Page 88 of A City of Smoke and Demons
He was supposed to be in control here, but the longer he stood there, hands soaking her up, the more out of control hewas starting to feel. Soon there wouldn’t be anything left for him to anchor himself to.
The Devil was coming for him. It didn’t matter that Analise didn’t care for him the way he did for her. At this stage, Ezra would take whatever she offered him.
‘You,’ he murmured, ‘should come with a public health warning.’
‘Should I?’ she asked huskily.
He placed a kiss on the back of her neck. ‘You should.’
‘And what would this warning say?’
He ran his hands over her again, aware she’d feel his fingers trembling. ‘Dangerous—has the potential to drive a man to absolute distraction.’
Analise glanced at him over her shoulder. ‘I distract you?’
‘Every goddamn moment.’ She went to turn around, but he shook his head. ‘Three times, I believe I said.’
She nodded, her mouth curved into a wicked smile. He kissed her neck; she moaned, so he dropped to his knees and brushed his lips against the curve of her arse.
‘Bend over for me.’
The stars were hidden behind a thick layer of cloud. Ezra was glad to be outside. He’d never realised how much he appreciated the simple freedom of being able to take a stroll down Blackcoln Road, or to the docks to see Jem, until it was taken away from him. Jem walked alongside him, Tobias a few steps ahead. The streets were silent. Light drizzle settled on their hair and faces.
Tobias was monitoring his demon-tracking device. He paused, glancing back at them, then gestured to their left.
‘You’re smiling, Ezra,’ Jem commented as they turned a corner.
‘I always smile.’
Jem’s lips twisted. ‘No, you grin and you smirk. You’re smiling, you have a bounce in your step, you’re—’
‘Enjoying life, Jem.’
‘Enjoying something, but I’m pretty certain it isn’t life.’
Ezra was incredibly aware that Analise was a few steps behind him. He couldn’t concentrate with her here, not when he’d sent her barrelling over the edge three times, as he’d promised. His palms were sweaty, anticipation a beast prowlinginside his skin. He was tense enough to break into a thousand pieces and if she so much as looked at him, if she touched him, he knew he would. He wanted to turn around and wrap his arms around her, slide his fingers into her hair and kiss her until she couldn’t breathe.
‘Did we have to bring her?’ he asked Jem in a quiet voice.
‘We need her tonight, and she’ll be fine.’ Ezra wanted to grab him by the shirt and shake him. Jem must have sensed it, because he lowered his voice even more. ‘And if she’s not, you’ll be there, won’t you?’
‘Are you having a lend of me?’ Ezra demanded.
‘No, Ez,’ Jem said gently. He put his hand on Ezra’s arm and they stopped walking. Ezra glanced over his shoulder. Lira and Analise had halted so Lira could check Analise’s weapons were properly secured. ‘I know you’re sharing a bed—we all know.’ He gave Ezra’s arm a light squeeze. ‘What I meant was, you’ll protect her, won’t you? Even if she doesn’t care for you the way you do for her, you’ll do it, and that is what makes you a better person than you believe yourself to be, Ezra Ives.’ He paused. ‘It makes you worth saving. She knows that as well.’
Ezra didn’t know what to say. He resumed walking, following Tobias. The houses thinned, and the street widened, High Garden Cemetery coming into view. It was surrounded by a wrought iron fence, the grand gate supported by thick, stone columns. A delicate filigree crept between the columns, and the centre of the gate swept upwards towards the branches of the oaks dangling above. Tobias eased the gates open; they swung wide without a sound, and Ezra and Jem followed him in, mist licking at their heels. The hair on the back of Ezra’s neck stood up. He glanced around and saw a skeletal face and a head of blonde hair. His Familiar, keeping watch like a good servant of Hell. She no longer frightened him. Her lips curled into a smile, and then she was gone.
‘I wonder what Analise is feeling?’ Jem mused.
‘Ghosts, I’d say,’ Ezra replied. ‘My mother—’ He broke off. How had he forgotten? His mother had been able to see ghosts. She’d always claimed there was a spirit in their home, but was certain it meant them no harm.
‘Your mother?’ Jem prompted after a moment.
‘She’s buried here, my father as well,’ Ezra managed. His fingers were shaking.
Jem nodded, mistaking his shift in mood. Ezra pushed the memory of his mother away, it didn’t mean anything. Loads of people could sense the spirit world—seers, mediums … it didn’t mean a thing.
Agnes’ face pressed against his mind.
