“It will be,” I whispered. “When she’s dead.”
He laughed, the sound rough but warm. “Bloodthirsty.”
I didn’t even try to deny it.
Ash was quiet for some time. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”
My eyes opened. “What are you thanking me for?”
“For just… Just for being you,” he said.
“I’m sure many people would not thank me just for being myself, but you’re welcome.”
“Those people should die, too.”
I laughed softly.
“Sera?”
“Yeah?”
“I wish…” His voice thick, he trailed off and then swallowed.
“What?”
Whatever Ash had been about to say was lost as he tipped my head back and brought his mouth to mine. He kissed me until the ugliness of Veses faded into the background, until any concerns or worries about what we would find in Irelone went away, and until there was no space for anything but the feel of his lips against mine. Then there was nothing more than his arms around me, holding me. Me holding him.
Nothing but this moment.
Us.
It was all that mattered.
Chapter 43
I awoke sometime later to the feel of Ash’s body through the linen shirt I’d borrowed after he’d patiently undone every single tiny button on the coronation gown.
The garment was no barrier against the hard, icy-hot press of his body, nor had it stayed in place as I slept, riding up to my hips. I knew this because absolutely nothing separated his rigid cock from the curve of my ass.
I blinked open sleepy eyes, unable to make out much in the darkened chamber. I had no idea how long we’d slept, but it didn’t feel like that much time had passed after we’d left the couch and gone to bed.Together.
To sleep.
I’d thought both of us were exhausted—physically and emotionally—from the coronation, the carriage ride, and what we’d discussed upon our return.
And I figured he was still asleep, his body’s response some sort of physical reaction and not necessarily a purposeful one. Which meant I also needed to go back to sleep and not dwell on the feel of him or think about that carriage ride. Which was easier said than done as I wiggled restlessly in his embrace—
The quick, deep rise of his chest against my back stilledme. Was he awake? I started to turn my head but stopped as his hips shifted behind mine. I bit my lip as his cock slipped over the curve of my ass, eliciting a sudden, sharp slice of pleasure.
My heart kicked up. “Ash?”
“You shouldn’t call me that,” he said, his voice rough in the darkness.
Confusion rose. “I thought you wanted me to.”
“I do.” A pause. “But that may have been an unwise choice.”
“Why?”