Page 76 of Liar
Ember drifts across my senses, her smell, touch, heat, and sureness enveloping my comfort zone in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
I want to push her off. I can’t.
It feels too damned good.
“Ember,” I demand in a pained voice. “I’m not the guy for you.”
I am. I fucking am. She’s mine, and she will forever taste me, suck me, fuck me, and no one else.
I quiet my inner voice by forcing it to the back of my head. “You need someone better than a guy who wants to name all your fuck holes after him.”
She chuckles against my lips. Even her breath is sweet. “Not if I get to name your dick in my honor.”
“You are not calling my cock Ember.”
“I was thinking little pretty.”
Laughter threatens to peel out of my throat. I staunch it with a scowl and push Ember off. “I feel sorry for you, wanting someone who treats you the way I do.”
Ember looks down at the ground, assessing our height and appearing unaffected by my brush-off. I sit back, wary of the type of Ember who can withstand my venom and come out smiling.
She’d be unstoppable.
“How did you get up here in the first place?” she asks.
“I’d ask you the same thing.”
“I got onto the roof by nearly killing myself. How’d you do it?”
“By never looking down.”
She lifts her head, her eyes a little wider than before. “Right.”
I swing my leg over. “Let’s go.”
Without waiting for her response, I find a lower branch and twist until I’m standing on it while pressing my hands against the trunk. “Follow me. You’ll be fine. And—”
“Don’t look down. Got it.”
Ember adjusts her skirt and pulls my spare cloak tighter around her shoulders. After ensuring the hood covers her beacon of hair color, she scoots toward me, the branch in a death grip.
I’m not one for encouragement, but I remain where I am, unwilling to move until I’m sure she’s safely off the first branch.
After a few minutes of quiet, careful maneuvering down the tree, Ember gains more confidence, descending smoothly as I lead the way down.
At each step, I scan the area for straggling members. Every window of Winthorpe manor shines a cascade of light across the lawn, giving me a broad view of the flat lawn and surrounding trees. All is quiet. I wasn’t lying to Ember when I stated my father would be taking Malcolm to the catacombs as quick as possible, relying on Savannah to secure Ember. Father’s flock would’ve followed him.
The fact that Sav has become Father’s new pup is disquieting, to say the least. It’s one of many mysteries I’m committed to unraveling as my time at Winthorpe ends, and I become part of the full-fledged peerage of the Nobles.
I chance a look at Ember as she climbs above me, that gorgeous ass of hers in my view again every time the wind hits just right and billows my robe around her, but I’m not thinking of spreading those cheeks right now. Maybe later. What I am thinking of has much worse consequences.
I want to use her mind, not just her body. I want her to … help me.
Fuck, that can only end badly.
“Come on.” I land on my feet and reach up to help her down the rest of the way.
Ember settles in beside me, looking up one more time before we start walking. “I can’t believe we were all the way up there.”