Page 76 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

By the time we ended the meeting an hour later, no one was happy.

The tension was still palpable, even once everyone retired to their rooms. Kieran had declared he was going to shower.

Exhausted as I was, I still wanted to join him.

But would that raise suspicion? Would Aurelia suspect anything?

Everyone showers after a long day. You’re over thinking it.

I grabbed my clothes and towel, but I waited a good five minutes before leaving my room.

By the time I entered the bathing chambers, he was already naked.

I took a moment to admire his form as he turned on the shower water.

The man was too beautiful. Truly a blessing to us all.

His wide shoulders, his chiseled abs, perfect tawny skin.

Those long eyelashes, messy black hair, and a cutting gaze to match.

The long fingers that could reach the deepest places inside of me.

And his cock… long and thick. It filled me so good.

Just staring at it made me long to have it inside me again. My core tightened.

“I’m starting to think you only like me for my body,” Kieran said dryly as he stepped under the water.

Fuck. Watching the water cascade down his chest sent a pulse between my thighs. I laughed as I got undressed and tried not to preen too obviously when he studied my breasts and my core before settling on my face.

“It’s certainly not that dazzling personality of yours. ”

He snorted. “Have you come to yell at me?”

I studied him, at the exhaustion lining his face.

Immediately, I felt guilty. “Do you want me to?” I stepped into his bath.

Kieran turned to face me, and the water pelted his back.

My nipples hardened under his gaze, and I shuddered.

It was like a lightning storm brewed under my skin whenever we were together.

“Not particularly. But you wouldn’t be you if you held back.”

A ghost of a smile flickered on my lips. “I was pissed you volunteered me, but it makes sense. I don’t want people to die just because I don’t want to fight.” And if I stayed back and Clara paid the price for it, I wouldn’t forgive myself. “We’re in deep shit, aren’t we?”

His mouth tightened. “We are. The others don’t realize it. They haven’t fought against other dragons. They don’t know just how fast it can escalate.”

Kieran the Dragonslayer. The others didn’t want to believe him, but I did. I’d seen the haunted look in his eyes whenever he talked about it. “Feel free to tell me to fuck off, but when did you fight another dragon?” I reached up to stroke his jaw and then pressed my lips against his own.

Kieran groaned. He squeezed my ass, sending another pulse between my thighs. “When I was fifteen.” Damn. “And in the process a whole village got slaughtered.”

I wished I could take his pain and throw it away. “It’s not your fault.” It was the kingdom’s and maybe even Andova’s, depending on how the battle unfolded. No one should depend on a kid to save them .

“It’s why we’re so cautious about a potential dragon battle.

I got lucky to escape with my life. And the dragon that died?

Even though it was tied to me… Like I said earlier, I didn’t really do anything.

Hesperos got a hit in, and so did I, but it was the confusion of the battle that really killed it.

Nothing to be impressed about. The entire battle was a mess and something I never want to repeat.

No dragon should die because of human greed. ”

His hand wandered to my ass, circling my other hole. I jolted, and his gaze turned wicked. “Later,” he promised.

I’d never been fucked that way before, and I couldn’t deny I was intrigued.

At my reaction, he smirked, and his eyes darkened with lust. We shifted around so that the water now hit me more.

I moaned at the feeling of it washing away the pains of the flight.

We’d flown the full twenty hours in one go.

“I hate to admit it, but I’m freaking out. ”

“I want to say it’ll be alright, but we never know the future.

” It was chilling. Kieran was always quick to say I’d be safe around him, but when it came to this, even he couldn’t promise anything.

“But I’ll do anything to keep you safe. And then once we retrieve the eggs, we’ll demand Luther let Clara come live at the castle. I won’t let him change his mind.”

My breath hitched. “Really?”

He gripped my hips and pressed me against the wall.

My legs automatically went up to curl around his waist, and I went weightless.

“Of course. There’ll be no more excuses after this.

” He nuzzled my neck and pressed a kiss at the pulse point.

“And I’ll get to meet your sister. It’s only fair since you met my brother. ”

I lifted my neck to allow better access, gasping at the bursts of pleasure each press of his lips gave me. “Just don’t be an asshole to her, okay?”

Kieran stilled and lifted his chin, so that our eyes locked. “She’s your family. I’d never.”

Then he kissed me again, soft but demanding. I could imagine it. Us all together. Clara finally by my side. It was terrifying how much I wanted that future. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck. “You know, I could use a distraction right about now.”

“Say no more.” His tongue slid between my lips, demanding entry. I eagerly parted my lips, moaning when his tongue explored every inch of my mouth.

“I want to shut off my brain. I don’t want to think. I just want to feel.”

His eyes darkened. That look he gave me… I felt like a mouse, like prey. I didn’t expect that look to send another jolt of pleasure between my thighs. Everything about this was so new. I’d never felt comfortable to let go like this. But gods, did I desperately want to.

He cupped my face in his hands. “Then ask nicely.”

I bristled. “Really? Again?”

He smirked, a wicked tilt to his lips. “Yes.”

Asshole. Heat rushed to my face. I had half a mind to take it all back, but wasn’t this what I asked for? To shut off my brain and let him guide me, to let him take. I expelled a breath and raised my chin. “Please fuck me.”

His lips curved into a devious smile. “Not good enough.”

Oh, he was really pushing it. “What do you want me to do?”

“Show me that you deserve my cock.”

I huffed a laugh. “You have such an ego.” But by the gods was I practically dripping at this point.

When Kieran pointedly set me down, I sank to my knees and stared at his hardened length.

He rubbed himself over my lips, leaving precum all over me.

Holy shit. If any other man did this, I’d kick his ass.

But with Kieran, it was so fucking hot. Maybe it was because I knew how deep his feelings were for me.

This rough treatment wasn’t because I was nothing to him but everything.

He was giving me what I wanted, what I needed.

“You want a distraction. This is it.” His eyes darkened. “But if it’s too much, if you want to stop, say ‘Aurelia’ and I’m calling it. Because that’s the last name you or I want to hear.”

I snorted, and he used the opportunity to thrust into my mouth. Kieran slid in deep, hitting the back of my throat in one fell swoop. I gagged, not expecting the sudden intrusion.

Kieran grabbed my hair and twisted it, keeping my nose pressed against his coarse hair.

My eyes watered, and I struggled to breathe around his length.

It filled my mouth in the best of ways. He could’ve been gentle, but I didn’t want him to be gentle.

I wanted him to take. With him in so deep, my tongue was trapped underneath him, but I did my best to lick him.

When he shuddered around my lips, I groaned and breathed in his musky scent. My hands twitched at my sides. My jaw ached, and the tiles were brutal against my knees. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pull away or dive in closer.

“If it gets too much, pinch me two times.” The softness in his tone was a sharp contrast to the harshness of his words. “Now be a good girl and show me you deserve to be fucked.”

I groaned. Heat pulsed throughout my body. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I needed some relief. My fingers lowered to my soaked entrance.

“If you touch yourself, I won’t fuck you,” Kieran snapped, all affection leaving his tone.

Gods, this man… It was like he knew all of my dirty desires.

Maybe it wasn’t total bullshit when he said he could read me.

“You’ll get your pleasure from my cock splitting you in half and nothing more. Now suck.”

I moaned again. His cock rested against my tongue, perfectly filling and stretching my mouth. I hallowed out my cheeks and bobbed my head. Fog started to descend to the corners of my brain. Let go, a voice whispered. It sounded like Kieran’s. Let go.

It was wet. Messy. Uncoordinated. I worshipped every inch of his cock, ignoring my protesting throat. His thighs trembled under me, and I couldn’t help but smile around him. It was a power in its own right, and I loved feeling him come apart from my touch .

“Relax your mouth,” he ordered. That was all the warning I had before Kieran thrust hard down my throat.

I gagged again, my eyes watering. I fought against my spasming throat and did as he ordered.

Kieran fucked my throat like it was my core.

I struggled at first to adjust, to manage to breathe despite the constant pressure and movement.

But slowly, I managed to relax my throat, and Kieran easily slid in and out.

The fog descended even further in my brain.

I moaned, desperate for his touch but not willing to disobey his order.

My core remained untouched, begging for attention.

My jaw ached, and his musky scent filled my nose, but it only heightened the pleasure I felt from his denial.