Page 135 of Ashes to Ashes

“Mine,” he growls against my throat, teeth scraping skin that’s suddenly too sensitive. “Tell me you’re mine.”

“Yes,” I gasp against his mouth. “Tonight, tomorrow, however long we have. If I die in those trials?—”

“Don’t.” His grip tightens possessively. “Don’t think about tomorrow. Think about this. Think about us. This is what you fight for.”

The command in his voice sends lightning straight through my core. “Kieran?—”

“Say it.” His hands slide down to grip my waist, thumbs stroking over the thorn patterns glowing beneath silk. Where he touches, ice meets fire, creating steam that fills the air with the scent of winter forests and wild magic. “I need to hear you say it.”

“I’m yours.” The words tear from my throat like a confession. “God help me, I’m yours.”

His smile turns absolutely feral. “Good girl.”

The praise hits me like a physical blow, making my knees buckle. He catches me easily, one arm wrapping around my waist while the other tangles in my damp hair.

“I’m going to worship every inch of you,” he murmurs against my ear, voice dropping to something dark and velvet-rough.“I’m going to taste you until you scream my name. I’m going to make you come so hard you forget your own name, let alone tomorrow’s trials.”

Molten silver floods my veins at his words, magic responding to the promise in his voice. The thorn patterns beneath my skin pulse brighter, reaching toward him like they recognize their match.

“But first,” he continues, stepping back just enough to meet my gaze, “I’m going to enjoy watching you fall apart for me.”

His hands find the hem of his shirt where it skims my thighs, fingers tracing along silk that’s suddenly too much barrier between us. “This needs to go.”

“Take it off me,” I breathe, surprising myself with my boldness.

Those winter-pale eyes flare with hunger. “Careful what you ask for, troublesome thing. I might actually do it.”

“I’m counting on it.”

The silk slides over my head and hits the floor with a whisper.

Kieran goes absolutely still, his gaze tracking every line and curve of my naked body with an intensity that makes my skin burn. The thorn patterns spiral across my skin in delicate fractals, glowing brighter under his attention like they’re responding to his desire.

“Exquisite,” he breathes, voice rough with awe. “You’re absolutely exquisite.”

His hands rise to cup my breasts, thumbs brushing across peaked nipples that make me arch into his touch. Ice meets heated skin, creating a temperature contrast that sends lightning straight to my core.

“So responsive,” he murmurs, rolling one nipple between his fingers until I whimper. “I wonder what other sounds I can draw from you.”

“Find out,” I gasp, hands fisting in his shirt.

“Demanding little thing.” But his smile holds approval as he lifts me effortlessly, carrying me to his bed like I weigh nothing at all. “I like it when you tell me what you want.”

He sets me down gently, then steps back to strip off his own clothes with efficient movements. Air catches in my throat as each piece of fabric falls away, revealing pale skin marked with dark tattoos that pulse with their own inner light.

The Spear of Truth’s housing tattoo spirals across his chest—intricate patterns that seem to move in the firelight. But it’s the hunger in those winter-pale eyes that steals my breath completely.

“Like what you see?” he asks, though his smirk suggests he already knows the answer.

“You know I do.” I let my gaze travel the length of his body, taking in lean muscle and sharp angles and the impressive evidence of his arousal. “Come here.”

“So eager.” But he joins me on the bed, settling beside me. “What would you like me to do to you, troublesome thing?”

The question sends fire spiraling through me. “Everything. I want you to do everything to me.”

His laugh is dark velvet wrapped around steel. “Everything is a very broad category. I’ll need you to be more specific.”

“Touch me.” The words come out breathless, desperate. “Make me forget about tomorrow. Make me forget about everything except you.”

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