Page 29 of When Ashes Fall

With a startled squeak, Zephyr pulled up abruptly. The flutter of his wings created a breeze as he aimed them at me and hovered in the air.

“Knox!” he blurted.

Briar’s head turned so fast I was sure she’d given herself whiplash as she gazed at me over her shoulder. Instead of moving out of the sprite’s way, I leaned against the door, crossed my legs, and folded my arms over my chest.

“Don’t let me stop you,” I told him.

Zephyr glanced between Briar and me. He’d been so excited to get to work on the plants, but he hesitated to leave her with me.

I quirked an eyebrow at him. “I thought you were going.”

“I was, but… I… maybe I… ah… should wait for Briar so she can teach me how to properly use the potion.”

“Seconds ago, you didn’t have any problems doing it on your own.”

Zephyr paled as he glanced at Briar again. With a sigh, she released her knife; it clattered against the marble. She wiped her hands on her apron before turning to face us.

“It’s okay, Zephyr; I’m sure you’ll have no problems using the potion,” she said.

His head continued to ping between us as he gulped. “Yeah… sure… ah, if you think so.”

Briar smiled as she used her forearm to wipe sweat from her brow. “I have complete confidence in you.”

Zephyr’s shoulders sagged a little. “I won’t be gone long.”

“Take all the time you need,” Briar assured him. “Just remember, only a couple of drops per plant.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll be back soon.”

He stared at me before zipping out of the room. When the pattern of his beating wings changed, I turned to discover him in the middle of the hallway, watching me. He turned and zoomed away.

“Do you need something?” Briar asked.

The rodent had gotten up. Its front paws were before it, and its back arched as it stretched and yawned. When it finished, it jumped out of the window and onto the counter, where it sauntered over to sit beside Briar; its eyes never left me.

With her face flushed from the heat, the bright red of her cheeks gave her a healthy glow, and her sea green eyes glimmered with vitality. She’d undone the top three buttons of her shirt; a bead of sweat trickled down her chest before vanishing into the V her breasts created.

Not only did the damp shirt cleave to her slender, curvy body, but her rolled-up pants hugged her thighs. I clearly recalled what it was like to have those thighs locked around me or pressed against my head while I tasted her.

The last time I got a taste of her wasn’t that long ago. I’d vowed never to claim her as my mate again or stick my dick anywhere near her, but I’d relished tongue fucking her in the library.

But not only could I see her looking entirely delectable, but so could others. Jealousy coiled like a poisonous monster through my belly.

“Are you trying to give the sprite a show?” I asked with a waggle of my finger at her open shirt.

In all honesty, she wasn’t showing much skin at all, but my desire for her and my jealousy irritated me. How could I possibly lust for this woman after enduring the presence of her mother and sister yesterday?

But with every beat of my heart, I craved her.

Briar glanced at her open shirt, and her jaw clenched. I couldn’t see the edge of the binding restraining her breasts, but its outline was visible beneath her damp shirt.

“Of course not,” she retorted. “In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot in here. Not to mention, no part of me is exposed. You’re a dick for thinking such a thing.”

“I thought I was the worst part of the dick,” I threw her words from the forest back at her.

Was that really only yesterday? So much had passed since then that it felt like weeks had gone by.

“Oh, you are,” she said. “Every interaction I have with you reinforces that.”