A Snowflake at Midnight by Anne Renwick

Author:Anne Renwick [Renwick, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-948359-22-1
Publisher: Anne Renwick

Chapter Eight

“I’m so sorry. I’d no idea a clockwork squirrel could be so very vicious!” Evie side-eyed the motionless contraption. Frowned at the dark stain upon its incisors. Then angled Ash’s chin away, directing the fall of lamplight onto his ear. Dried blood trailed down the side of his neck. “Aether, its bite pierced your ear!”

“And other bits, not to mention my pride.” He plucked Mengri from his shoulder and stuffed it into his coat pocket. “I may have lost the battle, but your ransom won us the spoils of war.” He dipped his head and captured her lips with his.

A celebratory kiss that breathed pure oxygen onto banked coals. She parted her lips to let him slip inside. He groaned, kissing her harder, with a hunger that left her in no doubt that he too had replayed their earlier kiss in his mind and also wanted so, so much more. Flames rose to lick at her body, and she wrapped her arms about his waist, running her hands up his back beneath his coat, over the linen covering strong muscle, higher—

Wet and sticky cloth met her fingertips.

Aghast, she pulled away. “Your shirt is torn! How bad is it?” Circling him, she took in the long slash the mechanical animal’s teeth—or claws—had torn in his overcoat with a gasp. “Let’s go. These lacerations need to be cleaned.”

“In a moment.” Ash caught her hand and spun her about, pulling her to his chest. “The pain is manageable. How often will we have a chance like this? Unless, of course, you’re cold?”

Snowflakes swirled about as he walked her backward, until she felt the rough bite of bark at her back as he pinned her to the oak tree with his delightfully solid weight. The hunger in his eyes shot a new rush of heat straight to her frozen toes. “Cold?” She stroked the close-cropped beard at the edge of his jaw with her thumb. Not with such a thrilling heat source raising the temperature. “Is it winter?”

His laugh was almost a low growl as he unwound the thick muffler from about her neck, letting it drape about her shoulders. “Hard to say. It feels like midsummer.” With one hand he popped free the first button of her coat, then ran a fingertip along the edge of her collar, tracing the pattern of embroidery. “What with vines running rampant, twisting in invitation.”

She dropped her head back against the tree trunk. Cold air nipped at her neck, but it was anticipation that sent a shiver across her skin. “As was intended.”

“Good.” Warm lips brushed over the soft skin beneath her ear. Pop. Another fastening came undone, this time the one that held her collar closed.

“Ash.” Her whisper was a plea. She slid her fingers once more beneath his jacket to grip the waistband of his trousers.

His kisses fell along the edge of her jaw, then trailed downward, stopping to nip and suck at the curve of her neck. With each bite, an aching warmth

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