Page 64 of When Ashes Fall

Gizzi grunted as the door shut again with a click. Knox glanced toward it as he stacked logs in the fireplace.

“Did the rat just go in there?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Knox draped an arm over his bent knee as he frowned at the closed door before looking to me. Thankfully, some of the red from my face had faded by then. He didn’t say anything before placing another log in the fireplace.

Rising, he opened a box on the mantle and removed some matches. He shoved some kindling between the logs and lit it.

It took a bit before the logs started smoking and flames enveloped them. I was too far away to feel the heat yet, but Knox held his hands over the fire before turning to me.

“Get out of those clothes,” he said gruffly. “Or I’ll rip them off you.”

I clutched the towel against my chest as I looked toward the dresser. He would strip them from me. There was no way I could walk around naked with him; it would be the worst idea ever, and one that would surely have me on my back with my legs in the air in no time.

That sounds amazing.

No! That would be bad. VERY, VERY BAD!

The sane, logical part of me was right, but I ached to be touched and fucked and held by him again. Get it together, Briar, and MOVE.

I despised the idea of rummaging through someone else’s things, but it was either their clothes or no clothes. Dragging my feet across the floor, I trudged to the dresser and reluctantly opened the drawers.

“Do you know who lived here?” I asked as I pulled out a heavy yellow sweater and a pair of fluffy, gray wool pants.

“No.”

If it weren’t for the cemetery and the rain, the clothes would be much too warm for the spring, but the chill had seeped into my bones and wouldn’t let go. I found a pair of oversized wool socks and closed the drawers.

“Do you want me to find something for you to wear?” I asked.

“No.”

I almost asked him what he had against clothes, but bit my tongue. He was a shifter; even when they weren’t in animal form, they were still one at heart.

And his animal was the most twisted, wild one ever to exist.

Without another word, I slipped into the bathroom, turned on the faucets, and sighed as steam filled the air.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Knox

The cabin was much warmer by the time Briar finally emerged from the bathroom. A cloud of steam followed her out the door before dispersing.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her as her damp hair cascaded in dark waves around her shoulders before tumbling down her back. The clothes were much too big on her; she’d rolled the sleeves up to her wrists and the bottom of the pants up to her ankles, but she couldn’t fix the baggy fit hiding her lush body.

I’d managed to mostly get the beast back under control after the eagle attack, but now it surged back to life as it panted within me. I could never fully cage the monster while around her, as both it and the man wanted nothing more than to fuck her until she couldn’t walk.

My shaft stirred at the idea of stripping her clothes and burying myself inside her. She’d be as tight and wet as I remembered.

I shook my head to clear it of memories before studying her more carefully. The hot water had brought some color back to her face, and the shadows under her eyes were gone, but she couldn’t hide her lost weight. I’d felt the prominence of her spine and ribs while riding with her.

She hugged herself as she gazed around the room, unwilling to meet my eyes. She’s keeping something from me.

While I didn’t think it was that she’d indeed revealed our plans to her mother, my instincts said she was hiding something. I tossed another log on the fire before rising.

My movement drew her attention, and her eyes flicked to my erection before darting away. When her tongue wet her lips, my balls clenched and the beast growled. How badly we both wanted that delicate, pink tongue lapping the head of my cock.