Cinders & Ash: A Cinderella Story (Passion-Filled Fairy Tales Book 3) by Rosetta Bloom

Author:Rosetta Bloom [Bloom, Rosetta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: In Bloom Romance Press
Published: 2015-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Ashton had thought his days of sneaking out of the castle were done. Only, he’d wanted to see for himself. And now he wished he’d hadn’t come. Heinrich said the woman’s injuries looked worse in the light of the day, the bruises fully forming. Her skin had horrific blackish blue blotches, her neck was several shades of dark red, and you could still tell, if you knew what she’d said had been done to her, that those were the spots where his fingers had left their impression.

This was really unacceptable. He’d defended Chandler to Gertrude, but he’d never seen him leave a woman like this before.

He told the woman he was a friend and had promised her a tidy sum for her trouble. She didn’t know he was the prince. He and Heinrich left the woman’s tiny rented room, Ashton still covered by his cloak, and Heinrich walking a few feet in front of him, though not wearing any clothing to associate him with the palace.

That’s when he spotted Cinders strolling down the street, a smile on her lips, her eyes taking in the wares being sold streetside. He had never seen her in her element, unnoticed, before. She was always cheerful with him, and he’d assumed that was her nature, but it was refreshing to find he was right. He quickened his pace, so he was walking alongside Heinrich, and gave him instructions to get Cinders.

Ashton walked a couple of blocks over, away from the hubbub of the market to a secluded less traveled street, one much like the one he’d seen her in after their first meeting. He leaned against the wall of a building, his hood pulled over his head and waited. A few minutes later, Heinrich returned, Cinders in tow. She cautiously approached him, an empty basket in her hands.

“Ash?” she said tentatively, trying to peek under his hood.

Without answering, he grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss. Her mouth was warm and minty this morning, and she tasted so good, he wanted nothing more than to throw her down and take her in this alley. Though he knew this was both impractical and less than chivalrous.

As she pulled away from their kiss, she smiled. “What are you doing in the market?”

“Running an errand,” he said, taking her hand in his to sate his desire to be close to her. “But I was so happy to see you about, I had to have Heinrich ask you to stop for a visit.”

She nodded. “A professional visit?” she asked, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “You know, in my capacity as your portrait maker?”

He shook his head. “Completely unprofessional visit,” he said. “A visit because I missed you. Besides, as much as I’ve tried, I cannot think of you the same way as I do those fat, balding old men.”

Cinders grinned at him. “Well, I must say, I am glad for that.” And then she tucked herself in his arms and kissed him; a slow, smoldering kiss that alighted every part of him.

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