“So, they knew where you were going?” he asked. The lock engaged with a metallic click. My gaze shot to Ash’s. The intensity in his stare bore into me, causing my already erratic pulse to speed up.

“Yes.” I backed up some more.

“Did they try to stop you?”

“They tried.” I drew in a deep breath, catching the thicker, heavier scent of arousal.

Oh, gods.

“And failed.” He prowled forward, each step fluid and precise.

“Would you expect anything less?”

One side of his mouth curled up. “Absolutely fucking not.”

I inched back a step and bumped into his desk. “We need to talk.”

“We do,” Ash agreed. “That’s why we’re here.”

I blinked hard, surprised. “Talking is clearly not what you’re communicating.”

“I suppose I need to work on that.”

“Yeah—” I gasped.

Without warning, he closed the distance between us. He was right in front of me, one cool hand cupping my cheek and tilting my head.

His mouth returned to mine with unerring accuracy, interrupting my steady stream of questions—though he’d ask more questions than I did. There was nothing gentle or tentative about the kiss or my body’s immediate response. The flick of his tongue along the seam of my mouth was like a lightning bolt to my senses, electric and intense. His touch was cool, but it evoked a rush of sultry heat.

Ash’s lips lifted from mine, but not far. “You taste like sugar.” A deep and dark growl rumbled from him. “I like.”

“It’s from the tea I had earlier.” Or at least I thought it was. I couldn’t be sure now. His kiss had scattered my thoughts, and he wasn’t done doing so.

He kissed me again, and this time, his tongue parted my lips and swept inside, dancing with mine. “My brave, beautiful wife.” His lips coasted over mine. “Still so frightened by a snake.”

“That will never change.”

“Good. I find it adorable.” His other hand landed on my hip. “I know you were upset when you saw Attes’s face, but I didn’t hurt him too badly.”

I gripped the front of his shirt. “You shouldn’t have hurt him at all.”

His lips brushed mine as he moved his large hand over the curve of my backside. “I enjoy the way you look in these pants.” His fingers followed the thin seam over the center of my ass. “But I love the way your body feels in them.”

Heart thumping, I lifted my gaze to his. “I can tell.”

“Can you?” A wolfish grin appeared. A wicked gleam in his stare joined the devilish expression. “How about…?” His questing fingers dipped lower, dragging a ragged gasp from me. “Now?”

Raw, sharp sensation curled tightly in my core as my fingers splayed across the soft linen of his shirt.

His chuckle was like silk against my skin, and his kiss was more languid and intoxicating this time. I started to lean into him, wanting to give in to the captivating pulse of pleasure his kiss and touch elicited.

But we did need to talk.

Mustering up what little self-restraint I had, I lightly pushed against his chest. “Yes, I can definitely tell you’re fond of these pants, but we need to behave responsibly at the moment. So you need to forget about them,” I said, ignoring the breathy note in my voice. “What did Attes think about us wanting to meet with the Primals?”

“He thought it was a good idea.” The grip on my ass tightened as he dropped a quick kiss to the corner of my mouth and then my cheek. “If he heads out to the other Courts when he said he would, we’ll hear from him within a day.”

My stomach dipped once more. “That’s quick.”

“It is.” He slid the hand from my cheek and down the side of my throat. His palm glided over the thick braid of hair, and his fingers skimmed the curve of my breast where it was lifted from the tight vest. I inhaled sharply. “I’m betting Lailah will go with him.”

“Re—” I gasped as his thumb drifted over the tip of my breast. The layers of clothing provided little barrier to the coolness of his touch. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm,” he murmured, bringing both hands to my hips. “Before you arrived, she offered to back him up in case of any problems.” His lips found the hollow beneath my jaw, sending a tight—almost too tight—shiver down my spine. “Which he eagerly accepted.”

“Oh, no.” I drew my lip between my teeth as I stared at the ceiling. My heart felt like it was a trapped hummingbird. “Theon won’t be pleased to hear that.”

“I wasn’t exactly pleased myself.” Ash nipped at my chin. “But my Queen informed me that I was only to ensure that Attes behaved if Lailah wanted that, and it seemed to me that she had no interest in my intervention.”

“I have so many questions about those two.”

“They had a thing some time ago,” he said. I’d already figured that much out myself. “It did not end well.”

Concern took root. I grasped his cheek and guided his gaze to mine. “Is she safe with him?”

“A part of me wants to say no, just to see what you would do to Attes. I’m sure it would be bloody and violent.” A quick, savage grin appeared as his fingers dipped under the band of my leggings. “But you said we needed to be responsible. Lailah is safer with him than she is with anyone else.”

I was relieved to hear that. “You don’t seem to be behaving all that responsibly right now.”

“I’m being completely responsible.” He nipped at my lower lip. “I was gone longer than I wanted to be. I missed you, liessa.”

A swelling motion filled my chest as I admitted, “I missed you, too.”

His nose brushed mine. “Of course, you did.”

My eyes narrowed as I stepped an inch or two away from the desk. “Let’s back up a second—or five. You really shouldn’t have hit Attes three times.”

“It was four.”

“You probably shouldn’t have corrected that statement.”

One side of his lips curved up as he drew my right hand from his chest. Kissing the center of my palm, he turned his head. His gaze slid to mine as his tongue flicked over the golden imprint. “It wasn’t entirely intentional. My arm may have moved on its own at some point.” He caught the tip of my finger with his teeth. The sharp prick and tight draw of his mouth conjured a heady mix of reactions that had my heart pounding in anticipation and—

Letting go of my finger, he lifted his head. “Attes deserved it.” The essence stilled in his eyes as they met mine. “He knows that.”

What Lailah had said about Attes choosing not to heal himself filled my mind. “But he can’t keep deserving it every time you see him.”

“Debatable.”

“Ash.” I sighed.

“The way your voice lowers when you’re annoyed makes my dick hard,” he countered. “I’m not sure that’s the desired effect.”

“It’s not.”

“You sure?” His body pressed into mine, inching me back against the desk, and I felt against my belly just how much he was telling the truth. “I can practically taste your arousal.”

My blood heated as every single one of my nerve endings hummed.

“Sunshine,” he murmured, threading his fingers through mine. “Attes and I talked things through and came to an understanding.”

“But not forgiveness?”

“Forgiveness is nothing more than a benefit to the forgiver,” he reminded me. “Because it is easy, it does so very little. Understanding is much harder. It allows for a chance to move forward, which is what we will do.”

The next breath I took came a little easier. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“I knew you would be. That is why I made an effort to understand.”

“After punching him? A few times?”

“No.” Ash smirked. “That happened after we came to an understanding.”

“Oh, my gods.”

“I know I should probably apologize.”

“But you wouldn’t mean it,” I said, and he gave me another half-grin. “I think it’s better if we stop talking about Attes.”

“Agreed,” he murmured, nipping at another finger. “You said you had a feeling that drove you to Vathi? Was it the vadentia?”