Page 100 of A City of Smoke and Demons
The depth of the desire, the longing, on his face took her breath away. No man had ever looked at her like Ezra was looking at her, like she was special. Analise slowly removed herclothes. With him watching her every move, she’d never felt so vulnerable, and her hands lifted to cover herself.
‘Don’t you dare,’ Ezra said. ‘I want to look at you.’
Hesitantly, she removed her hands, and let him look. His gaze stripped the flesh from her body until there was nothing left of her but bones and a heartbeat. She could barely breathe. When she couldn’t take the power of his gaze any longer, she stepped closer.
‘Your turn.’
Although Analise had seen him naked plenty of times, she'd never taken the time to trulylookat him. He was all lean muscle and lithe limbs, strong without being bulky. His hip bones were so sharp she could snag her mouth on them. She wanted to sink her teeth into him, feel the pulse of his blood beneath his skin. She placed a hand on his chest; his heartbeat fluttered like butterfly wings beneath her fingers. His breathing deepened as she explored him, tracing the line and swell of muscle. He tipped his head back so she could trail her fingers along the column of his throat and down again, gliding over one collarbone then the next.
Ezra let her touch, let her take as much time as she wanted. She didn’t miss the way his fingers curled, or the way his throat shifted as he swallowed. When his hips bucked towards her involuntarily, she bit back a moan, then nudged him backwards until he sat on the bed. His lips curled as she climbed astride him. ‘Oh, I like this,’ he murmured, closing his teeth over her nipple.
Analise hovered there, not moving until he looked up at her. She kissed him, then slowly sank down. Sparks exploded behind her eyes when he was buried completely and, for a moment, neither of them moved, panting in unison. Analise rolled her hips, then groaned as pleasure rocketed up her spine. She moved slowly, so slowly her nerves burned.
Ezra didn’t look away from her face, letting her see the emotion on his. Fire was spreading through her blood with such aching heat it was impossible to know where it started. She didn’t want it to ever end, but if she kept this up, it would be over. She stopped, clinging to him, unable to find the words.
He understood, flipping them around, laying her on her back. He was still inside her, and kissed her, long and deep, slow, savouring her mouth, until he groaned, slipping his arms beneath her. His face was resting in the curve of her neck, his ragged breath hot on her skin.
‘Ez? Are you okay?’
‘I’m alright,’ he whispered, then he started to move. Each tempered stroke drew her closer to the edge, until the world exploded and she was engulfed in a storm of heat. Analise was almost sobbing as Ezra found his release; his hands cupped her face and he kissed her so tenderly it made her tremble. She squeezed her thighs around him weakly, her muscles nothing but liquid.
He held her as close as he could. Analise’s hands trailed over his back, moving into his hair and down again, as if she couldn’t help it. Ezra shifted off her and pulled the blankets up, tucking himself behind her. Analise felt his lips touch her hair.
‘Whatever comes, I won’t let anything or anybody hurt you,’ he promised.
‘I know,’ she whispered, weaving her fingers through his. ‘Don’t leave.’
‘I won’t. I’ll be here when you wake up.’
Ezra’s body was so charged, brimming with so much energy, that he wondered if he’d ever sleep again.
That morning, he’d been dead.
Eyes closed and head resting against the headboard, he stroked Analise’s bare shoulder. Her hand was on his leg, her fingers entwined with his, her head in his lap. They’d been mid-conversation when she’d suddenly fallen asleep again. That was a few hours ago, and Ezra hadn’t moved for fear of waking her.
It was sunset. The curtains were open, golden light sliding into the room. The world was silent, time arrested in the momentary pause before the day sunk away and the darkness of night took over.
Someone tapped lightly on the door.
‘Please tell me you’re dressed—no, wait. Nudity I can deal with. Please tell me the sex is over. That I don’t need to see.’ Lira’s voice was muffled. She knocked again, then eased the door open.
Analise didn’t stir. He continued stroking her arm, his fingers shifting into her hair. She made a contented noise and snuggled a little closer to him.
Lira stepped into the room, seating herself in the armchair. ‘Blackwood sent a telegram. He’s called a meeting this evening.’
Ezra was mildly surprised to see she was wearing a skirt. He couldn’t recall ever seeing her in one, not since all of this had begun. Lira was always ready to run, to move, to fight, and he supposed she couldn’t do that as easily in a skirt.
‘Tough,’ he replied. ‘We’re not moving. She’s only just fallen asleep,’ he added, before Lira could argue.
Lira frowned. ‘She should have been resting.’
Ezra gave her a weak scowl. ‘She has been. I’m not a monster.’
Lira chuckled, nestling back into the chair. ‘How doyoufeel?’
‘Whatever she did to me—to bring me back—has left me absolutely buzzing.’ He continued trailing his fingers gently over Analise’s shoulder, down her arm and back up again. ‘You can tell his Holiness that we won’t be attending any meetings this evening.’
To his surprise, Lira simply nodded. ‘Are you falling in love with her, Ezra?’
