Page 35 of Cinder & Secrets (Ink & Ashes #2)

“Good to know. So if I ever decide to move to Virginia, at least I know I have your blessing.”

“You’re a brat. Here I thought you were about to tell me you were actually moving there.”

“We’ve only been dating for three months.” Char points out, and for a moment, I second-guess my secret plans.

I had never once considered she wouldn’t want me there.

“Try over a year,” Lyric disagrees. “Whether it was official or not, you two were a thing long before either of you was willing to acknowledge it.”

“Not everyone falls in love and then moves in with the person a week later.” I look directly at Kai, who only smirks, stretching his arm to drop it around Lyric’s shoulder.

“It was months later, not a week.” My sister rolls her eyes.

“I beg to differ.” Charlotte snorts out a laugh. “You may not have officially moved in with him until this past fall, but you were living with him long before that. Maisie and I would go days without seeing your face.”

“Some of us just know when we’ve gotten it right,” Kai speaks up, smiling at my sister in a way that makes it pretty fucking clear how he feels about her.

I know I’ve got it bad for Char, but if I had to wager a guess, I’d say Kai is in the same boat where Lyric is concerned. No, I don’t have to guess. I know. Though I’d rather not think too much about that, given that she’s my sister.

“I love you.” Lyric leans into him.

“Not as much as I love you,” he whispers into her ear just for her, but I still catch his words.

Tightening my hand around Charlotte’s, I look to find her eyes on me.

“You okay?” I mouth.

She nods with a soft smile, squeezing my hand right back.

“Speaking of Maisie”—Lyric refocuses—“are you coming to her birthday party the weekend after next?”

“Like this one would let me miss it.” I nudge Char.

“He promised to help set up the day of.” She sticks her tongue out at me and it takes every ounce of willpower I have not to lean forward and suck the damn thing into my mouth.

“Good. We can use all the help we can get. Kai’s friend has already agreed to DJ for us, and Jackson is taking care of the food.”

“We’re on decorating duty.” Char gestures between herself and Lyric.

“I think you mean we’re on decorating duty.” I gesture between the four of us.

“Fair.” Lyric laughs.

“I just hope someone doesn’t ruin the surprise.” Charlotte lifts her glass to her lips, taking a small drink.

“I don’t think they will. Most people don’t even know it’s for Maisie’s birthday. Only the handful of us involved in putting it together know what it’s for. No one else will find out until they arrive.”

“Not a bad plan,” I admit.

“Thanks. It was Kai’s idea.”

“Just seemed like the most practical move.” He shrugs.

“It’s gonna be so much fun.” Lyric claps her hands together. “And just wait until you see Char’s dress. You’re going to die.”

“Can’t be any better than seeing her naked.” The words slip out before I even think to stop them.

I’m not sure how I expect my sister to respond to that, given that I’ve never spoken so candidly in front of her, but her tipping her head back and belting out a laugh was the furthest thing from what I thought she would do.

“Anyway...” Char clears her throat, trying to mask her own laughter as she stares at Lyric.

“It’s true,” I say directly to the woman at my side, keeping my voice low so that only she can hear me.

She swats at my arm and throws me a warning glare that says we are not talking about this in front of your sister.

Most of the evening goes on the same way, and by the end of dinner I’ve laughed so much my fucking stomach hurts.

I can’t remember a time in my life when I’ve ever felt so damned happy.

Like for the first time in a very long time, everything is just falling into place, and I know with complete certainty that it’s thanks to the beauty who climbs into the passenger seat of my car and hits me with a smile that lights up her entire face.

“Told you it wouldn’t be weird,” I tell Char, waving at my sister as she and Kai pull away.

“I don’t know. You made it a little weird.” She gives me a knowing look.

“Did I?” I cock my head to the side, amusement dancing across my expression.

“Pretty sure you talked about me naked not once but three times.”

“I can’t help it.”

“You could have helped it.” She gives me a pointed look.

“Not when all I could think about was getting you back into my bed so I could ravish your naked body.”

“Well, when you put it like that.” She leans toward me, her hand coming to rest on my thigh.

“Careful, Red. I said in my bed, but if you start touching me, I’ll have you bare before we ever leave this parking lot.”

“Is that a promise?” She practically purrs.

“Why don’t you come here and find out?”

As if to call my bluff, she moves closer.

Or maybe she moves closer because she wants me to do exactly what I just warned I would. Without waiting to find out either way, I snake my hand around the back of her neck and tug her closer.

“Last chance to back out,” I warn.

“Now where’s the fun in that.” She bats her long lashes at me.

“Car it is.” I pull her mouth down to mine. “And then bed.”

“Promises. Promises.” She tsks against my lips.

“I’m going to show you promises.”

“Less talking, more kissing.”

She doesn’t have to tell me again.

I don’t say another word.

Not as I strip her bare.

Not as I take her hard and fast in the back seat.

I don’t utter a fucking word until I spill my release inside of her for a second time today, reveling in the feeling of her tight and wet around me, coaxing me empty. Even then, I only say one word.

“Charlotte.”

It’s not lost on me how dull my life was before this spitfire woman came charging into it, refusing to take no for an answer.

She’s wild and free in a way I’ve only ever wished to be, and so damn beautiful it fucking hurts to look at her.

She’s everything I’m not, and yet, in some weird way, we fit perfectly. Like the last piece of a puzzle, she completes the picture, and fuck me if it isn’t a masterpiece.