Page 73 of Ashes

Her eyes fluttered closed as I leaned down to kiss her, but just as our lips were finally about to connect after weeks of starving for her taste, the blaring ringtone of my phone blasted in my office.

Really?

Of all the time my phone could have rung, it decided to do so now. I was about to ignore it when my phone buzzed repeatedly with incoming text messages before ringing again.

I groaned and slumped against Sienna, resting my forehead against the wooden door. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and looked at the caller.

Kai.

I knew he wouldn’t call me incessantly if it wasn’t for a good reason, especially since it was past 10:00 p.m.

I looked at Sienna.God, I can’t believe I have to do this.“I really have to take this.”

She simply nodded and left my office.

CHAPTER 19

SIENNA

My heart pounded painfullyagainst my ribs as I grabbed the edge of the island to steady myself.

What the hell just happened? Or almost happened.

My body was still humming from his proximity.

The blood in my veins had boiled as his gaze had stricken me. My body flushed with warmth as his body covered mine while he whispered against my lips.

But it was his words that had rendered me breathless.

I crave you all the time.

Well, that made two of us. There was no use in denying it anymore.

These past few weeks had been both the best and the worst of my life. From discovering my father’s deceits to finding someone who made my body thrum with need.

With each day that passed, I wanted him more. I wantedto discover what it was like to be pressed against him, his bare body against mine.

I groaned, ridding myself of consuming thoughts, and turned to grab a bottle of water from the fridge, but instead, I ran into something hard. My hand flew up to hold on to whatever I’d run into, only to be met with someone.

“What the—” My words were cut off when I looked up to find Jamal gripping me tight to steady me.

His dark eyes bore into mine.

“Jamal?” I whispered when he didn’t say a word.

One minute he was burning my soul with his gaze and the next, he yanked me into a searing kiss. The moment his lips touched mine, time stood still. The only thing that mattered at that moment was the way his mouth moved against mine.

Euphoric.That’s how I would describe what kissing him felt like.

We’d kissed at our wedding, but it was nothing compared to this.

I whimpered into his mouth as his taste invaded my senses and he slid his hand to the small of my back, jerking our bodies together. I gripped his forearms tighter and hesitantly flickered my tongue against his lips, asking for more.

He moved so that I was backed against the fridge and caged me in. He rolled his body against mine and I moaned when his erection pressed against me. His hands found my backside and he bit my lower lip before breaking away.

When he finally spoke, his voice was harsh and gravelly. “Go to your room, Sienna,” he ordered.

I startled at his words and stared at him confused. “What?”