Page 25 of The Wrath of Ashes
He could wait a lifetime to get hisdickwet. Asha’s company was enough for now. Memories of their ride together with Asha’s soft rear pressed into him… Rath swore and leaned against a stone wall, taking a shuddering breath. “Patience.”
Chapter Ten
Asha
“See, now that wasn’t too bad?” Jeron led Asha back toward Rath’s bedroom, where he’d spent the afternoon napping and getting cleaned up.
“I think the sugaring was worse, to be honest, but his brothers were quite nice.” Asha stumbled along and found himself being tugged from his dinner clothes and into a comfortable tunic that went to his knees over thin yet comfortable hose.
“They were on their best behavior, believe it or not. They’re an excitable bunch. You’ll warm to them in time.” Jeron went about tidying up the room and settled Asha onto the warm cushion before the fire.
“How bad are they when they don’t behave?” Asha swallowed hard, his skin growing cold despite the warm fire.
“Falustus has been known to show up without breeches, often. Slath often shows up filthy and Ghreid doesn’t show up at all. They’re named aptly.” Jeron stared at Asha’s cold clothing and folded the items before tucking them away with a disapproving sniff. Asha’s cheeks burned, but his attention drew to the door when a polite knock made him jump.
Asha stared, the door opening to invite Rath in, similarly dressed and comfortable, his hair strewn about his shoulders, silky and untethered as if he’d been stroking it out of habit. Jeron gestured him in and excused himself. “I’ll be in the parlor. Please call if you need anything, or if Sir puts his hands on you unwanted.” Jeron prodded Rath’s arm with a playful pout and slipped away. Something intimate about the gesture reminded Asha of the role Jeron had once played for the dragon, the dragon that his very spirit sang for.
“May I join you?” Rath gave him a sharp-toothed smile and made his way over. Asha moved to the side, allowing an opening for Rath to take and sprawl out, his face as placid as a cat’s in the sun. It wouldn’t have been amiss if he purred. “Thank you. My brothers like you. And Slath was in here while you napped?”
“Your nest was very comfortable, better than any bed I’ve had. I fell asleep in minutes, and when I woke…” Asha’s cheeks went hot. “I thought he was you for a moment.”
“He does bear a resemblance. We’re not quite twins, not sharing an egg, but we were born from the same clutch. He didn’t quite have the spirit for leadership.”
“I noticed. He’s sweet, but not my type.” Asha stared into the flickering flames.
“What is your type?”
“When I figure that out, you’ll be the first to know.” The corner of Asha’s mouth tugged into a slight grin. “But I’ve been introduced to some that are interesting.”
“I see.” Rath rolled over, stretching out over the cushion as if he’d done it a thousand times before, humming with delight. “Mother and Father taught me how to make the best nest, and I’ve worked on perfecting it for years.” Rath chuckled.
“For your mate, yes?” Asha turned his head toward the fire and watched the dancing flames, not wanting to look anywhere else.
“Yes. None else has been allowed in my nest for pleasure aside from myself. Only you.”
“And Jeron.” Asha stared at the fire, his stomach twisting into a knot of guilt.
“It bothers you. Doesn’t it?” Rath sat up and crossed his legs.
“I don’t want a life of shame and unfaithfulness.” Asha sighed.
“Well, fortunate for you that I am incapable of that. From the moment our magics touched, and I became aware of you, Ino longer sought Jeron’s affections. Anything you ask of me to prove my intention, I’ll give.” Rath reached out toward Asha and rested his hand over Asha’s cold fingers.
“You’re cold.” Rath grinned, lacing his fingers with Asha’s. “Do you feel that cold pulse inside you?”
Asha focused, and indeed, he sensed a strange pulsing sensation like ice going through his veins. And he’d felt the icy chill before, when Earl Tippin scourged him and times of fear. And with Rath’s hand on his, Asha sensed a much more vast and powerful pulse through their minor contact.
Asha glanced up, locking his gaze to Rath’s iridescent blue. “Magic.” The word barely a whisper from his lips. The flow of it rose up to the surface, like a deep pool of unending power and coolness that chilled him to his core, like icy fingers stroking down his body, no icy claws.
Rath nodded. “I don’t expect you to understand, not really. But this pulse of magic grows stronger during certain desires. Sometimes the magic bubbles to the surface when it shouldn’t. That’s what a bedservant is to stop. They tame the dragon.” Rath pulled his fingers away and Asha whimpered, reaching back for his hand.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Rath stared at their touching hands.
“Don’t pull away. I liked how it felt.”
Rath lifted Asha’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “I like it, too, but you need your magic slowly. You’re starved and parched for it, but too much at once can make the change unpleasant.”
