Read From the Embers (The Born in Flames Trilogy) for Free Online

himself.
    “What do you mean? What aren’t you telling me?”
    He forced a smile. The same smile he always used when he wasn’t going to explain any further. “Rest up, Little Flame. There will be plenty of time to discuss the matter. I’m sure Fenn has enough to share with you.”
    I frowned at his back as he slid the door shut behind him. Fenn didn’t hesitate to pull me into our room.
    My shoulders slumped forward. “Of course he can’t just come out and say it. I feel so lost.”
    Fenn lightly kissed the side of my head. “Don’t worry, I will fill you in.”
    There was a cushioned mat in the far corner draped in silken sheets. At the other end of the tiny room stood a small dresser with an oil lantern as the only source of light. I walked over to the dresser, looking for something a little more comfortable to wear. My options were limited to a pink or red Kimono. I opted for the red.
    I shifted back into my human form and shrugged off the armor, forgetting about Fenn standing there, gawking at me. I slid the silken material on, shuddering from the luxurious feel of it against my bare skin.
    And then I felt Fenn’s warm breath against the back of my neck. He trailed soft kisses along my shoulders, spun me around and into his arms, and cradled my neck as his blue eyes devoured mine.
    “You don’t know how much I have missed this, Rory. A year. A whole agonizing year I spent thinking I would never see or touch your beautiful face again. The seasons changed, our birthdays came and went.” He gently rubbed his thumbs over my cheeks and then across my lips. “Everyone swore that it was over. I told them it couldn’t be the end but the beginning. That you would come back to me. But after so much time had passed, I began to think…” he trailed off, kissing me to finish his sentence.
    I leaned into him, kissing him with everything I had in my soul. I loved him more than I could ever love anything or anyone. His hands hungrily gripped my back as he crushed me against him and then lifted me off the floor. In two strides he laid me gently onto the mat and cuddled up next to me, brushing the hair from my face.
    “I missed the softness of your hair,” he confessed, twirling his fingers through my hair while staring into my eyes.
    “I’m here now,” I said distractedly, wondering why he had stopped kissing me. All I could see were his lips, desperately wanting them to resume their pleasing torture.
    A smug grin tugged at the left side of his mouth. “What are you thinking about?”
    I scrunched my face at him, huffing as I propped up on an elbow. “Seriously?” My eyes dropped to his lips. “I was thinking about kissing you, but know I’m thinking about your ginormous muscles, Fenn. Or should I call you Hulk?”
    He looked down at his bicep and flexed. “They are pretty ginormous, right? Zane came in handy as a workout buddy.” I lightly punched his chest. He chuckled, shaking his head. “Rory, Astral is in the next room. And he is in here.” He pointed to my forehead.
    My face reddened seven shades of scarlet as I tossed his hand away from my face. “No, he’s not.” I sighed and lay back down, staring at the painted dragons on the ceiling, trying to stop the tingling feelings that sparked along my skin from his touch.
    He kissed my cheek. “I love you.” His tone was serious and filled with longing. “You are my everything.” I turned my face to his. He planted a long, deep kiss on my lips, letting his hands roam down my sides. I reached my hand up to his hair, weaving my fingers through its thickness and rolled him over, pinning him to the bed.
    I bit my lip coyly, smiling down at him. “I thought we weren’t going to do this,” I teased, running my hands over his smooth muscles. My hair fell in his face. He reached up, using his fingers to hold it back. He looked playfully distraught as our bodies rested against each other.
    He flipped me back over, pinning me underneath him and holding my