Page 5 of Ashborne Forged

~ GRACE ~

Voski reached for me, trembling hands suddenly in my hair, tipping my head, his thumbs framing the lines of my jaw as he took my mouth with a fierce, shuddering groan.

The moment our lips touched, the tide in my chest shifted and that relentless tugging at my heart, that ache that had been present since the first night in the forest of Fyrehold, was suddenly flooded in heat and need.

A starburst of pleasure and thrill—and equal part nerves—sparked behind my ribs when his tongue slid against mine. I inhaled as a low, desperate groan rolled out of his throat.

He kissed me, his hands everywhere—nails on my scalp, palms following the curves of my waist, and cupping my breast. A tiny voice screamed in the back of my head that he wasn’t to be trusted. Yet, I fell gladly into his steely strength.

The same arm that wrapped around me in the night when I wept, now lay against my spine and held my weight as he bent me backward over it.

The same lips that murmured reassurance and hope for morning when the nightmares stole my courage, yet spat venom in his rage, now danced on mine, teasing, tantalizing. And the same heart that stood broken before me, just moments earlier when he’d revealed his dark fear, now thumped hard against my chest and made his hands tremble.

Voski, the man of ice and fire, who walked the shadows and made men fear, touched me with trembling hands. And with even the slightest touch, he raised the hair on my neck, pebbled my skin in goosebumps, stopped my breath.

His kiss was consuming—a question, followed by demand. And as I desperately tried to answer, he pulled me closer.

His need rumbled in his chest, creating a surge in my blood, as my desire answered with equal fervor.

At first, I was afraid to give in, to let myself hope again. Because so many times, he’d drawn close, then pushed me away.

But as his fingers dragged into my hair and tugged my head back, as he dropped his chin to kiss the sensitive skin under my throat, and rasped my name with a guttural growl, my body thrilled. And my heart wept with relief.

I clung. Digging nails into his back, holding him against me, refusing to allow even air between us. And he didn’t run.

Thank God, he didn’t run.

The tighter I squeezed, the deeper his kiss.

The faster my breath, the harder his grip.

And the further I drifted from my fear, the greater the light in the tangled little cord around my heart.

“Voski…” I whispered his name, and felt that cord pulse. Felt the light within it swell—and felt him go still, his panting breath fluttering on my skin.

When he suddenly pulled me upright, I was disoriented—blinking back to reality with a jolt. Had I broken the spell again?

But when I straightened, holding his shoulders for balance, and stared up at him, his eyes didn’t flicker with shadows. He tipped his head and looked at me, tracing the line of my jaw with a finger.

A breeze rose, chill and insistent, rustling the leaves of the trees around us. I was grateful. It cooled my hot cheeks.

“It’s going to rain,” he said quietly, his voice deep and ragged. My heart sank—he wanted to go back to the Keep? “But, there’s something I want to show you. If you feel safe to come with me?”

I inhaled sharply at the uncertainty in him. Him, who always knew the answer. Who grew so fractious when I was in the wrong place, or used the wrong words.

But that angry, erratic man wasn’t here. The sharp angles of his face cast shadows, but his black eyes shone out from under them as he stared down at me between tines of his hair.

“I’ll follow you anywhere,” I blurted—then bit my lip, wishing the words back, because of course he’d run from—

But instead of running. Instead of freezing with his eyes shadowed in wary darkness, Voski’s mouth opened slightly and he shook his head, then reached for me, leaning down to kiss me, deep and slow.

Just as I sank back into his chest, he drew back, his breath fluttering on my lips.

“I haven’t earned your trust. But I will.”

I blinked—the instinct to reassure him was strong. But, he was right.

“I want you to,” I said honestly.