Page 58 of Of Blooming Embers
In a frenzy, my aura flared around me as scorching flames of lust ignited through every inch of me. My center clenched around his length, and my thighs quivered, eyes rolling back into my head. Heat buzzed along my spine until it burst in a flare of white behind my vision. “Fuck, Gavrel!”
Muffling my scream, his mouth devoured mine, and with a final push, he groaned and spent himself inside me as I trembled and burst into a million tiny pieces.
We stayed connected for several ragged breaths, as if we’d become one with the mire’s wildness. A breathy chuckle spilled from me, the last of my nervous energy releasing. I was completely content for the first time in a long while.
He leaned back to look at me, a tender expression lining his face. Gently, he pulled out of me and set me down, helping me adjust the material of my dress in place.
Silently, he tied the torn straps at my shoulders and placed a kiss on one. My heart flipped. He cupped my face and placed the softestkiss on my lips before smoothing some wayward curls behind one ear. “Are you all right?”
I smiled, standing on my tiptoes, and pressed my mouth to his again. “More than all right.”
He leaned his forehead on mine. “That’s not entirely how I wanted our first time to go.”
“Regrets already?” I teased, and a sound of discontent thrummed in his chest. “If you want to show me how it should’ve been, I’ll allow it.”
His expression wobbled between amusement and chagrin. “I’ve wanted you for so long. You deserved more than me taking you against a tree.”
“I appreciate the chivalry, but I have no objections.”
The corners of his lips quirked, and he scooped up his overcoat and wrapped it around my shoulders. He gently untucked my hair so it wasn’t stuck under the jacket, and kissed the side of my neck before letting the curls fall over my shoulders.
He took my hand, guiding me down the stairs. Guiding me back from a dream. “Little Star?”
I looked at him, my eyes softening.
His dimple winked at me. “I’m glad you have no objections because we’ve a lot of time to make up for.”
23
KINSHIP
SERYN
As we moved toward the music, a thick breeze wafted through my hair, goosebumps sprinkling over the back of my damp neck. I pushed my arms through the sleeves of Marek’s coat, rolling one. Gavrel reached over, tugging at the cuff so the edge was crisp and even, then rolled the other sleeve so they both hung loosely under my elbows.
My mouth quirked as he placed a gentle kiss against my temple and slung his arm around me, tucking me into his side as we walked.
“About damn time,” Breena declared as we rejoined the festivities. She smoothed her palm down the side of my curls. “Hopefully, all thatfunwill make you both less twitchy.”
Pinching her arm, I tossed her a deadpan look. She chuckled, swatting my shoulder and heading toward Rhaegar at the bar.
I scanned the revelers as they danced and laughed. A lively bunch of young men were arguing and guffawing at the edges of the dance floor. A group of older citizens watched the merrymaking from the sidelines with wistful looks misting their eyes.
Although there were so many things to worry about, I was at ease. I felt alive. A part of something.
These people.
This place.
Gavrel.
I peeked at him, the corner of my mouth curling as he gazed down at me. His body wasn’t tense as it usually was, in a constant state of battle.
I was sure that wouldn’t last long. We needed to make plans.
To find Kaden once and for all.
To figure out how to defeat Melina and her cronies.
