank you.”

Raven and Embry are walking down the curved stairway as we reach the great room. Romano pours Raven a glass of wine and turns to Embry. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you like?”

She gives him a smile. “A quart of blood and then a Descallia Red will be fine, thank you.”

Raven laughs, taking a drink from her glass. “Sure, since the dance music isn’t on. Usually she’s a margarita girl.”

Embry laughs out loud, and something about that melodic sound sends a tightness to my chest realizing that it’s the first time I’ve ever heard her laugh. Not once in all of our encounters has she laughed. Smiled, even a grin once, but a laugh, not once. The thought is sobering, but fuels my desire to make her do it time and time again.

Romano clears his throat, causing me to glance his way as he hands a quart of blood to Embry. He gives me a grin and shakes his head before turning away to take a seat on the couch. Raven tucks in next to him barely leaving any space at all between the two of them.

I fold myself into the couch across from them, watching with curiosity as Embry decides where to sit. She could take the seat next to Raven, or the large chair that faces the ends of the couches, but instead, she joins me, crossing a bare leg over her knee. “It’s been a minute since the ladies got together for girls’ night. Now that’s definitely something I miss.”

Raven smiles. “We can fix it, just like that!” she says with a snap of her fingers.

Embry grins. “Right! With a flip of that magic wand of yours the whole gang will be here, and then the entire reason for leaving will be for naught. It’s nothing personal, Raven. I just need time, that’s all. I can’t just pretend nothing happened.”

Raven nods, taking a sip of her wine before speaking. “I won’t push. I’m just worried about you.”

“Well, there’s no need. It’s just going to take time to find myself again and maybe even longer to decide if I can forgive. But I’m incredibly tired tonight. I think the long days have caught up to me.”

She takes a few crackers and cheese and then yawns. “I’m going to turn in, it’s been a long few days. Thank you for letting me stay here,” she says, standing.

Raven stands and gives her a big hug. “Anytime. You know that. You remember how to get to your room? You can take either of the guest rooms.”

Embry smiles at her friend. “I’ll manage just fine,” she says, walking to the door as I follow the gentle sway of her ass.Coming vampire?

Chapter 25

Embry

The minute I’ve undressed Corvinus appears in my room. “Your scent drives me crazy,” he says, hovering toward me, caging me to the wall, but even the coolness of the drywall does nothing to cool my skin. He lifts my hair, pushing it to one side while kissing my lips, then nuzzling my neck letting his fingers slide into the wetness below. “So wet for me, love.”

My fangs descend Everything about this man brings out the animalistic need to consume and mate. “Desperately wet.”

His dark eyes redden around the periphery as he lifts me against the wall, sliding deep inside of me with one long hard thrust that sends my heart racing for more. His fangs rip through my clothing, gently tugging the material from my skin, marking me with his lust while sending me into a writhing mass of need. “Take me now, Corvinus.”

He lifts my leg higher, thrusting so deep that I can feel him right at the end of me, at the little bullseye that makes me tremble with need. I stroke his hair, gripping him tight, piercing his neck with a nip.

Corvinus locks my hands in his own, pushing them up against the wall and over my head. “You’re no longer in charge ofyour pleasure, love. It’s far too late for that now. Wrap your legs around me,” he growls, driving deep, thrusting over and over, hitting that button again and again before sinking his fangs deep in the vein of my neck while my entire world explodes into a fierce and explosive light.

He raises his head, his red flamed eyes meet mine, and his bloody lips caress mine as he carries me still joined as one to our bed. His arms hold me tightly pressed against his body, the warmth of his breath by my ear. I stroke the strong forearm as our breathing calms. “I talked to Raven while you were outside. We came up with a plan.”

Corvinus nips my ear. “What trouble have the two of you concocted now, love?” He slips from my warmth and covers us with the blanket.

“I told Raven that I have to find out why gramma led me here. She said she’ll help.”

He raises up on an elbow and turns me to face him. His dark eyes, still lightly red rimmed, meet mine with concern. “I don’t like it. Something doesn’t feel right, Embry.”

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