Eyebrows shooting toward the ceiling, Gabriel said, “Two days?”
Miri let out a gusty sigh, smiled and nodded happily when Asmodeus brought her another cup of mead. It really was quite good, and very warm going down.
“And you blew up a propane tank?” Gabriel said, her expression curious as she looked at Ash.
“Hmmmm,” Miri said. “Two or three of us from the science departments get together every year and do a lecture called ‘What Hollywood does wrong’. It’s very popular. Cars don’t explode as quickly as you might think from the movies and propane gas tanks don’t either. Many gases either rise or sink or must mix with air to become combustible and even so they still need a trigger…an ignition point. Just shooting the tank isn’t enough to make it go boom.”
She gestured expansively.
Amused Gabriel said, looking at first Miri then Ash, “I’ll keep that in mind. And you jumped the motorcycle? Blind?”
“I was scared shitless when he did it,” Miri blurted and then clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with dismay. “Oh my God, I think I’m drunk.”
Patting her hand, Gabriel laughed. “No, you are drunk. I tried to warn you but I think you needed it, Miri. You’ve had a bit of excitement lately.”
Miri looked at Ash apologetically. “Just a little.”
“I think,” he said, smothering a grin, “it’s time to take my mate home.”
With a sigh, Miri said, “I love his voice, it’s like buttered rum, deep, warm and sweet.”
Mortified, she clapped a hand over her mouth as the room erupted in laughter.
Ash lifted an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
Miri felt color rise hotly in her face.
“I think you’re right,” she said. “We should go elsewhere.”
“The walk will do her good,” Asmodeus advised sagely.
Miri nodded vigorously.
It would do him good as well, Ash thought, it would let him stretch his legs after nearly two days on the motorcycle. It also amused him to see Miri so unsettled and so open.
“We’ll see you both in the morning,” Asmodeus said, smiling. “We’ve missed you, Ash.”
They clasped arms, Ash’s grip warmer around Asmodeus’s than it had been in centuries. Ash had missed his friend.
It was a long walk, made easier by Miri’s fascination with the light Ash cast to guide their way.
So fascinated was she by the little glowing ball he conjured that she nearly tripped over a root on the way to Ash’s cottage in depths of the woods.
Then Miri caught sight of the house and she stopped cold in sheer wonder.
“Ash,” she breathed, “it’s beautiful.”
Buried amongst the trees in the deepest corner of the valley, the cabin faced south so it would be a place of light at any time of day with its tall glass entryway catching the sunlight from morning to evening. A gesture from Ash set the closest of the candles and lanterns within it alight so it glowed like a jewel in the darkness, nestled as it was beneath the towering trees.
The wood had clearly come from the trees around it. Wide oak and pine planks alternated down the sides. They framed the glass that ran across the front and filled the interior with light. Inside Miri could see the outlines of a kitchen on the east and a library on the west side.
Ash took her hand and led her into his home, his sanctuary, kicking off his boots just inside the entryway. It was traditional.
Miri echoed his gesture.
Both the kitchen and the library were open to a central atrium and were state of the art. From the library came the unmistakable aroma of leather-bound books and paper.
Miri stopped in awe and simple amazement. She’d never seen anything so lovely in her life.
The interior of the house was open, separated only by sliding doors of rice paper or something like it, most folded aside to show the individual interior sections. The openings revealed low beds with thick mattresses, each covered in earth-toned bedspreads to compliment Ash’s deep scarlet skin.
In the center of it all was an indoor garden, another atrium topped by a peaked roof of glass. Plants grew lush and green, surrounded by river rocks and pebbles. What appeared to be small stream ran in a meandering path through the center. The air was moist. The little brook added its own music, a soft burble of water trickling over and between stones.
The little ball of flame Ash conjured danced and dipped from one candle to another as it raced around the central room to set each alight. Light flickered from behind leaves that rustled with the breeze that flowed up through the atrium windows high above, drawing the moisture with it. Beads of water sparkled on the glass. The stars glittered even more brightly through it. They would even in the chill of winter. Inside it would always be summer.
“It’s beautiful, Ash,” she said, softly.
“Wait,” Ash said, guiding her down the central pathway until they stood in the center of the interior garden, the rounded pebbles smooth beneath their bare feet.
“Rain,” he said.
Warm water cascaded over them from thin copper piping that ran along the frame of the atrium ceiling. It smelled like a brook or stream, fresh and clean.
It was magical and lovely as the water, warmed by sunlight in the cistern in the roof, spraying down on them. It still retained the heat of the sun.
Ash watched, smiling, as Miri looked up at the simulated rain in wonder, holding her hands out, smiling, sticking her tongue out like a child to catch the droplets. Rain drenched the ragged remains of her dress, made it cling to the lush curves of her body, her full breasts and slender belly as her nipples tightened beneath the wet cloth. The light spray sparkled in her fiery hair like diamonds.
He was hot and hard in seconds as he watched water bead on her skin.
Turning, Miri found Ash standing in all his Daemonae glory, the water making his scarlet skin gleam while the thin fabric of his pants clung to his skin as if they’d been painted on him.
He was every inch the rampant male, every line of his body cut and tight. His dark hair streamed over strong broad shoulders. His pecs were firm and curved, his abs rippled as his wings extended to take advantage of the spray. As sinuous as a cat’s, his tail curved and twined around his muscular legs. Closing his eyes completely unconsciously, he tipped his sculpted face back to enjoy the light spray.
With evident relief, he freed his hair, shook his head to loosen it.
Miri’s throat locked just to look at him.
He was so beautiful.
All she wanted to do was lick every drop of water from his glistening skin, his magnificent body.
So she did, stepping close to him to press her mouth against him, to savor the water on his skin as she slid her hands around to his lower back to draw him closer.
With a gesture, he dispensed with his clothing. His agile tail wrapped around her hips as his arms encircled her.
Miri smiled as he drew her into his embrace.
Hungrily, she licked and sucked the beads of water that gathered on his powerful chest. She made her way down his body, over his ribs, the taut muscles of his abs, as she dropped to her knees before him. The beads of water in his navel fascinated her. She pressed her mouth against it. Her tongue dipped in to lick out the deepest drops as she knelt in front of him, her hands on his hips for balance.
She was intoxicated, not with the mead but Ash.
Ash lost himself in the delicious feel of her hot mouth moving over him, her lips avid as they brushed over his skin. Every inch of him was aware of her touch, of where their bodies met, where her breasts pressed against him as she slid down his body.
He thought he’d lose his mind as her tongue swept into his navel, as she sucked gently. His cock was nestled between her full breasts as her hands closed tightly over his ass.
She rubbed her luscious body against his shaft like a cat as she kissed, licked and suckled at him, every now and then giving the head of his cock a long swipe of her tongue. It was maddening and marvelous.
When he groaned again, she looked up at him.
Smiling, she pressed her arms together to trap his cock between her breasts as she licked the head like an ice cream cone. Each swipe drove Ash wild as her hands slid around the back of his thighs to massage.
Desperately wishing he had something more substantial to hang onto he plunged his hands into her damp hair.
Looking down, his throat locked at the sight of his Miri on her knees before him as her mouth closed over the head of his cock to lap and suck. Her tongue slid over the slit, swirled around the tip. He thought he’d lose it as her hand curled around his balls to cup them. Her mouth was so hot, so wet.
“Tell me what you want,” Miri whispered, pressing kisses along his shaft.
He couldn’t, he was speechless. All he could do was moan as her mouth closed over his cock once again.
Miri looked up. Ash’s eyes were closed, every muscle was taut, pleasure revealed in every line of his face. She smiled.
His cock seemed huge but Miri thought she could manage it. She sucked the head into her mouth, tasted rainwater and Ash, his taste faintly musky, his salty precum on the back of her tongue.
Deliberately, feeling his erection throb and twitch, his balls draw up tight, Miri slid her hands around the back of his thighs and took him as deep as she could.
Even as his hands tightened in her damp hair, Ash tried to pull her away. He was going to come, it had been too long since anyone had done this but it was Miri and she was relentless. Her hands tightened and she sucked on him. Hard.
Ash lost his mind. His hands locked in her hair as he plunged his cock deep into that warm, wet and willing mouth. He fucked it, fucked her.
Dear Gods, it was so hot, so wet.
Ecstasy burst through him like lightning.
His pleasure emptied down her slender throat as her throat worked the head of his cock, swallowing everything he gave her. It was wonderful to look down to see her ethereal eyes flutter closed as she sucked him. Plunging his throbbing shaft between her pretty lips he shot every last drop of cum into her warm mouth, his hands in her hair as he used it, used her mercilessly.
Ash looked down just as Miri looked up with those mesmerizing green eyes, sucking him, taking every last drop of the pleasure he pumped it into her. He groaned.
Incredible.
With a yank, he pulled her up into his arms for a kiss.
Smiling he swung her up into his arms.
“I take it you liked that?” she asked, smiling in return.
He nuzzled her throat, flicked his tongue over it, pressed his tongue against the throb of her pulse.
“You could say that,” he said softly, against her skin.
Ash savored the taste of his mate as he carried her to their bedroom.
His true mate.
Carefully, gently, he settled her on her feet, stripped the dress over her head.
As he stretched out on the bed beside her, he curled her into his arms, held her close to feel her body against his.
Those ethereal eyes looked up into his and she smiled.
Looking deep into her eyes, Ash slid a hand into her hair and kissed her softly. He slipped into sleep with her safe in his arms. In all his life, he’d never been so content.