Page 72 of Ash Storm

Her body tensed for an instant.

“You’re safe, Reka,” Ash whispered, delighting in the way her body relaxed as she heard his voice. Her arms tightened, bringing them even closer.

And it felt so right to have her in his arms.

Unfortunately, it also caused another part of his anatomy, a part that clearly still hadn’t realized this had nothing to do with it, to stand fully at attention.

And he cursed himself, because the way she was hugging him meant she felt safe with him, and he’d rather die than scare her. He shifted his lower body away subtly.

He was so worried about that, he almost missed the moment when her mouth came searching for his. She kissed his ear, his cheek, moving closer and closer, until her lips found his.

Her full, amazing lips.

All night, he’d wondered what she’d taste like. Now he knew. She tasted soft and sweet. She tasted like heaven.

Mio Dio.

My God.

As her mouth opened slightly, her tongue coming out to taste his lips, he made a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a whimper. And he kissed her back, God help him, because he couldn’t stop himself.

Nothing in his life, no kiss, no touch, had ever felt like this.

He could kiss her forever.

Then her hands found the edge of his T-shirt, slipped inside and skimmed across his belly and up his chest, pulling T-shirt off. Her hands were soft and warm and—

The pain in his cracked ribs made him breathe in sharply.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “So sorry.”

So am I.

The pain was irrelevant, but it was the wake-up call he’d needed.

“No,” he said. “I’m the one who’s sorry.” And he meant it. He grabbed her hands and kissed the back of each gently, then scooted back against the headboard, putting some space between them.

In the soft light coming through the blinds, he watched her eyes furrow.

“You … you don’t find me attractive?” she asked tentatively.

Ash’s mouth fell open. “Why would you think that? You’re …” he stopped for a moment, then decided to say what he was thinking. “You’re so incredibly beautiful, I can hardly think around you.”

Reka sat up next to him, but didn’t say anything.

And he was starting to know her already, knew it wasn’t like her to be this quiet.

“Tell me what you’re thinking. Please.”

He could almost hear her thoughts, and how hard it was for her to get the words out. He waited patiently.

“When we were in that place,” she began, but then faltered, waving her hands in the air in the direction of his cock.

His traitorous cock, which jumped to attention again.

But at least he now knew what was worrying her.

He almost laughed.