Page 80 of Ash Storm

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Ash

His heart beat a fast staccato rhythm as he pulled the door open to what he couldn’t help but think of as their room now.

Reka was curled up on the sofa, a blanket on her lap. But she wasn’t asleep.

“How are you feeling? Were you able to get any sleep?” he asked, dropping the platter of fruit which Alexia had given him on the counter. The green-eyed woman seemed determined that Reka wouldn’t go hungry, and for that, he was grateful. Reka still looked too pale to him.

“A bit.” She shook her head, turning to look at him. Her eyes were full of unshed tears. “Not much. I’m so scared for Chloe, Ash.”

Fuck.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry I left her behind.”

“We left her behind,” she corrected woodenly.

No.

That guilt fell squarely on his shoulders, and he wasn’t going to let her shoulder it. He quickly covered the distance between them and went down on one knee in front of her.

“It was my decision,” he said, his voice harsh. “But I swear to you, Reka, I will do everything in my power to bring Chloe back safely.”

The statement sounded weak to his own ears, but it was the best he could do.

Reka placed her small hand in his. “I know that,” she whispered. “Thank you for including me in the meeting this morning. Being there made me feel like I was … like I was doing something.”

“You are doing something. Everything you told us helped.”

“But you haven’t found Afsan.”

“Not yet,” he said. He didn’t want to give her false hope, but he did want to reassure her they were doing everything they could. “Rogue is still working to trace Afsan’s phone, but we’re exploring a few other leads as well. We’ll find him, Reka.”

Her arms pulled him up until he wasn’t kneeling anymore, but rather sitting beside her on the couch. And her lips found his neck, his jaw, moved on to his mouth.

Yes.

Her lips were soft and smooth, her tongue brave as it slipped quickly into his mouth. Unreal pleasure zapped through him as their tongues met.

And God, he knew he should stop her.

She was too good for him. And she’d been through so much. The best thing he could do for her would be to keep his hands off her.

But he wanted her. He wanted her more than he wanted his next breath. And the needy sounds coming from her throat told him she wanted him, too. He thought back to her words the night before.

Why can’t we give this to each other?

It might be as simple as that. Even if all he could give her was pleasure and comfort. It would be worth any amount of pain for him afterwards, if he could offer her any comfort now.

“Take me to bed,” she whispered against his neck.