Page 99 of Tower of Ash and Darkness (Tower of Ash #1)

LAILAH

W hen I wake, it’s still dark. The faint crackle of the fire near the cave’s entrance provides the only light.

For a moment, I’m disoriented, the chill of the cave contrasting with the warmth of Casper’s body still wrapped around mine.

His arm is a protective weight over my waist, and I realize with a blush that he’s still inside me, his body perfectly entwined with mine.

A soft smile tugs at my lips as I glance up at him. Even in sleep, Casper looks impossibly serene, his features carved like marble but somehow softer in this quiet moment. He’s beautiful, and the thought of waking up like this every day leaves me aching.

But the tranquil moment is short-lived. A dull pang tightens in my throat—dry, persistent—pulling me from the stillness.

Gently, I ease my hand from beneath his pillow and begin to lift myself off of him.

Before I can make much progress, his eyes snap open, locking onto mine as though I’ve been caught in a forbidden act.

“Where do you think you’re going, Princess?”

“I was just…”

My voice falters, the excuse dying on my lips, as his hand slides to my lower back, pulling me back down against him.

I gasp at the new angle, feeling him shift and grow inside me again.

Casper’s smirk deepens as he moves slightly, rocking his hips to emphasize the connection we still share.

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I can’t help the nervous giggle that escapes me.

“You were just… what ?”

His brow arches insidiously as he rolls me onto my back in one smooth motion, pinning me beneath him.

Without hesitation, his hand slips between us, finding my clit as if guided by instinct.

His fingers circle it in slow, teasing motions, each touch sending a jolt of pleasure through me. It’s maddening and utterly consuming.

“Casper…”

His dark gaze locks onto mine, his intensity a flame that burns through every nerve in my body. He doesn’t relent. Each movement of his fingers is calculated, torturous in the best way, winding me tighter and tighter. Just when I think I can’t take any more, when I’m ready to snap, he shifts.

With one brief, wicked movement, he pulls back slightly, only to drive into me again, deep and unyielding. The force steals the breath from my lungs, leaving me gasping as my hands fly to his shoulders, gripping him as though he’s the only thing keeping me grounded.

“Gods,” I gasp, my voice trembling, the word a prayer, a plea.

Casper sets a punishing, relentless rhythm. The pressure within me builds, unbearable and all-encompassing, until every thought, every sensation, is consumed by him—his touch, his breath, his body claiming me in ways I never knew I needed.

He leans down, his breath hot against my neck, and I feel the scrape of his fangs against my skin, a thrill that only intensifies the heat pooling deep in my core.

But he holds back, nicking the surface of my skin just enough to sting.

The brief bite of pain ignites something primal within me.

His movements grow harder, faster, and the building tension finally snaps.

Pleasure crashes through me, and I cry out his name, my voice echoing through the cavern as my body trembles beneath him.

He follows moments later, a low, guttural groan spilling from his lips as he drives into me one last time.

His body tenses, his release a heated contrast to the cool, damp air surrounding us.

For a time, neither of us moves, our bodies locked together in the aftermath.

Then, slowly, Casper lowers himself, his arms still wrapped tightly around me, as though he’s afraid to let go.

His breath brushes against my neck, heavy and uneven, and I close my eyes, savoring his warmth against me.

After a moment, he shifts, rolling us onto our sides without breaking contact. I find myself cradled against him, his hand trailing softly down my back in soothing motions. The cave is silent now, save for the sound of our breathing, and I feel a strange sense of peace settle over me

“Stay,” he whispers, tenderly kissing my forehead.

I want to stay. More than anything , I want to remain in this moment forever, but the dryness in my throat demands relief.

“Casper…”

He hums in acknowledgment, his lips brushing the top of my head.

“I need water,” I mumble, my parched throat impossible to ignore.

My voice is quiet, but Casper catches it instantly. His eyes narrow slightly, curiosity flickering in them as he tilts his head.

“Water?”

I nod.

“Let me help.”

To my surprise, he moves with inhuman grace, shifting effortlessly to stand while still holding me close. His hands are firm on my hips, keeping me pressed against him as though letting go isn’t an option.

Finally, he sets me down, his hands lingering at my waist. I hesitate, feeling his gaze on me as I step away.

My legs are unsteady, and I can feel the remnants of him sliding down my thighs.

The realization makes my face flush even darker, and I turn my face away, searching the cave’s edge for my garments.

When I glance back at him, his expression is softer, though his lips are curled into a teasing smirk .

“Don’t take too long,” he says, his voice low and sultry, the words a gentle command. “I’ll be waiting.”

I find my tunic lying where I’d discarded it, the fabric rumpled, and pull it quickly over my head.

His gaze lingers as I walk toward the small pool of water near the cave’s entrance, my heart racing and my body still buzzing.

I kneel by the river’s edge, the cool water reflecting the faint moonlight.

As I splash some water on my face, I pause, brushing my fingers against the faint mark on my shoulder.

It’s not a bite, not a claim in the traditional sense, but it feels intimate—like a quiet promise.

I smile, tracing it lightly, letting the realization sink in.

I’m marked. The thought is strange but exhilarating.

It makes me feel fearless, wild, alive, and something else I’m not quite ready to name.

Passionate? Sure. But maybe something deeper.

I bite my lip, a small laugh escaping at the thought that flutters to the surface. Am I in love?

Shaking my head, I let the water run over my fingers, dismissing the idea for now. That’s a problem for another day. Right now, I just want to hold on to this feeling—this fleeting, untamed happiness.

The soft light of the early morning filters through the cave entrance, casting shimmering reflections off the water-streaked walls.

The sunlight dances across the rocks as I look over at him, his arms still wrapped tightly around me, tangled in the blanket.

His body is warm against mine, his chest rising and falling with each breath, but I know the world outside is dangerous for him right now.

The sunlight is a reminder of the world that he can never fully be a part of, and yet, right here in this cave, we’ve carved out our own place.

I smile to myself, remembering the night before—the heat of his body, the way he made me come undone over and over again, until I wasn’t sure whether it had been five times or six. My skin still tingles from the memory, and I bite my lip, feeling him shift behind me, stirring in his sleep .

I turn, taking a moment to study his face, his chiseled features softened in repose, and feel a rush of affection.

There’s no one else I’d want beside me now, no one else who makes me feel as alive as he does.

Not even Jason, whose beauty once captivated me, can compare to Casper.

Jason was my first love, gentle and familiar.

He belonged to a time when love meant safety, when being seen felt like being rescued.

With him, I was a girl finding her way, clinging to the warmth of shared memories and the innocence of wanting to be chosen.

But Casper is nothing like that. He is not safe.

He is shadow and flame, the pull beneath my skin that refuses to let go.

He sees me not as I was, but as I am—every scar, every secret.

And still, he stays. With Jason, I was loved for who I had been.

With Casper, I am seen for all I have become.

He’s a mystery—dangerous, forbidden, but so deeply beautiful that it makes me forget the world outside.

I want to stay here with him, in this cave, lost in his embrace, hidden from the sun, from the world.

Slowly, I shift in his arms, trying to slide out from under the blanket without waking him, but just as I’m about to stand, I feel his touch on my back.

I turn to see him watching me, his dark eyes filled with a quiet intensity, as if he’s been awake all along, waiting for me to make the first move.

His gaze sends a shiver through me, and he moves toward me, his fingers brushing my hair away from my shoulder.

He leans down and places a soft kiss on my spine, the sensation sending ripples of warmth through me despite the chill of the cave.

His lips trail up to my neck, and I roll my head back in response, giving him access.

His hands slide around my waist, and his fingers brush lightly over my ribs.

I close my eyes, savoring the tenderness of his touch.

I glance back over my shoulder, meeting his gaze, and when his lips finally find mine, the world around us seems to dissolve, leaving nothing but the two of us.

The world outside, the sunlight, the risk—none of it matters.

There’s only this moment, and the heat between us.

He deepens the kiss, his tongue teasing mine, and I feel myself melting into him, my body responding to his presence like it always does.

He pulls away just slightly, his voice low and teasing.

“Good morning, Princess,” he murmurs against my lips, the words making my heart flutter.

“Good morning, little Ghost,” I reply, my smile playful as I meet his eyes.