I shouldn’t be thinking this.
Not like this.
The sound of the door behind me cuts through everything. I freeze. Then turn.
Ashton walks through the room and heads straight for me and the balcony, his long blond hair slightly damp from the air, curling faintly at the edges. His gaze finds mine instantly, that familiar, dangerous smile already forming.
And just like that, every thought I had about him crashes into the present.
“Enjoying the view?” he asks, leaning casually against the railing beside me.
I try to calm myself. To focus.Don’t think of him naked. Don’t think of him touching himself. Of touching you.
“It’s strange,” I admit, my voice quiet as I turn my gaze back to the labyrinth. “From here, the labyrinth looks almost… peaceful. Like it’s not hiding a thousand ways to kill us.”
Ashton chuckles softly, the sound rich and warm like the golden light spilling from the torches. “That’s the trick, isn’t it? Lull you into a false sense of security, then strike.” He reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering against my skin. The simple touch sends a thrill through me.“ But you’re smarter than that. Stronger, too.”
I can feel the blush rising to my cheeks, and I look away, pretending to be captivated by the view. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere,” I tease, though my voice lacks conviction. The truth is, his compliments make me feel vulnerable, exposed in ways I’m not sure I’m ready to confront.
“Won’t it?” he murmurs, his tone low, a hint of something deeper in his eyes. The space between us disappears in an instant, and before I can overthink it, his lips are on mine, warm and inviting.
The kiss is slow at first, a gentle exploration, and I can hear the rain pattering against the stones, a rhythm that matches the pounding of my heart. My fingers tangle in his hair as he deepens the kiss, his hands cupping my face as he presses me against the railing. The storm rages around us, the wind tugging at my hair and clothes, but I barely notice. All I can focus on is Ashton. His touch, his warmth, the way he makes me feel like the world beyond this balcony doesn’t exist.
When he pulls back, just enough to look at me, I can see a rare vulnerability in his eyes. “I love you,” he says, each word measured and sure.
“I love you too,” I whisper, the words feeling both foreign and perfectly natural on my tongue.
He kisses me again, a soft, lingering press of his lips that promises more than words ever could. I can feel the heat poolingin my body, the connection between us sparking like fire. The moment feels infinite, suspended in time, and I want to hold on to it forever.
Unable to help myself, I press my body against him, molding my curves to his hard body. My hands stroke up and down his chest, wanting to touch everywhere all at once. I feel his body tense, and his kisses get faster, more desperate.
He breaks the kiss. “Alette–”
I rub myself against him, and he groans.
Breaking our kiss, he pants, “If we don’t stop now…”
“Then what?” I ask.
“Oh fuck,” he mutters, then his eyes flash open and lock with mine. “Then I’m going to have to take you so hard and fast that you’ll be feeling me inside of me for a week.”
I swallow. Lick my lips, and then say something I never imagined I say, “Yes, please.”
He stares at me for a long second, and then something snaps inside him. “You havenoidea how long I’ve wanted this.”
Grabbing me, he puts me up onto the edge of the balcony. I gasp, staring at the ground far below. At the rain splattering on the pavement.
“Ashton…”
“I won’t drop you, promise,” he whispers, then his lips find mine.
We kiss, over and over again. His tongue sliding against mine like he owns my mouth. Like we’ve done this a thousand times. My body heats up, and I’m surprised I’m ready again. It must really be something about being with a fae, because I can never imagine a woman being able to handle this many men in such a short period of time.
His lips move down my neck, sucking until I’m humming with pleasure. Then, he’s kissing the tops of my breasts. With one hand, he drags the top of my dress down, and my breastsburst free. He takes his time sucking each nipple. Lavishing my breasts with attention.
I squirm against him, desperate for more. Knowing exactly what he can give me.
He uses one hand to undo his belt and tug his pants down, and then he pushes my skirts back before shoving my underwear to the side. It takes him seconds to slam into me, and then I feel like I’m falling, only he has me tightly in his grip.
