Page 56 of Ashborne: Defiance

In truth, dawn neared and we should let the dragons rest anyway. We were far enough from the Fyrehold city now that it was unlikely anyone would find us, even if they knew where to look. It had been a difficult week, and we had several days’ travel ahead of us.

As Grace’s head nodded forward and her chin rested on her chest without popping back up, the curve of skin behind her ear called to me.

Small tendrils of hair fluttered around her nape, loosened by the wind of flight. But it wasn’t those pale strands that held my gaze.

That sweet, pink skin below the ear had always enticed me. It was such a feminine place. Where a man’s jaw darkened and was heavy and sharp, the feminine jaw curved, the delicate skin unblemished by stubble or hair.

I’d never been able to resist tasting there when I’d been close to a woman—and I hadn’t with Grace, either.

In the same moment my mind’s eye filled with the memory of opening my lips on that sweet skin under her jaw and grazing her throat with my teeth, that hollow in my chest burned, igniting the fire of arousal low in my belly.

I sighed heavily.

Grace began to tip forward. I slipped a hand around her stomach to catch her before she broke her nose on an errant dragon spine. But with her curled forward, my hand spanned her stomach, and my thumb and forefinger brushed the underside of her breasts. I quickly closed my hand to a fist, but that only pressed the soft warmth against the back of my fist and ripped a soft groan from my throat that I caught and cleared away.

Grace’s head jerked up, but sank forward again, and a moment later she’d fallen asleep once more, her weight resting on my arm.

Not only was it not safe for her if Kham moved sharply, but I needed the use of that hand in the event of any problems.

“Come on,” I murmured to her through gritted teeth. “Sit up, Grace.”

Her head popped up and she straightened, inhaling sharply, and blinking—but her eyes closed almost immediately and because I’d urged her to sit up, this time she slumped back against me, until her shoulders pressed against my chest and her head slipped sideways so her forehead rested under my jaw.

I stiffened and my breath shortened, but the heat, low on my spine, couldn’t be denied.

I took one, deep breath, preparing to wake her properly. But for the first time in days, something in my chest eased. That painful coil that tortured me every time she was close suddenly didn’t hurt. With her nestled in my lap, warm between my arms, one hand on her waist to keep her from slipping, I could breathe.

I heard the thought and stiffened. But Kham’s voice appeared in my mind before I could react.

‘Do all humans take pride in hurting themselves? Is it one of your strange, sexual practices that I don’t understand?’ he sent.

I snorted and Grace twitched in my arms. I went still until she slumped again, then relaxed.

‘This has nothing to do with sex.’

‘You have unraveled since she drew near. Usually when I feel that way, I am driven to—’

‘Yes, Kham. I am very clear on what you’re driven to. Trust me,’ I sent dryly.

There were a few moments when he didn’t speak, and I held her and told myself that I needed to stop because it was only going to make it all worse when I had to let her go. But Kham rumbled. ‘It isn’t good to resist a bond. It will only eat at you.’

I winced. I was familiar with that sensation as well. ‘If we never cement the bond, it will stop eating at both of us. And we’ll be free of it,’ I asserted.

‘I’m not sure a bond works in that manner.’

‘It’s already easier than it was. I couldn’t have held her this way two days ago.’

‘That is the passing of Koa’s heat. The bond is no less present.’

I disagreed, but my body was inconveniently responding to her. If I didn’t find a distraction, I would embarrass myself when she woke.

‘We’ll talk about it later. Right now, we need to find a safe place to land and rest. Can you see an appropriate valley or ravine? We’ll need water for you and Koa.’

Kham shook his head like he was irritated, but didn’t comment about the bond any further.

We discussed what he and Koa could see, and where we should stop for a rest. Usually this was a very straightforward conversation when we traveled, but for some reason, tonight of all nights, Kham dithered, reluctant to commit to a target, until I found myself tense—body brimming with desire for Grace who still slumped in my arms, and irritation for my dragon.

My body ached. My stomach pulsed with heat. My chest coiled with a strange braid of pain and need. Every limb grew tense, my muscles tying up as I tried to resist the urge to touch her in far more personal ways.