Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
“You are,” I whispered.
“And I will continue to do so.” Dipping his head, he kissed me. “I’m sorry he did not answer.”
“Me, too,” I whispered, my throat stinging like it had when I spoke with Penellaphe but for a different reason this time.
His stare pierced mine. “I am beginning to dislike Holland as much as your mother.”
“It’s not his fault. My reasons were personal,” I said, defending him as Penellaphe had. “And since I summoned him directly, it could have been seen as favoritism if he’d come.”
“That makes little sense,” Ash said. “Therefore, it is likely true.”
I cracked a grin.
His features warmed as he looked down at me. “What was your reason? Other than wanting to see him.”
I lowered my hands to my sides. “I remembered something while you were gone.” I paused as he lifted a hand from my hip. His fingers walked their way up the line of clasps on my vest. “It’s about what Kolis said regarding the vision Penellaphe had.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw—the only sign that he hadn’t missed a word I’d said. “What was that?”
“Kolis said her vision wasn’t complete. That there was another part, which he believed was the end of it, but—what are you doing?” I asked as he unhooked one of the clasps.
“Nothing.” Another clasp came undone. Then another. “Please, continue.”
It didn’t seem like he was doing nothing, but I continued. This playfulness was still so rare, and the ease with which he now interacted with me, without any reservations or stiffness, showed how comfortable he was. He trusted me. And that made me feel…well, it made me feel like I was seen. Accepted. And about a hundred other things. So, I told him what I could remember of that part of the prophecy and how Penellaphe believed Kolis wasn’t correct. By the time I finished, he had the top six clasps undone, and the vest had slipped a half inch or so. “There is a chance Keella knows about the prophecy.”
“She’s old enough to have knowledge of it.” He moved on to the string at the collar of my blouse, loosening it. “And based on what she asked at the coronation,” he added, following the same line of thought I had taken when I spoke about her earlier, “it seems like she’s heard that phrasing before.”
“That’s what I…I was thinking.” I gripped the edge of the desk as he drew the sleeves of my blouse down, inch by inch. “You are definitely up to something.”
“I have no idea what you’re speaking of.” The sleeves gathered at my elbows as the blouse slipped. Cool air followed, teasing my skin. A husky sound rumbled from his chest. “Beautiful.”
I looked down, my breath catching. Ash had bared my breasts, and with the vest positioned just below them, they were shoved up, boldly offering the beaded nipples to his perusal.
“My beautiful wife.” One cool finger swept over a rosy peak. “My beautiful Queen.” His lips parted, revealing a hint of fang. “We will need to speak to Keella about this.”
Brows knitting, I lifted my gaze to Ash’s. “What?”
“You’re not paying attention.”
“Yes, I am.”
A brief smile appeared. “I said we will need to speak to Keella about the vision and her knowledge of it.”
“Oh. Yes.” My skin tingled. “That’s not the only thing we discussed.”
“Tell me.” His hands returned to my hips.
I jumped as his fingers slid beneath the waistband. The sound he made told me he enjoyed how the movement caused my breasts to jiggle. “I’m trying to, but you’re being very distracting.”
Thick lashes lifted, and eather-streaked eyes met mine. “Your failure to maintain focus is not a reflection upon my actions.”
I sucked in a short laugh at the obvious callback to when we’d been in this very office, and I’d been doing my level best—and succeeding—to distract him. “I see what sort of poor comparison you’re attempting to make, but when you couldn’t concentrate, I wasn’t in the process of undressing you.”
“This time you speak of…you had your lovely breasts shoved in my face,” he countered. “How is that any different than now?”
My lips pursed.
“I’ve gotten better at multitasking since then.” He kissed me. “I do love you in these pants.” His lips brushed the curve of my cheek as he tilted his head, his mouth lining up with my ear. His voice was a silk-draped whisper as he said, “But do you know what I love more?”
Muscles coiled tight and low in my stomach. “No.”
“You out of them.”
A laugh burst from me. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“Believe it.” Without warning, he whipped the leggings down to where they snagged on my boots, right below my knees. “Now, please continue with what else you discussed.”
I gaped at him.
“Please.” His fingers skated up my now-bare thighs. “Continue.”
“It was about your father,” I said, gasping as a cool finger slipped over my thin undergarment. “And what he planned for the embers and Sotoria’s soul.”