Page 31 of Ashborne Forged

My breath came faster. I nodded quickly.

Voski’s smile turned dark and he leaned in to kiss me again. This time I threw my arms around his neck, so when his arms circled my waist, I felt the warmth of him.

“Are you ready for your first lesson?” he breathed, then nipped my ear.

I nodded quickly. “Yes, please.”

Smiling, he kissed me again and I sagged into his grip, delighted, my skin humming—especially when he kissed his way down my neck and popped the button of my jacket. I sighed happily, arching when his hands slid inside my jacket, then down to my hips.

“No matter what, Grace…” he breathed against my throat.

I tipped my head back, giving him better access, but closed my eyes, listening intently for his instruction.

“…always remain aware of your body…”

I sucked in as he pressed his nose into my hair and inhaled, his breath rushing out to tickle my ear. “…and your assets,” he murmured. I had a blip of confusion—then he straightened, letting go so suddenly that I almost fell backward. I caught my weight, opening my eyes, frowning and confused… to find him dangling my harness knife in front of my face. Smirking.

I clapped a hand to the now-empty sheath at my hip, and exhaled in a rush.

“That is not the kind of lesson I thought you were talking about!” I spluttered.

His smile grew and he flipped the knife, catching the flashing blade, to offer me the hilt.

I snatched it with a scowl, but his grin only widened.

Shoving the knife back into the sheath and leaving my hand on the hilt, I met his twinkling eyes. His grin was boyish and adorable. But I deflated.

“I thought you intended to teach me something else,” I grumbled.

“Oh, I did.” He pulled me against him once more, and kissed me. I went willingly, smiling into the kiss, but just as quickly as it started, he stopped again, leaving me standing there, a little bit trembly, while he strolled to the other side of the room.

“But, food first,” he announced. “We’ve been flying for hours, and need to keep up our strength.”

I gaped at his back as he began to carve off slices of bread, and cheese.

“Strength for what?” I asked, uncertain whether to be disappointed, or to anticipate more.

He looked at me over his shoulder, and his smoldering gaze went straight to my belly.

Then I smiled.

10. Class is in Session

~ VOSKI ~

God, it was difficult to keep my hands off of her, to satisfy myself with dark gazes, and knowing smiles. But it was fun to see her fluster. I made a game of leaning over her while I prepared food—instructing her when she didn’t know how cheese should be wrapped for storage—letting my body brush hers, or my hand slide across her ass before I reached for something on her other side.

Watching her cheeks pink, and her smile grow, then falter when I went back to the job at hand, was delightful. She was delightful. I could barely wait to get my hands on her properly.

But, I was nervous as well. The need for her had grown while we flew. I’d tried to keep it at a simmer, reminding myself that she was new to sex, and needed time. Even with Koa’s help in healing, even with bond pushing her forward, she was truly naïve to the hunger. The drive within me to consume her. I didn’t want to scare her.

But I wanted to eat her just as surely as the bread and cheese.

More.

I begged God to give me the control not to frighten her—and begged Kham to stop taunting me with his own smug reunion with his mate.

I needed to be measured. So, I tied a short leash on my desire and made us eat, and drink water, and clean up the food, before finally turning to her in the light of the candles. But she was stunning—the soft, dim light from the candles making her hair glow, and her skin warm. A surge of need slammed through me. Visions of all the ways I wanted to take her, of seeing her abandoned, arched, coiled, bent, stole my breath.