Page 63 of When Ashes Fall

The rain hammered against the roof as the wind howled down the chimney, creating a whistling sound within the bricks. It was a typical spring storm for the kingdoms, but I normally wasn’t trapped in a cabin with a hulking beast of a man when they occurred.

I had to get out of here before I jumped on him… except I had nowhere to go, which was the constant conundrum of my life.

CHAPTER FORTY

Briar

Finally gathering my wits enough to stop standing there and gawking like an idiot, I pointed at the hooks near his head. “I put a towel next to the door for you.”

“Why are you still wearing those soaking wet, cold clothes?” he demanded instead of reaching for it.

“I have nothing else to wear.”

Knox scowled at me. “You have towels, and there’s a dresser, probably full of clothes, right there.” He pointed at the wooden dresser against the wall on the right side of the bed. A matching armoire was on the other side of the bed.

“I can’t wear someone else’s clothes,” I said. “It’s bad enough we’re invading their house.”

“So you’re willing to freeze to death?”

“I won’t freeze⁠—”

“I can hear your teeth chattering from here. Get those fucking clothes off.”

“This guy’s a real peach,” Gizzi muttered into my head. “What did you ever see in him?”

“He wasn’t always like this,” I told him. “He used to be very different.”

“I should hope so, because he’s a real asshole now.”

I agreed with that, but he was an asshole who made my heart race and my palms sweaty.

“Are there any roses in here?” Knox asked.

“No.”

“Then we’re not invading their house. I’m sure, if we ever break the curse, they won’t mind that we took shelter here. Get undressed.”

His cock swung between his legs when he strode toward the fireplace. The urge to bite his taut ass hit me, and I had to look away as heat flared through my cheeks.

“I’m out of here,” Gizzi said. “I’m tired of seeing his naked ass.”

“I’m not.”

Those words resonated through my mind before I registered that I was going to respond to him. The burn in my cheeks increased until I was sure my face was on fire.

“Gross,” Gizzi griped as he dragged his towel toward the pantry. “Don’t forget I’m in here before you leave.”

“You don’t have to go.”

“If I keep seeing his swinging dick, I’ll bite it.”

I choked on the laughter that nearly erupted from me, but managed to stifle it as Gizzi released his towel, jumped onto the counter, and hopped over to the pantry door. Landing on the handle, he pushed down before falling to the floor.

The door creaked open as Gizzi reclaimed his towel and dragged it into the shadowed interior. “I can get it open from the inside too. Scream if you need me, and I’ll gladly help you.”

“I’ll be fine,” I assured him.

I hope, but I didn’t add that last part to Gizzi. He wouldn’t leave if I did, and as much as I dreaded being alone with Knox, I also craved it.