Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
One side of my lips curled up as my innuendo failed to land. It was easy to forget his lack of experience when he was such a quick, adept learner.
“You’ll see,” I said, sliding my hands up the front of his thighs and then inward.
He sucked in a ragged breath as my palm dragged over his rigid length. “I think I’m starting to understand.”
“Good.” I undid the flap of leather and then shoved his pants down, baring him to me. I took in the sight of him—thick, hard, and straining. I licked my lips. “Yum.”
“Fuck,” he groaned.
Grinning, I encircled him with my fingers, awed by how his entire body reacted, and then I took him into my mouth.
I carried through on what I’d said. I showed him my thanks with my mouth and tongue.
And there were no complaints.
I sat in the middle of the mattress, staring at the small wooden box as Ash readied himself for bed. I could hear the splashing of the fresh water that had been brought up after supper.
I was restless.
Again.
Every couple of moments, my muscles tensed as if I were about to leap to my feet and…do something. What? I had no idea.
I drew my legs to my chest, my gaze tracking the delicate carvings along the lid of the box. It felt like a sense of urgency, but I didn’t know what for.
I poked at a fang with my tongue, my brows furrowing. I thought I recognized the feeling. It was the same as the year I’d forgotten Ezra’s birthday. On and off throughout the day, I’d kept feeling like I was forgetting something, but the what had danced just out of my reach. This restless urgency was similar to that. There was something I needed to do or remember. Something important. And this wasn’t the first time I’d felt this since waking from stasis after my Ascension. It had steadily increased as the day passed, though.
Resting my chin on my knees, I closed my eyes. The only time I hadn’t felt the restlessness had been during our utterly perfect supper. I hadn’t said much during it. I’d just sat back and listened to the conversations around me. Honestly, doing something as simple as sharing dinner with Ash and the people I was beginning to consider family had been something I’d only dreamed of as a child.
But as soon as the meal and conversation ended and my mind quieted, restlessness surged through me. Exactly like when I’d been with Rhain and Aios earlier. It had nothing to do with Kolis. I didn’t think it had anything to do with tomorrow’s speech or Ash’s upcoming trip to Vathi. Or our plans to go to Keella. It wasn’t about us. Not really. Maybe it had something to do with Lethe or the Shadowlands in general. Perhaps it had to do with all the new arrivals to Lethe and how long it would be until crops—
Wait.
My eyes went wide as I lifted my head. When Saion had spoken during the meeting about surveying the land for crops, I’d been thinking about how I should be able to help speed that process along.
Not should…
The bathing chamber darkened as Ash strolled out. The sight of him was a distraction. My gaze eagerly tracked the drops of water coursing down the sculpted lines of his chest, and the nape of my neck tingled. A sudden sense of knowing seized me. Eather throbbed from deep within me as if it were waking up.
I could do something.
I shot to my knees, sending my hair falling over my shoulders. “I’m the true Primal of Life.”
Ash stopped at the side of the bed, his brow beginning to furrow and then smooth out as his gaze dropped. “I do hope you’re not just realizing that now. If so, I don’t think summoning the Primals tomorrow is a good idea.”
“Why would I just now be—?” I pressed my lips together. He was teasing. I squinted. “Anyway. I can restore life, and while water isn’t really something alive, it’s—” My thoughts were racing so fast I could barely make sense of them. I shook my head. “There is life to water and to everything.” My nose scrunched as I tried to grasp that piece of knowledge because I knew it was important and would lead to something even more so. But I shook my head, refocusing. “I was able to restore life with eather before. I was able to heal—are you even paying attention?”
Ash dragged his teeth over his lower lip and nodded. “Of course.”
“You are definitely not.” Leaning forward, I grasped his chin, guiding his attention away from my sheer nightgown. “You’re staring at my breasts.”
“You’re right. I am.” He pulled back, kissing the tip of my finger. “They’re beautiful.” His gaze dropped again. “But like this, with the gown and your hair spread across them?” The featherlight touch of his fingers between the strands of hair drew a shiver from me. “I cannot help myself, liessa. I’m eager for dessert.”