Page 43 of Ashborne Phoenix

“The power… I used it. I don’t want to, Grace. I despise it. But it’s the only way to convince her that I’m one of them. And we need that if we’re going to survive this. Can you… can you still stand to be close? I’ve missed you—”

“Voski!” I breathed. “Please!” I gripped my skirts and started toward him. “Please, don’t put space between us. I’ve waited—”

As if my words were a key in a lock, Voski’s heart sprang open. I hadn’t realized how stifled the bond had been. Hadn’t understood that much of my confusion stemmed from him hiding himself from it. But with those words, as I grabbed my skirts and rushed across the room toward him, he opened himself, and I felt all of it—the horror, the self-loathing, the joy, the relief… and, when I reached him and threw myself into his chest, pulling him down into a kiss, the need.

“Don’t ever close yourself to me again,” I whispered against his lips, sliding his jacket off his shoulders and clawing at the buttons of his shirt. “I need you close. Always.”

“But—”

“Never,” I gasped.

And then he groaned. His kiss deepened—frantic. And as we devoured each other, his fingers clawed at my back, scraping, twisting, finally gripping the silk on either side of the laces and tearing it open so the front of my dress sagged and I was bare to him.

Mine

SOUNDTRACK: Mine by Sleep Token

~ VOSKI ~

The world disappeared. The darkness, the power, the political maneuverings—everything faded into the dim shadows of the room, which soon sank away as well, until there was only us.

Skin to salty skin, breath to hot breath, heartbeat to heartbeat.

We didn’t even make it to the bed. The moment I had her bare, and she’d torn my clothing free, I pulled her to me and sank to the floor, filling my tongue with her taste, my hands with her pink skin, my soul with the precious presence of her.

Finally. Finally alone in the dark, and little risk of intrusion.

I shook with sheer need, and as I slipped between her knees, fingers clawing into the back of her thigh, lifting her leg to curl it around me because I couldn’t bear to have even a breath of air between us, I gasped her name.

Grace arched into me. Every hair on her body rose, her skin pebbling under my touch, her breath rushing against my cheek.

I could not get close enough. Could not kiss deeply enough. Couldn’t hold her tightly enough.

If I could have opened my rib cage and tucked her next to my heart, I would.

She whimpered when I rocked my hips and drew myself against her—almost taking her. I shuddered and dove for her throat, nipping and sucking, filling my arms with her every curve, pressing her into the floor with my weight.

A tiny voice demanded caution—I couldn’t hurt her! But then she grabbed my ass in both hands and pulled my hips, gasping when I slid against her hard. I twitched and almost came at the sheer ferocity in her.

It matched my own.

“Grace—”

“Please, Voski—”

“I’ve missed you.”

“I love you!”

“I need you.”

“Don’t ever let go—please!”

I kissed her again, our tongues tangling, bodies writhing. She searched for me, pulled me in, bucked and squirmed, her body begging.

I tore out of the kiss and raised my head to declare myself—but as my hips dropped and she widened her knees and pulled me toward her, we joined in a single thrust and a raw bellow ripped from my throat at the sight of my beautiful mate’s head jerking back, her neck arched and offered to me, her body shivering with the joy of our union.

I shuddered and fought to retain control of my shredded restraint.