Page 40 of Smoke and Flame

“It’s because you used too much.”Dipping three of his large fingers into the mouth of the container, he collected some between his fingers.“Right now, I know you’re sore and tender in many places.This will help, you will see.You only need a pinch of it.”

“A pinch?”she questioned, watching him sprinkle the dust around the water’s surface.She expected him to go in and get more, but he placed it back on the tray instead.“Why would Ninki pour in all of it?”

“Ninki?”Aodh’s voice rumbled, the name coming out in a stern tone.

Kai had spent enough hours and days with him, hearing him slip in and out of his dragon tongue to pick up on his repeating of the woman’s name.She hadn’t intended to break her vow about saying the woman’s name in the room.“Yes.”

“Why was she here?”Aodh’s hands gripped the side of the tub.

The way his fingers flexed, Kai was sure if the tub weren’t made of stone, Aodh would have crumbled it to dust.

“Um...I don’t know.She came in shortly after you left.She heated my bath for me and helped me locate some things.”Kai eyed him.Is he upset because his lover and I have met?She knew from occasional arguments in the Dispatch over relationships that men did not like to share.In the district, with the law offering money to those who had children, some women procreated with multiple men.

“Hm,” he let out a short growl.“I will address this.”

She watched him rise.The sexual tension in the room was now significantly reduced.

“I would like to see my sister.It has been days.”Guilt squeezed her heart as she sat up and grabbed a washcloth from the towels on a small stool beside the tub.“What if she has taken a turn for the worst?”

“She has not.”Aodh stared down at her.“Liekki would’ve informed us.”

“You had someone watching out for her?”That knowledge shocked Kai.

He leaned down, placing his face before hers as he balanced his weight on his hands at the tub’s edge.“Yes.But I also checked on her before coming to you.”

This man continued to knock her back on her ass.Her mind went blank.

“I told you, Kai.You are mine.I will take care of everything that concerns you.Trust me.”He shifted forward and kissed her.

A deep, hot kiss.Aodh’s tongue darted inside her mouth once, twice, three times.

She captured it and sucked long and hard.The need that had simmered low in her belly was again at a swollen, pulsing ache.She squeezed her thighs as her sex began to throb.This time, she could not blame her response on the effects of the powder.He’d only put in a little bit.

Aodh pulled away.His own need was evident in his gaze.“I will return.”

Stepping back, he took in her body, then shook his head as if fighting his urge to join her.“I must go.Tana will be here soon.”

“I swear you don’t let that woman sleep.”Tana had brought them refreshments during the three days.Never seen, and Kai didn’t hear her, but often, in between sex and sleeping, there would be a tray of food and water on the dining room table.

He chuckled.“Like all dragon-shifters, Tana doesn’t require much.I’ll be back.”Turning, he headed out of the bathroom.At the door, he stopped and glanced over his shoulder.“Promise you will not leave the suites without me.”

She stared at him.Since her parents’ death long ago, she was unfamiliar with anyone telling her what she could do or where she could go.She couldn’t force her tongue to respond for a moment.

Aodh held her gaze and waited.His chest was puffed up, giving his body that ‘I’m the king of my people’ posture.

Kai knew she had to give in.But she told herself it was because she didn’t know his people, and her trust that a dragon would not make her a snack was nil.“Fine.I will stay here.But I don’t like to be idle.”

“I will return soon.”With that, he left.

She knew he was gone, not because she heard him walk out or the door shut, but because she could no longer feel his presence.Her awareness of him, which had only become more intense since they had sex, would baffle her for a while.

~YH~

Aodh walked into the great hall.It was empty.Still early.Most wouldn’t be up for a couple more hours.For a moment, he thought about seeking out Ninki by going to her place and addressing the incident, but it could wait.He knew if he came to her at such an early hour, she would think he was there for a more nefarious reason.Now that he had Kai, that time between him and his ex-lover was over.Instead, he went to the small suite on the side of the kitchen.

After one firm knock, it opened.

Tana, with her ice-white cap of hair, smiled at him.Dressed and fully awake, she commented, “Morning, Mckenna.You are up late this morning.”

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