A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, #1)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“It’s not your palm I want wrapped around my cock right now. It’s you I want. Tight and wet and warm,” he breathed, and a deep shiver rolled through me as my grip on him firmed. He groaned. “And if you keep touching me like that, that’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to get inside you, and it won’t be my fingers you’ll be fucking.”

“Your mother…?” That eyebrow climbed more. “You say that as if you’re not sure that I had one.” “I figured you did.” “Good. I was afraid for a moment that you might believe I was hatched from an egg.”

I continued to sink into the pillows, body boneless as his mouth left mine. He brushed a strand of hair back from my face. “Thirty-six.” My eyes fluttered open. “What?” “Freckles,” he said, his cheeks…pinker than usual. “You have thirty-six of them on your face.”

His gaze lifted to mine, and the slow swirl of eather had an almost hypnotic effect. “I need to clean up and change.” My brows knitted, and I started to ask why when he rose and I saw that his breeches were darker at his hip and pelvis. The material appeared damp. Had he…found release? My eyes shot to his. I hadn’t touched him. He hadn’t even touched himself. A lopsided grin appeared on his full lips. “As I said, I hope there’s no doubt about my interest.”

HE CAME IN HIS PANTS JUST FROM TOUCHING HER!!!

Ash stopped at the edge of the bed. “I know you should rest. I know I should…let you be, but I…” His chest rose with a deep breath. “If it’s okay with you, I would just like to be here with you. That’s all. Just be here.”

“Leave!” he roared, and I flinched at the guttural sound as a tiny kernel of fear took root. A tremor ran through him. “If you don’t leave, I’m going to feed from you, and I’m going to fuck you while I do it,” he warned.

“What do I smell like?” I asked. “You smell of…” He inhaled deeply as my lip curled. “You smell of death.” I stared at him from my pile of pillows, mouth hanging open. “That was rude.” Nyktos cleared his throat as he lowered his chin. “He may be speaking of me.” “I am,” the draken confirmed. I glanced at Nyktos and then realized what he meant. Warmth crept up my throat. “I did bathe—” “That will not wash away such a scent,” Nektas countered.

“It’s not a tooth infection,” Nektas cut in. “Can you also smell infections?” I retorted. “Actually, yes, I can,” he said. “Oh.” I sank a little deeper into the pillows. “That sounds kind of gross.” “It can be,” the draken confirmed. “Whether or not an infection smells poorly isn’t important,” Nyktos said, and I narrowed my eyes.