Keeping my eyes fixed on the floor, I clear my throat and try to hide my pink cheeks, but Ash catches my chin and forces me to look at him.
“You aren’t always so shy.”
I’m stunned into silence. I can’t disagree with him. And I don’t really want to. I can remember every second in vivid detail.
I heat up again as his tail sticks out to one side, and my eyes land on the tip, the tip that massaged my clit, the only part of my body that feels sensitive this morning.
“How are you feeling? Hot?” he asks, leaning in close.
My mind conjures up memories of him lying over me, his big body radiating heat as he pounded into me, over and over.
Shaking my head, I gasp at the strength of the desire I have for him when his scent reaches my nose. It’s overwhelming. Uncontrollable.
His hand cups my elbow as I wobble on my feet and gaze up at him.
Has anyone asked me that before and really cared about the answer?
Suddenly, I’m struck by the ridiculous notion that he really wants to know how I am.
He waits patiently, his crimson gaze burning into mine.
“I… I’m confused about what was real and what was in my mind.”
Ash’s fingers slide from my elbow, along my arm to my wrist, before tangling our fingers together and tugging me closer to him.
“You came. That wasn’t your imagination. But it was on my fingers and my tail, not my cock.” He pauses, brow furrowed. “And I didn’tbreak anything. You’re still…intact… for when you marry.”
The last part he spits out, eyes narrowing, and the muscles in his shoulders bunch as he lifts his other hand to my lips and presses a claw to them.
I remember how he did that before, whether it was in my dreams or in reality doesn’t really matter, because it’s as clear as day to me. So is how he tasted.
Neither of us blinks as I curl my lips around his finger and squeeze my thighs together, the strength of that memory almost enough to cause my knees to buckle.
“You might be a bit tender, a bit weak, but I promise, I was gentle with you.”
I blink up at him, trying to imagine what rough would look like if that was him going easy on me.
“What did Lily mean by this time?” I repeat.
Ash’s playful, heated expression evaporates, replaced by a dark scowl.
“Were they not the first rescuers?”
He shrugs and stands straight, taking his warmth and intoxicatingly powerful presence with it. “I gave them all the same chance to leave like last night. It’s not my fault they’re too stupid or greedy to take it.”
Folding his arms across his chest, showing off his bulging pecs to distract me, he’s sullen. Like a bold child who knows he’s about to get in trouble. He’s been keeping secrets from me. If he truly didn’t care what he was doing, he would have just told me. Instead, he’s hidden this from me.
To protect me? To protect himself? I’m not sure.
“How many?” I ask, now growing deeply concerned about what else has gone on while I’ve been locked away.
He looks toward the balcony, guilt written all over his stubbornly hard-set features.
“Ash, what did you do?”
Lips pressed together, he narrows his eyes at me.
“I’ve heard their dreams. Seen what their depraved imaginations want to do to you once they’ve purchased you from your father.” His voice is laced with anger, and his eyes glow, rage burning like molten lava in their depths.
