Page 20 of Veil of Ashes

“Let them try.” I turn my head, meeting his gaze. “I’ve faced worse.”

“You think I’m afraid?” He doesn’t flinch, just watches me. His face stays hard.

“I think you’re hiding behind patience.” I step closer, my boots scuffing the gritty rooftop. “Waiting for the perfect shot when messy works just fine.”

He turns fully now, facing me. His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t speak. I feel the tension coil in him, ready to snap.

“You think I’m reckless?” I press, closing the gap. “I’ve outlasted everyone who bet against me by being loud enough to scare the dead.”

The wind surges, sharp and cool. It drags the first drops of rain with it. They hit the rooftop, tiny pricks hissing against the metal.

“This isn’t just your war,” he says, voice dropping. “You don’t get to burn it down just because you want to see the flames.”

“And you don’t get to tell me who I am.” I step into his space, heat rising. “Not because you carry guilt like it’s your damn crown.”

He grabs my arm as I turn to leave. His grip isn’t hard, just firm enough to hold me there. My pulse jumps under his fingers.

I spin back, fast. My hands hit his chest, shoving him hard. He stumbles a step, eyes flashing.

And then we’re kissing.

His mouth slams into mine, fierce and raw. The storm breaks behind us, thunder cracking loud. Rain streaks down his face, or maybe it’s mine.

I don’t know. I don’t care. His lips taste like fury, sharp and bitter, matching mine.

My hands fist in his jacket, pulling him closer. His fingers dig into my hips, anchoring me against him. The rain soaks through my shirt, cold against my skin.

It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Not here, not now. But the anger between us ignites, electric and unstoppable.

I bite his lip, tasting the rain and him. He groans, low and rough, pressing me back against the railing. The metal bites into my spine, but I barely feel it.

All I feel is him. His heat cuts through the chill, his breath ragged against my mouth. My nails scrape his neck, urging him on.

He pulls back just enough to look at me. His eyes burn, dark and wild. Rain clings to his lashes, dripping down his cheek.

I don’t wait. I drag him back, kissing him harder. The storm swallows the city noise, leaving just us.

His hands slide up my sides, rough and sure. My heart pounds, loud in my ears. I want more, need more.

The fight, Rizzi, the files—it all blurs out. There’s only this, the clash of us, raw and alive. I tilt my head, deepening it, tasting the edge of him.

He matches me, unrelenting. His grip tightens, pulling me flush against him. Rain runs down my neck, mixing with the heat of his mouth.

I wasn’t ready for this. But now that it’s here, I can’t stop.

His hands dive into my hair, fingers twisting tight against my scalp. He hesitates for a split second, a crack in his control. I feel it—the way he holds back, then gives in. His lips press harder, hungry, and I match him, biting down just enough to taste him.

My back slams against the rooftop wall. The rough concrete scratches through my shirt, but I don’t care. His body pins me there, solid and unyielding, his breath hot against my face.

The rage in the kiss shifts. It turns molten, less about anger and more about need. His tongue brushes mine, and a jolt rips through me, sharp and electric. I tilt my head, deepening it, chasing that heat.

His forehead presses to mine, slick with rain. Our breaths tangle, fast and uneven. His hands slide down from my hair, grazing my neck, then settling on my shoulders.

I feel him everywhere—his chest rising against mine. My hands move too, sliding under his jacket, finding the damp fabric of his shirt clinging to his skin.

He groans, low and rough, as my fingers trace the lines of his ribs. The sound vibrates through me, stoking the fire already burning in my gut. I press closer, needing more.

His lips leave mine, trailing along my jaw. I gasp, head tipping back against the wall. Rain runs down my throat, mixing with the warmth of his mouth as he kisses lower, grazing my collarbone.

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