Page 11 of Claiming Chaos
“Maybe that’s part of her plan. Who knows how dark witches think?” Ash rolled her neck. “Besides, have you not seen how helpful Chaos is? Having a demon in her back pocket would level the playing field.”
The only reason I’d been helpful to Ash was the bond I shared with her. I doubted my brother would feel for his witch the way I did about mine.
I was about to say as much when Patrice spoke, “Can I make a suggestion?”
“Please.” Ember dropped onto the couch and pressed her fingers to her temples.
“We’re all exhausted. No amount of healing I can provide will replace a full night of sleep.” She clasped her hands in front of her chest. “I think we should rest and talk about our next steps in the morning.”
“Yeah.” Miles stood. “We’ll be useless until morning. Let’s get some sleep.”
Shade drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “You can sleep with a demon in the house?”
Ash opened her mouth to speak, but Miles answered, “They set up the wards while he was outside. If he had ill intent, he couldn’t have come back in.” He turned and headed for the hall.
“Good night, everyone.” Patrice followed.
I stood tugging Ash up with me. “No harm will come to any of you by my hand tonight.”
“He means it,” she said.
“You’re safe here.” Ember rose to her feet. “You can stay in our parents’ room with Miles.”
His face pulled into a frown. “I’m fine on the couch.”
“Suit yourself.” Ash led me to the hallway while Ember retrieved the same blanket and pillow she had offered me my first night here.
We stepped inside Ash’s bedroom, and she closed the door, locking it before sliding her arms around my waist and resting her head against my chest. I held her tightly, pressing my lips to her hair and breathing in her intoxicating scent.
“I don’t know why it is…” My shirt muffled her words, so she lifted her head and looked into my eyes. “But touching you always brings me a sense of calmness and safety.”
I brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “It’s the bond we share.”
“Your mark.”
“No.” I trailed my fingers down her cheek. Her skin felt as soft as down. “It’s so much more than the ink on your arm. It’s…”
“Fate?” She brushed her lips to mine.
“I believe it is.” I moved my hand up her back to slide my fingers into her silky hair. “Do you?”
“I don’t know what to believe.” She stepped out of my embrace, and I immediately missed her warmth. “What I do know is that I’m in desperate need of a shower.” Her tongue slipped out to moisten her lips as her gaze trailed down my body and up to my face. “Want to come wash my back?”
I inhaled deeply, the mere thought of seeing hot water rolling down her delicate skin making my dick twitch. “Your body requires rest.”
“And I’ll sleep so much more deeply if you help me relieve some of this stress. Don’t you think?” She ran her finger down my abdomen, stopping at the top of my pants.
My stomach clenched. Who was I to deny her a restful night of sleep?
I removed my shirt and dropped it on the floor. “Lead the way, little witch.”
She grinned and held up a finger. “Only if you promise to be quiet. I don’t have enough vim to cast a silencing spell.”
I dropped my pants. “I will try my best.”
Her gaze locked on my dick, and her pupils dilated as she stripped. Heat pooled in my groin, making my cock ache with need. She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and wrapped her fingers around my length, stroking it three times before turning and slinking into the bathroom.
I watched as she started the shower, testing the water with the inside of her wrist before stepping beneath the stream and beckoning me to join her. Water ran in rivulets over her shoulders, curving around her breasts and cascading down to her toes. She applied a floral-scented, liquid soap to a cloth and ran it over her face before turning her back to me and letting the water rinse her cheeks.