The Beginning of Everything Read online Kristen Ashley (The Rising #1)

Categories Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi, Paranormal, Romance Tags Authors: Series: The Rising Series by Kristen Ashley
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Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
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It would seem he had practice doing such as that.

My belly twisted.

He performed this task while speaking.

“I will take arse for you, if that’s what you desire to see. Though it is not normally my choice. I am like Lorenz. If it tantalizes you, it will do the same for me. Though the Trusted, you should know, Silence, are not available to you, except Basil, if he is to your wanting, for he will not take you, only me. But if there is a warrior of mine…”

He trailed off, turning me after I shoved my hands through the sleeves, and he began to close the buttons at my back.

I was staring at the lit lamp on the dresser on that side of his bed, my gaze drifting, noticing in the peach of the walls there was a slightly darker motif that was barely discernible.

It looked like cherry blossoms.

Or blossoms of something.

When done with my buttons, he turned me again and framed my neck in his hands.

“Do you understand this?” he asked, staring down at me.

I did not.

Not any of it.

“Yes,” I murmured.

He smiled and noted, “I must remember this stupor you fall into after climaxing. It is very endearing, but should I not finish with you, the wait would be excruciating.”

Climax.

So that was what it was called.

Apropos.

Truly.

“I will endeavor to…next time…recover much more quickly,” I stated, sounding stilted and not myself.

He bent, touched his lips to mine, then to my nose, my forehead, before he moved away a spare inch, again smiling at me.

“Don’t. If I can move you so deeply that you behave like an undead, I will then go out and slay a dragon.”

“Slay a dragon?”

His gaze warmed (or further warmed). “Your pleasure empowers me, piccolina.”

That was nice.

Not as nice as it should have been.

But it was nice.

“I will walk you to your room, my monkey,” he offered. “I would do it regardless, but you might lose your way in this state.”

This should have been amusing.

I did not laugh.

“Your slippers, Silence,” he remarked.

I blinked up at him.

He twisted at the waist and reached into the bed, rescuing my slippers that had fallen off.

He then dropped to a knee in front of me, and I lifted my skirts and offered my feet one by one as he slipped them on.

I watched the bigness of him, the power of him, all of it bowed to me and did it again thinking I might weep.

But once he had my feet shod, he did just as he said he would, straightening, tucking my hand against his chest and starting us across the room.

“Basil?” I forced out.

“Yes. He only takes men.”

“I know, but he’s your lieutenant.”

“Yes, and they have all had each other. It’s part of the ceremony to become a Trusted. The bonds formed through such intimacy and knowing of the other, it’s crucial to that brotherhood. All my warriors engage this way. Freely. And it’s encouraged they do. But I would not want one of my men to look on you with desire. This would not promote bonding. And Basil would not do that.”

They have all had each other.

And Mars would have Basil with me there, if I desired it.

And he would have other women, if he desired it.

Other women, not me.

Other women he’d put his mouth between their legs giving them what he just gave me.

Women who were not me.

And put other things between their legs.

Legs that were not mine.

“Silence?” he called, and when he did, I realized we were well down the hall.

I looked up at him.

His expression grew gentle, and with us still walking, he bent and kissed the top of my head.

When he straightened, he murmured, “My bride has had a full night. I must get her to bed so she will be ready for her next.”

It was true.

I’d had a full night.

But right then, I had a full head.

I was in Firenze.

I would be their queen.

Which was their king’s wife.

This was what they did.

I’d heard this whispered about and I remembered my mother saying they were not faithful to their spouses.

But I had forgotten.

And at the piercing ceremony, it was spoken of the intimacy of listening to, thinking of, being honest with your husband.

Nothing, however, was mentioned about the body. These intimacies were solely of the heart and mind.

That was all.

I hadn’t thought about it then.

I was thinking about it now.

At my door, Mars took me in his arms and kissed me deeply, and for a glorious moment, I forgot what I’d just remembered.

I remembered again when he broke away and said, “I’ll see you at breakfast, amore.”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Goodnight, my Silence.”

“Goodnight, Mars.” Oh dear. What was etiquette? There had to be some etiquette after someone gave you a climax. “And thank you too,” I tried.

That got another big smile and dancing eyes before he replied, “Anytime,” his lips again came to mine, and he growled, “As often as you like, mio ardente.”


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